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Thursday 24 June 2021
Georgetown Woman Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Georgetown woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for embezzling over $419,000 from her employer.
Michelle Higson, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 27 months in prison, five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay over $419,000 in restitution. In September 2019, Higson pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud.
Higson was also sentenced separately for violating her supervised release, which was imposed in a prior case following her September 2017 conviction for a fraudulent scheme. U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper sentenced Higson to an additional six months in prison for the supervised release violation.
In 2013, Higson began working as a part-time bookkeeper for a Wilmington company. From 2015 until her termination in 2018, Higson stole a series of the company’s checks, made them payable to herself or to her husband, and forged her employer’s signatures. Higson cashed and deposited the checks for her own personal use. To conceal her criminal conduct and avoid detection by the company, Higson falsified entries in the company’s books to make it appear as if the stolen checks had been issued to satisfy payment to actual vendors. In addition, on several occasions, Higson inflated her pay rate and falsified the number of hours she worked, thereby collecting more money than what she actually earned. In total, Higson embezzled over $419,000.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
Former Sacramento Man Charged with Engaging in Monetary Transactions with Money from Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against former Sacramento resident, William A. Sassman, 53, now residing in Orange County, charging him with knowingly engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between October and December 2019, Sassman deposited checks totaling $325,000 into a bank account, knowing that the money was derived from a crime. The money originated from a wire fraud scheme, which is a specified unlawful activity under federal money laundering statutes.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nirav Desai is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Sassman faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or up to twice the amount of the laundered money. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Mayor of Columbus Sentenced for Loan FraudRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michael Eisenga, 49, Columbus, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 42 months in federal prison for loan fraud. The prison term is to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Eisenga pled guilty to the charge on March 25, 2021. He was also ordered to pay restitution of approximately $4,000,000. Eisenga was ordered to begin serving his sentence in July, when he will report to prison.
Eisenga owned several businesses, including CCC Lot 2, LLC, which was a Wisconsin company with its principal place of business in Columbus, Wisconsin. On behalf of CCC Lot 2, Eisenga sought and obtained from a credit union in Illinois, a $6.9 million commercial mortgage. He convinced the credit union to issue the loan by representing, among other things, that he had already secured Festival Foods Inc. as a tenant for the property through a 20-year lease agreement and that another company, Supervalue Holdings Inc., had guaranteed the lease.
After Eisenga defaulted on the loan, the credit union ultimately discovered that the signatories on the purported lease and lease guarantee that Eisenga gave to the credit union never signed the documents nor did their respective companies enter into any such agreements with Eisenga. The documents were wholly fraudulent and no such lease or lease guarantee ever existed.
The charge against Eisenga was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Trustee’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.
Former Baltimore Department of Public Works Supervisor Sentenced to More Than a Year in Federal Prison for ExtortionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Ronald M. Smith, age 47, of Elkton, Maryland, a former Baltimore Department of Public Works (“DPW”) supervisor, today to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for the federal charge of extortion under color of official right for misuse of his authority as a public employee. Judge Blake also ordered Smith to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $64,000, representing his gain from the crime. Smith admitted that he accepted cash payments for work he caused DPW crews to perform for private businesses on at least 22 residential and commercial properties.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, in 2014 and 2015, Smith was an employee of the Department of Public Works in Baltimore City ("DPW"). Smith was a supervisor in the Water and Waste Management Division ("WWMD"), and his supervisory responsibilities included receiving work orders, dispatching work crews and supervising the crews on jobsites. He supervised a crew of approximately eight employees. Smith generally worked the night shift—from midnight to 8 a.m. and, though he was not a licensed plumber, was responsible for responding to, overseeing and performing service repairs to City water ways, pipes, taps, connections, valves and water mains.
From 2014 through 2015, DPW was not responsible for installation of new or upgraded water service from Baltimore City's water main to the water meter vault of a house or a commercial property. If a property owner or developer was installing new or upgraded service to a property, the property owner/developer was required to hire a bonded utilities contractor, chosen from a list approved by Baltimore City DPW, to tap into the City's water main and connect from the water main to the property. The contractor was required to create a water meter vault in which a water meter could be installed to measure water usage for billing to the address. The property owner/developer, or the utilities contractor hired by the owner/developer, was also required to submit an Application for the Temporary Use of Right of Way to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Right of Way Permits Section, whenever the utilities contractor needed to "cut" into a street or alley to access the water main in connection with the installation of new or upgraded water service, and pay a fee of $300 for traffic control. The contractor also had to pay a 9% inspection fee for City costs before work could proceed. After the contractor completed the installation of the service, the contractor was required to repair the street cut. If the work extended overnight, the contractor was required to install and bolt down a steel plate over the excavation and place asphalt around the edges of the plate to secure it.
In 2014 and 2015, Philip Michael Loverde was a licensed plumber in the State of Maryland and one of the owners of All Service Plumbing and Drain Cleaning (“ASPDC” or “All Service”). ASPDC provided plumbing services in the Baltimore area. Loverde and ASPDC were not bonded approved utilities contractors permitted to tap into Baltimore City's water mains.
According to court documents, sometime in late 2014 or in 2015, a contractor in the Baltimore area was building four new row houses. DPW was not required to install the new water or sewer utilities. Loverde was contracted for All Service to perform the plumbing work inside his properties. Loverde mentioned that he had a "utilities contractor," Smith, who could install the water and sewer services for the new construction. Smith was not a bonded approved utilities contractor and was neither a licensed contractor nor a licensed plumber. Smith obtained no permits for the work or for the street cut. Rather, Smith had DPW employees come to the site with Baltimore City equipment to break the street pavement for the new utilities, causing a large hole in the street and installing two water lines from the public water main to the new vaults. The DPW employees constructed two vaults which would accommodate two water meters each and installed a "jumper" so that from each vault, two lines ran from the vault to the houses. The crews also installed one sewer line per house which ran to the sewer line in the street. Loverde’s contract for the utility work and the interior plumbing for all four houses totaled $92,000. Of this amount, Loverde paid Smith approximately $10,000 for the installation of water and sewer services.
As detailed in his plea agreement, from May through October 2015, Smith was paid $12,500 for new water services to be installed at five row houses that were being re-developed. Without permits or paid traffic fees, Smith caused DPW work crews using DPW equipment to break the pavement, dig the holes, connect the pipe from the water main to the vault and from the vault to the house. Loverde was not involved.
In 2015, TRF Development Partners ("TRF"), a non-profit corporation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was active in renovating certain sections of East Baltimore. TRF had contracted with the East Baltimore Redevelopment Association to perform an historical rehabilitation of residential properties in east Baltimore. A supervisor for TRF contracted with All Service for plumbing work at the residences. In the 1200 block of Gay Street, water and sewer services connected to their respective lines from the back of the properties to a water main and sewer line buried underneath the alley behind the houses. TRF paved over the back yards of the houses before new water and sewer services had been installed.
Beginning sometime in 2015, Loverde agreed with Smith and an employee of TRF, that Smith would handle the connection of service from the City's water main to the water meter vault and then from the vault to the inside of the property for the residential and commercial properties on Preston and Gay Streets and perform similar utilities work for the sewer line. The new lines would run from the front of the houses to connect with a water main and a sewer line in the street; the pre-existing water and sewer lines ran from the back of the properties to the alley and would not be used because of the already completed paving.
TRF had retained the front wall of the properties but had gutted them completely and rebuilt them. Loverde's company was to be responsible for installing all interior plumbing and fixtures and connecting to the water supply lines and sewer lines that Smith had run into the property for the houses on Preston and Gay Street.
At the request of a TRF employee, Loverde agreed to include in his invoicing the charges for Smith to create the new water and sewer services for the properties. Loverde agreed to cash the checks from TRF made payable to All Service and to provide the cash to Smith. Loverde knew that Smith was not a bonded approved utilities contractor but intended to divert City employees, equipment and material to perform the work and to pocket the cash funneled through him by TRF.
