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Tuesday 1 June 2021
Four Plead Guilty to Multi-State Dogfighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Four defendants pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting and conspiracy charges for their roles in an inter-state dogfighting network across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey.
The Honorable John A. Gibney Jr., U.S. District Judge in Richmond, Virginia, accepted the following pleas:
- On June 1, Odell S. Anderson Sr., 52, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to violate the animal-fighting prohibitions of the Animal Welfare Act by conspiring with others to sponsor and exhibit dogs in a dog fight, as well as to buy, sell, possess, train, transport, deliver, and receive dogs for the purposes of having those dog participate in animal-fighting ventures. Additionally, Anderson pleaded guilty to one felony count of causing a child under the age of sixteen to attend an animal-fighting venture;
- On May 10, Emmanuel A. Powe Sr., 46, of Frederick, Maryland, also pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to violate the animal-fighting prohibitions of the Animal Welfare Act; and
- On April 28, Chester A. Moody Jr., 46, of Glenn Dale, Maryland; and Carlos L. Harvey, 46, of King George, Virginia, each pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy.
According to court documents filed in connection with the cases, from April 2013 through July 11, 2018, the pleading defendants and their co-conspirators participated in animal-fighting ventures, involving training, transporting, breeding and dogfighting setups, including at least one specific “two-card” dogfighting event on April 3, 2016. For that event, Anderson, Powe and Harvey met up with others in the Walmart parking lot in King George, Virginia, and then traveled to another location for a fight. Moody, Powe and Anderson then participated in a pre-scheduled “two-card” dogfight, which involves two separate dogfights with different dogs and handlers. The dogfighters subjected the dogs to arduous training for several weeks before the fighting event. At least one of the dogs died due to its injuries in this dog fight.
The defendants each also maintained other fighting dogs at their residences, as well as dogfighting equipment including dog treadmills, “med kits,” “breeding stands” (to immobilize female dogs), and chains weighing up to several pounds per linear foot. Each animal-fighting charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge against Anderson of taking a minor to attend a dog fight carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“Organized dogfighting — whether on a professional, hobbyist or street fighter level — has no place in our society,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean E. Williams of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Dogfighting is an extremely violent and secretive venture of animal abuse, and bringing young children to these fighting events exposes another generation to indifference towards animal cruelty and disrespect for the law against this ruthless and illegal activity.”
“Dogfighting is absolutely intolerable and callously subjects defenseless animals to inhumane treatment and abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We must protect and care for these animals—not cruelly turn them against each other for profit. Those who engage in this deplorable conduct will face justice to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures.”
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Grand Champion, a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dogfighting. The phrase “Grand Champion” is used by dogfighters to refer to a dog with more than five dogfighting “victories.”
The Humane Society of the United States, along with other entities, assisted with the care of the dogs seized by federal law enforcement.
The government is represented by Trial Attorney Shennie Patel of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The case is being investigated by the USDA-OIG, with assistance from the FBI.
The district court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Four Plead Guilty to Multi-State Dogfighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Four defendants pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to federal dogfighting and conspiracy charges for their roles in an interstate dogfighting network across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey.
“Dogfighting is absolutely intolerable and callously subjects defenseless animals to inhumane treatment and abuse,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We must protect and care for these animals—not cruelly turn them against each other for profit. Those who engage in this deplorable conduct will face justice to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to court documents filed in connection with the cases, four defendants—Odell S. Anderson Sr., 52, of the District of Columbia; Emmanuel A. Powe Sr., 46, of Frederick, Maryland; Chester A. Moody Jr., 46, of Glenn Dale, Maryland; and Carlos L. Harvey, 46, of King George, Virginia—and their co-conspirators participated in animal-fighting ventures from April 2013 through July 11, 2018. Those ventures involved training, transporting, and breeding dogs for dogfighting events, including at least one specific “two-card” event on April 3, 2016.
For the April 2016 event, Anderson, Powe, and Harvey met up with others in the parking lot of Walmart in King George, Virginia, and they followed one of the people in their vehicles to the location of a fight. Moody, Powe, and Anderson then participated in a pre-scheduled “two-card” dogfight, which is an event involving two separate dogfights with different dogs and handlers. This event involved a strict training regimen the dogfighters put the dogs through for several weeks before the event. At least one of the dogs died due to its injuries in this April 2016 dogfight.
The defendants also maintained other fighting dogs at their residences, as well as dogfighting equipment, including dog treadmills, “med kits,” “breeding stands” used to immobilize female dogs, and chains weighing up to several pounds per linear foot.
“Organized dogfighting—whether on a professional, hobbyist or street fighter level—does not have a place in our society. Dogfighting is an extremely violent and secretive venture of animal abuse, and bringing young children to these fighting events also exposes another generation to indifference towards animal cruelty and disrespect for the law against this violent and illegal activity,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean E. Williams of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).
“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal-fighting ventures.”
Odell Anderson Sr. pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to violate the animal-fighting prohibitions of the Animal Welfare Act by conspiring with others to sponsor and exhibit dogs in a dogfight, as well as to buy, sell, possess, train, transport, deliver, and receive dogs for the purposes of having those dogs participate in animal-fighting ventures. Additionally, Anderson pleaded guilty to one felony count of causing a child under the age of 16 to attend an animal-fighting venture.
Previously, on May 10, 2021, Emmanuel Powe Sr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the animal-fighting prohibitions of the Animal Welfare Act. On April 28, 2021, Chester Moody Jr. and Carlos Harvey each pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy. All four defendants entered their guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. in Richmond, Virginia.
