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Tuesday 27 July 2021
United States files motion claiming landlord is violating lawsuit consent decree by continuing to rent properties & harass female tenantsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a motion today requesting a federal judge to find local landlord John Klosterman in civil contempt of court for failing to meet the requirements of a negotiated federal consent decree.
The United States sued Klosterman in 2018, alleging Klosterman sexually harassed female tenants since at least 2013 at the 55 residential properties he and his wife Susan Klosterman owned in Sedamsville.
Klosterman engaged in unwanted sexual touching, offered to reduce rent and overlook or excuse late or unpaid rent in exchange for sex. He evicted or threatened to evict female tenants who objected to or refused sexual advances. Klosterman also entered the homes of female tenants without their consent and otherwise monitored their daily activities with cameras directed at their units.
In 2020, the Justice Department settled the lawsuit with Klosterman, who agreed to various terms in a consent decree. Today’s filing states Klosterman has violated these terms:
- Accurately represent and update the extent of their rental property holdings;
- Cease personally interacting with tenants or otherwise participating in rental management;
- Secure an independent property manager for any properties owned outside of a receivership created as a result of a lawsuit filed by the City of Cincinnati;
- Complete fair housing training and ensure compliance with a sexual harassment policy; and
- Pay monetary damages.
The United States argues Klosterman has failed to fully comply with the provisions of the federal court’s consent decree. For example, according to today’s motion, Klosterman continues to personally manage five rental properties, failed to secure an independent property manager, and has been accused of further improper conduct regarding female tenants.
In September and November 2020, Klosterman was charged criminally by the state of Ohio with Menacing by Stalking a female tenant victim.
“Klosterman’s repeated and ongoing refusal to comply with the consent decree justifies a finding of civil contempt in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “We seek to hold Klosterman accountable for his severe and pervasive sexual harassment.”
The court may remedy civil contempt by issuing fines or other relief intended to secure compliance with the federal court’s orders.
The United States’ motion asks the court to fine Klosterman $100 per day and $500 per incident until he meets various provisions of the consent decree. The United States is also asking the court to extend the duration of the decree by nine months, until July 2026.
The United States’ lawsuit was pursued jointly with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color religion, national origin, sex disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt.
Individuals can report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, emailing the Justice Department at [email protected], or submitting a report online.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the motion filed in federal court today. Civil Chief Matthew J. Horwitz is representing the United States in this case.
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United States Sells Unique Wu-Tang Clan Album Forfeited by Convicted Hedge Fund Manager Martin ShkreliRead the Press Release
Proceeds from the Sale Will be Applied to Forfeiture Money Judgment Against Shkreli
United States Sells Unique Wu-Tang Clan Album Forfeited by Convicted Hedge Fund Manager Martin Shkreli
Earlier today, the United States sold the sole copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” (the “Album”) which had previously been ordered to be forfeited as a substitute asset in connection with the approximately $7.4 million forfeiture money judgment (Forfeiture Money Judgment) entered against Shkreli at his March 2018 sentencing. Proceeds from the sale of the Album will be applied to satisfy the outstanding balance owed on the Forfeiture Money Judgment. The contract of sale contains a confidentiality provision that protects information relating to the buyer and price.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sale of the Album.
“Through the diligent and persistent efforts of this Office and its law enforcement partners, Shkreli has been held accountable and paid the price for lying and stealing from investors to enrich himself. With today’s sale of this one-of-a-kind album, his payment of the forfeiture is now complete,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. Ms. Kasulis acknowledged the significant efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service and, in particular, the work of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Office of General Counsel and the Complex Asset Unit of the agency’s Asset Forfeiture Division, as well as assistance provided by the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch.
Shkreli was the founder and managing member of hedge funds MSMB Capital Management LP and MSMB Healthcare Management LP and the former Chief Executive Officer of Retrophin Inc. (“Retrophin”), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company. Following a six-week trial in federal court in Brooklyn, Shkreli was convicted in August 2017 of two counts of securities fraud and one count of securities fraud conspiracy for orchestrating a series of schemes to defraud investors in the hedge funds and to manipulate the price and trading volume of Retrophin’s stock. United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto sentenced Shkreli to seven years’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years’ supervised release, and ordered him to pay the Forfeiture Money Judgment, approximately $388,000 in restitution and a $75,000 fine. Judge Matsumoto also ordered Shkreli to forfeit the Album and other substitute assets to satisfy the Forfeiture Judgment.
Shkreli’s conviction and sentence, including the imposition of the Forfeiture Money Judgment, were affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in July 2019. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of Shkreli’s request for further review of his conviction and sentence, the government seized the Album and other assets owed by Shkreli.
At the time Shkreli purchased the Album in 2015, it was marketed as “both a work of art and an audio artifact.” The Album includes a hand-carved nickel-silver box as well as a leather-bound manuscript containing lyrics and a certificate of authenticity. The Album is subject to various restrictions, including those relating to the duplication of its sound recordings. In September 2017, just weeks after his conviction but before the district court-imposed forfeiture, Shkreli attempted to sell the Album through an on-line auction.
Forfeiture matters related to Shkreli’s sentence were handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura D. Mantell and Claire S. Kedeshian of the newly formed Asset Recovery Section in the Office’s Criminal Division. Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis and Assistant United States Attorneys Alixandra E. Smith and G. Karthik Srinivasan (now an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Texas) were in charge of the prosecution of Shkreli, and defended his conviction and sentence on appeal.
United States Attorney Raising Student Awareness of Sexual Harassment in HousingRead the Press Release
As students prepare to leave home for college, the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District Michigan wants to raise awareness among students that may be living on their own in off-campus housing for the first time about their rights and protections under the federal Fair Housing Act—in particular, the prohibition against sexual harassment in housing.
Sexual harassment in housing is sex discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. It includes demands for sex or sexual acts in order to buy, rent, or continue renting a home. It also includes other unwelcome sexual conduct that makes it hard to keep living in or feel comfortable in your home. If a landlord, rental manager, maintenance worker, or anyone else with control over housing engages in any of these types of behaviors with a tenant or prospective tenant, this may be unlawful sexual harassment:
• Commenting on tenant’s body or looks
• Sending sexually suggestive text messages to victim
• Lurking or spying on tenant
• Exposing self to tenant, showing tenant pornography, talking about sex with tenant
• Entering tenant’s home unannounced, without notice or legitimate reason for doing so
• Touching tenant without consent
• Conditioning certain housing benefits – for example, renting to, making repairs, excusing a
late rent payment – on receipt of sexual favors, including engaging in sexual acts, taking
pictures of tenant, etc.
• Threatening to evict tenant if they do not engage in sexual acts or favors
Beginning July 26, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be sending correspondence to local universities enclosing information on the Fair Housing Act and materials about sexual harassment in housing that can be shared with students living in off-campus housing. Employees from the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be posting flyers on local college campuses providing information for victims of sexual harassment to help to shine a spotlight on behavior that often goes unreported.
“Sexual harassment in housing is illegal and unacceptable,” stated Saima S. Mohsin, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Students, like all Americans, have the right to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from unwanted sexual harassment. Our office will work aggressively to punish anyone who uses their authority over someone’s housing to sexually harass them.”
Fighting illegal discrimination in housing is a top priority of the Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. In 2018, the Department of Justice began the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative as an effort to combat sexual harassment in housing. The goal of the Initiative is to address sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Individuals who believe they have been a victim of housing discrimination can call the U. S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at 313.226.9151 or by sending an email to [email protected].
The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2010 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights.
Two charged with transporting aliens resulting in deathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexis Rebecca Lovato, 24, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Cristian Adan Mora-Hernandez, 22, of Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on July 26 facing charges of transporting illegal aliens resulting in death. The defendants will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 29.
According to a criminal complaint, on July 22, the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and Tularosa Police Department responded to reports of a U-Haul Cargo truck transporting people in the cargo area. The Tularosa Police Chief located the U-Haul and made a traffic stop. During the stop, the Chief observed a passenger in the cab of the truck who appeared to be unresponsive and not breathing. That passenger was later pronounced deceased.
In addition to the passenger in the cab, seven more passengers were in the cargo area of the truck. The passengers were from Mexico and Ecuador and allegedly were in the United States illegally.
The complaint alleges that Lovato was driving the truck accompanied by Mora-Hernandez.
A complaint is only an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lovato and Mora-Hernandez face up to life in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Otero County Sheriff’s Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Tularosa Police Department, New Mexico State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the New Mexico Livestock Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Rizzo Cascio is prosecuting this case.
Two Suburban Chicago Physicians Indicted on Narcotics and Health Care Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two suburban Chicago physicians have been indicted on federal criminal charges for allegedly prescribing opioids to individuals who lacked a legitimate medical need for the drugs.
STANLEY DAVID DEMOREST managed Demorest Consultants LLC, a medical practice in Melrose Park, Ill. NICHOLAS RECCHIA was employed there as a physician. From 2015 to 2020, Demorest and Recchia agreed to dispense hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and other controlled substances to various individuals who visited Demorest Consultants but received no meaningful physical examination or medical tests, and whom Demorest and Recchia knew had no legitimate medical need for the drugs, according to an indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Demorest, who in 2015 voluntarily surrendered his DEA Registration Number and lost his ability to lawfully prescribe controlled substances, used Recchia’s name and DEA Registration Number to issue prescriptions for controlled substances to patients, the charges allege.
Demorest and Recchia also caused pharmacies to submit numerous claims to Medicare and Medicaid seeking payment for the improper prescriptions, the indictment states.
The indictment charges Demorest, 65, of Bloomingdale, Ill., and Recchia, 62, of River Grove, Ill., with conspiracy to dispense controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. The pair also face individual counts of health care fraud and unlawful dispensing of controlled substances. Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the DEA; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Klamann and Valerie R. Raedy.