Smith admitted that he caused DPW work crews to cut the street on Preston and Gay Streets and connect the water and sewer services from the water main or sewer to the house for nine properties on Gay Street. Smith charged $1600 per address for water and sewer installation, for a total of $14,400, without permits or traffic fees. Smith caused a DPW crew with a heavy equipment operator to come to North Gay Street at night to cut the pavement, dig into the street and install the new water lines and sewer. Because the crew worked at night and in haste, the work was badly done, and North Gay Street began to collapse. The crew had to return at night to finish the street patching job. Smith also charged TRF $17,500 for the installation of a new dedicated water line for a commercial property at 1759 East Preston Street to provide water to a required fire sprinkler system. Smith installed the new water line with DPW crews, and Loverde cashed the TRF check and paid Smith.
Smith met a developer who was tearing down a church at the corner of Elwood and East Baltimore Street. The developer was rehabbing one row house and building 3 new row houses on the foundation of the old church. The developer agreed with Smith that Smith would install new water service for the three new row houses by connecting to the water main on East Baltimore and the water main on Elwood. They also agreed that Smith could install three new sewer connections to the sewer line that ran down the alley behind the church. Once again, Smith used DPW crews and equipment to perform this work, obtained no permits, paid no traffic fees, and paid no inspection fees. Smith was paid approximately $10,000 in cash for this work. Loverde was not involved.
In all, Smith admitted that he received at least $64,000 for the work performed by DPW crews. Loverde previously pleaded guilty to his role in the extortion scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce McDonald, who is prosecuting the case.
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Fentanyl Dealer Going to Prison for More Than 10 YearsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Devonnte White, 29, of Huntersville, North Carolina, who was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was arrested January 15, 2021, following the execution of a federal search warrant at an apartment on Court Street in Rochester. When law enforcement officers entered the apartment, which was occupied only by White, the defendant dropped two bags of fentanyl to the floor. Investigators recovered a total of 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 979 grams of cocaine, and 571 grams of heroin from inside the apartment, as well as scales, bags, diluents for processing narcotics for distribution, five cell phones, and $3,954 in U.S. currency.
The sentencing was the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm and Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Kenneth Clark Jr., a/k/a “Man”, a/k/a “Play”, age 30, of Port Deposit, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to a narcotics conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams.
According to his guilty plea, on February 20, 2020, Clark and his associate (Associate 1) were stopped by a Cecil County Officer due to speeding and failing to stop at a stop sign. The officer activated his mobile video recorder, capturing video through the windshield of his patrol vehicle.
After the vehicle came to a stop, the officer observed the vehicle shake as the driver and passenger switched seats.
The officer asked both occupants to produce identification documents and vehicle registration. The driver, Associate 1, produced identification while Clark informed the officer that he did not have a license. Clark then attempted to flee the scene by grabbing the gear shifter and commanding Associate 1 to drive. However, the car did not move. At that time, the officer turned off the vehicle while Clark and Associate 1 ran on foot. The officer’s in-car video camera captured Clark holding a black semi-automatic handgun as he exited the passenger side. Associate 1 and Clark were later apprehended by law enforcement.
As stated in his plea agreement, Clark was searched subsequent to his arrest. Officers recovered $1,802 in cash on Clark’s person. The officer returned to the area where Clark threw the firearm and recovered a .22 LR handgun with 11 live rounds in the magazine Additionally, the firearm in Clark’s possession was reported stolen in February 2020. Clark knew that he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions, including a 2016 conviction for second-degree assault in Cecil County Circuit Court. During the search of the vehicle, the officer recovered approximately six grams of marijuana inside the passenger’s side door and two cell phones. The officer also recovered a small plastic baggie containing approximately one gram of crack cocaine on the floorboard where Clark was seated.
According to Clark’s plea agreement, a concerned citizen contacted Maryland State Police in February 2020 to report possible cocaine transactions in Cecil County by a male nicknamed “Man”. During the investigation of a non-fatal overdose in January 2020, Maryland State Police identified Clark as the likely source of the narcotics supply leading to the overdose. Numerous messages downloaded from the victim’s cellular phone resolved to the phone number assigned to the phone in Clark’s possession at the time of his most recent arrest.
Additionally, Maryland state police recovered several photos of Clark brandishing firearms on his public social media accounts. For example, on February 13, 2020, Clark posted two public photographs holding a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine. A subsequent review of Clark’s social media messages revealed conversations regarding narcotic transactions.
As detailed in his plea agreement, while incarcerated at the Cecil County Detention Center, Clark made several phone calls to two associates. During these conversations, Clark asked for them to retrieve several hidden items from his father’s residence. Clark also spoke in code terms while providing specific instructions on where to find the items. Over the course of the conversation, Clark instructed an associate and his father to remove potentially incriminating items from Clark’s room.
On February 28, 2020 Maryland State Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, that matched the description of the firearm depicted in Clark’s social media pictures, during a search of an associate’s residence. The associate advised law enforcement that he obtained the firearm from Clark.
Clark and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Clark will be sentenced to 52 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for September 15, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the Maryland State Police Department and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Wilkinson who is prosecuting the case.
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Federal Jury Finds Milwaukee Man Guilty of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin,
announced that on June 22, 2021, Calvin C. Freeman, Jr., was convicted of sex trafficking and
related offenses following a federal jury trial in Milwaukee. The crimes of which Freeman was
convicted include:
Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking
Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion (two counts)
Interstate Transportation for Prostitution (three counts)
Interstate Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity
Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Felon (two counts)
Obstruction of Sex Trafficking Enforcement (two counts)
Contempt of Court (three counts)
The evidence presented at trial established that Freeman used force, threats of force, fraud, and
coercion to compel female victims to engage in commercial sex acts in cities across the country,
including Milwaukee, Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Miami, as well as in parts of
Southern California and Hawaii. One of the victims was a minor at the time Freeman transported
her for this purpose. The victims testified that Freeman kept and controlled all of the money they
made, whipping them with belts, threatening them with guns, and subjecting them to
dehumanizing punishments, such as forcible sodomy and smearing human feces in one victim’s
face when she failed to comply with his demands. The evidence also established that Freeman
repeatedly urged victims and witnesses not to speak to federal agents or to comply with court
orders, including while Freeman was in jail and subject to a no-contact order that had been
entered by a federal judge.
Freeman is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2021, by Chief United States District Court
Judge Pamela Pepper. Freeman faces a maximum life term of imprisonment and a mandatory
minimum of 15 years of imprisonment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General investigated the case with the assistance of
the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the
Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States
Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Julie F. Stewart prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on TwitterFederal Jury Convicts St. Paul Man for Cocaine PossessionRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted a St. Paul man for drug possession with intent to distribute after being arrested with six kilograms of cocaine in his vehicle, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a four-day trial before Judge Ann D. Montgomery, John Sheldon Pickens, Jr. was convicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to the evidence presented at trial, during the early morning hours of November 1, 2019, officers with the St. Paul Police Department initiated a traffic stop of Pickens’s vehicle. Pickens initially pulled his vehicle over but then accelerated away and led police on a high-speed chase for several miles through the city of St. Paul. Officers were ultimately able to stop him on the Lafayette Bridge and take him into custody. Officers searched the vehicle and found six packages of cocaine that had a combined weight of approximately six kilograms.
Pickens faces a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. At sentencing, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Saint Paul Police Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber M. Brennan and Joseph S. Teirab.
Essex County Man Sentenced to 128 Months in Prison for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 128 months in prison for possession of heroin with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Shawn Alexander, 52, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to Count Two of an indictment, charging him with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 30, 2019, officers of the Newark Police Department arrested Alexander after receiving a tip that Alexander distributed and stored narcotics in the basement of an abandoned house on Lyons Avenue in Newark. At his plea hearing on Dec. 19, 2019, Alexander admitted that he possessed 42 decks of heroin with the intent to distribute them.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Alexander to three year of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Honig credited officers of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara, and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney‘s Office, under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas J. Mahoney, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
This case is part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. Federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew and Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley Sr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime/Gangs Unit.