Moody will be sentenced on August 27, followed by Powe and Harvey on September 1 and Anderson on October 6. Each animal-fighting conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge against Anderson of taking a minor to attend a dogfight carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The District Court will determine each defendant’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Grand Champion, a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dogfighting. The phrase “Grand Champion” is used by dogfighters to refer to a dog with more than five dogfighting “victories.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Shennie Patel of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the cases. The case is being investigated by the USDA-OIG, with assistance from the FBI. The Humane Society of the United States, along with other entities, assisted with the care of the dogs seized by federal law enforcement.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:21-cr-23, 24, 25, and 26.
Former Procurement Director at Broward Health Pleads Guilty to Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A former procurement director at Broward Health pled guilty today in federal district court in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting that he accepted kickbacks from vendors and a consultant in exchange for awarding them lucrative government contracts.
From 2005 through 2015, Brian Bravo, 46, of Pembroke Pines, Florida worked as the Corporate Procurement Officer and Director of Materials Management of North Broward Hospital District, known in the community as Broward Health. As Procurement Director, one of Bravo’s responsibilities was to decide which vendors would provide goods and services to Broward Health, including health care products, linens, compression sleeves, and printer repairs. During his change of plea hearing, Bravo admitted to accepting approximately $427,000 in kickback payments ($150,000 of it in cash) from two vendors and a consultant for two additional vendors in exchange for awarding them Broward Health goods and services contracts. In 2015, Bravo steered kickback payments to designated bank accounts in order to conceal the illegal activity.
Bravo’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on August 12, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, who sits in Ft. Lauderdale. Bravo faces up to five years in prison.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced the guilty plea.
FBI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey N. Kaplan is prosecuting it.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 20-cr-60125.
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Former Boston Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Overtime Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Boston Police Sergeant pleaded guilty today in connection with an ongoing investigation of overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) evidence warehouse.
George Finch, 59, of Franklin, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 16, 2021. Finch was charged on May 13, 2021.
As stated during the plea hearing, members of BPD’s Evidence Control Unit (ECU), were responsible for, among other things, storing, cataloging and retrieving evidence at the warehouse. ECU officers were eligible to earn overtime pay of 1.5 times their regular hourly pay rate for overtime assignments. Finch admitted that between July 2016 and February 2019, he submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips for overtime hours that he did not work for two overtime shifts at the evidence warehouse. The first, called “purge” overtime, was a 4 – 8 p.m. weekday shift intended to dispose of old, unneeded evidence. The second shift, called “kiosk” overtime, involved driving to each police district in Boston one Saturday a month to collect old prescription drugs to be burned.
For the “purge” shift, Finch admitted that while he had claimed to have worked from 4 – 8 p.m., he and, allegedly, the other members of his unit routinely left at 6 p.m., or earlier. Additionally, Finch knowingly endorsed the fraudulent overtime slips of his subordinates who, allegedly, also left early from this shift. For the “kiosk” shift, Finch and others submitted overtime slips claiming to have worked eight-and-one-half hours, when in fact he and, allegedly, other members of the unit only worked three to four hours of those shifts.
Between March 2015 and September 2016, Finch submitted false and fraudulent slips for overtime hours that he did not work at the evidence warehouse. As a result, Finch personally collected approximately $11,310 for overtime hours he did not work.
In September 2020, nine Boston Police officers were arrested and charged for their roles in an overtime fraud scheme that is alleged to have collectively embezzled over $250,000 between May 2016 and February 2019. As part of the ongoing investigation, three additional officers were charged: former Sergeant Finch, former Captain Richard Evans and former Sergeant William Baxter, who has agreed to plead guilty.
From 2015 through 2019, BPD received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
The charge of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, 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.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Mendell’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal & State Officials Advise COVID-19 Vaccine Providers in Wisconsin That Individuals Seeking Vaccinations Cannot Be ChargedRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin; Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin; Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region (HHS-OIG); and Karen Timberlake, Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, advise the public that they should not be asked to pay any costs to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and warn COVID-19 vaccination providers not to seek payment from individual COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
COVID-19 vaccination providers participating in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Program are required to sign a provider agreement to receive and dispense vaccines. Among the requirements in the agreement, providers must not sell or seek reimbursement for the COVID-19 vaccine or any related supplies and must administer the vaccine regardless of the recipient’s ability to pay. While providers may seek appropriate reimbursement from a public benefit program or private insurance program or plan that covers COVID-19 vaccine administration fees, providers may not seek any reimbursement from the vaccine recipient.
Providers may also seek reimbursement from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program for the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured recipients, or from the HSRA Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF) for the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to recipients whose health insurance does not cover vaccine administration fees.
Noncompliance with the terms of the CDC Provider Agreement, such as by billing vaccine recipients for the COVID-19 vaccine or its administration, including co-pays, or denying an individual a vaccination because they are unable to pay any out-of-pocket costs, may result in the provider’s suspension or termination from the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program and potential criminal and civil penalties.
“Providers cannot charge anyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine or deny anyone from getting the vaccine if they are uninsured or underinsured – adding unlawful charges creates barriers, especially for persons of limited means, and undermines public health and safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “Non-compliance with the CDC Provider Agreement’s requirements may result in federal criminal or civil penalties, including but not limited to those set forth in the False Claims Act.”
“Along with our federal, state, and local partners, the Department of Justice is committed to using all available tools to ensure that no one is charged for access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling.