The charges were brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Opioid Task Force, which was formed in November 2019 for the purpose of combatting the growing number of unlawful distributions of controlled substances fueling the nation’s opioid crisis.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Florida Men Sentenced for Running Grandparent Scam in Northern OhioRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that two Tampa, Florida men were sentenced today by U.S. Judge Pamela A. Barker for operating a “Grandparent Scam” that targeted elderly victims in the Northern District of Ohio and elsewhere and caused victims a combined total loss of $383,932.
John Tyler Pla, 25, was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, and Johnny Lee Palmer, 26, was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment. Both Pla and Palmer were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $383,932 to their victims. Pla and Palmer both previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
According to court records, from July 20, 2020, to August 28, 2020, Pla and Palmer orchestrated a “Grandparent Scam” that targeted elderly victims in Northern Ohio cities, including Brecksville, Parma, Gates Mills, Lorain, Mansfield, Fairview Park, Westlake and Mentor.
Other members of the scheme would call elderly victims pretending to be a relative or an attorney for that relative and claim that the family member had been arrested and, as a result, required money for bail. A member of the scheme would then arrange with the victim to collect the money through a purported “courier.” Instead, Pla or Palmer would travel to the victim’s residence and collect the money.
The investigation was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the Westlake Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
Trinitarios Gang Member Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Witness RetaliationRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CHRISTIAN NIEVES, a/k/a “Eric Rosario,” a/k/a “White Boy,” was sentenced today to three years in prison in connection with his retaliation against a witness who had testified at a previous federal murder trial by slashing the witness across the neck with a blade. NIEVES was convicted on April 23, 2021, following an approximately eight-day jury trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who also imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Christian Nieves’s violent assault of a witness to federal crimes was a naked attempt to subvert the administration of justice, sow fear through the community, and prevent future witnesses from coming forward. Today’s sentence proves that justice will prevail, and sends a clear signal to other gang members that witness retaliation will not be tolerated.”
According to court documents, the evidence at trial, and statements made in court proceedings:
NIEVES was a member of the Trinitarios street and prison gang, a criminal enterprise with written rules, oath, and constitution. The gang has a strict prohibition on cooperation with law enforcement (“snitching”), and violations of the gang’s rules are punished by acts of violence. Among other governing principles, the Trinitarios mandate a “code of silence,” meaning that members are prohibited from cooperating with law enforcement and speaking about the gang in general.
The Trinitarios had an ongoing rivalry with another Dominican gang, Dominicans Don’t Play (“DDPs”). In 2018, a member of the DDPs, Stiven Siri-Reynoso, was convicted following a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon of charges including the murder of Jessica White, a Bronx mother who was inadvertently hit during a shooting on a playground as part of the rivalry between the DDPs and the Trinitarios. Significant evidence at that July 2018 trial focused on the DDP-Trinitario rivalry. The victim of NIEVES’s retaliation was among the witnesses who testified about the inner workings of the Trinitarios gang (the “Victim”). In the course of his testimony, the Victim testified about crimes that he had committed with NIEVES, including an incident in 2009 when the Victim took a gun from NIEVES after a Trinitarios-related shooting that had resulted in the death of Issi Dominguez. The Victim’s testimony violated the Trinitarios’ longtime prohibition against testifying against members of the gang.
Following his testimony, around 7:00 p.m. on the evening of February 5, 2019, the Victim was walking on Grand Concourse in the Bronx when he saw NIEVES and other Trinitarios gang members on the steps of a building near the sidewalk. As the Victim walked past, one of the group called out to him, and NIEVES and at least one other person began following the Victim. NIEVES caught up to the Victim, took out a razor blade, and slashed at the Victim’s face, cutting him down the jawline. During the attack, NIEVES told the Victim “this is happening to you because you are a snitch.” The Victim received prompt medical attention, including stitches to close the wound.
Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Nichols and Jun Xiang are in charge of the prosecution.
Tacoma man pleads guilty to murder on wooded JBLM propertyRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 52-year-old Tacoma man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to second degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Bobbie Anson Pease admits that in September 2018, he used a baseball bat and gun to murder a 34-year-old woman on federal land, part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). Prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to recommend a 26-year prison term when Pease is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan on October 22, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, Pease was sharing a house with the victim, her daughter, co-defendant Jeremy Warren and others in August and September 2018. On September 4, 2018, the victim asked Pease and Warren for a ride to a Spanaway convenience store. The men had a pistol and an aluminum baseball bat in the car. After going to the store, Pease drove the victim and Warren to a wooded area nearby, claiming he wanted to do some target shooting. At the wooded area, which was an undeveloped plot of federal land outside the fenced boundaries of JBLM, the men confronted the victims about items they accused her of stealing – a drug pipe and pocket-knife. The men beat the victim with the bat causing significant head injuries and broken bones. Then Pease took the pistol and fired three shots into the victim’s head, killing her instantly. The men left the body in the wooded area and disposed of the bat and the gun at various locations in the Tacoma and Spanaway area. The gun was ultimately recovered from the Puyallup River. The two made calls to the police attempting to mislead them during the investigation by claiming the victim has left the convenience store with someone else and moved out of state. On September 13, 2018, the victim’s body was discovered by railroad workers. Pease and Warren were arrested in late October 2018 after they had relocated to Forks, Washington, to avoid authorities.
Pease has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1991 in Washington State including: Assault and attempting to elude (Pierce County 2013); Escape (Jefferson County 2003); robbery with a deadly weapon enhancement (Pierce County 2003); witness tampering (Thurston County 2003); theft and attempting to elude (Pierce County 1999); car theft (Thurston County 1999); burglary (Pierce County 1992) and possession of stolen property (Pierce County 1991). The convictions mean Pease could not legally possess a firearm.
The investigation is being led by the FBI with assistance from the Tacoma Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Grady Leupold.
Suburban Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms and Explosives LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Whitehall, PA, pleaded guilty to charges of violating federal firearms and explosives laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Kurt Cofano, 32, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on July 9 and July 10, 2020, Cofano was in possession of unregistered destructive devices. The court was also advised that from May 2020 through July 2020, Cofano knowingly and unlawfully and without registering and obtaining approval made destructive devices.
Specifically, the court was advised that on July 9, 2020, Cofano was driving his vehicle, observed a Mt. Lebanon police car, and waved the police car over to him. When police approached Cofano’s vehicle, they observed weapons in plain view. Cofano stated that he had M80 type devices in his vehicle, as well as firearms. Local police sought and obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. They recovered, among other things, components for making destructive devices such as detonators, triggers, and fuses; short-barreled long guns; ammunition; and marijuana. Federal search warrants were sought and obtained for Cofano’s residence, wherein 14 improvised grenades and nine devices labeled “M101” as well as components for making destructive devices; and marijuana and drug paraphernalia were recovered.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2021. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof at each count. 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.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered Cofano remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy K. Chung and Jonathan D. Lusty are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Kurt Cofano. The Mt. Lebanon Police Department, the Whitehall Police Department, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police provided substantial assistance with the investigation.
Southwest Virginia Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Role in Pandemic Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Pound, Virginia man, who conspired with others to fraudulently file more than $499,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison.
Gregory Marcus Tackett, 28, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of obstructing justice.
“During a time of national hardship brought on by the pandemic, the defendant conspired with others to defraud the government of funds intended to help Virginians that were truly in need,” Acting United States Attorney Bubar said today. “Today’s significant prison sentence demonstrates that such serious federal crime will not be tolerated. I am grateful for the determined efforts of the Department of Labor, IRS-CI, Norton Police Department and Russell County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work on this case.”
“Gregory Tackett conspired with others to commit fraud against the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program by filing for and receiving benefits that he and others were not entitled to receive. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Virginia Employment Commission, and our many law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of all unemployment assistance programs,” stated Syreeta Scott, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“Tackett discovered how costly stealing pandemic unemployment benefits truly is today. We will continue to work with our investigative partners to hold accountable those who rob programs aimed at helping individuals struggling through this global crisis,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office
According to court documents, Tackett admitted to conspiring with others, including his girlfriend, LeeLynn Danielle Chykta, to commit fraud against the United States in connection with a scheme involving the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits.
Tackett, Chytka, and others, conspired to collect personal identification information of more than 35 co-conspirators, including 15 inmates in the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections, and to file fraudulent claims of pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
Over the course of nine months, Tackett and Chytka filed fraudulent claims for at least 37 individuals, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000.
The Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Norton Police Department, and Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted 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 .
Smuggler and Previously Deported Migrants Indicted Following Boat Crash in Pompano BeachRead the Press Release
Miami, FL – A federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment today charging two Bahamian nationals, a Jamaican national, and a United Kingdom national with felony offenses related to a maritime smuggling event.
According to the indictment and a previously filed criminal complaint affidavit, Jeremy Christoph Rolle, 26, of the Bahamas, operated a 26’ foot motorboat that carried himself and 16 migrants from Bimini, Bahamas to Florida on June 17, 2021. A Broward County Sherriff’s Office Deputy on marine patrol encountered Rolle piloting the vessel near the Hillsboro Inlet in Hillsboro Beach, Florida. Rolle led law enforcement on a pursuit through the Intracoastal Waterway that ended after Rolle crashed the vessel with several migrants still on board into a seawall in Pompano Beach, say the court documents.
The indictment charges Rolle in sixteen counts with encouraging or inducing migrants to enter the United States and placing in jeopardy the life of a migrant during that offense, for which he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as to each count if convicted. Rolle is also charged in two counts with aiding or assisting inadmissible migrants convicted of an aggravated felony to enter the United States, for which he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as to each count if convicted. Andrew Devaunx, 54, of the Bahamas, and Marvin Morris Carridice, 42, of Jamaica, both passengers on the boat, are each charged in one count with illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed for aggravated felony convictions. If convicted, they each face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Payam Hassanzadeh Zargar, 27, of the United Kingdom, a passenger on the boat, is charged in one count with illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed, for which he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 2 years in prison if convicted.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HSI Miami investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Customs and Immigrations Enforcement, and the Broward County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Snider is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
You may find related court documents and information 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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Serial Swatter Sentenced to Sixty Months in Federal Custody in Connection with Death of Tennessee ManRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Shane Sonderman, 20, of Lauderdale County has been sentenced to sixty months in federal prison for participating in a group whose swatting call led to the death of a grandfather in Sumner County, Tennessee, last April. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, from at least July 2018 through May 2020, Sonderman conspired with others throughout the United States and other countries to extort the holders of unique Instagram and Twitter handles by "swatting" them—a harassment technique that involves deceiving emergency services dispatchers into sending police and emergency SWAT or response teams to the unwitting third party’s residential address when no actual emergency exists. Sonderman and his coconspirators did this to extort their targets into giving up control of their social media identifiers or "handles" so they could be sold to others. The group also sent harassing text messages and ordered unpaid-for food to be delivered to their targets’ homes.