El Departamento de Justicia resuelve una acusación presentada contra operadores de un programa de capacitación laboral en Utah por haber discriminado a un postulante que era asiladaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha firmado un acuerdo conciliatorio con Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Inc. («ESGW»), con sede en Montana y operaciones en Utah, Idaho y Wyoming. El acuerdo resuelve una acusación de que la oficina de ESGW en Utah había discriminado a una asilada al rechazar sus documentos, los cuales eran pruebas válidas de su autorización para trabajar, y exigir documentos diferentes para verificar su elegibilidad para trabajar, por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía. Asimismo, la investigación también determinó que ESGW requirió que otros no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. presentasen documentos migratorios innecesarios para demostrar su autorización para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, en contra de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés).
El Departamento inició su investigación tras la presentación por parte de una asilada de una denuncia de discriminación contra ESGW que se basaba en su experiencia con el programa de capacitación laboral de ESGW. La investigación halló que ESGW no permitió a la asilada escoger los documentos legalmente aceptables que quería presentar para demostrar que estaba autorizada para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. La asilada había presentado un carnet de identidad estatal válido y una tarjeta de seguro social sin restricciones, lo que debe ser suficiente como para completar el formulario federal (Formulario I-9) que los empleadores usan para comprobar la identidad de sus empleados, así como su elegibilidad para trabajar. No obstante, ESGW rechazó los documentos y pidió documentos adicionales innecesarios para demostrar una autorización para trabajar. Asimismo, el Departamento concluyó que, como práctica habitual, otra oficina de ESGW en Utah exigía un documento migratorio a todo individuo no ciudadano de los EE. UU., incluso cuando estos trabajadores ya habían presentado otros documentos que deberían ser suficientes como para completar el Formulario I-9. La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA prohíbe que los empleadores pidan documentos adicionales o diferentes a los que sean necesarios o que rechacen documentos que parecen ser genuinos para demostrar la autorización para trabajar con base en el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía del empleado o bien por su nacionalidad de origen. A su vez, en la INA, el Congreso determinó que los trabajadores pueden elegir los documentos válidos y legalmente aceptables que desean presentar para demostrar su elegibilidad para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, independientemente de su estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen.
«Los empleadores no pueden exigir, por motivos del estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía de un trabajador, más documentos de los que por ley se requieren para demostrar su autorización para trabajar» afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles se ha comprometido a proteger a los asilados y otros individuos que no son ciudadanos de los EE. UU. de la discriminación ilícita».
Conforme los términos del acuerdo conciliatorio, ESGW pagará una sanción civil que asciende a 6.186 $ a los Estados Unidos; revisará sus políticas y procedimientos y capacitará a los empleados relevantes acerca de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Hay más información sobre los derechos de refugiados y asilados en el proceso del Formulario I-9 e E-Verify aquí. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía, o bien por su nacionalidad de origen, en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (p. ej. el Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688; llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar la página web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
El Departamento de Justicia resuelve una acusación presentada contra operadores de un programa de capacitación laboral en Utah por haber discriminado a un postulante que era asiladaRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha firmado un acuerdo conciliatorio con Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Inc. («ESGW»), con sede en Montana y operaciones en Utah, Idaho y Wyoming. El acuerdo resuelve una acusación de que la oficina de ESGW en Utah había discriminado a una asilada al rechazar sus documentos, los cuales eran pruebas válidas de su autorización para trabajar, y exigir documentos diferentes para verificar su elegibilidad para trabajar, por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía. Asimismo, la investigación también determinó que ESGW requirió que otros no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. presentasen documentos migratorios innecesarios para demostrar su autorización para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, en contra de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés).
El Departamento inició su investigación tras la presentación por parte de una asilada de una denuncia de discriminación contra ESGW que se basaba en su experiencia con el programa de capacitación laboral de ESGW. La investigación halló que ESGW no permitió a la asilada escoger los documentos legalmente aceptables que quería presentar para demostrar que estaba autorizada para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. La asilada había presentado un carnet de identidad estatal válido y una tarjeta de seguro social sin restricciones, lo que debe ser suficiente como para completar el formulario federal (Formulario I-9) que los empleadores usan para comprobar la identidad de sus empleados, así como su elegibilidad para trabajar. No obstante, ESGW rechazó los documentos y pidió documentos adicionales innecesarios para demostrar una autorización para trabajar. Asimismo, el Departamento concluyó que, como práctica habitual, otra oficina de ESGW en Utah exigía un documento migratorio a todo individuo no ciudadano de los EE. UU., incluso cuando estos trabajadores ya habían presentado otros documentos que deberían ser suficientes como para completar el Formulario I-9. La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA prohíbe que los empleadores pidan documentos adicionales o diferentes a los que sean necesarios o que rechacen documentos que parecen ser genuinos para demostrar la autorización para trabajar con base en el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía del empleado o bien por su nacionalidad de origen. A su vez, en la INA, el Congreso determinó que los trabajadores pueden elegir los documentos válidos y legalmente aceptables que desean presentar para demostrar su elegibilidad para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, independientemente de su estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen.
«Los empleadores no pueden exigir, por motivos del estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía de un trabajador, más documentos de los que por ley se requieren para demostrar su autorización para trabajar» afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles se ha comprometido a proteger a los asilados y otros individuos que no son ciudadanos de los EE. UU. de la discriminación ilícita».
Conforme los términos del acuerdo conciliatorio, ESGW pagará una sanción civil que asciende a 6.186 $ a los Estados Unidos; revisará sus políticas y procedimientos y capacitará a los empleados relevantes acerca de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Hay más información sobre los derechos de refugiados y asilados en el proceso del Formulario I-9 e E-Verify aquí. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía, o bien por su nacionalidad de origen, en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (p. ej. el Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688; llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar la página web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
East Coast Leader of Eight Trey Crips Street Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Execution-Style Murder in Brooklyn NightclubRead the Press Release
Larry Pagett, the East Coast leader of the Eight Trey Crips street gang, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II to life imprisonment for murdering a member of the rival Folk Nation street gang as part of a gang turf war. Pagett was convicted by a jury of murder in-aid-of racketeering in October 2018 following an eight-day trial.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Larry Pagett will deservedly spend the rest of his life behind bars for brazenly committing an execution-style, gang-related murder inside a lounge in Brooklyn,” stated Acting U.S Attorney Kasulis. “This Office will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to eradicate the murderous violence of street gangs like the Eight Trey Crips and end their wanton disregard for human life.”
The Eight Trey Crips were based in and around the Flatbush Gardens housing complex. The Crips and the Folk Nation, a rival street gang, had been engaged in a deadly feud over territory in Brooklyn for years. On August 28, 2015, Pagett encountered Chrispine Philip, also known as “Droppa,” inside the Buda Hookah Lounge located on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Philip was a member of the rival Folk Nation, and Pagett blamed him for the murder of an Eight Trey Crips gang member in Trinidad in the Spring of 2015. Pagett pulled out a gun, shot Philip multiple times and ended his life with a final bullet to the back of his head. A bystander in the crowded nightclub was also shot in the stomach and arm, but survived. The murder was recorded on video surveillance cameras inside the club.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Hein and Mathew S. Miller are in charge of the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Defendant:
LARRY PAGETT (also known as “Biz,” “Biz Loc” and “Molotovbizzz”)
Age: 41
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-306 (WFK)
Dunmore Man Sentenced to 96 Months’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on June 23, 2021, Robert Andrewsh, Jr., age 26, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for methamphetamine trafficking.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Andrewsh pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute between 150 and 500 grams of high-purity methamphetamine in November and December 2019. Andrewsh also admitted that he possessed firearms in connection with his offense.