“Providers need to be on notice that the COVID-19 pandemic should not be exploited as a money-making opportunity by inappropriately charging beneficiaries for the administration of available vaccines,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, HHS-OIG - Chicago Region. “The OIG and its law enforcement partners will continue to support the unprecedented COVID-19 public health effort by holding accountable people who attempt to inappropriately profit from the pandemic.”
“COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free for everyone 12 years old and up across our state,” said Secretary-designee Timberlake. “We stand with our federal partners in our commitment to making sure everyone in Wisconsin can get vaccinated without worrying about what they may have to pay.”
If you know or suspect that any healthcare provider, healthcare facility, vaccination site, or pharmacy is improperly charging any costs for the COVID-19 vaccine, please report such conduct to the federal government at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), How to file a complaint (grievance) | Medicare, or TTY/TTD users can call 1-877-486-2048. Complaints may also be submitted to the State of Wisconsin at [email protected] or 844-684-1064.
Fairfield Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, one day before a jury trial was scheduled to begin, Hack Townsend Culling Jr., 28, of Fairfield, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 19, 2019, Culling was riding his motorcycle when law enforcement officers stopped him for a traffic violation. Culling was then on post-release community supervision that was imposed after a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. When officers searched Culling’s motorcycle, they found an FIE Titan .25-caliber handgun hidden in one of Culling’s boxing gloves. At the time he possessed that handgun, Culling had been convicted of five felony offenses, including two felony convictions for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and convictions for threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, false imprisonment by violence, and possessing a firearm as a felon.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Fairfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Lee and Brian A. Fogerty are prosecuting the case.
Culling is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Aug. 23. Culling faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Federal and State Officials Advise COVID-19 Vaccine Providers in Wisconsin That Individuals Seeking Vaccinations Cannot Be ChargedRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, joins Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region (HHS-OIG); and Karen Timberlake, Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, advise the public that they should not be asked to pay any costs to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and warn COVID-19 vaccination providers not to seek payment from individual COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
COVID-19 vaccination providers participating in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Program are required to sign a provider agreement to receive and dispense vaccines. Among the requirements in the agreement, providers must not sell or seek reimbursement for the COVID-19 vaccine or any related supplies and must administer the vaccine regardless of the recipient’s ability to pay. While providers may seek appropriate reimbursement from a public benefit program or private insurance program or plan that covers COVID-19 vaccine administration fees, providers may not seek any reimbursement from the vaccine recipient.
Providers may also seek reimbursement from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program for the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured recipients, or from the HSRA Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF) for the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to recipients whose health insurance does not cover vaccine administration fees.
Noncompliance with the terms of the CDC Provider Agreement, such as by billing vaccine recipients for the COVID-19 vaccine or its administration, including co-pays, or denying an individual a vaccination because they are unable to pay any out-of-pocket costs, may result in the provider’s suspension or termination from the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program and potential criminal and civil penalties.
“Providers cannot charge anyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine or deny anyone from getting the vaccine if they are uninsured or underinsured – adding unlawful charges creates barriers, especially for persons of limited means, and undermines public health and safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “Non-compliance with the CDC Provider Agreement’s requirements may result in federal criminal or civil penalties, including but not limited to the False Claims Act.”
“Along with our federal, state, and local partners, the Department of Justice is committed to using all available tools to ensure that no one is charged for access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling.
“Providers need to be on notice that the COVID-19 pandemic should not be exploited as a money-making opportunity by inappropriately charging beneficiaries for the administration of available vaccines,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, HHS-OIG – Chicago Region. “The OIG and its law enforcement partners will continue to support the unprecedented COVID-19 public health effort by holding accountable people who attempt to inappropriately profit from the pandemic.”
“COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free for everyone 12 years old and up across our state,” said Secretary-designee Timberlake. “We stand with our federal partners in our commitment to making sure everyone in Wisconsin can get vaccinated without worrying about what they may have to pay.”
If you know or suspect that any healthcare provider, healthcare facility, vaccination site, or pharmacy is improperly charging any costs for the COVID-19 vaccine, please report such conduct to the federal government at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), www.Medicare.Gov/Medicarecomplaintform, or TTY/TTD users can call 1-877-486-2048. Complaints may also be submitted to the State of Wisconsin at [email protected] or 844-684-1064.
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EDVA Commemorates LGBTQ+ Pride MonthRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – For the month of June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) will honor the vast contributions and important history of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community during LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
“Our Office commemorates the immense contributions of LGBTQ+ members of our community and celebrates the victories they have achieved in pursing equality,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “While enduring intolerable and unjust legal and cultural discrimination, LGBTQ+ individuals have served honorably in every aspect of our Nation’s government, from the military to elected office to the judicial system, including as essential members of EDVA. We recognize their past struggles to receive equal treatment under the law. We further commit ourselves to the continued elimination of discrimination against our LGBTQ+ colleagues, friends, and family, who strengthen our communities through the courage of their example, clearing a path for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities.”
In 1969, after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City, members of the LGBTQ+ community engaged in several days of protest of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. The following year, activists organized the first annual Pride March on June 28, 1970, a several-thousand-person march from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park commemorating the riots and protesting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Although not the first demonstration against LGBTQ+ discrimination, that Pride March marked the beginning of the galvanizing force that became a national civil rights movement to demand equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ citizens under the law, ultimately culminating in the creation of the first gay pride parades in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco. Since 1970, the LGBTQ+ community has celebrated every June as Pride Month and held annual Pride Marches in a growing number of cities, including internationally.