On April 27, 2020, SWAT teams were called to the Sumner County, Tennessee, residence of Mark Herring, the holder of the Twitter handle @Tennessee. The caller alleged that he had shot a woman in the head there, and she was dead. First responders arrived and found Herring on his porch and with guns drawn, ordered him to approach with his hands in the air. Herring suffered a fatal heart attack before anyone on the scene knew the call was a hoax. Sonderman obtained personal information about Herring and his family and posted those details to a chat platform online where one of his coconspirators could go to obtain it and use the information to place a plausible call to emergency services.
Another victim, a resident of Oregon, was tormented when emergency services were sent to the Ohio residence of her parents and she subsequently received anonymous text messages on her phone that read "did your parent’s (sic) enjoy the firetrucks?" and "i (sic) plan on killing your parents next if you do not hand the username on instagram over to me." Desirable handles can be sold for thousands of dollars.
Many law enforcement agencies around the country participated in this investigation, including the FBI Field Offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Akron, Ohio, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Sumner County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Ireland prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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SCI Fayette Inmate Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Obtain Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has pled guilty on a charge of conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Amasa Camp, age 24, plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, before Judge Nora Barry Fischer on July 27, 2021.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Mr. Camp, an inmate at State Correctional Institution Fayette, conspired to commit mail fraud in order to obtain pandemic unemployment assistance benefits. Due to his incarceration, Mr. Camp was ineligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits because he was unemployed for reasons unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic and could not accept a job if one were offered. The desired benefit was to be mailed to an address in Philadelphia. However, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania flagged the defendant’s unemployment application as fraudulent, and no money was paid on the claim.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for Nov. 9, 2021. The law provides for a total sentence of no more than five 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded Mr. Camp to state custody to continue serving his undischarged state sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation that lead to the prosecution of Amasa Camp.
Rhode Island Woman Pleads Guilty to Phishing SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island woman pleaded guilty today to sending phishing emails to candidates for political office and others.
Diana Lebeau, 21, of Cranston, R.I., pleaded guilty to one count of attempted unauthorized access to a protected computer. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal scheduled sentencing for Oct. 26, 2021. Lebeau was charged on May 27, 2021.
In or about January 2020, Lebeau sent phishing emails to approximately 22 members of the campaign staff of a candidate for political office. The emails, which purported to be from either the campaign’s managers or one of the campaign’s co-chairs, directed the recipients to put their account credentials into an attached spreadsheet, or to click a link that connected them to a Google Form that solicited the same credentials. Lebeau also sent several phishing emails to the candidate’s spouse and to others at the spouse’s workplace. The emails, which purported to be either from Microsoft’s “Security Team” or from an employee of the workplace’s technology helpdesk, requested that recipients provide account credentials or other information about their computers by adding it to attached spreadsheets or on a website that mimicked the appearance of the employer’s legitimate website.
In or about March 2020, Lebeau drafted and sent phishing emails targeting another candidate for political office. The emails, which purported to be from the candidate’s cable and internet provider, contained a false “login link” that the recipient could use to address an issue with his or her account by providing account credentials. Lebeau also impersonated this candidate in online chats with the cable and internet provider, in an attempt to reset and obtain the candidate’s account password.
Lebeau did not act with financial or political motive or to benefit any foreign government, instrumentality, or agent.
The charge of attempted access without authorization to a protected computer provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $100,000 and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to 78 Months for Drug Trafficking & Violating His SupervisionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tang Vue, 35, La Crosse, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 60 months in federal prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and another 18 consecutive months in prison for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. Vue pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine trafficking charge on May 18, 2021.
On January 29 and February 3, 2021, a police informant purchased methamphetamine from Vue. Immediately after the second drug buy, police detectives followed Vue to a restaurant in La Crosse and arrested him. A search of Vue’s backpack uncovered $12,720 and a drug ledger—which indicated that some of Vue’s drug customers owed him thousands of dollars. Also, a search of Vue’s home revealed thousands of empty gem bags, commonly used to package methamphetamine.
In sentencing Vue, Judge Conley emphasized that Vue’s conduct in this case was egregious, especially since he was on supervised release for a 2012 federal methamphetamine trafficking conviction.
The charge against Vue was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.
Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — James Vincent Jr., 52, of Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, the Social Security Administration (SSA) paid monthly Social Security disability benefits to Vincent’s father until the father’s death in October 2015. The benefits were automatically deposited into a joint bank account held by both Vincent and his father. Vincent did report his father’s death to SSA, but SSA continued to deposit benefit funds into the joint account from October 2015 through May 2020. During this five-year period, Vincent maintained control of the joint account and regularly withdrew and stole the post-death Social Security payments – totaling approximately $90,000 – for his own use.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Vincent is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Nov. 2, 2021. Vincent faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Rare Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Portion of the Epic of Gilgamesh Forfeited to the United StatesRead the Press Release
United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly entered an order yesterday forfeiting a rare cuneiform tablet bearing a portion of the epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian poem considered one of the world’s oldest works of literature. Known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, it originated in the area of modern-day Iraq and entered the United States contrary to federal law. An international auction house (the “Auction House”) later sold the tablet to Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (“Hobby Lobby”), a prominent arts-and-crafts retailer based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for display at the Museum of the Bible (the “Museum”). Law enforcement agents seized the tablet from the Museum in September 2019.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), announced the forfeiture decree.
“This forfeiture represents an important milestone on the path to returning this rare and ancient masterpiece of world literature to its country of origin,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “This Office is committed to combating the black-market sale of cultural property and the smuggling of looted artifacts.”
“Forfeiture of the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet demonstrates the Department’s continued commitment to eliminating smuggled cultural property from the U.S. art market,” stated Assistant Attorney General Polite. “Thwarting trade in smuggled goods by seizing and forfeiting an ancient artifact shows the department’s dedication to using all available tools, including forfeiture, to ensure justice.”
“The trafficking of cultural property and art is a lucrative criminal enterprise that transnational criminal organizations exploit to make a profit, regardless of its destructive consequence to cultures around the globe,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “HSI continues to partner in art and antiquities investigations to ensure looted pieces are no longer trafficked through commerce for an illicit profit, because the cultural value of this tablet that travelled the world under false provenance exceeds any monetary value.”
A 12-tablet Babylonian version of the Gilgamesh epic, written in Akkadian, was discovered in 1853 in the ruins of the library of the Assyrian King Assur Banipal in Nineveh (located in modern-day northern Iraq). The events in the epic revolve around King Gilgamesh of Uruk (located in modern-day southern Iraq).
The government’s investigation showed that in 2003, a U.S. antiquities dealer (the “Antiquities Dealer”) purchased the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, encrusted with dirt and unreadable, from a family member of a coin dealer in London. The Antiquities Dealer and a U.S. cuneiform expert shipped the tablet into the United States by international post without declaring formal entry. After the tablet was imported and cleaned, experts in cuneiform recognized it as bearing a portion of the Gilgamesh epic in which the protagonist describes his dreams to his mother. The protagonist’s mother interprets the dreams as foretelling the arrival of a new friend. She tells her son, “You will see him and your heart will laugh.” The names of the hero, Gilgamesh, and the character who becomes his friend, Enkidu, are replaced in this tablet with the names of deities Sin and Ea. The tablet measures approximately 6-inches by 5-inches and is written in the Akkadian language.
As alleged in the government’s amended complaint, in 2007, the Antiquities Dealer sold the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet with a false provenance letter that stated the tablet had been inside a box of miscellaneous ancient bronze fragments purchased in an auction in 1981. This false letter traveled with the tablet as it was sold several times in different countries, and a later owner provided the letter to the Auction House in London. In 2014, the Auction House sold the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet to Hobby Lobby in a private sale and an Auction House employee carried it on a flight from London to the United States and then transferred it to New York. Hobby Lobby consented to the tablet’s forfeiture based on the tablet’s illegal importations into the United States in 2003 and 2014.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sylvia Shweder and Trial Attorney Ann Brickley of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS).
The Department of Justice has a remission process for judicially forfeited property. An interested party may submit a petition to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The U.S. Attorney then will forward a package to MLARS containing the petition, the seizing agency’s report and recommendation, and its own recommendation as to how MLARS should proceed. MLARS makes a determination about the petitions based on the papers received, and in accordance with the governing law and department policies.
E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 20-CV-2222 (AMD)
Rare Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Portion of Epic of Gilgamesh Forfeited to United StatesRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ordered the forfeiture of a rare cuneiform tablet bearing a portion of the epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian poem considered one of the world’s oldest works of literature.
Known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, it originated in the area of modern-day Iraq and entered the United States contrary to federal law. An international auction house (the Auction House) later sold the tablet to Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. (Hobby Lobby), a prominent arts-and-crafts retailer based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for display at the Museum of the Bible (the Museum). Law enforcement agents seized the tablet from the Museum in September 2019.
“Forfeiture of the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet demonstrates the department’s continued commitment to eliminating smuggled cultural property from the U.S. art market,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thwarting trade in smuggled goods by seizing and forfeiting an ancient artifact shows the department’s dedication to using all available tools, including forfeiture, to ensure justice.”
