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Wednesday 30 June 2021
Belle Plaine Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Accessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who accessed child pornography was sentenced on June 29, 2021, to ten years in federal prison.
Jared Daily, age 35, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, received the sentence after a January 11, 2021 guilty plea to one count of accessing child pornography. At the plea hearing, Daily admitted that, between January and June 2020, he used a cell phone to access child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent children.
Daily was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Daily was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to make $5,000 in restitution to a victim depicted in child pornography he accessed. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term, and he must comply with all sex offender registration and public notification requirements.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
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.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 20-73.
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Belle Chasse Man Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOSHUA HOCKLESS, age 29, a resident of Belle Chasse, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. HOCKLESS faces maximum penalties of up to 30 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is currently set for November 17, 2021 before the Honorable Sarah S. Vance.
According to court records, HOCKLESS was an Army Sergeant in the Headquarters Company, 377th Theater Sustainment Command, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse. HOCKLESS had a bank account at the United Services Automobile Association Federal Savings Bank (USAA) and learned that USAA allowed service members to withdraw deposits before the funds formally cleared the issuing bank. Knowing this, HOCKLESS opened bank accounts at third-party banks with minimal funding, made online wire transfers from those banks to USAA, and withdrew the deposits from USAA before it detected that there were insufficient funds in the issuing bank account. HOCKLESS obtained approximately $36,119.47 as a result of these fraudulent transfers between his accounts. HOCKLESS then asked other enlisted personnel to open USAA and third-party bank accounts, and give him their online banking passwords. HOCKLESS used these passwords to make similar fraudulent transfers to their USAA accounts and instructed them when to withdraw the cash to split with HOCKLESS. These transfers resulted in approximately $102,739.74 being fraudulently withdrawn from USAA – approximately half of which ($51,369.57) was received by HOCKLESS.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Army Criminal Investigations Command. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
Belgian Security Services Company and Three Former Executives Indicted for Bid Rigging on U.S. Department of Defense ContractsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Belgium-based Seris Security NV (Seris) and three executives for their roles in a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids and allocate customers for defense-related security services, including a multimillion-dollar contract issued in 2020 to provide security services to the U.S. Department of Defense for military bases and installations in Belgium. This is the second charge and first indictment involving an international conspiracy obtained by the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) and follows G4S Secure Solution NV’s (G4S) agreement to plead guilty in the investigation.
“The companies and individuals indicted are alleged to have rigged bids submitted to the U.S. Department of Defense and others, and abused the public trust placed in them as providers of security services at critical locations,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “We are committed to prosecuting procurement collusion that victimizes U.S. government agencies, wherever it occurs, and we are determined to hold those who seek to exploit U.S. government programs accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the culmination of extremely well-coordinated, diligent and tireless efforts by the FBI and our law enforcement partners working on the Procurement Collusion Strike Force to root out collusion that targets U.S. taxpayer dollars funding contracts overseas,” said Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense procurement system,” said Deputy Director Paul K. Sternal of DCIS. “This indictment demonstrates our resolve, alongside Department of Justice and Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners, to bring those who corrupt the competitive DoD contracting process and endanger U.S. national security to justice.”
The indictment, returned in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, charges former G4S Chief Executive Officer Jean Paul Van Avermaet; Seris Security NV (Seris); former Seris Chief Executive Officer Danny Vandormael; and former Seris Director of Guarding & Monitoring Peter Verpoort with conspiring to fix prices, rig bids and allocate customers for contracts for the provision of security services that protect the national security interests of the United States in Belgium. All of the defendants worked in Belgium and are Belgian nationals.
According to the indictment, the charged individuals, on behalf of their companies, along with other co-conspirators, participated in a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids and allocate customers for contracts to provide security services in Belgium, including contracts for the U.S. Department of Defense and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Those services included protecting military buildings and installations via the physical presence of guards, mobile monitoring and electronic surveillance. As part of the conspiracy, the conspirators agreed in advance which company would win certain security services contracts, and the price that each would bid for the contracts. As a result, the government received non-competitive and inflated bids, and was deprived of a competitive bidding process. The charged conspiracy began as early as spring 2019 and continued until as late as summer 2020.
The defendants are each charged with a violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals and a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fine for a Sherman Act charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
The Antitrust Division’s New York Office is prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of the FBI’s International Corruption Unit New York Field Office, the DCIS’ New York Resident Agency and the Transnational Operations Field Office, the U.S. Army CID’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and other PCSF partners in Europe. Special thanks to the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of State for their assistance.
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the PCSF, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant, and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. In fall 2020, the Strike Force expanded its footprint with the launch of PCSF: Global, which is designed to deter, detect, investigate and prosecute collusive schemes that target government spending outside of the United States.
To contact the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to the security services industry, go to https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bangor Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, on November 12, 2020, agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency executed a search warrant on a motel room in Bangor where Nikolas J. Raines, 29, was staying. Upon searching Raines’ motel room, agents found 310 grams of fentanyl, along with a digital scale, a blender and other drug paraphernalia. They also found a loaded .22 caliber revolver close to the fentanyl. Raines was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior Maine felony convictions.
On the drug trafficking charge, Raines faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and a supervised release term of between five years and life. On the charge of possessing a firearm in relation to drug trafficking, he faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, in addition to the sentence of imprisonment on the drug trafficking charge. On the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, he also faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Armed Forces Services Corporation Pays $4.3 Million to Resolve Anti-Kickback Act and False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Armed Forces Services Corporation d/b/a Magellan Federal (“AFSC”), located in Alexandria, agreed to pay $4,342,651 to resolve allegations that three former AFSC executives accepted kickbacks in exchange for awarding subcontracts on federal government contracts, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The United States alleged that from 2010 to 2015, a former AFSC executive directed a subcontractor to mark up the cost of services that the subcontractor provided to AFSC primarily in support of various Wounded Warrior programs. The United Sates further alleged that the former AFSC executive directed the subcontractor to divide the proceeds of the scheme between the subcontractor, the former AFSC executive, and two other former AFSC executives in exchange for awarding the subcontracts.
AFSC’s current ownership submitted a written contractor disclosure to the U.S. Small Business Administration describing potential kickbacks to the former executives, and cooperated in full in the ensuing investigation. The settlement resolves federal civil claims under the Anti-Kickback Act and the False Claims Act.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Hochul and Kristin S. Starr.
The civil claims settled by the settlement agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Albany Man Sentenced for Scamming Charities with Elaborate Drug Diversion SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Defendant Lorenzo Hodges, 62, of Albany, NY, was sentenced today to one and a half years in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $537,769 restitution and to forfeit $40,000 by United States District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain donated medications and return them to the pharmaceutical companies for profit.
The defendant pleaded guilty in May 2019 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to court documents, Hodges and others duped humanitarian organizations into believing that he had selflessly organized international relief missions to deliver medicines to the sick and injured in war-torn areas, but the missions were phony. At the time he was conducting this scheme, Hodges was the General Manager of a legitimate relief agency which provided donated clothing, personal care items, and durable medical equipment to approximately 17 conflict-affected nations worldwide. As such, Hodges was in a unique position to obtain donated pharmaceuticals.
Over a two-year period from 2012 to 2014, the defendant submitted applications under the auspices of his employer asking for donations of antibacterial agents and other medications for serious conditions such as diabetes. Hodges conjured up relief missions that would seem believable, identified fake destinations, and requested medications consistent with the purpose of the bogus trips so as not to raise any red flags. He arranged for the donated drugs to be transported from the donation site to his employer; concealed the drugs in the employer’s warehouse; and then hired a trucking company that transported the drugs to a returns processor using the pharmacy license of a co-conspirator. The returns processor issued refunds to the pharmacist on behalf of the drug manufacturers, believing that the drugs had been legitimately purchased. As a result of the scheme, Hodges and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained refunds totaling approximately $540,000 for medications that had been donated to help suffering people around the world.
“It is difficult to imagine a fraud scheme more callous than scamming a charity on behalf of people suffering in the midst of war,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “But that is exactly what this defendant did to satisfy his own callous greed. Thanks to the investigative work of our law enforcement partners, Hodges will now spend time behind bars for his crime.”
“Under the guise of charity, Lorenzo Hodges amassed donated medications meant for vulnerable people in conflict zones, returned them, and banked the proceeds,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Imagine profiting by purposely exploiting the mass suffering of others. The selfishness on display here is breathtaking. The FBI is gratified to help bring Mr. Hodges to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Beth Leahy.
48-Year-Old Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jesus Navarrate, 48, a Mexican citizen, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in February 2009, a federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned a one count indictment charging Navarrate with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §846.
The investigation into his drug trafficking organization began in September 2007. The organization was found to be responsible for importing approximately 1,950 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to the Western District of Tennessee utilizing vehicles with hidden compartments. Navarrate was extradited from Mexico to the Western District of Tennessee to face charges.
In November 2020, the defendant pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 450 kilograms or more of cocaine.