The first presidential proclamation recognizing Pride Month occurred in 1999. On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13988, directing the heads of every federal agency to take steps to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, both in the federal government itself and in its enforcement of anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII. Pride Month 2021 takes place during a time of continued hardship for the LGBTQ+ community, including a rise in violence against transgender individuals, predominately transgender women of color.
This month, EDVA will host several office-wide events, including informational sessions on civil rights and other issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. EDVA’s commemoration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month will also include an office-wide virtual panel discussion with the Honorable Todd M. Hughes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, who became the first openly gay judge on a federal appellate court (2013); the Honorable J. Paul Oetken of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, who became the first openly gay male federal judge (2011); and the Honorable Marisa J. Demeo of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, who served as the co-founder of the Justice Department’s Pride organization and its first President (1994).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Daytona Beach Drug Conspirators Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Cocaine, Heroin, and FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger today sentenced Matthew Zachariah Humphrey (26, Daytona Beach) to 11 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that offense. Humphrey’s co-conspirator, Janee Reve Najee Kelly (32, Daytona Beach) was sentenced to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison for the same charges.
Humphrey and Kelly had pleaded guilty on February 11, 2021, and December 8, 2020, respectively.
According to court documents, Humphrey, Kelly, and others worked together to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Daytona Beach area. On June 17, 2020, both Kelly and Humphrey were arrested in Daytona Beach. At the time of their arrests, Humphrey possessed cocaine, fentanyl, and a stolen, loaded firearm. Kelly possessed fentanyl and a firearm as well. Collectively, the two individuals possessed more than 88 grams of fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Davenport, Iowa – A Davenport man, Cory Lamar Carter, age 33, was sentenced Thursday, May 27, 2021, by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to five years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana. Following his prison term Carter was ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Carter was involved in multiple instances of marijuana trafficking between the summer of 2018 and the fall of 2019. As a part of this investigation, the United States Postal Inspector intercepted multiple packages destined for Carter’s residence, which contained pounds of marijuana. Carter has a prior federal conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. On January 28, 2021, Carter pleaded guilty to the charge.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Davenport Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspector were involved in the investigation of this matter. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Dallas Brothers Convicted of Supplying Heroin in OverdoseRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Two Dallas brothers have been found guilty of drug violations related to a 2019 overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Jose Antonio Carreto, 30, and his brother, Isauro Carreto-Cruz, 32, were found guilty by a jury of all counts: conspiracy and distribution of heroin resulting in seriously bodily injury, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury aiding and abetting. The verdict was reached today following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.
According to information presented in court, on Sep. 25, 2019, law enforcement authorities responded to a heroin overdose on a Plano highway. The victim was administered Narcan and survived the overdose. An investigation revealed the Carreto brothers had supplied the heroin used in the overdose.
“As long as the scourge of heroin continues to devastate lives, so too will we continue to aggressively seek out and prosecute the perpetrators,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Drug dealers should know that they’re not only on the hook for dealing drugs, but they’re also going to be held responsible for injuries or death stemming from their deadly wares. With this conviction and others like it, hopefully more lives will be saved.”
Jose Antonio Carreto and Isauro Carreto-Cruz were indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 13, 2019. Jose Antonio Carreto faces up to life in federal prison. Isauro Carreto-Cruz faces up to 40 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentences prescribed by Congress are provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being investigated by the Plano Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Plano Fire Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Bloss and Ernest Gonzalez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Pickett.
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Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A convicted felon found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number when he was pulled over by Pawtucket Police in October 2020 for not wearing a seat belt and for driving a vehicle that had not been properly registered is, according to court documents, facing five years in federal prison after pleading guilty today to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to information presented to the court, Jonathan Reyes, 35, of Pawtucket, was stopped by Pawtucket Police on October 14, 2020, when he was observed not wearing a seatbelt and driving a car with out-of-state license plates that were registered to a different vehicle. Reyes claimed to police that he had just purchased the vehicle. He provided them with a Bill of Sale that did not contain a VIN, date of sale/purchase, or signatures of the buyer/seller.
While speaking with an officer, the officer noticed a dark satchel in the middle of the back seat. When asked what he removed from his chest as he was being pulled over, Reyes responded that he had removed his seat belt. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a loaded Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number inside the black satchel.
As Reyes was being placed under arrest, he briefly attempted to flee police but was quickly apprehended.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court William E. Smith, Reyes, who was previously convicted on felony drug trafficking and misdemeanor domestic assault charges, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
If accepted by the court, a plea agreement filed in this matter jointly recommends that Reyes be sentenced to serve a 60-month term of incarceration in federal prison. Reyes, who is currently detained in federal custody, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2021.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and William J. Ferland.
The matter was investigated by the Pawtucket Police Department with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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Camden Man Held on Witness Tampering, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Two Camden County residents were arrested following their indictment by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in attempting to bribe a witness to steal a gun from a car that was in the custody of the Camden County Police Department, pending the execution of a search warrant, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Anthony D. Parker, aka “Papa Smurf,” 37, of Camden, and Saidah A. Davis, “Sacha,” 41, of Woodlynne, New Jersey, were both charged by indictment with witness tampering. Parker was additionally charged by indictment with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Both were indicted and arraigned in federal court last month before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio conducted a detention hearing on Parker today and ordered him held without bail pending trial.