“This forfeiture represents an important milestone on the path to returning this rare and ancient masterpiece of world literature to its country of origin,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis for the Eastern District of New York. “This office is committed to combating the black-market sale of cultural property and the smuggling of looted artifacts.”
“The trafficking of cultural property and art is a lucrative criminal enterprise that transnational criminal organizations exploit to make a profit, regardless of its destructive consequence to cultures around the globe,” said Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York. “HSI continues to partner in art and antiquities investigations to ensure looted pieces are no longer trafficked through commerce for an illicit profit, because the cultural value of this tablet that travelled the world under false provenance exceeds any monetary value.”
As alleged in the government’s amended complaint, in 2003, a U.S. antiquities dealer (the Antiquities Dealer) purchased the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, encrusted with dirt and unreadable, from the family member of a London coin dealer. The Antiquities Dealer and a U.S. cuneiform expert shipped the tablet into the United States by international post without declaring the contents as required. After the tablet was imported and cleaned, experts in cuneiform recognized it as bearing a portion of the Gilgamesh epic. The tablet measures approximately 6 inches by 5 inches and is written in the Akkadian language.
The amended complaint further alleged that, in 2007, the Antiquities Dealer sold the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet with a false provenance letter stating that the tablet had been inside a box of miscellaneous ancient bronze fragments purchased in a 1981 auction. This false letter traveled with the tablet as it was sold several times in different countries, and a later owner provided the letter to the Auction House in London. In 2014, the Auction House sold the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet to Hobby Lobby in a private sale and an Auction House employee carried it on a flight from London to the United States and then transferred it to New York. Hobby Lobby consented to the tablet’s forfeiture based on the tablet’s illegal importations into the United States in 2003 and 2014.
HSI’s Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Unit is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ann Brickley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sylvia Shweder of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York handled this matter.
The Department of Justice has a remission process for judicially forfeited property. An interested party may submit a petition to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The U.S. Attorney then will forward a package to MLARS containing the petition, the seizing agency’s report and recommendation, and its own recommendation as to how MLARS should proceed. MLARS makes a determination about the petitions based on the papers received, and in accordance with the governing law and department policies.
Rapid City Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments was sentenced on July 26, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Lisa Cuff, age 30, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for each count to be served concurrently, followed by five years of supervised release on each count to run concurrently, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Cuff was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 20, 2020. She pled guilty on March 8, 2021.
The conviction regarding methamphetamine distribution stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until approximately July 2020, when Cuff, along with at least one other person reached an agreement or came to an understanding to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
The conviction regarding money laundering stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until approximately July 2020, when Cuff knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others, to knowingly conduct and attempt to conduct money transfers at financial institutions and transporting case drug proceeds, which involved the proceeds of a conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamara Nash and Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Cuff was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Raleigh Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced today to 200 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Cocaine, 1 kilogram or more of Heroin, and a quantity of Marijuana, Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 grams of Heroin and 500 grams or more of Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
According to court documents and information presented in court, Jameel El-Amin Williams, 44, was arrested after a search of his residence. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Raleigh Police Department seized 1.26 kilograms of cocaine, 822 grams of heroin, a 7.62 rifle loaded with a 30-round magazine, a.357 pistol loaded with a 50-round drum magazine, and a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine. Large quantities of ammunition, drug paraphernalia (including equipment to cook cocaine into crack cocaine), false identification cards, and over $17,000 in U.S. currency was also seized.
The investigation revealed that Williams had engaged in heroin, cocaine, and marijuana trafficking for a number of years, beginning less than one year after his release from state prison in 2012, where he had served a 15-year sentence for Second Degree Murder.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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 FBI Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Crosby 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-00517-BO-1.
Puerto Ricans Arrested after Tossing over One Hundred Thousand Dollars of Unreported Cash into the OceanRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that two men from Vieques, Puerto Rico were arrested on July 26, 2021 in St. Thomas on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in concealing or attempting to conceal more than $100,000 in currency aboard a vessel outfitted for smuggling.
According to court documents, Julius Alvarez-Gonzalez (31) and Jimmy Garcia-Quinonez (22) were stopped on the evening of July 26, 2021 by Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents, west of St. Thomas. The two were operating a vessel at night, without navigational lights and headed towards Barents Bay. As agents approached, they observed a large duffel bag being thrown overboard. The bag was later recovered and contained more than $100,000.
Both Alvarez-Gonzalez and Garcia-Quinonez are charged with a violation of Title 46 United States Code, Section 70503(a)(3), which makes it a crime to possess more than $100,000 U.S. currency onboard a vessel outfitted for smuggling. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.
Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Baker is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Pittsburgh Man Sentenced for Possessing Sexual Images of MinorsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 21 months’ imprisonment and eight years’ supervised release on his conviction of Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Philip W. Wagner, age 44, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, on March 20, 2018, Wagner possessed images and videos in computer graphic files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, some of whom had not yet attained 12 years of age.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, and the Western Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wagner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Steal Firearms from Federal Firearms LicenseesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh on a charge of conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Haliston Este, age 28, of Pittsburgh, PA 15207, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Mr. Este conspired with several others to steal firearms from a federal firearm licensee, Allegheny Arms and Gun Works, on the night of May 30, 2020. The conspirators used a crowbar in an attempt to gain entry to the gun store, which triggered a burglary alarm. This alarmed caused the conspirators to run away. Thereafter, Mr. Este and his conspirators then drove to National Armory in Moon Township, also a federal firearm licensee. On May 31, 2020, a crowbar was again used to pry open a door triggering the burglary alarm, causing the conspirators to flee once more.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for November 23, 2021. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 5 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 offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.Pending sentencing, the court continued Mr. Este on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
Pittsburgh Man Found Guilty of Gun and Drug Charges. Including Distributing Drugs Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – At the conclusion of a bench trial, Deon Blair was convicted of distributing fentanyl and butyryl fentanyl resulting in the death of a Pittsburgh resident as well as additional drug trafficking and firearm crimes, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Blair, age 28, formerly of Dinwiddie Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was tried before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Blair was convicted of all six counts for which he was charged. The six counts charged the following crimes that occurred in January and February 2017: (1) distribution of fentanyl and butyryl fentanyl resulting in death, (2) distribution of heroin, (3) distribution of fentanyl and butyryl fentanyl, (4) conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and heroin, (5) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and (6) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for Dec. 2, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a minimum sentence of life in prison as a result of the drug distribution death Blair caused combined with his prior drug trafficking convictions. The law also provides for a fine of up to $8,500,000.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the convictions in this case.
Philadelphia Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing A Firearm Following Violent Assault and Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Kelvin Canales, 21, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested and charged by Indictment with possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from an incident in which he allegedly violently assaulted a victim before disposing of the weapon. Canales made his initial appearance on these charges in federal court earlier today.
According to the Indictment, Canales allegedly robbed a victim of his cell phone on a sidewalk in North Philadelphia. After the defendant returned to his car, he re-approached the victim and allegedly shot the victim multiple times in the back. Video footage shows Canales then fleeing the area. Court documents further allege that, approximately an hour later, the defendant crashed his car in a single-car accident. When paramedics arrived and attempted to speak with the defendant, he allegedly fled the accident scene, walked behind a row of houses and hid a loaded firearm in a trashcan.
“I have said many times in recent months that our Office is determined to continue doing everything we can to reduce gun violence in Philadelphia by being ‘All Hands On Deck,’” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “When someone illegally possesses a firearm after sustaining a felony conviction, it is a very serious federal crime. In this case, the defendant is facing a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The 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 law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year period of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pagans’ Associate Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine and Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics trafficking and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Jason Evans, 44, formerly of Earl Street, Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2021, to two counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Mr. Evans was identified as a member of a large-scale drug trafficking operation, responsible for trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The investigation was the result of the efforts of the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to identify the criminal activity, including drug and firearms trafficking, of individuals who are members and/or associates of a violent, outlaw motorcycle gang known as the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (PMC).
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation began in January of 2020, and beginning in August of 2020 and continuing through November 2020, the FBI conducted a federal Title III investigation, which resulted in the interception of thousands of wire and electronic communications over a total of ten telephones, including co-defendants Bill Rana and Eric Armes, who were PMC members.
Evans, although not a member of the PMC, was a close associate of Rana’s, who was a “fully patched” member of the PMC and Sergeant of Arms for the Pittsburgh Chapter. Rana is charged in both counts of the conspiracy and his telephone was intercepted for approximately 90 days. Investigators also obtained search warrants for Rana’s Facebook account, which provided law enforcement with many inculpatory communications, conducted controlled purchase of controlled substances, as well as conducted physical and electronic surveillance of among others, Mr. Evans.
Evans accepted responsibility for distributing 309 grams of cocaine and the investigation revealed that Evans was capable of middling deals for Rana.
Additionally, the Court was advised that on December 8, 2020, law enforcement executed numerous federal arrest and search warrants, in conjunction with the takedown of this investigation. Specifically, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Evans’ residence and seized approximately 10 ounces of cocaine as well as two firearms, ammunition, magazines, and over $10,000.
Because Evans, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, he also pled guilty to another charge related to the firearms.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for Dec. 2, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence, as to the drug charge, of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. The law further provides for a total sentence, for the gun charge, of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $25,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. Other assisting agencies include the Allegheny County Police Department Homicide Unit, Baldwin Police Department, Brentwood Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department and West Deer Township Police Department.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Nine MS-13 Gang Members Indicted in Racketeering & Violent Crime ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury in Nashville on Monday handed down a 60-count, second superseding indictment, charging nine members of the MS-13 gang with a racketeering conspiracy which includes allegations of seven murders, kidnappings, numerous assaults, robberies and large scale drug distribution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart made the announcement at a morning press conference, joined by Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Criminal Division, Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.; Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake; ATF special Agent in Charge Mickey French; Deputy Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Nicholas Nelson; Assistant Special Agent in Charge of DEA Brett Pritts; United States Marshal Denny King; and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Those charged in the indictment are: Carlos Ochoa-Martinez, 31, aka “El Serio,” Jason Sandoval, 35, aka “Bin Laden,” Jorge Flores, 29, aka “Peluche,” Kevin Tidwell, 28, aka “Miklo,” all of Nashville; Jose Pineda-Caceres, 22, aka “Demente,” Franklin Hernandez, 22, aka “Happy,” and Luis Colindres, 24, aka “Listo,” all of Honduras; Gerson Serrano-Ramirez, 34, aka “Frijole,” of El Salvador and Juan Melendez,” aka “Shaggy,” of Lebanon, Tennessee.