The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Scranton Police Department, and the City of Carbondale Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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.
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Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Misusing a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fraudulently using another person’s Social Security number.
Manuel Maria German Familia, 30, who previously resided in Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Sept. 30, 2021. German Familia was arrested and charged on Feb. 9, 2021.
German Familia admitted to fraudulently using a Social Security number that was assigned to someone else in an application at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in 2016.
The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Billerica Police Department and Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III, of Mendell’s Criminal Division, is prosecuting the case.
Discord User Is Sentenced to 14 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. B Mayuresh Suresh Iyer, 26, of Matthews, N.C. was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for distributing child pornography on Discord, a popular messaging platform, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the sentenced imposed, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney also ordered Iyer to pay a $35,000 special assessment, serve 25 years of supervised release, pay restitution to the victims of his offense, and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, in October 2019, law enforcement received information that an individual later identified as Iyer was using his Discord user account to distribute child pornography. Discord is a popular free application that allows users to communicate with each other via voice and video calls and text messaging, and to share media files through private chats or communities referred to as “servers.”
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Iyer’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices, including two external hard drives. A forensic analysis of those devices revealed that Iyer possessed an extensive collection of child pornography, including over 800 videos and approximately 14,147 images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the child pornography in Iyer’s possession depicted prepubescent minors being abused through sadistic, masochistic and other violent conduct. In September 2020, Iyer pleaded guilty to distributing and attempting to distribute child pornography.
Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark T. Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte was in charge of the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice, aimed at combating the growing online sexual exploitation of children. By combining resources, federal, state and local agencies are better able to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue those victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Detroit man admits to his role in a drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William D. Charleston, of Detroit, Michigan, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Charleston, also known as “Jay,” 41, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl in Proximity to a Protected Location.” Charleston admitted to distributing heroin and fentanyl near Fairmont Senior High School and Fairmont State University in August 2020.
Charleston faces at least one and up 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000 for each charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Three Rivers Drug Task Force investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Dawara Brothers Sentenced to Nine Years Imprisonment for Arson and Tax Fraud Conspiracy Stemming from February 2018 Old City FireRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Imad Dawara, 40, of Swathmore, PA, and Bahaa Dawara, 32, of Woodlyn, PA, were both sentenced this week by United States District Court Chief Judge Juan R. Sanchez to nine years in prison and ordered to pay more than $22 million in restitution for conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The defendants previously pleaded guilty and admitted to planning and causing the arson of their business, RCL Management LLC, at 239-241 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia on February 18, 2018, and to evading the assessment of their income tax liabilities from 2015-2017. Imad Dawara also admitted to fraud in connection with his receipt of health care and other government benefits.
From around December 2012 until February 18, 2018, the defendants owned and operated various restaurants and entertainment establishments in Philadelphia, including a restaurant and hookah lounge in the 200 block of Chestnut Street. As detailed in the Indictment, the Dawara brothers were struggling in their Chestnut Street business and had a years-long history of fighting with their landlord. By October 2017, the Dawara brothers had ceased all business operations at the Chestnut Street location and attempted to sell the business, but as they had failed to renew their lease or pay rent, no one would buy it.
On January 31, 2018, their landlord directed the defendants to vacate the premises by February 2, and advised them that they owed over $64,000 in overdue payments. Nonetheless, the Dawaras failed to vacate the premises, and on the same day they were to leave, RCL Management purchased a $750,000 insurance policy providing coverage in the event of an accidental fire at the Chestnut Street property. On February 18, a fire was intentionally started with gasoline in the basement of 239 Chestnut Street, which destroyed the entire building, displaced approximately 160 people, closed the 200 block of Chestnut Street for months, and closed numerous businesses.
“The Dawara brothers selfishly and criminally thought only of themselves and their finances that fateful February night,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “But their horrific conduct left so many victims in its wake – including individuals, businesses and the City of Philadelphia at large. I hope these sentences provide a measure of closure to the victims, and I want to thank all of our partner agencies for coming together to investigate and hold the Dawaras responsible.”
“This sentencing is the result of the exhaustive effort by ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force working in harmony with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “The Dawara brothers will now serve nine years in federal prison, as a result of his actions. Criminals who commit arson for any reason jeopardize the safety of the community and first responders and will be held accountable.”
“These sentencings demonstrate that individuals who are willing to destroy property for financial gain and commit income tax violations will be held accountable,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Joleen Simpson. “The Dawara brothers had no regard for the well-being of others and were focused on their own greed. This collaborative effort with our law enforcement partners highlights the excellent investigative work done in ensuring such deplorable crimes are brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxi and Limousine Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanine Linehan and Katherine E. Driscoll.
Cut Bank man admits strangulation, assault chargesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Cut Bank man accused of strangling and assaulting a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted multiple charges on June 23, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Gordon Lee Connelly, 20, pleaded guilty to strangulation, assault resulting in substantial bodily injury and interstate violation of a protection order. Connelly faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the strangulation count, and a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault count and the violation of protection order count.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Oct. 7. Connelly was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution alleged that on Feb. 16, Connelly strangled and assaulted the victim, identified as Jane Doe, near Cut Bank, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, causing her substantial injuries. The government further alleged that on March 25, Connelly violated a portion of a protection order that prohibits violence, threats and communication with another person.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison.
Karon Bennett, age 22, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 4, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information disclosed at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on November 21, 2020, Bennett possessed a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol after previously being convicted of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, burglary in the second degree, and unauthorized possession of an offensive weapon. Bennett was apprehended by law enforcement shortly after a 9-1-1 caller reported that he was attempting to break into a garage in Waterloo. At the time he possessed the gun, Bennett was on parole for the prior felony convictions.
Bennett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bennett was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa A. Carrington and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2005.
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Columbus man admits to role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Sihrahn Major, II, of Columbus, Ohio, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Major, also known as “Black,” age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Major admitted to selling five grams or more of methamphetamine near Riverview Towers on in Wheeling in January 2020.
Major faces at least five and up to 80 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Original case indictment here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
Chattanooga Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On June 16, 2021, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a one count indictment against Mark Alan Deakins, 61, of Chattanooga, for the sexual exploitation of a child. Deakins appeared in court June 22, 2021, before the Honorable U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge in the indictment. He was detained pending trial, which has been set for August 24, 2021 before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley, Jr.
The indictment alleges that Deakins sexually exploited a child under the age of 12 from June 2018 through September 2018, and that he has prior convictions for the sexual abuse of children.
If convicted, Deakins faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 35 years up to a maximum term of life in prison.
If you have information regarding the pending prosecution, or you believe you or someone you know may have been victimized by the defendant, the FBI requests that you contact them at 423-265-3601 or report it at tips.fbi.gov. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Chattanooga Crimes Against Children Task Force, and included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Chattanooga Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Red Bank Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Neff represents the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education click on the link for “Publications & Resources.”
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Guns and DrugsRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man, responsible for possessing multiple guns while being under the influence of marijuana, was sentenced today to 50 months in prison.
Cameron Jay Burgess, age 29, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that in February 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Burgess’ residence in Cedar Rapids. During their search, officers located and seized seven firearms and three high capacity magazines. The firearms, which consisted of handguns and shotguns, were located in different areas throughout his residence. Officers also seized over 4 grams of cocaine, approximately 38 grams of hash oil, approximately 92 grams of hashish balls, 25 THC cartridges, approximately 147 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and drug packaging materials. Burgess admitted that he intended to distribute some or all of the THC and marijuana. Burgess also admitted that he was a daily marijuana user and also used cocaine.
Burgess was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Burgess was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number 20-CR-67.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Brooklyn Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing Female Passenger Aboard International Flight from Abu Dhabi to Kennedy AirportRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn today returned a guilty verdict against Daniel Martin Katz on both counts of an indictment charging him with abusive sexual contact and assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States District Judge Frederic Block.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.