According to the indictment and statements made in court:
On April 14, 2021, a law enforcement officer saw Parker enter a gray Chrysler while holding a black firearm in his hand. Later that night, police conducted a motor vehicle stop of the Chrysler, and ordered Parker, the sole occupant, out of the car. A drug-detecting K-9 alerted for the presence of narcotics in Parker’s car, which was then seized and impounded in a Camden tow lot pending an application for a search warrant. Parker was released from the scene. During the morning hours of April 16, 2021, police officers went to the tow lot and executed a search warrant on the Chrysler, at which time they found a black Glock 9 mm handgun loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition hidden in a compartment behind the dashboard. Police officers also found approximately $8,000 in cash, packaged in a manner consistent with drug trafficking proceeds. At the time, Parker had at least one prior felony conviction in federal court.
During the afternoon hours of April 16, 2021, not knowing that a search warrant had been executed and that the police had already seized the gun and cash, Parker and Davis went to the home of an individual who worked at the Camden tow lot. Parker asked the employee if his car was still in the tow lot, and when the employee answered affirmatively, Parker offered the employee $2,000 to break into his car and remove the gun and cash. The tow lot employee refused.
During the evening hours of April 16, 2021, an unidentified male broke into the tow lot and walked directly to Parker’s Chrysler. The male attempted to open the driver’s side door, which was locked, and then broke into the Chrysler by smashing the driver’s side window. The male entered the Chrysler and removed a panel that concealed a hidden compartment behind the dashboard. Finding the compartment empty, the male exited the Chrysler and fled the tow lot.
The witness tampering charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a potential $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Driscoll in Philadelphia; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; and officers of the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez; with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Harberg of the Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Colorado Defendant Pleads Guilty to Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that a Colorado man has pled guilty to crimes arising from two schemes to defraud investors in Wyoming and around the country. On May 25, 2021, ROBERT WILLIAM MITCHELL, a.k.a. BOB MITCHELL, age 52, of Centennial, Colorado entered guilty pleas to an indictment charging two separate-but-related investor frauds.
First, Mitchell pleaded guilty to mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a Wyoming natural gas production venture. According to court records, Mitchell solicited investments he claimed would be used to create a publicly traded, natural gas production company in Wyoming. Instead of developing any company or safeguarding the investors’ money as promised, Mitchell used the money to pay his personal expenses and to finance the scheme. Mitchell stole over $1.3 million dollars from about three dozen investors, most of whom lived in and around Gillette, Wyoming.
Second, Mitchell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in relation to the common stock of NuTech Energy Resources Inc. According to court records, Mitchell conspired to artificially inflate the market price of NuTech common stock by manipulative trading and by releasing to the public false and misleading information about NuTech’s business prospects. Mitchell then sold his worthless NuTech shares to unwitting investors in the public market. The indictment also charges three other men with crimes arising from the alleged conspiracy. These defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Their jury trial will begin on September 20, 2021, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
As a result of his guilty pleas, Mitchell may be sentenced to serve up to 25 years in prison, including three years of supervised release. In addition, he could face fines up to $250,000 and be ordered to pay restitution to the victims. Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne on August 4, 2021.
These crimes were investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Heimann and Thomas Szott are prosecuting the case.
Burlington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Davenport, Iowa – Kevin Cortez Garrett, age 39, of Burlington, was sentenced Thursday, May 27, 2021, by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 34 months in prison for Felon in Possession of Firearms. Garrett was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
According to court documents, law enforcement identified Kevin Cortez Garrett as a felon who was present at a shooting range in Burlington on two occasions in April 2020. While inside the range, surveillance video showed Garrett in possession of five firearms and a large amount of ammunition. Garrett removed three of the handguns from his waistband and one from his coat pocket. Garrett obtained four of the five firearms from a straw purchaser, who purchased the firearms and ammunition specifically for him. As a convicted felon out of Cook County, Illinois, Garrett is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, 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.
Broken Arrow Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Fraudulently Applying for Paycheck Protection Program Forgivable LoanRead the Press Release
A Broken Arrow man was sentenced today in federal court for fraudulently applying for a Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Rafael Maturino, 40, to 12 months and one day in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Eagan further ordered the defendant pay $97,800 in restitution to First Bank of Owasso. Maturino is required to self-surrender on July 14, 2021.
The defendant previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud after executing a scheme to defraud First Bank of Owasso when applying for a Paycheck Protection Program loan under false pretenses on April 28, 2020. Maturino applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan on behalf of a company he claimed to own and operate, Maturino Enterprises, Inc. He submitted forms that misrepresented the company’s payroll expenditures, amount of taxes paid, and the number of people employed. In his plea agreement, Maturino admitted that he falsely represented in a Paycheck Protection Program “Borrower Application Form” submitted to First Bank of Owasso that Maturino Enterprises had an average monthly payroll of $39,152.92; had 5 employees; and was in operation on February 15, 2020. He further represented that he would use the requested loan funds to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule. Maturino then signed the application form certifying the information was truthful.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding, and in December 2020, Congress authorized another $284 billion in funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. Paycheck Protection Program loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set period and use a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Office of Inspector General; Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal prosecuted the case.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s COVID-19 related response and prosecutions, visit: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. For further information on the Criminal Division’s enforcement efforts on PPP fraud, including court documents from significant cases, visit the following website: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud. For further information on the Civil Division’s enforcement efforts, visit the following website: https://www.justice.gov/civil.
To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Boston Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Overtime FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston Police officer pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with committing over $16,000 in overtime fraud while assigned to the Boston Police Department’s evidence warehouse.
Michael Murphy, 61, of Hyde Park, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Oct. 7, 2021.