The indictment describes the organizational structure of MS-13 and the gang’s sub-unit, operating in Nashville since at least 2014, specifically the Thompson Place Los Salvatrucha clique. The purpose of the MS-13 enterprise includes preserving and protecting the power, territory, reputation and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation and violence, including murder and promoting the enterprise through acts of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
To generate income, MS-13 Gang members engage in illegal activities under the protection of the enterprise, including drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and other crimes. They will often steal and used stolen vehicles to carry out these illegal activities. Funds generated by the illegal activity provide financial support to gang leaders, members and associates, including individuals incarcerated in the United States and in El Salvador.
Cooperation with law enforcement is strictly prohibited under MS-13’s rules. It is well understood within the gang that anyone who assists authorities will be punished with death, and the gang honors those who have killed police informants.
In addition to numerous acts of drug distribution and firearms offenses, the indictment alleges that one or more MS-13 Gang members conspired with other MS-13 Gang members and committed the following acts of violence:
- On April 6, 2016, murdered J.A. in Nashville by shooting him.
- On July 31, 2016, murdered L.R. in Nashville while attempting to murder R.R.
- On January 18, 2017, attempted to murder R.V. in Nashville by shooting him and attempted to murder H.V., L.A., and H.S. by shooting at them.
- On February 25, 2017, attempted to murder H.S. in Nashville by shooting at him.
- On May 21, 2017, murdered A.G. in Nashville by shooting him.
- On May 27, 2017, attempted to murder L.R.L in Nashville by shooting at him and murdered J.F. by shooting him.
- On June 1, 2017, an MS-13 gang member assaulted a deputized federal officer in Brentwood, Tennessee, while possessing a firearm and attempting to evade arrest.
- On June 17, 2017, brandished and discharged a firearm in Nashville during the kidnapping and assault of C.R.
- On July 25, 2017, kidnapped and assaulted X.A. in Nashville to prevent X.A. from cooperating with law enforcement.
- On September 24, 2017, murdered H.Z. in Nashville by shooting him and murdered Y.H. by shooting him to prevent him from becoming a witness to H.Z.’s murder.
- On September 24, 2017, lured A.L. to a meeting in Nashville and murdered him by shooting him and burned a car with his body in the trunk.
All defendants are in federal custody and if convicted, face decades of incarceration, including up to life in prison.
This Organized Crime & Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Marshals Service; The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed Safeeullah and Trial Attorney Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime & Gang Section are prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Newark Man Admits to Firearms and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man, previously convicted of multiple felonies, admitted today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing narcotics with intent to distribute, and possessing the firearm in furtherance of narcotics trafficking, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Lamont West, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an Indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and one count of using the firearm in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking.
According to documents filed in this case and the statements made in court:
On October 17, 2016, officers of the Newark Police Department received a tip that West, who was wanted by the police in connection with an unrelated alleged shooting, was hiding out at a hotel in Harrison, New Jersey. The officers placed West under arrest outside of the hotel and obtained a search warrant for the room in which he was staying. Inside the room, the officers found a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, two extra magazines containing additional ammunition, approximately 730 glassine envelopes of heroin mixed with fentanyl, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia, and multiple forms of identification and clothing belonging to West. West has multiple prior state convictions for, among other things, narcotics trafficking.
The offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm charged in Count One of the Indictment is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The offense of possession of heroin and fentanyl with intent to distributed charged in Count Two of the Indictment is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The offense of possessing a firearm in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking offense charged in Count Three of the Indictment carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. The sentence imposed on Count Three must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed on the other two counts. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig credited law enforcement officers of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch, Jr. with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sammi Malek and Bruce Keller of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Defense counsel: John Azzarello, Esq. and William Munoz, Esq., Whipple Azzarello, LLC, Morristown, NJ
Minneapolis Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been taken into federal custody and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in July 2021, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for a Minneapolis residence belonging to Nicholas Robert Briski-Smith, 25, who had “probable cause pickup” warrants for two recent alleged felony assaults, one of which involved a shooting, and multiple outstanding warrants. While conducting surveillance in preparation for the execution of the search warrant, officers observed Briski-Smith exit his residence and drive away in a stolen vehicle. Officers followed Briski-Smith to a nearby corner store where they took him into custody. Following the arrest, officers recovered a loaded Stevens Arms 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun that was affixed to Briski-Smith's chest. During the search of Briski-Smith’s residence, officers recovered a Marlin, semiautomatic, .22-caliber rifle with a modified barrel and additional rounds of ammunition. Because Briski-Smith has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Meridian Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOISE – Scott Koritansky, 55, of Meridian, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for income tax evasion, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced today. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Koritansky serve three years of supervised release after his term of incarceration and pay $356,676 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Koritansky had previously pleaded guilty to one count of income tax evasion. According to court records, from 2004 through 2010, Koritansky earned combined income totaling over $500,000 but did not pay any taxes those years. The IRS conducted an investigation and notified Koritansky that he owed tax for calendar years 2004 through 2010. Koritansky took numerous steps to conceal his income and evade his tax obligations. For example, Koritansky never maintained his own bank account but deposited his business income into the accounts of others and directed them to make purchases on his behalf and to pay his own personal expenses using funds in the bank accounts of these third parties. The expenditures included rent payments, private school tuition payments, and checks made out to cash.
“Tax evasion schemes make victims of all taxpayers, with millions of dollars in losses every year,” Gonzalez said. “That is why our office is working with IRS-Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners to hold fully accountable those who refuse to play by the rules.”
"Taxpayers want to know that everyone is doing their part and paying their fair share of taxes," said IRS–Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Andy Tsui. "Koritansky took active steps to evade his tax obligations and by committing this crime, he will be labeled a convicted felon who will serve time in prison."
Acting U.S. Attorney Gonzalez credited the cooperative efforts of IRS–Criminal Investigation and Idaho State Tax Commission, which led to charges.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Seizes Two Fraudulent Domains Purportedly Offering Covid-19-Related Funds and Selling Trademarked COVID-19 VaccineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has seized the two domains of “https://usahealthwarehouse.com” and “walmartpandemicgrant.com”. The website domain https://usahealthwarehouse.com purported to sell and distribute a trademarked COVID-19 vaccine while the “walmartpandemicgrant.com” domain claimed to be the legitimate website for the Walmart Foundation and offered purported “funds and resources” to those affected by Covid-19. Instead, both domains were allegedly used to collect the personal information of individuals visiting the sites in order to use the information for nefarious purposes, including fraud, phishing attacks, and/or deployment of malware.
Individuals visiting the sites will now see a message that they have been seized by the federal government and will be redirected to another site for additional information. These seizures mark the third and fourth COVID fraud related domain name seized by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI in the month of July 2021.
The seizure of the two domain names was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations - Baltimore.
According to the affidavit in support of the seizure, the HSI Intellectual Property Rights Center (“IPRC”) and the HSI Cyber Crimes Center (“C3”) were alerted that the dark web vendor “Ghostman20” offered the sale of a trademarked and branded COVID-19 vaccine. The personal profile of Ghostman20 listed a phone number that linked to the website https://usahealthwarehouse.com. The website displayed a real biotechnology company’s trademarked logo and offered the biotechnology company’s trademarked COVID-19 vaccine for $34.00 USD per vial. The website also claimed to offer an extensive range of powders, research chemicals, cannabinoid’s, hormones, and online doctor that could provide a “consultation” when provided medical records.
The website is not authorized to use the real biotechnology company’s trademarked logo, nor is it authorized to sell the biotechnology company’s COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the affidavit in the support of the “walmartpandemicgrant.com” domain seizure, the HSI Intellectual Property Rights Center (“IPRC”) and the HSI Cyber Crimes Center (“C3”) discovered the fraudulent domain. A domain analysis conducted by an HSI Cyber Operations Officer (“COO”) indicated that the https://walmartpandemicgrant.com mimicked the exact verbiage of the legitimate Walmart Foundation website. However, the illegitimate domain required extensive personal identifying information including social security number, date of birth, driver’s license, and the weight stated on your driver’s license, gender, current mailing address and more personal identifying information that is normally not required on a legitimate website. The HSI COO concluded that the domain name not only used this website to obtain personal information but also used the counterfeit Walmart mark to traffic counterfeit goods and services.
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.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI for its work in this investigation. Mr. Lenzner recognized the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Baltimore County Police Department for their assistance and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and Sean R. Delaney, who are handling the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Raheem Nigge Taylor, 28, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of firearms by a prohibited person, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 2, 2021, investigators obtained a search warrant for Taylor’s residence after social media posts revealed he may have been in possession of firearms. The search revealed two firearms that matched the weapons Taylor displayed in photos on his social media account. Officers also recovered multiple rounds of ammunition. Taylor, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, admitted that the weapons belonged to him.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on November 8, 2021.
“In order to protect our community from violent crime, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who possess firearms illegally so we can keep the Granite State safe.”
“With today’s guilty plea, convicted felon Raheem Nigge Taylor has taken responsibility for blatantly brandishing two firearms, along with multiple rounds of ammunition on social media when he was specifically prohibited from possessing them,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted felons is critical to keeping our communities safe, and the FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to do exactly that.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
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Man Sentenced for Assaulting ICE OfficersRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Greenville man was sentenced today to 2 years’ probation, 6 months of house arrest and 60 days intermittent confinement for assaulting two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. On October 17, 2019, Daniel Oliver-Perez pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Oliver-Perez, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal information charging him with assaulting, resisting, or impeding ICE officers while they were attempting to execute an administrative arrest warrant against Oliver-Perez’s father.