“With today’s verdict, the jury has held the defendant accountable for his unwanted, in-flight assault of a young, vulnerable woman who was sleeping in a darkened aircraft cabin during a transatlantic flight,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “This Office will vigorously prosecute reprehensible acts of sexual abuse that take place onboard aircrafts.”
“Today, Mr. Katz learned there are consequences for his outrageous assault of a fellow passenger. To others who need a quick refresher, here it is: The FBI's jurisdiction includes any illegal act committed on a plane the moment the doors are closed. Behave yourselves. If you break the law while aboard an aircraft, you will be arrested and held accountable,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
The government’s evidence at trial established that on February 24, 2018, Katz and the then-25-year-old victim were passengers aboard Etihad Airways Flight 103, an overnight flight traveling from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York. The victim, assigned to a window seat, fell asleep with Katz assigned to the aisle seat next to her. While she slept, Katz reached into the victim’s pants with his hand and touched her genitals. She awoke to the defendant sexually abusing her.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla C. Bensing and James P. McDonald.
The Defendant:
DANIEL MARTIN KATZ
Age: 36
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-115 (FB)
Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty yesterday to distributing fentanyl throughout southeastern Massachusetts.
Christian Collins, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28, 2021.
In 2019 and 2020, law enforcement officers conducted an investigation into fentanyl traffickers operating in southeastern Massachusetts. On Dec. 16, 2019, it is alleged that Collins worked with a co-defendant to distribute 20 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness and an undercover police officer in Plympton. On Jan. 3, 2020, Collins and a third man sold 10 grams of fentanyl and a Taurus .38 caliber firearm to the same cooperating witness and undercover officer. On Jan. 6 and Jan. 8, 2020, Collins distributed a total of 45 grams of fentanyl to the cooperating witness and undercover officer.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; East Bridgewater Police Chief Paul O’Brien; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking HeroinRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVON LOTT, also known as “D,” 39, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2017, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating individuals who were distributing narcotics in and around Bridgeport. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, resulted in federal charges against 19 defendants and the seizure of narcotics, items used to process and package drugs for street sale, eight firearms, and more than $360,000 in cash.
The investigation revealed that Lott acquired and distributed a significant amount of heroin for several years.
Lott was arrested on May 10, 2019. On February 28, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
Lott, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 23, 2021.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut State Police, and the Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Patrick J. Doherty through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Boston Man Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fentanyl distribution.
Anthony Smallwood, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to seven years in prison and four years of supervised release. In January 2020, Smallwood pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Between March and May 2019, Smallwood engaged in four separate drug sales of fentanyl to a cooperating witness. These sales totaled over 230 grams of fentanyl.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Boston Man Sentenced for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine conspiracy.
Luis Alfredo Baez, 53, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 41 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On Feb. 23, 2021, Baez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
In May 2019, Baez and two others were charged following an investigation of a drug trafficking organization in and around Brockton and Boston. According to court documents, in 2018, federal and state law enforcement began investigating a Brockton drug crew. That investigation identified Baez, a Boston-based drug dealer who distributed large quantities of cocaine. In June 2019, a federal grand jury returned a 17-count superseding indictment charging Baez and 16 others with controlled substance and firearm offenses. Baez is the eighth defendant to be sentenced in the case.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted 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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Elvis R. Abinader, 22, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 13, 2021, Abinader pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Abinader possessed a Ruger .380 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number and three rounds of ammunition on June 24, 2019, at Mt. Pleasant Park, a playground in Boston. Federal law prohibits Abinader from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction for a narcotics distribution offense.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Blasdell Man Arrested After Investigators Recover Thousands of Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Shawn Kostelny, 55, of Blasdell, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that the between June 19 and June 23, 2020, a Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent, who was engaged in a Peer-to-Peer investigation online, downloaded 1,346 files of suspected child pornography from an IP address traced to the defendant.
On August 14, 2020, HSI Special Agents executed a search warrant at Kostelny’s residence and seized 49 electronic devices, including a laptop and hard drive. Forensic analysis of the 49 seized items recovered 8,018 images and 686 videos of suspected child pornography. Some of the images depicted children as young as three-years-old subjected to sexually explicit situations.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Bath Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Bath man pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, one count of transferring property to prevent seizure, and one count of aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
According to court records, between February 2019 and September 2020, David Altenburg, 46, used his access to his employer’s financial accounts to make approximately 106 wire transfers and other withdrawals. To execute his scheme, he fraudulently used the name and email address of a firm director to purportedly authorize certain transfers.
In total, Altenburg diverted more than $2.7 million to accounts under his control. He used the diverted funds to fund travel; pay down his mortgage; and purchase luxury vehicles, jewelry, clothing and other items. After learning he was under investigation, he transferred title of his residence to a trust managed by his wife in an effort to prevent its seizure.
Altenburg faces a period of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count, up to 20 years and a fine of up to $500,000 on three of the money laundering counts, up to 10 years and a fine of $250,000 on four of the money laundering counts, up to five years and a fine of $250,000 on the transferring property to prevent seizure count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of two years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the aggravated identify theft count. He will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of the offenses. He will be sentenced following the preparation of a presentence report by the United States Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bath Police Department.
Acting United States Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis Announces Formation of Environmental Justice Team in the Office’s Civil DivisionRead the Press Release
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today the creation of the Environmental Justice Team. The Environmental Justice Team, comprised of seven Civil Division Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including the Civil Division Chief of Environmental Litigation, reinforces the Office’s focus on protecting the rights of residents of the Eastern District of New York who are disproportionately burdened by environmental and health hazards. The Office has responsibility for the enforcement of our nation’s laws in the Eastern District of New York, which encompasses three of the five boroughs of New York City – Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island – and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. The Eastern District of New York encompasses approximately eight million people.
The Office is creating this team in recognition of President Joseph Biden’s directive in Executive Order 14008, which mandates that “[a]gencies shall make achieving environmental justice part of their missions by developing programs, policies, and activities to address the disproportionately high and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts.” Among the areas that the Environmental Justice Team will focus on are child lead exposure, clean air, and the protection of groundwater, surface waters, and wetlands across New York City and Long Island.
In announcing the formation of the Environmental Justice Team, Acting United States Attorney Kasulis stated, “I am proud to announce the formation of our Environmental Justice Team, which will enhance the Office’s longstanding commitment to environmental enforcement by addressing disproportionate environmental, health, economic and climate impacts on disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Team is a critical part of the Office’s longstanding commitment to fighting pollution and climate change. This Office will continue to vigorously enforce federal environmental laws and hold polluters accountable.”
“For too long, the lived experience of many communities whose residents are predominantly of color, Indigenous, or low-income is that they suffer from disproportionately high pollution levels that result in adverse health and environmental impacts,” stated EPA Acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. “The creation of this Environmental Justice Team is a positive step forward to strengthen the enforcement of our bedrock environmental laws and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to ensure violations in environmental justice communities are promptly identified and corrected, and that appropriate penalties are imposed as a deterrent against future violations. Environmental justice is a central driving factor in all that we all do.”
The Office will continue to partner and coordinate with the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as client agencies across the federal government.
The Environmental Justice Team is led by Civil Division Chief of Environmental Litigation Matthew Silverman; the Environmental Justice Team is made up of Senior Litigation Counsel Deborah Zwany and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ekta R. Dharia, Kathleen Mahoney, Thomas Price, Shana C. Priore and Alex Weinberg. The Environmental Justice Team is overseen by Civil Division Acting Chief Joseph A. Marutollo and Civil Division Deputy Chief Richard K. Hayes.
The Office previously announced the creation of a Civil Rights Team in the Office’s Civil Division, which is comprised of the Civil Division Chief of Civil Rights, four Civil Division Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and a Civil Rights investigator. The Civil Rights Team’s focus will be on protecting the rights of the most vulnerable residents of the Eastern District of New York, especially those in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Team will be coordinating its work with the Civil Rights Team.