On June 28, 2021, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Navarrate to 240 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. This prosecution is part of an investigation conducted by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations and organized criminal enterprises, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Tuesday 29 June 2021
司法部就得克薩斯州本德堡縣法院的語言訪問和報復調查達成和解Read the Press Release
華盛頓——今天，司法部宣布與本德堡縣（FBC）達成和解協議，以改善英語水平有限 （ LEP）的人的法庭使用情況。
該協議解決了司法部對以下指控的調查：FBC法院基於民族血統歧視 有限英語人士 （LEP ） 的法院用戶，並對投訴人進行報復，兩者都違反了《1964年民權法案》第六章。第六章禁止聯邦財政援助的接受者如 FBC進行種族、膚色或民族歧視。該部門的調查發現，語言障礙使LEP人士難以有效地使用法院系統。這些障礙包括要求LEP刑事被告在認罪程序中使用雙語律師而不是合格翻譯，以及在兒童監護案件中導致LEP父母的法庭費用增加的政策。
“當英語水平有限的人士面臨語言障礙，無法有效我們的司法系統時，他們可能會失去他們的孩子、家庭和基本權利，”民權司助理檢察長克里斯汀·克拉克（Kristen Clarke）表示。“民權司將繼續奮鬥到底，以確保法院消除使人們無法獲得平等司法的障礙。我讚揚本德堡縣採取必要的行動，確保法院用戶的語言使用權利，以遵守《民權法案》第六章 。”
“本德堡是我們地區最多樣化的縣之一，”德克薩斯州南部地區的代理美國檢察官馬克· 唐納利（Mark Donnelly）認為。“這項協議將確保每個人都能訴諸我們的法庭，而不論其民族血統或英語水平如何”。
根據該協議，FBC將在FBC法院的民事和刑事案件中免費為LEP個人提供翻譯服務。FBC法院還將在明年審查其語言訪問計劃，為FBC法院制定強制性的第六章培訓，提供第六章報復培訓，並發布公告，用非英語語言解釋第六章的非歧視政策和投訴程序。該部門將對這些要求和其他要求進行為期兩年的監測。FBC還同意向LEP法庭使用者支付法庭費用和向聲稱受到報復的人士支付賠償金。
執行第六章是民權處的首要任務。有關民權處的其他信息可在其網站 www.justice.gov/crt 找到，有關英語水平有限和第六章的信息可在 www.lep.gov 找到。公眾可以通過 https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ 舉報可能侵犯其公民權利的行為。
司法部对得克萨斯州本德堡县法院关于语言公平与报复的调查达成和解Read the Press Release
华盛顿——司法部今日宣布与本德堡县 (FBC) 达成和解协议，以改善英语能力有限 (LEP) 人士获取司法服务的机会。
该协议结束了司法部对 FBC 法院存在针对 LEP 司法服务对象的基于国籍的歧视，并报复投诉人的指控的调查，这两项指控均违反了 1964 年《民权法案》第六章。第六章禁止联邦财政援助接受方（如 FBC）进行基于种族、肤色或国籍的歧视。司法部的调查发现语言障碍使 LEP 人士难以有效地使用司法系统的服务。语言障碍包括要求 LEP 刑事被告在认罪程序中使用双语律师而非合格口译员，以及导致 LEP 父母在儿童监护案件中需要支付更高法庭费用的政策。
民权司助理司法部长克里斯汀·克拉克 (Kristen Clarke) 说：“英语水平有限的人在面临语言障碍，无法有效使用司法系统时，可能会失去孩子、家庭和自身的基本权利。民权司将继续努力确保法院消除阻碍人们获得平等司法的障碍。 我赞扬本德堡县采取的必要行动，确保司法服务对象能够根据《民权法》第六章获得语言支持。”
“本德堡是我们地区最多元化的县之一，”德克萨斯州南区美国联邦代理检察官马克·唐纳利（Mark Donnelly）说。 “该协议将确保每个人，无论其国籍或英语水平如何都可以使用我们的司法服务。”
根据该协议，FBC 将在其法院的民事和刑事案件中为 LEP 个人免费提供口译服务。FBC 法院还将在明年审查其语言服务计划，制定针对《民权法案》第六章的强制性培训，提供第六条下报复行为的培训，并发布用非英语语言解释第六条非歧视政策和投诉程序的公告。司法部将监测以上计划和其他要求的执行情况，为期两年。 FBC 还同意向 LEP 个人支付诉讼费用的赔偿金，以及向涉嫌受到报复行为的个人支付赔偿金。
《民权法案》第六章的执行是民权司的首要任务。 关于民权司的更多信息可在其网站 www.justice.gov/crt 上获得，有关英语能力限制和第六章的信息可在 www.lep.gov 上获得。 公众可以在 https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ 投诉任何可能侵犯其民权的行为。
‘Doctor Bitcoin’ Pleads Guilty to Illegal Cash-to-Crypto SchemeRead the Press Release
A Richardson man who calls himself “Doctor Bitcoin” has pleaded guilty to illegally operating a cash-to-cryptocurrency conversion business, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
Mark Alexander Hopkins, 42, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. (He was charged via a criminal information on July 29, 2021.)
“This defendant ignored federal law and allowed fraudsters to use Bitcoin to operate under the radar of law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “We are determined to rid the Bitcoin marketplace of anyone who knowingly helps criminal actors stash illegal profits inside crypto wallets.”
According to plea papers, Mr. Hopkins admitted he ran a business that converted U.S. dollars to cryptocurrency, primarily Bitcoin, for a fee. He frequently sent BTC to customers’ crypto wallets without taking additional steps in verifying the source of the cash, he admitted.
In September 2019, a customer identified in court documents as “M.H.” approached Mr. Hopkins to convert U.S. dollars to BTC. The money Mr. Hopkins received from M.H. stemmed from a lottery scam he was running with a coconspirator in Nigeria.
Mr. Hopkins admitted he promised not to get involved in the details of M.H’s business dealings, but told M.H. how to circumvent financial institution reporting requirements by keeping deposits under $9,500, and directed M.H. to lie to financial institutions about the purpose of the business:
“I’m set up as a marketing company, so tell them you’re paying for a marketing campaign,” he said.
Over the course of about a year, Mr. Hopkins conducted 37 transactions with M.H., converting between $550,000 and $1.5 million, he said.
The defendant admitted he was not licensed to engage in the business of transmitting money within the states where he practiced, nor was he registered as a money transmitting business with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He failed to follow federal laws that require money transmitting businesses to verify customers’ names, date of birth, and address – a law aimed at identifying those engaged in unlawful activity – and failed to file currency transaction reports for high-value cash-in transactions.
Mr. Hopkins now faces up to five years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sid Mody is prosecuting the case.
ടെക്ാസിടെ ഫ ാർട്ട്ടെൻഡ്കൗണ്ടിയിടെ ഫകാെതികളുടെ ഭാഷാആക്സുും പ്രതികാരഅഫവേഷണവുും വീതിവയായ വകുപ്പ തീർപ്പാക്കുന്നുRead the Press Release
Download Malayalam DOJ FBC MOA Press Release
ન્યાય વિભાગ, ટેક્સાસના ફોટટબેન્ડ કાઉન્ટીમાાંઅદાલતોની ભાષાની ઉપલબ્ધી અનેબદલા તપાસની પતાિટ કર ેછRead the Press Release
Download Gujarati DOJ FBC MOA Press Release
फोर्ट बेंड काउंर्ी, र्ेक्सास में न्यायालयों की भाषा पहंच और प्रतिशोध जांच का तिपर्ारा करिा है जस्टिस तडपार्टमेंर्Read the Press Release
वाश िंगटन - जस्टिस शिपाटटमेंट ने आज सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता (LEP) वाले लोगोिं के शलए न्यायालयोिं तक पहिंच में सुधार के शलए फोटट बेंि काउिंटी (FBC) के साथ एक समझौते की घोषणा की।
यह समझौता उन आरोपोिं के शलए जस्टिस शिपाटटमेंट की जािंच का समाधान करता है शजसमें कहा गया था शक FBC न्यायालयोिं ने सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले न्यायालय उपयोगकताटओिं के साथ उनके राष्ट्र ीय मूल के आधार पर भेदभाव शकया और एक श कायतकताट के स्टिलाफ प्रशत ोधात्मक कारटवाई की, ये दोनोिं ही आरोप 1964 के शसशवल राइट्स एक्ट के ीषटक VI का उल्लिंघन करते हैं। ीषटक VI में FBC जैसी सिंघीय शवत्तीय सहायता के प्राप्तकताटओिं द्वारा नस्ल, रिंग या राष्ट्र ीय मूल के आधार पर भेदभाव को प्रशतबिंशधत शकया गया है। शवभाग की जााँच ने भाषा अवरोधोिं को उजागर शकया जो सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले लोगोिं के शलए न्यायालय प्रणाली को अथटपूणट ढिंग से एक्सेस करना कशिन बनाते हैं। इन अवरोधोिं में ऐसी आवश्यकताएिं ाशमल थी शजसके अनुसार सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले आपराशधक प्रशतवादी के शलए याशचका कायटवाही में योग्य दुभाशषया के बजाय शद्वभाषी वकील का उपयोग करना जरूरी था, और ऐसी नीशतयािं थीिं शजसके पररणामस्वरूप बाल शहरासत मामलोिं में सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले माता-शपता के शलए न्यायालय के िचट उच्चतर हो जाते थे।
शसशवल राइट्स शिवीजन के सहायक अटॉनी जनरल शििन क्लाकट ने कहा, "सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले लोग अपने बच्चोिं, घरोिं और मौशलक अशधकारोिं के नुकसान का सामना कर सकते हैं, जब वे भाषा सिंबिंधी बाधाओिं का सामना करते हैं जो हमारी न्याशयक प्रणाली तक साथटक पहिंच से विंशचत करते हैं।" " शसशवल राइट्स शिवीजन यह सुशनशित करने के शलए सिंघषट जारी रिेगा शक न्यायालय उन बाधाओिं को दू र करें जो लोगोिं को समान न्याय तक पहिंच से विंशचत करती हैं। शसशवल राइट्स एक्टके ीषटक VI के अनुपालन में न्यायालय के उपयोगकताटओिं के शलए भाषा की पहिंच सुशनशित करने के शलए आवश्यक कारटवाई करने पर मैं फोटट बेंि काउिंटी की सराहना करती हिं।"
"फोटट बेंि हमारे शजले में सबसे शवशवधतापूणट काउिंशटयोिं में से एक है," टेक्सास के दशक्षणी शजले के शलए कायटवाहक अमेररकी अटॉनी माकट िोनेली ने कहा। "यह समझौता सुशनशित करेगा शक राष्ट्र ीय मूल या सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता के बावजूद सभी व्यस्टियोिं की पहिंच हमारे न्यायालयोिं तक हो।"
समझौते के तहत, FBC न्यायालयोिं में दीवानी और आपराशधक मामलोिं में सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले व्यस्टियोिं को मुफ्त दुभाशषया सेवाएिं प्रदान करेगा। FBC न्यायालय अगले वषट अपनी भाषा पहिंच योजनाओिं की समीक्षा करेंगी, FBC न्यायालयोिं के शलए अशनवायट ीषटक VI प्रश क्षण शवकशसत करेंगी, ीषटक VI प्रशत ोध प्रश क्षण देंगी, और सावटजशनक नोशटस जारी करेंगी जो गैर-अिंग्रेजी भाषाओिं में ीषटक VI की गैर-भेदभाव नीशत और श कायत प्रशिया की व्याख्या करती हैं। शवभाग के द्वारा इन और अन्य आवश्यकताओिं की दो वषट तक शनगरानी की जाएगी। FBC ने सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता वाले उपयोगकताट को न्यायालय के िचों के शलए और प्रशत ोध का आरोप लगाने वाले व्यस्टि को हजाटने का भुगतान करने पर भी सहमशत व्यि की।