According to the investigation, Oliver-Perez’s father attempted to enter the United States in 2014 using a Texas birth certificate and Texas identification card in an assumed name. Oliver-Perez’s father was arrested by immigration officials for attempted entry into the United States by means of a false claim of United States citizenship. Later that year, Oliver-Perez’s father was convicted in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas of attempted illegal entry by false and misleading representation, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a)(3). Oliver-Perez’s father was subsequently served a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal.
Oliver-Perez’s father was granted multiple stays of removal between 2014 and 2017. However, after multiple filings by Oliver-Perez’s father, ICE no longer granted the request, and Oliver-Perez’s father was directed to appear at the ICE office in Charlotte, North Carolina, with tickets to depart the United States before December 16, 2017.
On November 16, 2017, Oliver-Perez’s father appeared with an itinerary in his name and a confirmed scheduled flight departing on December 10, 2017, with an ultimate destination of Mexico. On the date of the flight, Oliver-Perez’s father failed to show or report to ICE. At that point, Oliver-Perez’s father became a fugitive for not departing the United States as directed, and for being in violation of the conditions on the order of supervision.
Based on news reports, Oliver-Perez’s father had been living at the City Well United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina since Oliver-Perez’s father’s failure to depart.
On October 12, 2018, Oliver-Perez’s father filed a request for deferred action with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As a result of the request, USCIS generated an Application Support Center (ASC) appointment notice. The appointment notice scheduled fingerprinting of Oliver-Perez’s father at the ASC office in Morrisville, North Carolina, on November 23, 2018 at 9:00 AM.
The fingerprinting appointment of Oliver-Perez’s father was advertised through several social media outlets, inviting people to gather at the ASC on the date and time of the appointment. Approximately a month prior to the appointment, an immigrant advocacy group posted an “event” on Facebook to “accompany [Oliver-Perez’s father] to his Biometrics.” The social media posting provided the appointment date of November 23, 2018, at the USCIS office in Morrisville, North Carolina.
ICE learned about Oliver-Perez’s father’s appointment through the social media posting of the appointment and initiated efforts to apprehend Oliver-Perez’s father.
On November 23, 2018, ICE officers were present at the ASC in order to execute an arrest warrant against Oliver-Perez’s father. ICE officers were positioned in various areas of the ASC building. A Supervisor Detention and Deportation Officer was inside the ACS building in the waiting area. At approximately 9:00 AM, the officer observed Oliver-Perez’s father and Oliver-Perez entering the ASC. The officer observed both Oliver-Perez’s father and Oliver-Perez stand in line to obtain a number to pass to the processing area. Once Oliver-Perez’s father was standing in line, and Oliver-Perez was standing behind him, the officer alerted the other ICE officers and approached Oliver-Perez’s father. The officer identified himself as an immigration officer and told Oliver-Perez’s father that he needed to come with the officer. Oliver-Perez grabbed his father by the jacket while ICE officers were trying to arrest Oliver-Perez’s father.
The ICE officer and another officer attempted to subdue Oliver-Perez to prevent Oliver-Perez from continuing to hold onto his father’s jacket. Meanwhile, yet another officer was attempting to arrest Oliver-Perez’s father. While they were attempting to do this, all four fell on the floor and an officer was able to handcuff Oliver-Perez’s father. Two officers were attempting to remove Oliver-Perez’s father from the waiting area through the back door where some people were trying to block the way out.
As Oliver-Perez’s father was being escorted out, Oliver-Perez tried to get a hold of his father once again. The officer grabbed Oliver-Perez around the waist to prevent Oliver-Perez’s interference with Oliver-Perez’s father’s arrest. Oliver-Perez grabbed the officer by the neck in a chokehold grip. The officer instructed Oliver-Perez to let him go. After several seconds, the officer was able to release himself from Oliver-Perez’s grip. During the altercation, the officer sustained a cut on his hand and had difficulty breathing during the chokehold.
Oliver-Perez then approached the ICE transporting van, which at this point was also surrounded by people obstructing the vehicle’s departure. The assigned driver of the van was another ICE officer. The officer was sitting on the driver’s seat and upon reaching the door, Oliver-Perez gained access to the inside of van and hit the officer on the head and chest area with his right hand while grabbing the steering wheel with his left hand. The officer was able to turn his body towards the door and leaned back repelling Oliver-Perez. The door appeared to be damaged and the officer had to exit the vehicle in order to close it. The officer was able to get back into the vehicle and shut the doors.
Oliver-Perez thereafter again engaged in a physical confrontation with the first officer, at which time Oliver-Perez placed his hands on the clothing of the officer causing his shirt to rip.
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency responsible for the enforcement of our immigration laws. As with any law enforcement agency this office will not tolerate the obstruction, resisting or assaulting of those that we have entrusted to enforce our laws” said Acting United States Attorney G. Norman Acker, III.
“Today’s sentencing sends the message that interfering with our officers while they carry out their legal duty will not be tolerated,” said Francisco Madrigal, Interim Field Office Director for the Atlanta Field Office. “Protecting our officers while they serve the public is one of the greatest concerns law enforcement agencies have, and we are thankful for the great partnerships we have with the US Attorney’s Office and throughout the law enforcement community.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Homeland Security Investigations investigated 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. 5:19-CR-82-1FL.
Man Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Sending Threatening Emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins at the National Institutes of HealthRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Thomas Patrick Connally, Jr., age 56, for the federal charges of threats against a federal official and interstate communication containing a threat to harm, specifically for sending emails threatening harm to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins, the current Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The criminal complaint was filed on July 26, 2021, and unsealed today upon Connally’s arrest. Connally is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan.
The criminal complaint was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge George Adams, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We will never tolerate violent threats against public officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner. “Our public health officials deserve our thanks and appreciation for their tireless work, and we will not hesitate to bring charges against those individuals who seek to use fear to silence these public servants.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, from December 28, 2020 to July 21, 2021, Connally used an email account from a provider of secure, encrypted email services based in Switzerland, to send a series of emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the current Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) and the Chief Medical Advisor to President of the United States, threatening to harm and/or kill him and members of his family. One of the emails threatened that Dr. Fauci and his family would be “dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire.” On April 24, 2021 alone, seven threatening emails were sent from the encrypted account between 10:05 p.m. and 10:12 p.m.
As detailed in the affidavit, also on April 24, 2021, just 30 minutes before the seven emails were sent to Dr. Fauci, Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the NIH, received a total of four threatening emails from the same encrypted email address associated with Connally.
Investigation revealed that the encrypted email account was associated with Connally. Pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement obtained emails from a mail.com account which the affidavit alleges Connally used to communicate with the encrypted email address used to send the threatening emails.
According to the affidavit, Connally also used the mail.com account to communicate with another individual discussing Dr. Fauci and espousing views that Dr. Fauci was engaged in fraud regarding HIV and AIDS, which was also one of the topics of the first threatening email sent from the encrypted account to Dr. Fauci on December 28, 2020. Connally allegedly sent threatening emails to Dr. Fauci as recently as July 21, 2021.
If convicted, Connally faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for threats against a federal official; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for interstate communication containing a threat to harm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HHS OIG for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Jessica C. Collins, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man Arrested on Federal Arson Charge for Allegedly Setting Fire to Chicago BuildingRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been arrested on a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to a building in Chicago last year.
An indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses JOSE VALDOVINOS, 32, of Cicero, Ill., of maliciously damaging and destroying a building at 4000 West 59th Street in Chicago on June 1, 2020.
Valdovinos was arrested Monday. A detention hearing in federal court is set for Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives in Chicago; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kavitha J. Babu.
“Anyone committing crimes during the course of civil unrest should know that federal law enforcement will use every available tool to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with ATF, CPD, and our other federal, state, and local partners to apprehend and charge arsonists and others engaging in violent crime.”
“ATF Special Agents will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to follow every lead related to destructive behavior during civil unrest,” said ATF SAC de Tineo. “I appreciate the commitment from our colleagues and the U.S. Attorney in charging this case.”
The arson charge is punishable by a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Louisville Man Sentenced for Riot ActRead the Press Release
A Louisville, Kentucky man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Benjamin Beaton to time served (five months) and a three-year term of supervised release for violating the Riot Act on January 6, 2021, in downtown Louisville. John Subleski, age 33, of Louisville was arrested by the FBI on February 11, 2021, and has been in federal custody since that date. Subleski posted multiple statements to social media to incite riots and violence and later committed an act of violence by firing his weapon at a motorist around the second street bridge during a riot in downtown Louisville on January 6, 2021. At the time protesters were stopping and threatening motorists with firearms. It is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2101 to incite, participate, and commit an act of violence such as discharging a firearm.
According to court documents, including the Indictment and criminal complaint, Subleski used a facility of interstate commerce, namely, the internet, Signal, and Facebook, with intent to incite, organize, promote, and carry on a riot and to commit an act of violence in furtherance of a riot on or about December 29, 2020, to January 7, 2021. According to the Indictment, Subleski is a member and leader of the United Pharaoh Guard “UPG”, a/k/a “Loujahadeen,” a Boogaloo Bois based anti-government anti-police ideology in Louisville, Kentucky.
On December 29, 2020, Subleski posted, “Just thinking of how they've treated us, protectors of the people, as evil...Makes me wanna show them how evil we can be. I no longer care for nor do I want a peaceful resolution or revolution...I want [drop of blood emoji.].” On December 30, 2020, Subleski wrote, “How much more f-----d up s---t gotta happen before the rest of you arm yourselves and armor up and join the resistance?” On January 5, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account: “The only thing that has ever beaten tyranny was a sword or a rifles….DASSSSS IT. NOTHING ELSE! GETCHO RIFLE AND LET IT BANG AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.” On or about January 6, 2021, riots were occurring in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Subleski, posted in response to events occurring in the Nation’s capital, to a Facebook Account posts inciting, promoting, and encouraging a riot in Louisville, Kentucky. At 12:02 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account, “Those of you afraid to [B]OOG because “What if we die?” Well what if we f------g live? get out there, do something!” At 2:06 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account, “They storming the capital in DC and ya’ll can’t unit enough to storm the gov buildings here….smh I HATE IT.