Acting U.S. Attorney named West Virginia Bar FellowRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard will be honored today as a 2021 Fellow at the West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner in Charleston.
The event will honor the judges and lawyers selected for both the 2020 Fellows class and the 2021 Fellows class. The criteria for Bar Foundation Fellows are those judges and lawyers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession with the individuals selected reflecting the diverse nature of the legal profession in West Virginia.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized by the West Virginia Bar and my colleagues. All of us work tirelessly every day to find justice for clients in a variety of arenas. I’m proud to be a part of such an esteemed group of legal professionals,” said Bernard.
Bernard was nominated by former U.S. Attorney Bill Powell, Northern District of West Virginia.There have been approximately 400 lawyers and judges selected as Fellows over the years from the 6,000 judges and lawyers across the state.
Wednesday 23 June 2021
York County Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Luis Minier, a/k/a “Cito,” age 26, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 22, 2021, to 10 years’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for conspiring to distribute over a kilogram of heroin (one kilogram of heroin is the equivalent of approximately 40,000 individual doses) and five kilograms of cocaine.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the investigation began with an overdose death in the City of York on December 2, 2017. Investigators connected the death to heroin laced with fentanyl sold by codefendant Lamar Johnson. They further determined that Minier was bringing kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine into York on a weekly basis from September 2017 until December 2017. Police arrested and seized over 700 grams of heroin and a kilogram of cocaine during police searches in December 2017.
Codefendants indicted in this case include:
- Brandon L. Orr, a/k/a “B Or,” age 27, of York, entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking charges in June 2021, and is awaiting sentencing;
- Lamar Johnson, age 32 of York, entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking charges in June 2021, and is awaiting sentencing; and
- Javiel Snellings, age 26, of York, entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking charges and was sentenced March 31, 2021 to two years of probation.
The case was investigated by the Capitol Safe Streets Task Force, which included representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the York County Drug Task Force, and Springettsbury Township Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Seeks Temporary Restraining Order Against Minnesota Businessman Selling Counterfeit N95 MasksRead the Press Release
EL PASO – Federal authorities in El Paso are seeking a civil injunction against 40-year-old Wayzata, Minnesota resident Scott Boynton and his business, Boynton Companies, Inc, d/b/a RELYmedia, in an effort to combat alleged fraud related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The government is employing a statute that permits federal courts to issue injunctions to prevent harm to potential victims of fraudulent schemes. The purpose of the civil injunction is to stop Boynton and RELYmedia, from advertising, distributing, transporting or selling any mask or face covering purported to be an authentic 3M 1860 N95 mask. If approved by the Court, the civil injunction will prevent RELYmedia from selling counterfeit 3M masks in an effort to protect the public from unknowingly purchasing ineffective or substandard personal protective equipment.
On December 7, 2020, Department of Homeland Security officials seized over 100,000 counterfeit 3M 1860 N95 masks sold by Boynton through RELYmedia. Those masks were discovered inside a U.S. Customs bonded warehouse in El Paso. Court records state that the seized masks, as well as other masks offered for sale and sold by Boynton, were counterfeit 3M N95 masks exported from China.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Special Agent in Charge Erik P. Breitzke of Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) El Paso Field Office made today’s announcement.
The Department of Justice recommends that Americans take the following precautionary measures to protect themselves from known and emerging scams related to COVID-19:
- Independently verify the identity of any company, charity, or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19.
- Check the websites and email addresses offering information, products, or services related to COVID-19. Be aware that scammers often employ addresses that differ only slightly from those belonging to the entities they are impersonating. For example, they might use “cdc.com” or “cdc.org” instead of “cdc.gov.”
- Be wary of unsolicited emails offering information, supplies, or treatment for COVID-19 or requesting your personal information for medical purposes. Legitimate health authorities will not contact the general public this way.
- Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. Doing so could download a virus onto your computer or device.
- Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is operating and up to date.
- Check online reviews of any company offering COVID-19 products or supplies. Avoid companies whose customers have complained about not receiving items.
- Research any charities or crowdfunding sites soliciting donations in connection with COVID-19 before giving any donation. Remember, an organization may not be legitimate even if it uses words like “CDC” or “government” in its name or has reputable looking seals or logos on its materials. For online resources on donating wisely, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website.
- Be wary of any business, charity or individual requesting payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card or through the mail. Don’t send money through any of these channels.
- Be cautious of “investment opportunities” tied to COVID-19, especially those based on claims that a small company’s products or services can help stop the virus. If you decide to invest, carefully research the investment beforehand. For information on how to avoid investment fraud, visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.
This enforcement action is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane Wagman Romero and Eddie Castillo. HSI’s El Paso Field Office is conducting the investigation. The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove to receive a permanent injunction against the defendant.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on DOJ’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Texas Attorney and Client Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Income Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Texas attorney and former member of the Idaho legislature, John O. Green, and his client, Texas inventor Thomas Selgas, were sentenced yesterday for conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax evasion. Selgas was sentenced to 18 months in prison and Green to six months.
Selgas and Green were convicted by a jury in Federal District Court in Dallas on Jan. 15, 2020. According to the evidence presented at trial, Selgas conspired with Green, an attorney licensed to practice in Texas, to defraud the United States by obstructing the IRS’s efforts to assess and collect Selgas’s taxes. Selgas and his wife owed approximately $1.1 million in taxes that Selgas refused to pay. When the IRS sought to collect those taxes, Selgas concealed, with the assistance of Green, substantial funds by using Green’s Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) rather than using financial accounts in Selgas’s own name. An IOLTA is an escrow bank account used by a lawyer to hold money in trust for clients. From 2007 to 2017, Selgas deposited proceeds from the sale of gold coins and other income into Green’s IOLTA. At the direction of Selgas, Green would then use that escrow account to pay the personal expenses of Selgas and his wife, including their credit card bills. This use of the IOLTA concealed Selgas’s income from the IRS and thwarted its ability to identify funds he possessed, which could be used to offset the taxes owed. Selgas and Green also filed a false tax return on behalf of MyMail Ltd., an intellectual property development and licensing partnership Selgas co-founded, omitting a substantial portion of the partnership’s actual income.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Karen Gren Scholer ordered Selgas to serve thee years of supervised release and to pay approximately $1,323,776.92 in restitution to the United States. Judge Scholer ordered Green to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $679,501.50 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah of the Northern District of Texas made the announcement.
Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and Mitchell Galloway of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Tennessee Doctor Pleads Guilty to Hydrocodone Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
A Tennessee physician pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee to causing the death of one of his patients through his illegal prescribing of hydrocodone.
According to court documents, Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, of Jackson, owned and operated the Ballard Clinic, from which he issued prescriptions for dangerous, addictive controlled pharmaceutical drugs without any legitimate medical purpose. Ballard engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed. These abuses were often reflected in Ballard’s own medical records.
Ballard’s treatment records reflected that he believed that a particular patient had psychiatric issues, and that she was abusing her medication, fabricating personal trauma and tampering with drug screens. The records also reflected aberrant drug screens and notations about the patient’s incarceration and receipt of prescriptions elsewhere for suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid dependency disorder. In spite of that history, Ballard prescribed the patient hydrocodone repeatedly, including on May 28, 2015, when Ballard issued her the prescription for the hydrocodone on which she fatally overdosed.
“Today’s plea is a somber reminder of the human cost of illegal prescribing,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Above all, physicians are trusted not to harm their patients. When opioid addictions are fueled at the hands of predatory prescribers, death is all too often the result. The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to hold such prescribers accountable.”