ीषटक VI को लागू करना शसशवल राइट्स शिवीजन की सवोच्च प्राथशमकता है। शसशवल राइट्स शिवीजन के बारे में अशतररि जानकारी उनकी वेबसाइट www.justice.gov/crt पर उपलब्ध है और सीशमत अिंग्रेजी दक्षता तथा ीषटक VI के बारे में जानकारी www.lep.gov पर उपलब्ध है। जनता नागररक अशधकारोिं के सिंभाशवत उल्लिंघन की ररपोटट https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ पर कर सकते हैं।
یئاوراک یماقتنا روا یئاسر ےس ےلاوح ےک نابز ںیم ںوتلادع یک ساسکیٹ ،یٹنؤاک ڈنیب ٹروف ےن فاصنا ہ مکحمRead the Press Release
واﺷﻧﮕﭨن – آج ﻣﺣﮑﻣہ ِ اﻧﺻﺎف ﻧﮯ ﻓورٹ ﺑﯾﻧڈ ﮐﺎؤﻧﭨﯽ )Fort Bend County, FBC( ﮐﮯﺳﺎﺗﮭ اﯾﮏ ﺗﺻﻔﯾﮯ ﮐﮯ ﻣُﻌﺎﮨدے ﮐﺎ اﻋﻼن ﮐﯾﺎ ﺗﺎﮐہ اﻧﮕرﯾزی زﺑﺎن ﮐﯽ ﻣﺣدود ﺻﻼﺣﯾت (limited English proficiency, LEP) رﮐﮭﻧﮯ واﻟﮯ اﻓراد ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﻋداﻟت ﺗﮏ رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﮐو ﺑﮩﺗر ﺑﻧﺎﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺋﮯ۔
ﯾہ ﻣﻌﺎﮨده ﻣﺣﮑﻣہ ِ اﻧﺻﺎف ﮐﯽ ان اﻟزاﻣﺎت ﮐﮯ ﻣﺗﻌﻠﻖ ﺗﻔﺗﯾش ﮐو ﺗﮑﻣﯾل ﺗﮏ ﭘﮩﻧﭼﺎﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ ﮐہ FBC ﮐﯽ ﻋداﻟﺗوں ﻧﮯ ﻋداﻟت ﮐﮯ LEP ﺻﺎرﻓﯾن ﮐﮯ ﺧﻼف اُن ﮐﯽ آﺑﺎﺋﯽ ﻗوﻣﯾت ﮐﯽ ﺑﻧﯾﺎد ﭘر ﺗﻔرﯾﻖ ﮐﯽ اور اﯾﮏ ﺷﮑﺎﯾت ﮐُﻧﻧده ﮐﮯ ﺧِ ﻼف اﻧﺗﻘﺎﻣﯽ ﮐﺎرواﺋﯽ ﮐﯽ، ﯾہ دوﻧوں اﻗداﻣﺎت 1964ء ﮐﮯ ﺳِول راﺋﭨس اﯾﮑٹ ﮐﮯ ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI ﮐﯽ ﺧِ ﻼف ورزی ﮨﯾں۔ ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI وﻓﺎﻗﯽ ﻣﺎﻟﯽ ﻣﻌﺎوﻧت ﮐﮯ وﺻُول ﮐُﻧﻧدﮔﺎن، ﺟﯾﺳﮯ FBC، ﮐﯽ ﺟﺎﻧب ﺳﮯ ﻧﺳل، رﻧﮓ ﯾﺎ آﺑﺎﺋﯽ ﻗوﻣﯾت ﮐﯽ ﺑُﻧﯾﺎد ﭘرﺗﻔرﯾﻖ ﮐﯾﮯ ﺟﺎﻧﮯ ﮐﯽ ﻣُﻣﺎﻧﻌت ﮐرﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ۔ ﻣﺣﮑﻣﮯ ﮐﯽ ﺗﻔﺗﯾش ﺳﮯ اﯾﺳﯽ ﻟﺳﺎﻧﯽ رُﮐﺎوﭨوں ﮐﺎ اﻧﮑﺷﺎف ﮨوا ﺟو LEP ﻓوﺟداری ﻣدﻋﺎ ﻋﻠﯾﮩﺎن ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﻋداﻟﺗﯽ ﻧظﺎم ﺗﮏ ﺻﺣﯾﺢ ﻣﻌﻧوں ﻣﯾں رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﺣﺎﺻِ ل ﮐرﻧﮯ ﮐو ﻣﺷﮑل ﺑﻧﺎﺗﯽ ﮨﯾں۔ اِن رُﮐﺎوﭨوں ﻣﯾں اﯾﺳﯽ ﺷراﺋط ﺷﺎﻣل ﺗﮭﯾں ﮐہ درﺧواﺳت ﭘر ﮐﺎرواﺋﯽ ﮐﮯ دوران LEP ﻓوﺟداری ﻣدﻋﺎ ﻋﻠﯾﮩﺎن اﯾﮏ ﻣﺳﺗﻧد ﺗرﺟُﻣﺎن ﮐﮯ ﺑﺟﺎﺋﮯ دو زﺑﺎﻧﯾں ﺑوﻟﻧﮯ واﻟﮯ وﮐﯾل ﮐﯽ ﺧدﻣﺎت ﺣﺎﺻل ﮐرﯾں اور اﯾﺳﯽ ﭘﺎﻟﯾﺳﯾﺎں ﺟن ﮐﮯ ﻧﺗﯾﺟﮯ ﻣﯾں LEP واﻟدﯾن ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﺑﭼوں ﮐﯽ ﺗﺣوﯾل ﮐﮯ ﻣﻘدﻣﺎت ﮐﮯ ﻋداﻟﺗﯽ اﺧراﺟﺎت ﺑڑھ ﺟﺎﺗﮯ ﺗﮭﮯ۔
اﻧﮕرﯾزی زﺑﺎن ﮐﯽ ﻣﺣدود ﺻﻼﺣﯾت رﮐﮭﻧﮯ واﻟﮯ اﻓراد اﭘﻧﮯ ﺑﭼّوں، ﮔﮭروں اور ﺑُﻧﯾﺎدی ﺣﻘوق ﮐﮭوﻧﮯ ﮐﺎ ﻧُﻘﺻﺎن اُﭨﮭﺎ ﺳﮑﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں ﺟب اُﻧﮩﯾں اﯾﺳﯽ ﻟِﺳﺎﻧﯽ رُﮐﺎوﭨوں ﮐﺎ ﺳﺎﻣﻧﺎ ﮨوﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ ﺟو ﮨﻣﺎرے ﻗﺎﻧوﻧﯽ ﻧظﺎم ﺗﮏ ﺻﺣﯾﺢ ﻣﻌﻧوں ﻣﯾں رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﮨوﻧﮯ
ﺳﮯ ﻣﺣروم ﮐر دﯾﺗﯽ ﮨﯾں،" ﯾہ ﺑﺎت ﺳِول راﺋﭨس ڈوﯾژن ﮐﯽ اﺳﺳﭨﻧٹ اﭨﺎرﻧﯽ ﺟﻧرل ﮐرﺳﭨن ﮐﻼرک ﻧﮯ ﮐﯽ۔ "ﺳِول راﺋﭨس ڈوﯾژن اس ﺑﺎت ﮐو ﯾﻘﯾﻧﯽ ﺑﻧﺎﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ اﭘﻧﯽ ﺟﻧﮓ ﺟﺎری رﮐّﮭﮯ ﮔﺎ ﮐہ ﻋداﻟﺗﯾں اﯾﺳﯽ رُﮐﺎوﭨوں ﮐو دُور ﮐرﯾں ﺟو ﻟوﮔوں ﮐو ﯾﮑﺳﺎں اﻧﺻﺎف ﺗﮏ رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﺳﮯ ﻣﺣروم ﮐرﺗﯽ ﮨﯾں۔ ﻣﯾں ﻓورٹ ﺑﯾﻧڈ ﮐﺎؤﻧﭨﯽ ﮐﯽ اﯾﺳﮯ ﺿروری اﻗداﻣﺎت ﮐرﻧﮯ ﭘر ﺗﻌرﯾف ﮐرﺗﯽ ﮨُوں ﺟو ﺳِول راﺋﭨس اﯾﮑٹ ﮐﮯ ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI ﮐﯽ ﺗﻌﻣﯾل ﻣﯾں ﻋداﻟﺗﯽ ﺻﺎرﻓﯾن ﮐو ﻟِﺳﺎﻧﯽ رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﻣِﻠﻧﮯ ﮐو ﯾﻘﯾﻧﯽ ﺑﻧﺎﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔"ﻓورٹ ﺑﯾﻧڈ ﮨﻣﺎری ڈﺳﭨرﮐٹ ﻣﯾں ﺳب ﺳﮯ زﯾﺎده ﻣﺗﻧوع ﮐﺎؤﻧﭨﯾز ﻣﯾں ﺳﮯ اﯾﮏ ﮨﮯ،" ﯾہ ﺑﺎت ﭨﯾﮑﺳﺎس ﮐﯽ ﺟﻧوﺑﯽ ڈﺳﭨرﮐٹ
ﮐﮯ ﻗﺎﺋم ﻣﻘﺎم اﻣرﯾﮑﯽ اﭨﺎرﻧﯽ ﻣﺎرک ڈوﻧﯾﻠﯽ ﻧﮯ ﮐﮩﯽ۔ "ﯾہ ﻣُﻌﺎﮨده اِس ﺑﺎت ﮐو ﯾﻘﯾﻧﯽ ﺑﻧﺎﺋﮯ ﮔﺎ ﮐہ آﺑﺎﺋﯽ ﻗوﻣﯾت ﯾﺎ اﻧﮕرﯾزی
زﺑﺎن ﮐﯽ ﻣﺣدود ﻗﺎﺑﻠﯾت ﺳﮯ ﻗطﻊ ﻧظر ﮨر اﯾﮏ ﮐو ﮨﻣﺎری ﻋداﻟﺗوں ﺗﮏ رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﺣﺎﺻل ﮨو۔اِس ﻣُﻌﺎﮨدے ﮐﮯ ﺗﺣت FBC ﮐﯽ ﻋداﻟﺗوں ﻣﯾں دﯾواﻧﯽ اور ﻓوﺟداری ﻣُﻘدّﻣﺎت ﻣﯾں LEP اﻓراد ﮐو ﺗرﺟُﻣﺎﻧﯽ ﮐﯽ ﺧِ دﻣﺎت FBC ﻣﻔت ﻓراﮨم ﮐرے ﮔﺎ۔ FBC ﮐﯽ ﻋداﻟﺗﯾں اﮔﻠﮯ ﺳﺎل ﺑﮭر ﻣﯾں اﭘﻧﮯ ﻟﺳﺎﻧﯽ رﺳﺎﺋﯽ ﮐﮯﻣﻧﺻوﺑوں ﮐﺎ ﺟﺎﺋزه ﺑﮭﯽ ﻟﯾں ﮔﯽ، FBC ﮐﯽ ﻋداﻟﺗوں ﮐﮯ ﻟﯾﮯ ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI ﮐﯽ ﻻزﻣﯽ ﺗرﺑﯾت ﻣرﺗب ﮐرﯾں ﮔﯽ، اﻧﺗﻘﺎﻣﯽ ﮐﺎرواﺋﯽ ﮐﮯ ﺣواﻟﮯ ﺳﮯ ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI ﮐﯽ ﺗرﺑﯾت ﻓراﮨم ﮐرﯾں ﮔﯽ اور ﻋواﻣﯽ ﻧوﭨﺳوں ﮐﺎ اﺟرا ﮐرﯾں ﮔﯽ ﺟو ﮐہ ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI ﮐﯽ ﺗﻔرﯾﻖ ﮐﮯ ﺧﻼف ﭘﺎﻟﯾﺳﯽ اور ﺷﮑﺎﯾت ﮐﮯ ﻋﻣل ﮐﯽ اﻧﮕرﯾزی ﮐﮯ ﻋﻼوه زﺑﺎﻧوں ﻣﯾں وﺿﺎﺣت ﮐرﯾں ﮔﮯ۔ ﻣﺣﮑﻣہ اِن ﺷراﺋط اور دﯾﮕر ﺷراﺋط ﮐﯽ دو ﺳﺎل ﺗﮏ
ﻧِﮕراﻧﯽ ﮐرے ﮔﺎ۔ FBC ﻧﮯ اﯾﮏ LEP ﻋداﻟﺗﯽ ﺻﺎرف اور اﯾﮏ اور ﻓرد ﺟس ﻧﮯ اﻧﺗﻘﺎﻣﯽ ﮐﺎرواﺋﯽ ﮐﺎ اﻟزام ﻋﺎﺋد ﮐﯾﺎ ﺗﮭﺎ، ﮐو ﻋداﻟﺗﯽ اﺧراﺟﺎت ﮐﯽ ﻣد ﻣﯾں ﮨرﺟﺎﻧﮯ ﮐﯽ اداﺋﯾﮕﯽ ﮐرﻧﮯ ﭘر ﺑﮭﯽ اﺗﻔﺎق ﮐﯾﺎ۔
ﭨل VI ﮐﺎ ﻧِﻔﺎذ ﺳِول راﺋﭨس ڈوﯾژن ﮐﯽ اوّ ﻟﯾن ﺗرﺟﯾﺣﺎت ﻣﯾں ﺳﮯ ﮨﮯ۔ ﺳِول راﺋﭨس ڈوﯾژن ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯾں اِﺿﺎﻓﯽ
ﻣﻌﻠوﻣﺎت اِس ﮐﯽ وﯾب ﺳﺎﺋٹ www.justice.gov/crt ﭘر دﺳﺗﯾﺎب ﮨﯾں، اور اﻧﮕرﯾزی ﮐﯽ ﻣﺣدود ﺻﻼﺣﯾت اور ﭨﺎﺋﭨل VI ﮐﮯ ﻣﺗﻌﻠﻖ ﻣزﯾد ﻣﻌﻠوﻣﺎت www.lep.gov ﭘر دﺳﺗﯾﺎب ﮨﯾں۔ ﻋوام اﻟﻧﺎس ﺷﮩری ﺣﻘوق ﮐﯽ ﻣﻣﮑﻧہ ﺧﻼف ورزﯾوں ﮐﯽ رﭘورٹ https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ ﭘر ﮐر ﺳﮑﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں۔وزارة العدل األمريكية تبرم اتفاقية تسوية بشأن التحقيق الخاص بإزالة الحواجز اللغوية واالنتقام في محاكم مقاطعة فورت بيند، تكساسRead the Press Release
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Whittier Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. —Antonio Castellanos, 38, of Whittier, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Castellanos, Genaro Serrato-Calles, aka Alejandro, aka Meno, 51; Antonio Valencia-Hernandez, aka Tito, 65, both of Modesto; and Jose Reyes-Pineda, 48, of Anaheim were charged with conspiring over a two-year period to distribute methamphetamine in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. In pleading guilty, Castellanos admitted to working with individuals in Mexico to distribute methamphetamine in the United States and, on one occasion, arranging for the shipment of over 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Serrato-Calles.
Castellanos is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Oct. 18. Castellanos faces a statutory mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. 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.
A jury trial is set for Serrato-Calles, Valencia-Hernandez, and Reyes-Pineda for Sept. 8. They are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force; the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force; the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Orange County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
West Union Methamphetamine Dealer Who Sexually Assaulted a Woman Sentenced to More Than Sixteen Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sexually assaulted a woman after he distributed methamphetamine to her was sentenced on June 25, 2021, to more than sixteen years in federal prison.
Herman Lee Ronnfeldt, age 56, from West Union, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 15, 2021 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Information from sentencing showed that Ronnfeldt, a convicted sex offender, was living in West Union, Iowa, in late 2018. In December 2018, law enforcement officers searched his apartment and located more than eighty grams of methamphetamine. Witnesses testified at sentencing that Ronnfeldt regularly distributed methamphetamine to people at his apartment. On one such occasion, Ronnfeldt distributed methamphetamine to a woman that caused her to feel ill. He then sexually assaulted her.
Ronnfeldt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. In sentencing Ronnfeldt, Judge Williams noted that Ronnfeldt’s criminal conduct had not slowed down with age, and that Ronnfeldt had continued to distribute dangerous drugs and commit sexual assaults. Judge Williams found that the appropriate sentence was 224 months’ imprisonment. Judge Williams adjusted the sentence to account for time Ronnfeldt had spent in custody for related offenses to 194 months and 20 days’ imprisonment. Ronnfeldt must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ronnfeldt is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the West Union Police Department, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2026.
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Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Daniel J. Borg, 43, of Watertown, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possession of controlled substances (heroin/fentanyl and eutylone) with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna Mills.