At 3:24 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook “OTTA YOUR HOMES AND INTO THE STREETS F---K THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE!!!!!!!! LETS GET THIS LUAU STARTED”.At 3:38 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook, “Time to Storm LMPD.” On January 6, 2021, in a Signal chat with other members of the UPG, Subleski posted, “Holy s--t woman shot in capital. Ya’ll lets storm LMPD”. On January 6, 2021, in a Signal chat with other members of UPG, Subleski posted, “Everyone be armed and armored because s--t can go south quick and if it kicks off in one state then like dominos WE ALL BALL”.
At around 7:00 p.m. on January 6, 2021, rioters including UPG members surrounded a motorist at 2nd and W. Broadway attempting to drive around vehicles and individuals blocking the intersection. As a car drove on the sidewalk individuals approached the car to prevent it from turning on Broadway. A member of UPG pointed weapons at a driver in a car and damaged his vehicle with a metal trash can when the driver attempted to leave.
Thereafter, more than 20 persons, including Subleski, assembled at 2nd and Main Street closing traffic on main street and to and from Indiana on the 2nd Street Bridge and began rioting by engaging in acts of violence that constituted a clear and present danger and resulted in damage to the property. The assemblage pointed weapons and threatened motorists and damaged vehicles. Subleski participated in the rioting by inciting protestors, providing armed security, and ultimately firing his weapon, committing an act of violence in furtherance of a riot, endangering protestors in the line of fire after a motorist drove past the blocked intersection at 2nd and Main Street.
On January 7, 2021, Subleski posted to this Facebook, “ALL I WANN DO IS GO OUT [BOOGN] WITH THE SHOOTERS [WINK EMOJI] UPG/LOUIJIHADEEN”.
“I commend the FBI agents who investigated this matter and the prosecutors who worked alongside them to successfully prosecute the case,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “Individuals who incite riots and commit violent acts in violation of federal law, subjecting citizens to violence and fear, should know they will face swift investigation and prosecution in the Western District of Kentucky.”
“Mr. Subleski’s conviction and sentence underscore the FBI’s determination that when domestic violent extremists turn to mayhem and destruction, they will be brought to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “Mr. Subleski is now a felon and will not be permitted to possess firearms. As a result, our community is safer. FBI Louisville will continue to work with our community, law enforcement, and prosecutorial partners to ensure our citizens’ rights and safety are protected.”
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd, Bryan Calhoun, and DOJ Trial Attorney Dmitry Slavin prosecuted the case.
Local man guilty in $317 million N95 mask scamRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to a scheme to fraudulently sell 50 million non-existent N95 facemasks to the Australian government, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
In early April 2020, Arael Doolittle attempted to sell 50 million 3M N95 respirator masks to the government of Australia. However, he actually did not possess them.
The Australian government was supposed to pay over $317 million for the masks, but authorities disrupted the transaction before it was completed.
U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes accepted the plea and set sentencing for Oct. 25. At that time, Doolittle faces up tofive5 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case.
On May 17, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic - 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.
Leader of a Sophisticated Drug Trafficking Organization and Prolific Ally of the Sinaloa Cartel SentencedRead the Press Release
A Mexican national was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to 22 years in prison for her role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy to transport into the United States thousands of kilograms of cocaine and dozens of pounds of methamphetamine.
Following a seven-day jury trial in December 2019, Luz Irene Fajardo Campos, aka “La Comadre,” “La Madrina” and “La Doña,” 57, of Culiacan, Mexico, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and to manufacture and/or distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Mexico, Colombia, Honduras and elsewhere, knowing or intending that these substances would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
According to the evidence introduced at trial, Fajardo Campos led a drug trafficking organization with her adult children that was aligned with the Sinaloa cartel. She sourced cocaine directly from Colombia, employed pilots, and brokered the purchase of jets to fly the cocaine to Central America and Mexico. She partnered with other traffickers in the Sinaloa cartel and her children for further distribution of the cocaine into the United States. She also oversaw the importation of precursor chemicals into Mexico, which she processed into methamphetamine at a laboratory located in the desert outside Hermosillo, Mexico. She distributed this methamphetamine in Tucson, Arizona, and Jackson, Mississippi, among other locations. She also paid bribes to law enforcement officials in Mexico and Colombia to import cocaine through an international airport and attempted to bribe other public officials to secure the arrest of rival drug traffickers and the release of precursor chemicals seized at Mexican shipping ports.
“Luz Irene Fajardo Campos and her organization imported into the United States large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, bribing foreign law enforcement officers along the way, and then distributed those drugs across our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Her conviction and sentence demonstrate the department’s commitment to bring to justice those who pump dangerous drugs into our communities and fuel corruption in the process.”
“With this sentencing, we cut the head off of the snake,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheri Oz of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Phoenix Field Division. “Drug traffickers like Fajardo Campos tear at the very fabric of our communities. She made millions of dollars from pushing thousands of pounds of poison into Americans' communities while at the same time fueling violence and crime across the United States. Today, justice was served.”
In addition to the prison sentence, Fajardo Campos was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release and forfeit $18 million.
The case was investigated by the DEA’s Tucson and Mexico City Country Offices.
Trial Attorneys Cole Radovich, Kaitlin Sahni and Imani Hutty of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) and Anthony Aminoff, formerly of NDDS, prosecuted the case with significant assistance provided by the NDDS Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations.
Ladysmith Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric G. Cooke, 51, Ladysmith, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. This prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Cooke pleaded guilty to this charge on April 28, 2021.
On July 2, 2020, an investigator with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop for speeding on a vehicle being driven by Cooke. During the traffic stop, the female passenger told the officer that Cooke forced her to conceal a baggie containing of small amount of methamphetamine to avoid arrest. She turned over the baggie of methamphetamine to the officer, and when officers searched the vehicle, they found a bag containing approximately 118 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found over $10,000 in cash on Cooke. In addition, the female passenger directed officers to a location off a roadway in Chippewa County where Cooke stashed a cooler containing over three and a half pounds of marijuana.
Cooke was interviewed and admitted to selling methamphetamine off and on for approximately 25 years. He also admitted to selling methamphetamine in increasingly large quantities in 2020 following his release from a yearlong county jail sentence.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Peterson noted the fairly substantial quantity of methamphetamine involved and that Cooke was able to generate enough money selling drugs to purchase a car and have $10,000 in cash on him. Judge Peterson balanced those factors along with Cooke’s lengthy prior criminal record, against his struggle with addiction and his acceptance of responsibility for his actions.
At the time of this incident, Cooke was on state supervision for a prior conviction involving methamphetamine trafficking. His supervision in that case was revoked and he is currently serving a state prison sentence with an expected release date of July 3, 2025. Judge Peterson ordered this federal sentence to run concurrently with the state prison sentence.
The charge against Cooke was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Rusk County Sheriff’s Offices, Eau Claire and Ladysmith Police Departments, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson.
Kansas Man to Serve 300 Months in Prison for Child Porn DistributionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Jason Wayne Irving, 38, of Pittsburg, Kansas, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for distributing child pornography. In February, he pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Child Pornography.
According to court documents, Irving admitted that in 2019 he used his email address to upload and send pornographic photos of children. Google detected his activity and notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tip Line. The images are of children being forced to engage in sexual acts with adults. Soon after, Google reported the email account again for similar conduct during which Google was able to link the account to Irving. After obtaining a search warrant of Irving’s smartphone, law enforcement discovered it has been used for the operation of the Google email account as well as other accounts that had been reported by Facebook for child pornography. Law enforcement also found various files of child pornography on the phone.
Homeland Security Investigation, Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case.
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KC Man Indicted for Joplin Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing Great Southern Bank in Joplin, Mo., last week.
Leland Scott Graham, 57, was charged with bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Graham on July 22, 2021.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original federal criminal complaint, Graham walked into Great Southern Bank, 1232 S. Range Line Road in Joplin, on July 19, 2021. Graham allegedly proceeded to the teller counter, announced a robbery, and demanded money before lifting his shirt to display what tellers believed was a handgun in his waistband. The tellers handed over money, the affidavit says, and Graham left the bank. The affidavit says he dropped some of the cash on the bank floor as he was leaving. Surveillance cameras in the bank captured good quality video during the robbery.
On the day of the robbery, the Joplin Police Department released surveillance images to the media and requested the public’s assistance to identify the bank robber. The next day, July 20, 2021, the police received a tip that identified Graham as the robber. Officers located Graham in Kansas City, Mo., and attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving. Graham did not immediately stop and after a short pursuit, he left the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Graham was taken into custody a short time later.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI; the Joplin, Mo., Police Department; the Miami County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Department; the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department; and the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
Justice Department and EPA Reach Clean Air Act Settlement with Advanced Flow Engineering for Selling Defeat DevicesRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Advanced Flow Engineering (aFe), an automotive parts manufacturer and distributor based in Corona, California, has agreed to stop manufacturing and selling parts for motor vehicles that, when installed, defeat, disable or override EPA-approved emission controls and harm air quality.
The complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement, alleges that aFe’s manufacture and sale of these parts violate the Clean Air Act. From 2014 to the present, aFe manufactured and/or sold over 63,000 of these parts, widely known as “defeat devices.” The company will also pay a $250,000 penalty, which was based on its financial situation.
“The products that aFe manufactured and sold jeopardized the public health by causing illegal emissions of dangerous pollutants, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx),” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean E. Williams of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This case demonstrates that we will undertake necessary enforcement measures to eliminate the manufacture and sale of such devices to ensure that the vehicles on our roads meet required emission standards.”