“This case represents Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division’s commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic plaguing our state, exposing fraudulent health care schemes, and holding offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct,” said Special Agent-In-Charge Terry L. Reed Sr. of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
“Ballard has proven himself to be nothing more than a predator in a white lab coat, and he should expect to be punished accordingly,” said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA’s Louisville Division. “Doctors take an oath to first do no harm, and instead, Ballard chose to put his own licentious interests above his patients’ well-being.”
“Ballard’s callous disregard for the well-being of his patients and the principles of his profession caused the death of a vulnerable woman and put other lives at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The damage he caused is severe and irreparable. HHS-OIG, alongside other law enforcement agencies, works to pursue medical professionals who inflict harm on patients in their care.”
Ballard pleaded guilty to a count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death. He will be sentenced to 20 years in prison, the statutory mandatory minimum, on Sept. 21, if the court accepts his plea agreement. A federal district court judge will determine any non-incarceration aspect of Ballard’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The TBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Jason Knutson, Drew Pennebaker, and Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Tennessee Doctor Pleads Guilty to Hydrocodone Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Tennessee physician pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee to causing the death of one of his patients through his illegal prescribing of hydrocodone.
According to court documents, Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, of Jackson, owned and operated the Ballard Clinic, from which he issued prescriptions for dangerous, addictive controlled pharmaceutical drugs without any legitimate medical purpose. Ballard engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed. These abuses were often reflected in Ballard’s own medical records.
Ballard’s treatment records reflected that he believed that a particular patient had psychiatric issues, and that she was abusing her medication, fabricating personal trauma and tampering with drug screens. The records also reflected aberrant drug screens and notations about the patient’s incarceration and receipt of prescriptions elsewhere for suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid dependency disorder. In spite of that history, Ballard prescribed the patient hydrocodone repeatedly, including on May 28, 2015, when Ballard issued her the prescription for the hydrocodone on which she fatally overdosed.
"Today’s plea is a somber reminder of the human cost of illegal prescribing," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "Above all, physicians are trusted not to harm their patients. When opioid addictions are fueled at the hands of predatory prescribers, death is all too often the result. The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to hold such prescribers accountable."
"This case represents Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division’s commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic plaguing our state, exposing fraudulent health care
schemes, and holding offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct," said Special Agent-In-Charge Terry L. Reed Sr. of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
"Ballard has proven himself to be nothing more than a predator in a white lab coat, and he should expect to be punished accordingly," said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA’s Louisville Division. "Doctors take an oath to first do no harm, and instead, Ballard chose to put his own licentious interests above his patients’ well-being."
"Ballard’s callous disregard for the well-being of his patients and the principles of his profession caused the death of a vulnerable woman and put other lives at risk," stated Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "The damage he caused is severe and irreparable. HHS-OIG, alongside other law enforcement agencies, works to pursue medical professionals who inflict harm on patients in their care."
Ballard pleaded guilty to a count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death. He will be sentenced to 20 years in prison, the statutory mandatory minimum, on Sept. 21, if the court accepts his plea agreement. A federal district court judge will determine any non-incarceration aspect of Ballard’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The TBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Jason Knutson, Drew Pennebaker, and Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
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Suring Man Indicted for Crimes Against Underage ChildRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that
on June 22, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted John E. Fredenburgh (age: 36) of Suring, Wisconsin, on
two counts of traveling interstate with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, in violation of
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(b), and an additional count of using a computer to attempt to
persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Section 2422(b).
If convicted of the interstate travel charges, Fredenburgh faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment on each
count. If convicted of the child enticement charge, he faces a mandatory 10 years’ imprisonment and up
to a lifetime of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office, the Marinette County Sheriff’s
Office, the Menominee, Michigan Sheriff’s Office, the Menominee (Michigan) Police Department, and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R.
Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is
entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700St. Louis man pleads guilty to aiding and abetting a carjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Jaden Allen, 20, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the commission of a carjacking. Allen appeared today before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross.
On June 7, 2020, Allen and a co-defendant approached a victim in the 7300 block of Hazelcrest in St. Louis County to take a 2013 Chrysler 200 at gunpoint. Allen’s co-defendant was armed with a loaded Charter Arms .38 caliber firearm when they verbally engaged the victim, and the co-defendant brandished the firearm and demanded the victim’s car keys. The victim complied with the demand. Allen and the co-defendant then entered the Chrysler and drove away. Allen knowingly associated himself with the carjacking, participated in the carjacking, and took actions to ensure the carjacking was successful.
The victim called Hazelwood Police to report the carjacking. As the victim talked with police at the scene, the victim observed the stolen Chrysler drive past and then alerted police. Officers from multiple jurisdictions pursued the stolen Chrysler at high speeds for approximately 10 miles before Allen’s co-defendant crashed the car. Officers then took Allen and his co-defendant into custody. Officers also recovered the firearm used in the carjacking.
Judge Ross has set sentencing for September 24, 2021.
The Hazelwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.
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South Texan heads to prison for possessing nearly 1500 pornographic images of minorsRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 27-year-old Brownsville resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Alvaro Vega-Rodriguez pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2020.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera Jr. ordered him to serve a 78-month sentence to be immediately followed by 20 years of supervised release during which he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender.
“These investigations serve as a reminder and warning to those who engage in perverse online behavior involving child exploitation,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Timothy Tubbs of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “This illegal activity will not be tolerated and those who are participating in it will be found and brought to justice.”
In May 2019, authorities launched an investigation targeting child pornography sharing on the internet. That led them to Vega-Rodriguez. The following month, they conducted a search at the residence and seized his computer. Forensic analysis on the computer later revealed approximately 1,488 images and 121 videos of child pornography.
Vega-Rodriguez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI’s Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ana C. Cano and Jose A. Esquivel, Jr. prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Six People Arrested and Indicted in Alleged Illicit Massage Parlor OperationRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Six women from Flushing, New York, and Little River, South Carolina, were arrested on June 16 and 17, 2021, on charges involving conspiracy, bribery, and operating illegal massage parlors offering prostitution and indicted on June 22, 2021.
According to court documents, Ok Hwa Lee, Shanyu Song, OgBun Park, XueJin Bai and Ming Ji Cao allegedly conspired to pay bribes to a law enforcement officer (who was actually an undercover agent posing as a corrupt law enforcement officer) to provide protection for the operation of illegal massage parlors in Cary and Wilmington, where sexual services were offered. An indictment charges them with conspiracy, bribery, and operating an illegal prostitution enterprise in interstate commerce.
Xiang Yue Jin, charged separately, allegedly also bribed an undercover agent, believing that he would protect her illegal massage parlors (where sexual services were offered) from law enforcement scrutiny. An indictment charges her with bribery and operating an illegal prostitution enterprise in interstate commerce.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, the Cary Police Department, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department, the Horry County Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and other state and local investigators. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin C. Blondel and Bryan Stephany are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 7:21-mj-1165-RJ and 5:21-mj-1569-RN.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Schuylkill County Man Sentenced to Six Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shaquane Scott, age 31, of Frackville, Schuylkill County, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to six years’ imprisonment for distribution of crystal methamphetamine.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Scott previously pled guilty and admitted to distributing between 50 and 150 grams of highly-pure crystal methamphetamine in the Schuylkill County area over a several-week period in February and March 2019. Scott and his girlfriend, Samantha Blume, age 28, also of Frackville, were indicted by a grand jury in September 2019 for methamphetamine trafficking. The charges against Blume are still pending.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
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Saratoga County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Porrazzo, a/k/a “lickndipinu,” age 51, of Stillwater, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of possession of child pornography.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of his guilty plea, Porrazzo admitted that on June 2, 2016, he possessed multiple images of child pornography on two laptop computers, and that the child pornography he possessed included depictions of children under age 12 being sexually abused.
Porrazzo faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a mandatory term of supervised release of 5 years and up to life, and a maximum $250,000 fine, when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy on October 13, 2021. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Porrazzo will also have to register as a sex offender.
Porrazzo has been in custody since his arrest on October 2, 2020.