As part of his guilty plea, Daniel J. Borg admitted that on January 21, 2021 he was in possession of 305 grams of eutylone as well as 30 separate bags of a heroin/fentanyl mixture in an Audi automobile that he parked at a self-storage area in Watertown where he leased a unit. Detectives from the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force (Met-Jeff) surveilled Borg as he was about to enter his locked storage unit. After taking Borg into custody and recovering the drugs from the Audi, Met-Jeff Detectives obtained Borg’s consent to search his locked storage unit. Inside the storage unit Met-Jeff Detectives located a safe containing 500 separate small plastic bags, each holding a small quantity of a heroin/fentanyl mixture. Also recovered from the storage unit was a sawed-off .410-gauge shotgun illegally possessed by Borg, who was previously convicted of five (5) prior felony offenses.
Sentencing is scheduled October 19, 2021, at which time Borg faces a maximum sentence of up to 20-years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a minimum term of supervised release of 5 years and up to life for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of 5-years, and up to life for his conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and up to 10-years imprisonment for possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, consisting of Detectives from the City of Watertown Police Department, Detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, and Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Used Motor Vehicle Dealers Sentenced in Odometer Tampering SchemeRead the Press Release
Yesterday, in federal court in Brooklyn, Shmuel Gali was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 60 months’ imprisonment for his role in a long-running odometer tampering and money laundering scheme and ordered to pay $3,936,000 in restitution. The defendant pleaded guilty in August 2020 to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit odometer tampering, making false odometer statements and securities fraud.
“An automobile is one of the biggest purchases many consumers make,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Misrepresenting used car mileages defrauds buyers and hides important information concerning safety and reliability. The Department of Justice will continue to work with law enforcement partners to prosecute odometer fraud.”
“This sentence sends a warning that this office will prosecute those who engage in odometer tampering and deliberately dupe consumers into unknowingly paying inflated prices for their motor vehicles,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis for the Eastern District of New York. “With the defendant being sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution to his victims, he is being held to account for his greed in contriving this fraudulent scheme.”
“Automobile sales stand as one of the pillars of the American economy, requiring transparency and integrity,” said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso of IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “The financial expertise of IRS-CI was needed to uncover this criminal enterprise perpetuated by Shmuel Gali who received a just sentence relative to his criminal activity.”
Between 2006 and June 2011, Shmuel Gali, while conspiring with his brother Chaim, defrauded buyers of used motor vehicles by misrepresenting the mileage of approximately 690 vehicles that they sold. They used fictitious dealer names to purchase high-mileage, used motor vehicles from a national vehicle-leasing company; altered the odometers of the vehicles to reflect false, lower mileages; and then sold the vehicles at wholesale automobile auctions. On average, the odometers on the vehicles were rolled back by close to 70,000 miles. Consumers who purchased the vehicles at dealerships did not know the true mileage and paid inflated sales prices.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation and IRS-CI.
Senior Litigation Counsel Linda I. Marks of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine M. Mirabile of the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case.
NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the United States results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s odometer fraud hotline at (800) 424-9393 or (202) 366-4761. More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/odometer-fraud.
Used Car Dealer Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Odometer Tampering SchemeRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Yesterday, in federal court in Brooklyn, Shmuel Gali was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 60 months’ imprisonment for his role in a long-running odometer tampering and money laundering scheme, and ordered to pay $3,936,000 in restitution. The defendant pleaded guilty in August 2020 to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit odometer tampering, making false odometer statements and securities fraud.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Brian M. Boynton, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Thomas Fattorusso, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the sentence.
“The sentence sends a warning that this Office will prosecute those who engage in odometer tampering and deliberately dupe consumers into unknowingly paying inflated prices for their motor vehicles,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “With the defendant being sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution to his victims, he is being held to account for his greed in contriving this fraudulent scheme.”
“An automobile is one of the biggest purchases many consumers make,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Boynton. “Misrepresenting used car mileages defrauds buyers and hides important information concerning safety and reliability. The Department of Justice will continue to work with law enforcement partners to prosecute odometer fraud.”
“Automobile sales stand as one of the pillars of the American economy requiring transparency and integrity,” stated Acting IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso. “The financial expertise of IRS-CI was needed to uncover this criminal enterprise perpetuated by Shmuel Gali who received a just sentence relative to his criminal activity.”
Between 2006 and June 2011, Shmuel Gali, while conspiring with his brother Chaim, defrauded buyers of used motor vehicles by misrepresenting the mileage of approximately 690 vehicles that they sold. They used fictitious dealer names to purchase high mileage, used motor vehicles from a national vehicle leasing company, altered the odometers of the vehicles to reflect false, lower mileages, and then sold the vehicles at wholesale automobile auctions. On average, the odometers on the vehicles were rolled back by close to 70,000 miles. Consumers who purchased the vehicles at dealerships did not know the true mileage and paid inflated sales prices.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Catherine M. Mirabile of the Eastern District of New York and Senior Litigation Counsel Linda I. Marks of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case.
The Defendant:
SHMUEL GALI (also known as “Sam Gali”)
Age: 48
Brooklyn, New York; IsraelE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14-CR-652 (KAM)
United States Attorney’s Office Resolves False Claims Act Investigation into Improper Submission of Federal Health Care Claims by Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern VermontRead the Press Release
UPDATE
The HCRS Settlement Agreement has been attached to this Press Release.
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that it has resolved its investigation into whether Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (“HCRS”) failed to screen its employees and improperly submitted to the government claims for services provided by an individual barred from receiving payments from federally funded health care programs.
“It is imperative that organizations such as HCRS that provide important mental health, substance abuse, and developmental services to Vermonters, carefully vet their employees to ensure that all requirements are followed and taxpayer money is not paid out improperly,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. “I commend HCRS for bringing this issue to the government’s attention and committing to make changes to the ways in which it screens prospective and current employees so that it does not happen again.”