In September 2020, Murphy and eight other Boston Police officers were arrested and charged for their roles in an overtime fraud scheme that is alleged to have collectively embezzled over $250,000 between May 2016 and February 2019. As part of the ongoing investigation, three additional officers were charged: former Captain Richard Evans and former Sergeants George Finch and William Baxter. Baxter has agreed to plead guilty and Finch pleaded guilty today.
Between September 2016 and February 2019, Murphy submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips for overtime hours that he did not work for two overtime shifts at the evidence warehouse. The first, called “purge” overtime, was a 4 – 8 p.m. weekday shift intended to dispose of old, unneeded evidence. The second shift, called “kiosk” overtime, involved driving to each police district in Boston one Saturday a month to collect old prescription drugs to be burned.
For the “purge” shift, Murphy claimed to have worked from 4 – 8 p.m., but he routinely left at 6 p.m., or before. For the kiosk shift, Murphy submitted overtime slips claiming to have worked eight-and-one-half hours, but he only worked three-to-four hours of those shifts.
From 2016 through 2019, BPD received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
The charge of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, 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.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Mendell’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boogaloo Bois Supporter Admits Possessing Firearms While Under a Family Violence Protective OrderRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Tyler Light, a 25-year-old self-proclaimed militia member and Boogaloo Bois supporter, pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Appearing before U.S. District Judge Fred Biery this morning, Light admitted to possessing firearms and ammunition while under a family violence protective order. According to court documents, Light was placed under a permanent restraining order on November 3, 2020, for committing family violence. Federal law prohibits a person who is the subject of a qualifying protection order from possessing a firearm or ammunition. On December 1, 2020, Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies executed a state search and arrest warrant at Light’s residence for violation of the protection order and terroristic threats. During the search, authorities seized a handgun from inside Light’s waistband as well as an AK-47 assault style rifle and an assortment of ammunition.
Light remains in federal custody. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 31, 2020, before Judge Biery.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar made today’s announcement.
The FBI and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. Harris and Mark Roomberg are prosecuting this case.
This case is part of Operation Undaunted in the Western District of Texas, a program which draws on the partnerships among federal, state and local law enforcement coupled with prosecution authorities to tackle violent crime and protect the communities of central and west Texas.
This case is also 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.
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Bettendorf Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Davenport, Iowa – Deandre Darnell Blakely, age 26, of Bettendorf, was sentenced on Thursday, May 27, 2021, by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey, to 80 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Following his prison term, Carter was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Blakely was involved in the distribution of marijuana and possessed multiple firearms as a felon. After his arrest, Blakely attempted to obstruct justice by soliciting others to provide false information on his behalf. Blakely has prior convictions for Reckless Discharge of a Firearm (related to a shooting), Obstructing Justice, and a prior felony drug conviction. Blakely pleaded guilty to the charges on November 16, 2020.
Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The Davenport Police Department investigated this matter and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Atlanta man sentenced for laundering over $247,000 from business email compromise schemesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Anthony Dwayne King has been sentenced for laundering over $247,000, generated from business email compromise (BEC) schemes committed against Minnesota and Oregon homebuyers, a Delaware law firm, and a New Jersey company.
“King and his conspirators opened bank accounts, using fictitious identities and sham companies, for the purpose of laundering funds stolen from victims across the country through business email compromise schemes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “Now, he is headed to federal prison and must pay full restitution to the victims. Our office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to bring those who facilitate these cyber-fraud crimes to justice.”
“These cyber scams can be devastating to businesses and individuals who fall prey to them,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is a big reason why the Georgia Cyber Fraud Task Force was formed; to educate businesses and the community on how to avoid them. Arrests and convictions, like this one, will make it less lucrative and less appealing for those who contemplate committing these crimes.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: From October 2 through 12, 2018, King opened accounts at three banks in the Atlanta area, each time using a false identity and sham company name. Shortly thereafter, on October 17, 2018, a homebuyer, located in Oregon, received a phone call from an impersonator posing as her realtor. The impersonator asked the victim homebuyer for an amount that she was able to wire that day to facilitate the closing of a home. The impersonator provided the victim with wiring instructions. Following the instructions, the victim wired $45,000 to one of King’s Atlanta bank accounts.
On November 1, 2018, another homebuyer, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, received an email from an impersonator posing as his realtor. The impersonator similarly provided this victim with wiring instructions to facilitate the closing of the property. The same day, the victim followed the impersonator’s instructions and wired $83,460.87 to an Atlanta bank account controlled by King.
On November 16, 2018, an impersonator provided a Delaware law firm with wiring instructions to send payoff funds to a mortgager. Following the impersonator’s instructions, the law firm wired $68,403.16 to another Atlanta bank account controlled by King. The next day, King made an in-person cash withdrawal of $3,800 from the account.
On February 27, 2019, a New Jersey company received an email from an impersonator posing as its landlord, instructing the company to wire $51,040.99 to the landlord for rent. The company followed the impersonator’s instructions and wired $51,040.99 to an Atlanta-based account. The next day, King deposited a check from this account, in the amount of $9,572, into his personal credit union account.
Anthony Dwayne King, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to two years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $124,190.63. King was convicted of money laundering conspiracy on December 16, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Herskowitz, Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, prosecuted the case.