This case was investigated by HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s’ offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Rockford Man Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison for Threatening to Kill Deputy U.S. MarshalRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for threatening to kill a deputy U.S. Marshal.
GIANNI GASPARE ANTHONY CARDENAS, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr., imposed the 30-month sentence Tuesday after a hearing in federal court in Rockford.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci.
According to a written plea agreement, the deputy U.S. Marshal in February 2018 interviewed Cardenas at a county jail regarding the whereabouts of a federal fugitive. Cardenas told the deputy U.S. Marshal during the interview that Cardenas would “kick [the deputy's] [expletive]” when Cardenas got out of jail. The plea agreement stated further that, on or about Oct. 20, 2019, Cardenas sent two threatening emails to the deputy U.S. Marshal. The first email stated, among other things, “Hopefully we can meet again this time with me not being in handcuffs." The second email stated, “I’ll kill you.”
Rochester Pawn Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Selling More Than A million Dollars Worth of Stolen GoodsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Thomas Nary, 39, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant owned and operated Rochester Pawn & Gold (RPG), a pawnshop located on Dewey Avenue in Rochester. Between January 2015 and November 2019, Nary purchased stolen goods and merchandise from individuals that he knew were engaged in unlawful shoplifting from Rochester area retail stores. The stolen items were taken from various stores, including Lowes, Home Depot, Target, Walmart and Wegmans, and then sold to RPG for a fraction of the true retail value. The defendant then listed the stolen goods for sale on eBay and Amazon, including to buyers located outside of New York State. The goods were advertised as “New” or “New-In-Box” and priced below retail value, although the price was well in excess of what Nary paid those that stole the items. The defendant sold and shipped more than $1,500,000 worth of stolen goods to buyers.The defendant was charged in November 2019 along with co-defendants Eric Finnefrock and Ralph Swain, who were both previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Andrew P. Forsythe; and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Rochester Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Rochester man was sentenced yesterday to 132 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, from May 2019 through June 2019, Jason Edward Hoffman, 34, was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. As part of his role in the conspiracy, Hoffman served as a sub-distributor and provided distribution logistics for methamphetamine, that was supplied to him by co-conspirator John Willis Netherton. Hoffman also collected funds from the sale of methamphetamine, which he provided in part to Netherton.
Jason Edward Hoffman pleaded guilty on August 25, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Several co-conspirators have previously been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy including: John Willis Netherton, who was sentenced to 260 months imprisonment followed by eight years of supervised release; Jacob Paul Williams was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release; Andrew Robert Berndt was sentenced to 102 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release; and Miguel Angel Cuevas Zamora who was sentenced to 120 years imprisonment and two years of supervised release.
Co-conspirators Joshua Alexander Sazo, Nicholas John Hanson, Deja Lee Benton, and Kayleigh Rea Todd have all pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rochester Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the South Central Drug Investigation Unit, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter, Jr. prosecuted the case.
Riverside Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Riverside man, Jakari Eman Smith, Sr., age 29, was sentenced on Monday, June 21, 2021, by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 50 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Smith was ordered to served three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal made the announcement.
According to court documents, Smith was involved in a vehicle crash in North Liberty. Law enforcement officers approached Smith, noting his breath smelled strongly of alcohol. Smith, was uncooperative with law enforcement and a struggle ensued, during which Smith reached at his waistband area. Subsequently, law enforcement found a firearm directly below the area where Smith had grasped. On February 12, 2021, Smith pleaded guilty to the charge.
The North Liberty Police Department investigated the case and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the matter.
Ringleader Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years Imprisonment for Cocaine/Heroin/Methamphetamine Trafficking in the Austin AreaRead the Press Release
AUSTIN – U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel today sentenced 34-year-old Austin resident Juan Angel Aguirre aka “Larry Aguirre” to 235 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for supplying traffickers with multiple kilograms of narcotics that were distributed throughout the Austin area.
Aguirre is one of 19 defendants who have been convicted on federal drug trafficking charges based on this indictment. The defendants conspired to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than one kilogram of heroin, methamphetamine and other narcotics in Austin from December 2016 to September 2019. During this investigation, authorities seized approximately 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, seven kilograms of cocaine, five kilograms of heroin and more than $594,000 in cash and assets attributed to this drug trafficking organization.
One defendant, Luis Alberto Mota, Jr, is awaiting sentencing next month. The other 18, including Aguirre, have received prison sentences ranging from nine months to 235 months.
“The prosecutions of Juan Angel Aguirre and his codefendants have resulted in the dismantling of a major drug trafficking organization and the removal of a significant criminal element from the streets of Austin,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “This case is an excellent example of the effectiveness of our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program in combatting the scourge of drug trafficking and the related crimes drug trafficking generates in our community.”
Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Houston Division, Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler and Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss of the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office joined U.S. Attorney Hoff in making today’s announcement.
This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the DEA, Austin Police Department, Cedar Park Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Hays County Sheriff’s Office and IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Gardner is prosecuting this case.
This prosecution resulted from an OCDETF investigation called Operation “No Big Deal.” OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. 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.
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Registered Sex Offender Charged with Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A 31-year-old registered sex offender living in Smithfield, RI, who allegedly claimed during Instagram communications with two minor boys in Florida to be 17-years-old, has been ordered detained in federal custody in Rhode Island on charges he attempted to send obscene material, including live video of him performing a sex act on himself, to one of the boys.
According to court documents, on May 18, 2021, a woman reported to the North Port, FL, Police Department that an unidentified person had sent inappropriate sexual communications to her 13-year-old son via an Instagram account with the identity of “Jackasslures.” The Instagram account held itself out as a fishing-related online site. The mother reported that her son also had received a package from Forestdale, RI, containing a fishing lure sent by a person associated with the Instagram account. North Port Police determined that the Instagram account belonged to Nicholas Sannicandro, 31, of Smithfield, RI, and that the 13-year-old learned of the online fishing site from a 14-year-old middle-school classmate who lives in nearby Englewood, FL. Law enforcement located the 14-year-old and determined that he allegedly had been communicating with “Jackasslures” since late January 2021.
According to court documents, a North Port law enforcement officer assumed the online identity of the 14-year-old and began communicating with “Jackasslures” in an undercover capacity. The officer stated to “Jackasslures” that he had just turned 14-years-old, and that he would be travelling to Warwick “as a treat.” In response, on June 10, 2021, “Jackasslures” allegedly sent an image of himself, images of the inside of his boat docked in Warwick, an image of himself wrapped in a blanket on the boat with the caption of “I’M COZY IN MY BED ON. MY BOAT[.]” and an invitation to go out on the boat with him. During further online communications on June 14, Sannicandro allegedly sent a sexually explicit image to the undercover. On June 15, among other messages exchanged between the two, Sannicandro allegedly sent the person he believed to be the 14-year-old a live video of him performing a sex act on himself.
On Tuesday, FBI agents, with the assistance of the North Port, Florida, Police Department, Rhode Island State Police, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Warwick Police Department, arrested Sannicandro on a federal criminal complaint charging him with attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor and commission of a specified sexual exploitation offense by a person required to register as sex offender. Law enforcement agents and officers also executed court-authorized searches of Sannicandro’s Smithfield residence and boat docked in Warwick.
A federal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The arrest of Nicholas Sannicandro is announced by Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.
According to court records, Nicholas Sannicandro was convicted in 2011 in Massachusetts for possession of child pornography, and he was required to register as a sex offender. Subsequently, he was convicted twice in 2018.
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Red Lake Man Charged with Assault, Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to a sexual assault occurring on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, between September 26 and 27, 2020, Tony Lee Lussier, 38, of Red Lake, Minnesota, assaulted a victim with a knife. The indictment also alleges that Lussier engaged in a sexual act with the victim who at the time was physically incapable of declining participation in the act.
Lussier is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of sexual abuse of an incapable victim. Lussier made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung. Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk of the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead 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.