As a health care entity submitting claims to federally-funded health care programs, HCRS must ensure that its employees are not included on the exclusion list created and maintained by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG-HHS”). OIG-HHS may exclude individuals and entities from participation in these programs for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to fraud. For a period of nearly 10 years, HCRS employed an excluded individual and submitted claims on the person’s behalf for reimbursement to Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare, thereby violating the federal False Claims Act. In addition, the Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office (“MFRAU”) concluded that HCRS also violated the Vermont False Claims Act.
To resolve the claims against it, HCRS has agreed to pay to the United States and State of Vermont a total of $170,037.76 and already has begun the payment process. The settlement amount reflects a cooperation credit in light of HCRS’s self-disclosure of the violation, assistance with the investigation, and voluntary adoption of remedial measures to guard against improper employment and claim submission in the future.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Almquist Lively handled this matter for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, in partnership with Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth L. Anderson, Director of MFRAU. Anne E. Cramer and Kevin M. Henry of Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC represented HCRS.
HCRS Settlement AgreementU.S. Attorney's Office, FBI, and AARP Nevada Partner to Protect Nevadans from Gift Card FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and AARP Nevada will host an interactive telephonic town hall on June 30, at 10 a.m. PDT, to share information about common gift card fraud schemes and prevention tips.
During the hour-long town hall, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and FBI Supervisory Special Agent will discuss common scams to be aware of and provide tips to protect you and your loved ones. Following the presentations, callers will have the opportunity to ask questions.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2020, Nevadans over the age of 60 lost more than $36.5M. In fact, Nevada ranked first among all states for the number of total fraud reports in 2020 with 35,533.
To join the toll-free telephonic town hall, register at https://aarp.cvent.com/events/aarp-nv-gift-card-scams-tth-statewide-6-30-2021/event-summary-8b14e7f171034e6fb1c3fb7278fee296.aspx. In addition to joining the town hall by phone, AARP members and the community at large may join online by going to the AARP Nevada Facebook page at facebook.com/aarpnv.
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 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
In addition, you can report potential elder fraud to the FBI at www.ic3.gov or by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324). Similarly, you can call AARP’s Fraud Watch Network helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report a scam. You can also find tip sheets and sign up for fraud alerts at the Fraud Watch Network site, www.aarp.org/fraud.
To learn more about the Department of Justice’s efforts to stop elder fraud, please visit the Elder Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
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Two felons sentenced to prison for scheme to steal thousands in COVID-19 unemployment insurance fundsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two Florida residents who crashed their car while fleeing from a traffic stop have been sentenced to federal prison for colluding in a scheme to steal pandemic unemployment funds.
Malik Abdul McCaully, 43, of Tampa, Fla., and Tamesha Lashelle Brown, 41, of Dade City, Fla., were sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to Informations charging each of them with conspiring to commit various offenses, including mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, disaster relief fraud, and access device fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered each defendant to pay $137,195 in restitution to the state of Pennsylvania, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“These two criminals used access to technology to scam money out of unemployment benefits programs created specifically to help people who were struggling during the pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “But all their high-tech scheming came to a crashing halt when they tried to outrun police officers on I-95.”
As described in court documents and proceedings, McCaully and Brown’s criminal history spanned decades. McCaully has 39 prior convictions, including convictions for cocaine trafficking, robbery, and aggravated assault with a firearm. Brown, meanwhile, has 17 prior convictions that included offenses for grand theft, delivering cocaine, and aggravated child abuse. From about July to October 2020, the two worked together to obtain victims’ personal identifying information, without those individuals’ knowledge or consent, and then used that information to file fraudulent applications for unemployment assistance, including with the State of Pennsylvania. The two posed as the applicants when communicating with banks distributing the payments. After fraudulently obtaining bank cards preloaded with more than $130,000 in unemployment insurance funds, Brown and McCaully traveled to various ATMs in Pennsylvania, withdrawing thousands of dollars.
The two came to the attention of law enforcement in the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2020, when a vehicle driven by McCaully sped from an attempted traffic stop by Jasper County, S.C., sheriff’s deputies on Interstate 95. McCaully eventually crashed the vehicle in Pooler, Georgia, and he – and his passenger, Brown – were taken into custody. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement recovered more than $20,000 in cash, dozens of prepaid debit cards issued by states’ unemployment insurance funds in the names of others, as well as several false identifications that the two had used.
“These sentences take two career criminals off the street for a substantial amount of time, effectively removing a threat against our law-abiding citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Had it not been for the awareness of our local and state law enforcement partners, and our federal partners, these two would have continued to target those in need of assistance and every American taxpayer.”
“Those who prey on systems created to help our fellow man are among the most dastardly people we have the duty to bring to justice,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “They can’t outrun the long arm of the law.”
“Malik McCaully and Tamesha Brown engaged in a scheme to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program by submitting fraudulent claims for benefits using PII belonging other individuals. Unemployment insurance programs exist to provide needed assistance to qualified individuals who are unemployed or underemployed due to no fault of their own. Fraud against these programs causes state workforce agencies, like the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, to redirect valuable resources to address fraud to ensure benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive them. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and our many law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit the unemployment insurance program,” said Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
The FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Pooler Police Department, Port Wentworth Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol investigated the case. It was prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or go to justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.
Two brothers sentenced in scheme to use drone to smuggle contraband into a Georgia state prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two brothers have been sentenced in U.S. District Court after admitting to a scheme to use a drone to smuggle contraband into a Georgia state prison.
George Lo, 27, of Powder Springs, Ga., was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Owning an Unregistered Aircraft that was Operated, Attempted to be Operated, or Allowed to be Operated by another person, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Lo’s brother, Nicholas Lo, 25, of Dallas, Ga., was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Serving or Attempting to Serve as an Airman Without an Airman’s Certificate. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. also ordered each man to serve one year of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The criminal prosecutions of the Lo brothers, and of co-defendant Cheik Hassane Toure, 24, of Austell, Ga., who is awaiting sentencing after also pleading guilty, are among the first in the nation under federal law regulating non-passenger aircraft. The prosecution of Nicholas Lo is believed to be the first in the nation for illegally serving as a commercial drone pilot.
“For as long as there have been prisons, inmates and their allies have attempted to circumvent security measures to introduce contraband inside the walls,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “In recent years, the increasing use of remotely operated aircraft has added complexity to this challenge, but in coordination with our law enforcement partners we will continue to work to maintain secure incarceration facilities.”
As described in court documents and testimony, George Lo was serving a state sentence for armed robbery at Telfair State Prison in Telfair County when he began conspiring with Nicholas Lo and Toure, and others, to own and operate a Storm Drone 4 kit-built unmanned aircraft without registration or licensing. The Lo brothers discussed using the drone to deliver contraband to Telfair State Prison, and Nicholas Lo and Toure practiced flying the aircraft. George Lo planned to pay the two to fly the aircraft to deliver the contraband, which he intended to sell to other inmates.
At 1:30 a.m., on Aug. 26, 2019, Telfair County Sheriff’s deputies observed an approaching vehicle turn off its lights and park about 100 yards from Telfair State Prison. During a search of the area, Deputies encountered Nicholas Lo and Toure in a wooded area between the road and prison. The pair possessed a large duffle bag containing the drone, a controller, a video monitor and a headset. In addition, the bag contained 14 cell phones, at least 74 grams of tobacco, a digital scale and earbud headphones. Both men were taken into custody.
Federal law requires registration of unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or more, and the Storm Drone 4’s weight was in excess of that requirement. Also, federal law requires the pilot of any unmanned aircraft to hold an airman’s certificate when operating the unmanned aircraft for compensation or hire.
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning that violating Federal regulations related to owning and operating drones will not be tolerated,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Southern Region. “As drones continue to be a more prevalent presence in our nation’s airspace, we are committed to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure that protecting public safety and security remains paramount.”
“Any type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are proud of our Special Agents for their diligence in stopping the introduction of dangerous contraband into Telfair State Prison,” said Georgia Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “With the assistance and support of our law enforcement partners on every level, we are pleased to see that justice is being served on these individuals, and a message is being sent to others who may be contemplating similar actions that could pose a threat to the safety of the public and the secure operations of our facilities.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Two Charged Federally in Connection with CarjackingsRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on June 16, 2021, charging two Louisville men with carjacking and brandishing firearms.
According to court documents, Cameron Burnett, 30, carjacked a Toyota Camry while brandishing a firearm on January 18, 2021, in Louisville Kentucky. Additionally, Burnett and Timothy McCurley, 33, carjacked a Hyundai Tucson on January 22, 2021, in Mt. Washington, Kentucky. During the course of that crime, McCurley brandished a firearm.
Burnett is charged with carjacking and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The defendant made his initial court appearance on June 22, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Regina S. Edwards of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for each carjacking and a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years in prison for brandishing a firearm.
McCurley is charged with carjacking and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on July 29th at 1:30 pm, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colin H. Lindsay of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for carjacking and a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years in prison for brandishing a firearm. For each defendant, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky; and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Field Office Robert Brown made the announcement.
The FBI, Louisville Metro Police Department, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, and Elizabethtown Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie Blaylock 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.
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Turtle Creek Woman Admits Role in Fentanyl Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of narcotics trafficking, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Marleka Robinson, age 26, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on September 11, 2016, Marleka Robinson obtained a large quantity of fentanyl from a distributor in the Knoxville section of Pittsburgh at Robinson’s brother and co-defendant Jerry Coker’s request. Robinson returned the drugs to the residence she shared with Coker and their other sister, codefendant Monique Robinson. A search warrant executed at the Coker residence the following day resulted in the seizure of more than 285 grams of fentanyl and small quantities of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. Drug packaging, weighing, and distributing materials were found strewn through the house, along with two Smith & Wesson pistols and $8,900 in cash, all of which were seized by law enforcement.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for October 19, 2021, at 2:15 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five and not more than 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, 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 Robinson on bond pending appeal.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Robinson.
Tulsa Man Sentenced for Killing a Sand Springs Woman in a Drunk Driving CollisionRead the Press Release
A drunk driver who killed a woman in a 2019 collision was sentenced today in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Terence C. Kern sentenced Hector Manuel Hernandez, 37, of Tulsa, to 11 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Hernandez pleaded guilty to second degree murder in March 2021.
In his written plea agreement, Hernandez admitted that he rear-ended a car while driving on South Garnett Road, and as he fled the first accident, hit the victim’s automobile head on. Jennifer Holt died from injuries sustained in the collision. Hernandez had a blood alcohol level of .250. He was also convicted for DUI in Rogers County in 2007.
The Broken Arrow Police Department, FBI and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Bish prosecuted the case.