By making a coordinated and concerted effort to focus on suspects moving fraud proceeds in the metro-Atlanta area, the Cyber Fraud Task Force, comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, seeks to disrupt the financial structure that makes BEC fraud schemes so lucrative for criminals. Additionally, the task force aims to partner with community leaders and organizers to educate the public about avoiding these scams.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
An inmate at FCI Hazelton indicted on assault and weapons chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Mark Justin Daniels, an inmate at Federal Corrections Institute Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was indicted today on assault and weapons charges, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Daniels, 35, was indicted on one count of “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm” and one count of “Possession of a Prohibited Object (Weapon).” Daniels is accused of using a combination lock in a sock to assault another inmate in January 2021 in Preston County.
Daniels faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250 ,000 for the assault charge and faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the weapons 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 Christopher L. Bauer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Prisons investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Friday 28 May 2021
Zuni man sentenced to nine years in prison for assaulting a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alliah Jawaun Soseeah, 23, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, was sentenced on May 26 in federal court to nine years in prison for two counts of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury of a minor in Indian Country.
Soseeah pleaded guilty on Dec. 14, 2020. In his plea agreement, Soseeah admitted that between Nov. 25 and Nov 29, 2017, at his home on the Zuni Pueblo, he used a thumbtack to cut and puncture the back of the 23-month old victim. Soseeah also admitted that on Nov. 30, 2017, he assaulted the child again by hitting and dropping the victim, causing a serious head injury.
Upon his release from prison, Soseeah will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas prosecuted the case.
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Yorba Linda Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Operating Illegal ATM Network that Laundered Bitcoin and Cash for CriminalsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for operating an illegal virtual-currency money services business that exchanged up to $25 million – some of it on behalf of criminals – through in-person transactions and a network of Bitcoin ATM-type kiosks.
Kais Mohammad, a.k.a. “Superman29,” 37, of Yorba Linda, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton.
Mohammad pleaded guilty in September 2020 to a three-count criminal information charging him with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, money laundering, and failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. Mohammad has agreed to forfeit to the government 17 Bitcoin ATMs, $22,820 in cash, 18.4 Bitcoin and 222.5 Ethereum cryptocurrency.
From December 2014 to November 2019, Mohammad owned and operated Herocoin, an illegal virtual-currency money services business. As part of his business, Mohammad offered Bitcoin-cash exchange services, charging commissions of up to 25 percent – significantly above the prevailing market rate.
Using the moniker “Superman29,” Mohammad advertised his business online to buy and sell Bitcoin in transactions up to $25,000. In a typical transaction, he met clients at a public location in Southern California and exchanged currency for them. Mohammad generally did not inquire as to the source of the clients’ funds and, on certain occasions, he knew the funds were the proceeds of criminal activity. Mohammad knew at least one Herocoin client was engaged in illegal activity on the dark web.
Mohammad processed cryptocurrency deposited into the machines, supplied the machines with cash that customers would withdraw, and maintained the server software that operated the machines. Mohammad was able to monitor transactions on the machines and identify each transaction that occurred on them.
During the time of Herocoin’s operation, Mohammad, a former bank employee who trained others on compliance matters, intentionally failed to register his company with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Mohammad was aware that he was required to – but chose not to – develop and maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, file currency transaction reports for exchanges of currency in excess of $10,000, conduct due diligence on customers, and file suspicious activity reports for transactions over $2,000 involving customers he knew, or had reason to suspect, were involved in criminal activity.
With respect to his Bitcoin ATM network, Mohammad’s machines allowed customers to conduct financial transactions without requiring any identification and permitted customers to conduct multiple, consecutive transactions of up to $3,000 each without ever reporting suspicious activity to regulators or law enforcement.
After FinCEN contacted Mohammad in July 2018 about his need to register his company, Mohammad did so, but he continued to fail to comply fully with federal law concerning money laundering, conducting due diligence and reporting suspicious customers.
“Rather than use his knowledge to create a robust compliance program, (Mohammad) avoided one altogether and profited by making his business an efficient, unchecked, and nearly anonymous conduit for money laundering and other crimes,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum.
From February 2019 to August 2019, Mohammad also conducted multiple in-person transactions with undercover agents who represented they worked at a “karaoke bar” that employed women from Korea who entertained men in various ways, including engaging in sexual activity. On August 28, 2019, Mohammad met with an undercover law enforcement agent and exchanged $16,000 in cash, which the agent represented were the proceeds from illegal activity, for 1.58592 Bitcoin. Mohammad never filed a currency transaction report or suspicious activity report for these transactions.
In total, Mohammad exchanged between $15 million and $25 million from in-person exchanges and transactions occurring at his Bitcoin kiosks.
IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
Assistant United States Attorney Ian V. Yanniello of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.
Wolf Point man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing minorRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man who admitted he sexually abused a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison and to seven years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.
Christopher George Follette, 33, pleaded guilty on Feb. 18 to sexual abuse of a minor as charged in an indictment.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris ordered Follette detained.
The prosecution said in court documents that in 2019 and 2020, Follette sexually abused a minor, identified as Jane Doe, who was over the age of 12 but had not yet reached 16 years of age, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared C. Cobell prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services and Wolf Point Police Department.
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Williamsville Doctor to Pay Fine for Failing to Safeguard Controlled Substance Prescribing Token and PasswordRead 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 Dr. Nora Meaney-Elman, a Williamsville physician, has agreed to pay $60,000 to resolve allegations that she violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to safeguard the token and password she used to e-prescribe controlled substances.
Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryEllen Kresse, who handled the case, stated that between September 2015 and March 2018, Dr. Meaney-Elman failed to safeguard her controlled substance prescribing token and password. As a result, her employee, Kristy Brucz, used the token and password to write 156 illegal prescriptions for controlled substances. Brucz wrote the prescriptions in her own name and in the names of 12 other individuals, both real and fictitious, and had the prescriptions filled at various area pharmacies.