“Today’s settlement will prevent the future sale of approximately 12,000 illegal product units per year,” said Acting Regional Administrator Deborah Jordan for EPA’s Pacific Southwest. “The increased particulate matter and NOx pollution stemming from defeat devices threatens the health of everyone, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, children and older adults. We also know that air pollution can lead to worse outcomes from COVID-19. It is unacceptable that the same communities that are being hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic are often the same communities that bear the disproportionate impact of air pollution.”
Based on prior sales that are now prohibited under the settlement, EPA estimates that this enforcement action will prevent the release of approximately 112 million pounds of NOx and one million pounds of particulate matter from vehicles that would have been installed with aFe’s defeat devices.
Tampering with diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles by installing defeat devices can cause large amounts of NOx and particulate matter emissions, both of which contribute to serious public health problems. These include premature death, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Numerous studies also link diesel exhaust to increased incidence of lung cancer. Respiratory issues disproportionately affect families, especially children, living in underserved communities overburdened by pollution. Stopping the sale and use of defeat devices will help reduce harmful air pollution that exacerbates the health effects of pollutant exposures.
The consent decree for this settlement was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the decree will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
The enforcement action is part of EPA’s National Compliance Initiative that targets companies that manufacture, sell and install parts that disable vehicle emission controls. To learn more, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines
If you suspect someone is manufacturing, selling or installing illegal defeat devices, or is tampering with emission controls, tell the EPA by writing to [email protected].
Jury Finds Maryland Men Guilty of Murder in 2017 Killing of Man in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Nyekemia Everett, 35, of Greenbelt, Md., and Malik Hewitt, 41, of Capitol Heights, Md., have been found guilty of first-degree felony murder while armed and other charges in the 2017 killing of a man in Southeast Washington.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict was returned on July 26, 2021, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition to the murder charge, the defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, attempted robbery while armed, and related offenses. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2021. Both men face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, beginning on April 26, 2017, Everett, Hewitt, and a third individual plotted to rob the victim, Christopher Heard. Over the phone, they lured him to the 2300 block of Ainger Place SE, on the pretense of a drug deal. At approximately 3:30 a.m. on April 27, 2017, Everett, Hewitt and the third individual drove together to the area and parked. In the meeting that followed, roughly 15 minutes later, Everett pointed a gun at Mr. Heard and announced a robbery. Mr. Heard lunged toward Everett, who shot him twice. Mr. Heard, 37, died at the scene. Everett and Hewitt fled the area and were arrested in May 2017.
In announcing the verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the FBI, Bode Technology, and the crime scene search unit from the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Services. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyse Constantinide and Richard Barker; Paralegal Specialists Lornce Applewhite, Debra Forte, Nicole McGhee, and Lashone Samuels; Victim Witness Specialist Jennifer Allen; Robert Cephas, La June Thames, Katina Adams-Washington, M. LaVerne Perry, Lesley Slade, and Maenylie Watson, all of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Homicide Section Intern Jack Holt.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Shehzad Akhtar, who prosecuted the case.
Jury Finds Fort Hancock Resident Guilty of Transporting Illegal Aliens and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Late last Friday, a federal jury found Gilberto Morales guilty on six counts, including one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana; one count of possession of marijuana; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of conspiracy to transport aliens; one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens; and one count of harboring aliens.
Per the evidence at trial, Gilberto Morales conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana beginning around June 1, 2019, and continuing until August 14, 2020. On August 14, 2020, Morales and another also possessed 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.
On August 14, 2020, Morales was found to be a felon in possession of approximately 1,833 rounds of assorted ammunition and 11 firearms. Morales’ prior conviction consisted of a charge of conspiracy with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in the Southern District of New York in 2009. He was sentenced to 50 months in prison for that charge.
From June 1, 2019, until August 14, 2020, Morales conspired to transport and harbor aliens and then on August 14, 2020, he harbored aliens.
After the guilty verdict, Morales was taken into custody. Morales’ sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breitzke, El Paso Division made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Border Patrol. AUSAs Adrian Gallegos and Spencer Kiggins are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
AUSA Adrian Gallegos and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas participate in Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. JTFA consists of federal prosecutors and attorneys from U.S. Attorney’s Offices along the Southwest Border (District of Arizona, Southern District of California, Southern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas), from the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division, along with law enforcement agents and analysts from DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol. The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also part of the Task Force.
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Joplin Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for enticing a 15-year-old victim through social media to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Clinton Anthony Yeats, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Yeats to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.
Yeats, who pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2021, admitted he engaged in an online relationship with the 15-year-old victim, identified in court documents as John Doe. They met through Grindr, a dating application, and communicated online for several months. They also used Snapchat and text messaging to communicate. Yeats solicited and received sexually explicit images of John Doe; Yeats also sent sexually explicit images of himself to John Doe. Yeats and the child victim discussed meeting in person to engage in sexual activity.
The investigation began on Jan. 9, 2020, when Snapchat reported four files that contained child pornography, which had been uploaded by Yeats the day before.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Inmate Indicted on Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury today indicted an inmate on an assault charge, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Lemond Lawrence Burns, 22, of Alpine, with assault of a correctional officer resulting in bodily injury. Burns is accused of assaulting an on-duty corrections officer in the Morgan County Jail in April 2021.
Burns faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case along with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin B. Mark is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Indiana Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Interstate Stalking Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Jarvis Wayne Madison (62, New Albany, Indiana) to life in federal prison for interstate stalking resulting in death. Madison was indicted in January 2017 and had pleaded guilty in March 2021.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at his sentencing, Madison, who was married to R.M., physically, emotionally, and mentally abused her for three years before he stalked her and killed her.
The events that led to his conviction began on November 15, 2016, in Indiana, when Madison held R.M. against her will, threatened to kill her, and shot at her with his firearm. R.M. was able to escape from Madison and, with the help of a relative, relocate to Ormond Beach, Florida.
From November 15 to November 27, 2016, Madison left multiple voicemails on and sent multiple text messages to the cellphone of R.M.’s relative, attempting to get R.M. to speak to him. In these voicemails and text messages, Madison sought to terrorize R.M., threatening that she would see him again when she least expected it.
In the days immediately preceding R.M.’s disappearance, Madison stayed with Belenda Sandy at her West Virginia residence. (Sandy, 60, of Buckhannon, West Virginia previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for obstruction of justice for her role in aiding Madison’s crimes.) Madison then left Sandy’s residence, drove to Florida, and conducted surveillance on R.M.
On November 27, Madison watched R.M. leave her relative’s residence in Ormond Beach to go for a jog. Wearing a disguise, Madison stalked R.M. and waited for her to finish her run before he kidnapped her in his SUV. A short time later, as she sat in the front seat of his SUV, Madison shot R.M. three times point blank with a .45 caliber pistol, killing her. With R.M.’s body still in his SUV, Madison left Florida and traveled back to Sandy’s residence in West Virginia. After spending the night there, Madison bought a shovel and a tarp and drove to Tennessee, where he buried R.M.’s body in a shallow grave.
Following R.M.’s disappearance on November 27, 2016, authorities began an investigation that resulted in Madison’s arrest in Kentucky on December 2, 2016. During a subsequent search of Madison’s SUV, law enforcement recovered the firearm used in the homicide, as well as the binoculars he used to stalk R.M. Law enforcement also observed blood stains on the front passenger seat of the SUV. When interviewed, Madison admitted he shot R.M. and later directed authorities where to find her body.
At Madison’s sentencing, the United States presented evidence not only of Madison’s physical, emotional, and mental abuse of R.M. prior to killing her but also evidence that he had been married at least eight times before, and that he had abused each of those women in the same ways. At his sentencing hearing, several of those women bravely testified in detail about Madison’s years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse during their relationships, recounting Madison’s constant threats that he would kill them and their family if they ever reported the abuse to police or attempted to leave him.
Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood stated, “This horrific case will never be forgotten here in Volusia County. My heart will always go out to the victim, her family, and friends, and I pray that they’ve found some peace in knowing the coward who killed her will never walk free again. On behalf of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the residents of our county and all victims of domestic violence, I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and every agency involved in investigating and prosecuting this tragic case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Jacksonville, Knoxville, and Louisville Field Offices), with assistance from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Indiana State Police, and the Clarksville (Indiana) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn P. Napier and Daniel P. Jancha.
Domestic violence is a crime. If you are a victim of domestic violence, or know someone who is, it is normal to feel scared, helpless, and vulnerable. You are not alone. Help is available locally through City Police Departments and County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as through national entities such as the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-303-839-1852.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act RobberyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jonathan Nash, 21, of Hattiesburg, was involved in the armed robbery of a Valero gas station in Hattiesburg on March 4, 2019. During the robbery, a firearm was discharged and approximately $400 was taken from the cash register. Nash admitted his involvement in the robbery during a subsequent interview jointly conducted by the ATF and Hattiesburg Police Department.
Nash was originally indicted for this offense on March 16, 2021. He will be sentenced on November 10, 2021, in Hattiesburg, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hattiesburg Felon Convicted of Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, on April 25, 2019, Derrick Keys, 34, of Hattiesburg, was the driver of a vehicle pulled over by Hattiesburg Police Department officers near Mobile Street in Hattiesburg. During the stop, Keys began to flee in the motor vehicle, leading police on a miles-long chase through a residential zone. Keys eventually abandoned his vehicle and began to flee on foot. Hattiesburg Police officers found Keys a short distance later, as well as a firearm that he discarded while fleeing on foot. Keys later admitted to possessing the firearm.
Keys was originally indicted for this offense on March 16, 2021. He will be sentenced on November 10, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Glassport, PA Man Admits Having an Extensive Collection of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Glassport, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Rory Shelton, 58, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in May 2019, a 16-year-old female went missing from her home in Paducah, Kentucky. An investigation traced the girl to Shelton’s one-room apartment in Glassport, PA, where the female was found to be staying with Shelton. Subsequent search warrants for the apartment and Shelton’s cell phones revealed an extensive collection of child pornography, including prepubescent minors and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Sexually exploitive images of the 16-year-old were also discovered.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered Shelton to remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Borough of Glassport Police Department, and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shelton.