Traffic Stop Leads to Man Pleading Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who possessed nearly a half-pound of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute pled guilty June 22, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
David Naberhaus, 57, Deloit, Iowa, was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In 2000, Naberhaus was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on November 18, 2020, Naberhaus was stopped by law enforcement for traffic violations in Woodbury County, Iowa. Due to Naberhaus’ nervous behavior, a K-9 was deployed and indicated the presence of controlled substances from within the car. Law enforcement then searched the car and discovered 222 grams (nearly a half-pound) of pure methamphetamine in 5 separate baggies, 12 grams of marijuana, 3 grams of cocaine, and $6,501 in 4 bundles. On February 15, 2021, while on routine patrol, Iowa State Patrol noticed a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 20. A check of the license of the registered owner revealed the owner to be Naberhaus, who had a federal warrant for his arrest. A later search of Naberhaus’ car revealed bags of meth, bags of marijuana, lidocaine patches, a pipe a lighter, and Ziploc baggies.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Naberhaus remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Naberhaus faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Ida County Sheriff’s Department, Sioux City Police Department, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4010.
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Town of Mishicot Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison Following Decades of Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on June 28, 2021, Timothy J. Tetzlaff (age: 59) of the Town of Mishicot, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
In March 2021, Tetzlaff pled guilty to Transportation of a Minor with the Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Production of Child Pornography. The facts introduced at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that Tetzlaff sexually abused at least eight Manitowoc area children beginning in 1987.
In October 2020, an underage victim came forward and reported abuse by Tetzlaff to Manitowoc authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation revealed that Tetzlaff often took minors on camping trips throughout the United States and Canada, abusing them numerous times during the journeys. Tetzlaff also assaulted the children at his home in the Town of Mishicot. Law enforcement also discovered digital images of one of the victims on a digital camera belonging to Tetzlaff. Teztlaff had surreptitiously photographed the child while he slept in 2015. Following his arrest, several additional victims came forward to report being abused by Tetzlaff.
When sentencing Tetzlaff, Judge Griesbach noted the horrendous nature of the crimes and Tetzlaff’s pattern of preying on children. Judge Griesbach explained that a 30-year prison sentence was lengthy enough to protect the community given Tetzlaff’s advanced age. Upon the completion of his prison sentence, Tetzlaff will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and the Green Bay office of the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Public Information Officer
(414) 297-1700
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Tangipahoa Parish Man Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES WATTS, age 49, a resident of Amite, Louisiana, was charged June 11, 2021 in a one-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
The defendant had his initial court appearance on June 23, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. If convicted, WATTS faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ben Myers.
Statement of United States Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.Read the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051This Office and our federal partners remain in regular contact with the leadership of both the Buffalo and Rochester Police Departments as well as both the Erie County and Monroe District Attorney’s Offices, as we assist them in addressing the increasing violence, gun crimes, and homicides we are experiencing in both cities. District Attorney Sandra Doorley and I are meeting with Rochester Police Chief Herriott-Sullivan tomorrow morning to discuss how increased federal prosecutions and resources might help to address the problem there. Similar discussions are and have been ongoing with both the BPD and District Attorney Flynn here in Buffalo. On Thursday, I am convening a meeting of federal agency heads in the District, including the ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, and the USMS, so that we can fine-tune our federal strategy and response, which we will publicly announce next week.
# # # #South Windsor Man Charged with Defrauding Grandparents of $679KRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging DOUGLAS SENERTH, 32, of South Windsor, with offenses related to his alleged theft of approximately $679,000 from his grandparents.
The indictment was returned on June 7, 2021. Senerth appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty. He has been detained in state custody since February 10, 2021, when he was arrested on unrelated charges.
As alleged in the indictment, Senerth defrauded his grandmother and his late grandfather by falsely claiming to be a college student and inducing them to give him approximately $419,000 to pay for nonexistent college tuition and other related expenses, and an additional approximately $260,000 by falsely claiming that he would invest their money into an investment fund run by one of his nonexistent professors. As part of the scheme, Senerth created fraudulent college transcripts, letters and email accounts that he used to corroborate his lies.
The indictment charges Senerth with three counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.
The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Sixty Defendants Charged in Nationwide Takedown of Sinaloa Cartel Methamphetamine NetworkRead the Press Release
For more information contact:
Assistant U. S. Attorney Matthew J. Sutton (619) 546-8941, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Bredariol (619) 546-8419, and Assistant U. S. Attorney Amy B. Wang (619) 546-6968
Click
HERE for the indictment
Click HERE for the search warrantSAN DIEGO – An indictment was unsealed today in federal court charging 60 members of a San Diego-based international methamphetamine distribution network tied to the Sinaloa Cartel with drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms offenses.
During the last month, hundreds of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents and officers have arrested dozens of defendants and searched multiple locations throughout San Diego County and in five states. As of today, 44 of the 60 defendants are either in federal or state custody, and the search continues for 16 defendants. In addition to these arrests, law enforcement has seized more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs; 90 firearms; and more than $250,000 in cash. Law enforcement officials are also seeking the forfeit of residences, high-end vehicles, and bulk cash belonging to these defendants.
According to the indictment and other publicly filed documents, over the last several years, this complex San Diego-based network obtained thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine from the Sinaloa Cartel to smuggle across the international border concealed in hidden compartments in passenger cars and motorcycles. The defendants then used these cars and motorcycles, along with trains, commercial airlines, the U.S. Mail, and commercial delivery services like FedEx and UPS to distribute that methamphetamine to dozens of sub-distributors located throughout San Diego County, the United States, and the world, including Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Kentucky, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
In return, tens of thousands of dollars in narcotics proceeds were returned to the network’s leaders via shipments of bulk cash, structured cash deposits into bank accounts, and money transfer systems like MoneyGram, Western Union, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App. And to protect their illegal operations, the defendants allegedly possessed dozens of firearms and used encrypted communication providers to communicate with each other. This drug trafficking and money laundering continued unabated throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Despite their sophisticated efforts, law enforcement successfully penetrated this network with a variety of investigative techniques, including physical surveillance, obtaining phone records and financial documents, undercover agents, search warrants, as well as a six-month federal wiretap to intercept the communications and track the locations of the defendants.
Today we have dealt a serious blow to this San Diego-based international drug trafficking network with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The intersection of drug dealing and gun possession inevitably leads to violence in our communities. By dismantling this network, the Department of Justice reaffirms its unwavering commitment to reducing violent crime and building a San Diego where all our citizens are safe.”
“DEA is enhancing its efforts to disrupt, dismantle and destroy the most violent drug trafficking organizations across the country under Operation Crystal Shield,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery. “By dismantling this sophisticated drug trafficking network, DEA and our law enforcement partners have prevented significant quantities of methamphetamine and numerous firearms from making their way to the streets of San Diego and other neighborhoods throughout the United States. Drug trafficking is a violent crime, that impacts the safety and security of our communities – and the drug and firearm seizures made in this investigation are testament to that.”
“The primary motivation of drug traffickers is greed,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge for IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to work tirelessly alongside our partner agencies to stop the flow of narcotics and narcotics proceeds that are killing innocent Americans, and to ensure that crime doesn’t pay—that those individuals, like the 60 defendants indicted and arrested in this case, are brought to justice.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to preserving the integrity of the mail by ridding the mail of involvement in drug trafficking,” said US Postal Inspection Service Acting Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the Los Angeles Division. “This operation clearly shows that by combining our strengths and resources with all the involved agencies which include, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies we can disrupt their drug trafficking organizations to protect our communities.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Grossman also praised federal, state, and local law enforcement for the coordinated team effort in the culmination of this investigation. This case was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotics Task Force (NTF), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The NTF is a DEA-led task force comprised of federal and local law enforcement from the DEA, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the San Diego Police Department, the Escondido Police Department, the United States Border Patrol, and the San Diego County Probation Office. Agents and officers from the United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, also provided vital assistance for the investigation. Attorneys from the Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit, likewise provided critical work as part of the investigative team.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton, Nicole Bredariol, and Amy B. Wang of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Kathleen Jordano and Leticia Adams.
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.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21cr1559-H
(D1) Reyes Espinoza Age: 35 San Ysidro, CA
(D2) David Villegas Age: 49 San Diego, CA
(D3) John Bomenka Age: 54 San Diego, CA
(D4) Dennis Jones Age: 49 San Diego, CA
(D5) Darren Mosier Age: 59 San Diego, CA
(D6) Frank Tucker Age: 63 San Diego, CA
(D7) Charles Miller Age: 52 San Diego, CA
*(D8) Carlos Espinoza Age: 28 Tijuana, MX
(D9) Mario Espinoza Age: 20 Tijuana, MX
(D10) Jaron Hillyer Age: 30 San Diego, CA
(D11) Kristina Brown Age: 32 San Diego, CA
(D12) Danny Miller Age: 52 San Diego, CA
(D13) Shawn Morrill Age: 49 San Diego, CA
*(D14) Hilleal Grant Age: 51 San Diego, CA
*(D15) Lewis Rich Age: 59 San Diego, CA
(D16) Cameron Graff Age: 29 San Diego, CA
*(D17) Terry Haith Age: 60 San Diego, CA
(D18) Tansy Steinhauer Age: 51 San Diego, CA
*(D19) Jessica Pomeroy Age: 30 San Diego, CA
*(D20) Shadow Segura Age: 23 Houston, TX
(D21) Jasmine Lucas Age: 50 San Diego, CA
(D22) Philip Abbas Age: 42 San Diego, CA
*(D23) Peter Fuller Age: 63 San Diego, CA
(D24) Eduardo Osuna Age: 41 San Diego, CA
(D25) Frank Carrillo Age: 45 San Diego, CA
(D26) Stephen Myrick Age: 45 San Diego, CA
(D27) Gloria Sandoval Age: 40 San Diego, CA
*(D28) Ashley Hilton Age: 42 Houston, TX
(D29) Joseph Occhiogrosso Age: 44 Brooklyn, NY
(D30) Gary Beasley Age: 39 San Diego, CA
*(D31) Arnulfo Rodriguez Age: 38 San Diego, CA
(D32) Alexandro Larios-Flores Age: 24 San Diego, CA
*(D33) Jose Vargas Age: 31 San Diego, CA
(D34) Michael Nagle Age: 50 San Diego, CA
*(D35) Raymond Sterling Age: 51 San Diego, CA
(D36) Terry Tyler Age: 49 San Diego, CA
(D37) Victor Yamasaki Age: 59 San Diego, CA
(D38) Chris Paschke Age: 57 San Diego, CA
(D39) Charles Gerardi Age: 57 Houston, TX
(D40) Christian Lopez-Villegas Age: 34 San Ysidro, CA
(D41) David Santa Maria Age: 49 San Diego, CA
(D42) Melvin Johnson Age: 44 San Diego, CA
(D43) Daniel Babuata Age: 34 San Diego, CA
*(D44) Garrett Steele Age: 40 San Diego, CA
(D45) Vien Trinh Age: 62 San Diego, CA
*(D46) Troy Prater Age: 46 San Diego, CA
*(D47) Sharon Landhan Age: 44 San Diego, CA
(D48) Gabriel Askay Age: 44 San Diego, CA
(D49) Patrick Lane Age: 57 San Diego, CA
(D50) Kevin Tobin Age: 65 San Diego, CA
(D51) James Ellerbe Age: 68 San Diego, CA
(D52) Hope Stoneking Age: 35 San Diego, CA
(D53) Tasha Almanza Age: 42 San Diego, CA
*(D54) Jason Ferguson Age: 48 San Diego, CA
(D55) Kelle Ferguson Age: 52 San Diego, CA
*(D56) Roger Desroche Age: 74 San Diego, CA
(D57) Steven Brandt Age: 57 San Diego, CA
(D58) Esteban Gastelum-Sanchez Age: 42 San Diego, CA
(D59) Tara Scroggins Age: 45 San Diego, CA
(D60) Debbie Hill Age: 59 San Diego, CA
*Fugitives
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1) and (h))
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C., § 841(a)(1))
Importation of Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960)
Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release. For the firearms charges, term of custody up to 10 years imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.
AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration, Narcotics Task Force
Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation
United States Postal Inspection Service
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego Police Department
Escondido Police Department
United States Border Patrol
San Diego County Probation Office
United States Marshals Service
Homeland Security Investigations
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
Federal Bureau of Prisons
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan
Sioux City Man Sentenced to More than Five Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing and Firing a GunRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced June 22, 2021 to more than five years in federal prison.
Brandon Miller, age 35, from Sioux City, Iowa received the prison term after a February 16, 2021, guilty plea to a one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Miller was previously convicted of robbery in Jefferson County, Colorado and forgery, eluding and assault with weapon on a peace office in Woodbury County, Iowa.
Evidence at Miller’s detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed Miller was with two groups of people who met at an apartment complex in Sioux City, and after a short time, several gunshot were exchanged between the two groups. A person in Miller’s group was struck twice by gunfire. Miller can be seen on a video returning fire towards the initial shooter as that person drove away.
Miller was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Miller is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partners: For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4069.
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Second Former Deutsche Bank Commodities Trader Sentenced to Prison for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former commodities trader was sentenced Monday to 12 months and a day in prison for a scheme to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution.
Cedric Chanu, 42, of France and the United Arab Emirates, was convicted by a federal jury on Sept. 25, 2020. Based on the evidence presented at trial, Chanu, who was employed as a precious metals trader at Deutsche Bank in Singapore and, later in London, engaged in a scheme to defraud other traders on the Commodity Exchange Inc., which was a public exchange. The defendant, together with James Vorley and other Deutsche Bank traders, defrauded other market participants through a deceptive trading practice known as “spoofing.” Specifically, Chanu placed fraudulent orders that he did not intend to execute in order to create the false appearance of supply and demand and to induce other traders to transact at prices, quantities, and times that they otherwise would not have traded. Vorley was sentenced on June 21, also to 12 months and a day in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s New York Field Office investigated the case.
Deputy Chief Brian Young, Acting Principal Assistant Chief Avi Perry, and Trial Attorney Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Santa Barbara Man Who Allegedly Ran $12 Million Ponzi Scheme Indicted on Federal Fraud and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned an 11-count indictment that alleges a Santa Barbara man stole approximately $12 million from victims who were promised their money would be used to purchase annuities from Swiss insurance companies.
Darrell Arnold Aviss, 63, of Santa Barbara, was charged today with five counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering. Aviss was arrested June 18 pursuant to a criminal complaint, and he was subsequently ordered held without bond.
According to the indictment filed this afternoon in United States District Court, Aviss ran the scheme from at least 2012 through last summer, soliciting money from people who wanted to purchase annuities from insurance companies based in Switzerland. Aviss claimed the Swiss annuities he offered were safe and secure, and, in some instances, he allegedly told victims the annuities would pay interest rates ranging from 5 to 7 percent.
But, the indictment alleges, Aviss did not use the victims’ money to purchase annuities, even though he arranged for the victims to receive statements showing the purported value of the annuities, which the false documents showed were increasing over time.
Victims, most of whom were over the age of 60, gave Aviss more than $12 million, with most of that money coming from just one victim, according to court documents. Some money was paid back to victims to keep the scheme running.
Instead of purchasing annuities, Aviss allegedly used the victims’ money for his own purposes and to support his lavish lifestyle. Court documents indicate that he used the money for, among other things, Ponzi payments to victims, mortgage payments, luxury car leases, expensive watches, trips to Monaco, more than $100,000 in purchases at a Santa Barbara nightclub, and 20 tickets to a U2 concert and after-party.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Aviss is scheduled to be arraigned in this case on July 9.
The indictment charges Aviss with five counts of wire fraud, each of which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison; one count of concealment money laundering, which has a maximum sentence of 20 years; and five counts of laundering criminal proceeds in excess of $10,000, each of which carries a potential sentence of 10 years.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Monica E. Tait of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
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 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. In addition to English, Spanish and other languages are available to callers.
San Gabriel Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Role in International Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Laptop Computer BatteriesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to manufacture and ship counterfeit laptop computer batteries and other electronics from China to the United States, where the bogus batteries were sold to unsuspecting buyers in online marketplaces.
Zoulin Cai, a.k.a. “Allen Cai,” 29, of La Puente, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to his plea agreement, Cai conspired to import batteries, labels for batteries in laptop computers, cellphones, and other electronics from China to the United States. Cai then sold and shipped the counterfeit batteries to unsuspecting individual buyers via eBay and Amazon, falsely advertising them as brand-name new, genuine, original, or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products. Those batteries bore counterfeit trademarks of companies such as Apple, Dell, HP and Toshiba, as well as counterfeit certification marks of UL, a company that tests and certifies the safety of electronic products.
Counterfeit lithium-ion laptop batteries pose significant safety risks – including the risk of extreme heat, fire and explosions – and the batteries that Cai and his co-conspirators shipped frequently lacked required and essential internal safeguards.
Cai and his co-conspirators established numerous U.S.-based corporations to facilitate the importation and sale of counterfeit lithium-ion batteries and other electronic accessories for laptop computers and cellular telephones.
Co-conspirators in China packaged counterfeit batteries and electronics and shipped them to the United States, sometimes covering the trademarks with black tape or a similar material, so that a quick inspection of the items by customs officials would not reveal the trademark. The counterfeit batteries were imported, sold and shipped from Cai-controlled warehouses in La Puente.
In December 2019, Cai’s warehouse (including containers on the premises) contained approximately 44,000 batteries, as well as approximately 175,000 labels, bearing the counterfeit marks of multiple companies, including Apple, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, Asus, Acer and Samsung, according to the plea agreement.
Cai admitted that from March 2014 to June 2019, he and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained approximately at least $3.5 million and as much as $23,831,668 from the sale of laptop batteries through eBay and Amazon. During that time, Cai and his co-conspirators sent approximately $18,094,960 through wire transfers from U.S.-based bank accounts that they owned and controlled directly to Chinese bank accounts.
United States District Judge John F. Walter has scheduled an October 4 sentencing hearing, at which time Cai will face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter and was assisted in this investigation by the brand-holding companies.
Assistant United States Attorney Julia S. Choe of the General Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Romanian National Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Conspiracy to Steal over 2,000 Checks Intended for Religious InstitutionsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Nicolae Gindac, age 52, of Dania Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. The plea comes in relation to a conspiracy to steal and deposit checks intended for religious institutions.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.
According to his plea agreement, from at least June 2018 to January 2021, Gindac conspired with six co-conspirators and others to steal and negotiate checks from the U.S. mail intended for religious institutions. Gindac’s co-conspirators executed the thefts by driving to roadside mailboxes and directly removing the mail from the religious institutions’ mailboxes.
As part of the scheme to defraud, Gindac and other co-conspirators opened fraudulent bank accounts at several victim financial institutions under false identities and negotiated stolen checks by way of ATMs. Gindac deposited stolen checks into fraudulent bank accounts held in the names of his family members, including a minor family member who had not yet attained 18 years of age, and others. Gindac and his co-conspirators subsequently withdrew the stolen funds and spent them using debit cards associated with fraudulently opened bank accounts and other bank accounts.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Gindac deposited or was present for the depositing of at least $64,811.03 into 13 fraudulent accounts. The accounts that Gindac deposited into received at least approximately $139,057.58 from 143 stolen checks.
On February 6, 2021, law enforcement arrested Gindac and recovered approximately $7,930.38 in U.S. currency as well as a yellow-gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex gentleman’s watch. Over the course of the conspiracy, Gindac used stolen proceeds to purchase a BMW 745i Sport sedan.
In total, the conspiracy received at least approximately $1,065,282.53 from 2,477 stolen checks.
Co-defendant Daniel Velcu, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, is scheduled for a guilty plea on July 2, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Gindac faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
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Possessing Five Grams of Fentanyl Near Playgrounds Sends Dubuque Man to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was found in possession of more than five grams of fentanyl that he intended to distribute was sentenced June 28, 2021, to more than a year in federal prison. Jonathan Matthew Duffey, age 42, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 11, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Duffey admitted that during early 2020 he sold heroin and fentanyl in the Dubuque area. In February 2020, Duffey was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Dubuque police. During the traffic stop, Duffey swallowed three or four baggies of heroin that also contained fentanyl. The next day, law enforcement searched Duffey’s home. During the search, officers seized digital scales, vials of naloxone, drug packaging, and a little over five grams of a substance that tested positive for heroin and fentanyl. Duffey’s residence was within 1,000 feet of Orange Park and Madison Park in Dubuque.
Duffey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Duffey was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. He must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Duffey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-1030-CJW-MAR.
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Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegally Possessing Drugs, a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to five years (60 months) in prison followed by four years of supervised release for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Brandon Calhoun, age 29.
According to information provided to the court, Calhoun conspired to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Calhoun, a convicted felon, illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition. Under federal law, it is illegal for a felon to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Monroeville Police Department, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Maryland Office, and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Calhoun.
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.
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Federal Drug Law ViolationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Randy Cross, age 38, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, on March 10, 2021, the defendant was found to be in possession of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pinagpasyahan ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan ang Imbestigasyon sa Pag-access ng Wika at sa Paghihiganti sa mga Korte sa Fort Bend County, TexasRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sa araw na ito, inanunsiyo ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan (Justice Department) ang kasunduan sa pag-aayos sa Fort Bend County (FBC) para mapahusay ang pag-access sa korte ng mga taong may limitadong kakayahan sa Ingles (English proficiency, LEP).
Nilulutas ng kasuduang ito ang imbestigasyon ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan sa mga bintang na ang mga korte ng FBC ay nagdiskrimina laban sa mga LEP na gumagamit ng korte batay sa kanilang bansang pinagmulan at naghiganti laban sa isang nagreklamo, na parehong paglabag sa Titulo VI ng Batas ng mga Karapatang Sibil ng 1964 (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Ipinagbabawal ng Titulo VI ang diskriminasyon sa lahi, kulay o bansang pinagmulan ng mga tumatanggap ng mga pederal na tulong pampinansiyal, tulad ng FBC. Natuklasan sa imbestigasyon ng kagawaran ang mga hadlang sa wika na nagpapahirap sa mga taong LEP na magkaroon ng makahulugang access sa sistema ng korte. Kasama sa mga hadlang na ito ang mga kailangan na ang mga nasasakdal sa isang krimen ay gumamit ng bilingual na abogado sa halip na kwalipikadong tagapagsalin sa mga plea proceeding, at mga patakaran na nagresulta sa mas mahal na bayarin sa korte para sa mga magulang na LEP sa mga kaso ng kustodiya ng anak.
“Ang mga taong may limitadong kakayahan sa Ingles ay maaaring dumanas ng pagkawala ng kanilang anak, tahanan, at pangunahing karapatan kapag humarap sila sa mga hadlang sa wika na nagkakait ng makahulugang access sa ating sistemang panghukuman.” ayon kay Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke para sa Sangay para sa mga Karapatang Sibil (Civil Rights Division). “Ipagpapatuloy ng Sangay para sa mga Karapatang Sibil ang paglaban para matiyak na tatanggalin ng mga korte ang mga hadlang na nagkakait sa mga tao ng access sa pantay-pantay na katarungan. Aking pinupuri ang Fort Bend County sa pagsasagawa ng mga kinakailangang hakbang nito para matiyak ang access sa wika para sa mga gumagamit ng korte alinsunod sa Titulo VI ng Batas sa mga Karapatang Sibil (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act).”
“Ang Fort Bend ay isa sa magkakaibang county sa ating Distrito,” ayon kay Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Donnelly para sa Southern District of Texas. “Ang kasunduang ito ang titiyak na ang bawat tao ay may access sa ating mga korte maging saan mang bansa nagmula o limitadong kahusayan sa Ingles.”
Sa ilalim ng kasunduan, magbibigay ang FBC ng mga serbisyo ng tagapagsalin nang walang bayad sa mga LEP na indibidwal sa mga kasong sibil at kriminal sa mga korte ng FBC. Pag-aaralan rin ng mga korte ng FBC ang mga plano sa pag-access sa wika sa susunod na taon, bubuo ng sapilitang pagsasanay sa Titulo IV para sa mga korte ng FBC, magbibigay ng pagsasanay sa paghihiganti na nasa Titulo IV at maglalabas ng mga abiso sa publiko na nagpapaliwanag sa patakaran sa walang diskriminasyon na nasa Titulo IV at proseso ng pagreklamo sa mga wikang hindi Ingles. Babantayan ng kagawaran ng dalawang taon ang mga ito at mga ibang kailangan. Sumang-ayon rin ang FBC na magbabayad ng mga danyos sa isang LEP na gumamit ng korte para sa mga gastusin sa korte at sa isang indibidwal na nagbintang ng paghihiganti.
Pangunahing prayoridad ng Sangay para sa mga Karapatang Sibil ang pagpapatupad ng Titulo VI. Ang mga karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa Sangay para sa mga Karapatang Sibil ay matatagpuan sa website nito sa www.justice.gov/crt, at ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa limitadong kakayahan sa Ingles at Titulo VI ay matatagpuan din sa www.lep.gov. Ang mga miyembro ng publiko ay maaaring magsumbong ng mga posibleng paglabag sa mga karapatang sibil sa https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Pharmacist Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Forging Prescriptions to Acquire Oxycodone and AlprazolamRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC TINGLEY, 45, formerly of Lebanon, Connecticut, and currently residing in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for forging prescriptions to acquire thousands of oxycodone and alprazolam tablets from the Connecticut pharmacy where he was employed.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Tingley was a licensed pharmacist employed at a pharmacy in Norwich. Between approximately October 2016 and July 2017, Tingley forged approximately 183 prescriptions for oxycodone and approximately 26 prescriptions for alprazolam, and filled the forged prescriptions at the pharmacy where he worked. Through these forged prescriptions, Tingley unlawfully obtained more than 35,000 oxycodone tablets and more than 2,000 alprazolam tablets. He then distributed the drugs for his own benefit.
After Tingley’s Norwich employer fired him for performance issues, Tingley moved to Las Vegas, began working at a pharmacy there, and stole an additional 6,445 oxycodone pills. Tingley was arrested in Las Vegas on June 27, 2018.
On October 22, 2019, Tingley pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam.
Tingley, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 20, 2021.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Owner of Downtown Pittsburgh Tax Preparation Business Indicted on Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of tax fraud and wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The 15-count Indictment named Brian A. VanDusen, age 51, of Webster Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, during 2014 and 2018 VanDusen owned a tax preparation business in the Warner Center of downtown Pittsburgh called EasyTax Refund. During those years, VanDusen and his employees prepared and filed approximately 2,898 federal tax returns, 36% of which contained Schedule C forms and were falsified to claim an earned income tax credit and tax refund for taxpayers.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 79 years in prison, a fine of $3,750,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – A Nebraska man was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for knowingly possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2020, Matthew C. Banfield, age 36, of Omaha, was in possession of a Springfield 45 caliber handgun. Banfield fired the weapon at various stationary targets in a rural location located in Pottawattamie County. Prior to this date, Banfield had been convicted of a felony. During his possession of the firearm, Banfield knew he was a prohibited person based on his prior felony convictions. Banfield pleaded guilty to the gun charge on January 8, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force investigated the case.
North Vernon Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of ToddlerRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A North Vernon man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor child. He will also serve 20 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the minor victim.
According to court documents, Gage Campos, 26, was arrested September 2, 2020 after evidence of sexual exploitation of a minor child was recovered from his Google account and one of his cell phones. The image creation dates ranged from July to October 2019. The offenses occurred when the minor victim was a toddler, and law enforcement learned that Campos was in a position of trust with respect to the child.
In addition to sexually explicit images of the minor victim, forensic examiners also found evidence that Campos had been collecting child sexual abuse material for at least 4 years. Campos used Google to search for material and images related to the sexual abuse of children. In 2020, Google reported the suspected child abuse images that were contained in one of its user accounts, later identified as belonging to Campos, to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC turned this evidence over to the Indiana State Police and the FBI. Working together with partners from the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, officers identified Campos, recovered evidence from his residence, obtained a confession, and ensured the safety of the minor victim.
“The citizens of the Southern District of Indiana rightfully expect swift and coordinated action by law enforcement and their partners to investigate and prosecute persons such as Mr. Campos, said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “His significant sentence of imprisonment sends a strong message to others who might consider imitating his reprehensible conduct.”
“Those who prey on the most vulnerable of our citizens and victimize them through such despicable criminal acts can expect to be held accountable,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Middleton. “This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigating cases of child pornography with a sense of urgency, as well as the collaboration with our law enforcement partners to ensure there is one less predator victimizing our children.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana State Police – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Martinsville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristina Korobov prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
North Bay Accountant Charged with Bank Fraud and Embezzlement in Connection with Alleged Schemes to Defraud Cavallo Point Lodge and Redwood Credit UnionRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Stephanie Simontacchi on charges of bank fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion in connection with schemes to use her access as an accountant to enrich herself at the expense of two former employers. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair, and IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Daniels.
Simontacchi, 48, of Petaluma, was employed as a bookkeeper and assistant controller with Cavallo Point Lodge, a hotel near Sausalito, Calif., from December 2009 through April 2016. While employed at Cavallo Point Lodge, Simontacchi had access to her employer’s accounting records and accounting systems. Simontacchi also had signatory authority over Cavallo Point Lodge’s bank accounts which gave her authority to create and sign checks from the hotel’s bank accounts and to pay the hotel’s legitimate payments and obligations. The indictment alleges that Simontacchi embezzled funds from her employer by stealing accounts receivable checks that had been sent to Cavallo Point Lodge from third parties and depositing the checks into her personal bank accounts. Further, the indictment alleges Simontacchi embezzled accounts payable checks that were drawn from Cavallo Point Lodge’s bank accounts and made payable to third party vendors. Instead of sending these checks to the intended third parties, Simontacchi allegedly deposited them in her own bank accounts. Simontacchi allegedly embezzled at least $384,363.28 from, or owed to, Cavallo Point Lodge and deposited these stolen funds into her own accounts.
In addition, the indictment alleges Simontacchi was employed by Redwood Credit Union from April 2016 through April 2019, during which time she embezzled over $437,000 from the credit union. The financial institution employed Simontacchi as a senior accountant and accounting manager. According to the indictment, Simontacchi’s responsibilities included processing voided official checks (also known as cashier’s checks) and communicating with Redwood Credit Union’s official check vendor regarding issues pertaining to the funding and voiding of these checks. Simontacchi also had access to checks intended for and made payable to Redwood Credit Union that were sent to the accounting department for processing, including reimbursement checks from the official check vendor and reimbursement checks from the United States Treasury Department and the State of California. The indictment alleges Simontacchi embezzled some of these checks, as well as official checks that had been returned to Redwood Credit Union by members and were supposed to have been voided, then deposited the checks into her personal bank accounts. She used the embezzled proceeds for personal expenses, including to make a payment towards her home equity line of credit.
Further, the indictment alleges Simontacchi evaded taxes by failing to pay taxes on additional, unreported income received in years 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
In sum, the indictment charges Simontacchi with seven counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2); seven counts of misapplication and embezzlement of credit union funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 657; and four counts of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201.
Simontacchi was arrested on June 25, 2021. She made her initial federal court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tse this morning and was arraigned on the charges. Her next appearance is scheduled for July 15, 2021 before U.S. Federal District Court Judge Orrick.
An indictment contains allegations only. Simontacchi is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) and 18 U.S.C. § 657 is 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for each violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201 is 5 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The court also may order additional terms of supervised release, fines, forfeitures, and restitution; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina Green and Amani S. Floyd are prosecuting this case. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.
New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – The Honorable Sarah S. Vance sentenced EBONY GRAY, age 27, of Kenner, Louisiana, to two years of probation on June 23, 2021 for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, GRAY admitted being caught on federally authorized wire taps discussing the prices for various quantities of heroin, as well as potential customers. GRAY and a co-defendant also discussed how much cut or adulterant the heroin could take.
District Judge Vance sentenced GRAY to two years of probation and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs and Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that NATHAN BALLANSAW III, age 69, of New Orleans, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and heroin, and firearms-related charges.
Specifically, on June 24, 2021, BALLANSAW pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, cocaine base, and heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. BALLANSAW also pled guilty to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On the drug conspiracy, BALLANSAW faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment. On the firearm charge, BALLANSAW faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years of imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, BALLANSAW conspired to sell cocaine, cocaine base and heroin between September 12, 2015 and May 4, 2017. In furtherance of that drug-trafficking conspiracy, he possessed a Smith and Wesson Model 638-2 .38 caliber revolver on March 28, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Murrysville Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing Fentanyl, a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Murrysville, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Rory Elliot Ashby, age 45, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on June 3, 2021, Ashby was found to be in possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The Indictment further alleges that Ashby possessed a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $5,000,000.00, a term of supervised release of at least four years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.