Kristy Brucz was convicted criminally of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and was sentenced in September 2020 to serve two years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,911.23.
“As its name implies, the Controlled Substance Act is premised on the notion that the prescribing and distribution of certain dangerous and/or addictive substances must be controlled,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “When those entrusted with such control fail to safeguard their prescribing credentials—as Dr. Meaney-Elman did here—the entire regulatory scheme is undermined.”
The settlement with Dr. Meaney-Elman is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there have been no determinations of liability.
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West Hazleton Police Chief Charged with Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brian Buglio, age 45, of Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information on May 27, 2021, with a civil rights violation.
According to Acting United States Bruce D. Brandler, the information alleges that Buglio, the Chief of Police for the West Hazleton Police Department, threatened a private citizen with criminal charges, in retaliation for social media posts created by the private citizen that were critical of Buglio and of the West Hazleton Police Department.
The case was investigated by the Scranton Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and federal agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is one year of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Veronica Lewis Sentenced for Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Veronica Lewis, 37, of Worchester, Vermont, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christina Reiss after previously having pled guilty to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Judge Reiss accepted the agreement of the parties that Lewis be sentenced to a term of 6 years of incarceration, with no credit for the approximately four years Lewis served in state custody prior to her federal arrest. Lewis will also serve 3 years of supervised release, the maximum available term of post-incarcerative supervision. The parties agreed to determine restitution at a subsequent hearing later in the summer. Lewis also faces sentencing in Vermont’s courts for a charge of Attempted Second Degree Murder.
According to court records, on June 29, 2015, Lewis intentionally fired three rounds from a revolver at D.M. during a firearms lesson at a business in Westford, Vermont. After shooting D.M. in the face and abdomen, Lewis left the business with the revolver. Later in the day, Lewis was apprehended outside her residence in Worchester, Vermont while still in possession of the stolen firearm. The investigation by Vermont State Police revealed that Lewis had first received instruction from D.M. three days prior to the shooting. During that first training session, Lewis asked multiple times about when she would be able to shoot a handgun, and whether .22 caliber ammunition could kill someone. A search of Lewis’s bedroom resulted in the seizure of targets from the June 26, 2015 training session, handwritten questions about embalming and body removal, a scrapbook entitled D.E.A.T.H., and a computer. A search of the computer’s browsing history revealed Lewis had visited websites regarding crime-scene cleanup, crime statistics, prison sentences, poison ingredients, jails and prisons in Vermont, and “what to do after you’re arrested.” Investigators also learned that Lewis had visited a funeral home in Burlington on June 23 and 24, 2015, where she insisted on seeing an embalming, asked questions about facial reconstructions, and stated “I have some ideas about death and I need to explore them.”
At the request of the government, a forensic psychological examination was conducted while Lewis was in federal custody. That examination included a detailed review of the investigative materials, hundreds of pages of Lewis’s mental health records, and 12 hours of interviews of Lewis over the course of multiple days. A number of psychological tests were administered to Lewis, and collateral phone interviews were conducted. After this thorough investigation, the forensic psychologist determined that, although Lewis was suffering from schizoaffective disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder at the time of the shooting, Lewis was able to appreciate the wrongfulness of her criminal conduct, and was therefore sane at the time she shot D.M.
At the sentencing hearing today, Judge Reiss reviewed in detail the evidence surrounding Lewis’s mental health at the time of the shooting, including the lack of concern from trained mental health providers with whom Lewis interacted in the weeks before the shooting. Judge Reiss also noted that lay people with whom Lewis interacted in the days before and immediately after the shooting also failed to note any indicators of a mental health crisis. Judge Reiss concluded that Lewis acted with clear intent, and Lewis’s actions in concealing her criminal conduct supported a finding that Lewis was aware of the wrongfulness of her actions.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigative efforts of both the Vermont State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “Today’s sentencing holds Veronica Lewis accountable for the intentional harm she inflicted on D.M., with full knowledge of the wrongfulness of her actions. Without doubt, Veronica Lewis suffers from mental health disorders stemming in part from surviving significant trauma and violence. The resolution of this case involved a balancing of these mitigating factors with the horrific and calculated criminal conduct she undertook in Vermont, which resulted in significant harm to a fellow human being. The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize violent crime and advocate for the rights of victims of violence. I am especially thankful for the assistance of the Vermont Attorney General in obtaining a coordinated resolution of this matter that provides assurances for long-term supervision of Veronica Lewis, a result not obtainable under federal law.”
Lewis is represented by Assistant Federal Defender David McColgin. Acting U.S. Attorney Ophardt prosecuted the matter for the government.
Upper Allegheny Health System, on Behalf of Bradford (Pennsylvania) Regional Medical Centers and Other New York Dental Clinics, to Pay $2.7 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today that several New York Dental Clinics along with Bradford Dental Center (BDC) have agreed with its parent company, Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), to pay $2.7 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations. Under the settlement, the United States will receive approximately $1.3 million, paid jointly by UAHS and Bradford Regional Medical Center, the latter a part of the UAHS, a health-care system which operates dental clinics in the Southern Tier of New York and in McKean County, Pennsylvania.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman stated that UAHS matter was jointly investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York and his office. As part of the investigation in Pennsylvania, a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) audit discovered false claims submitted to the Pennsylvania Medicaid program between January 1, 2012 and May 31, 2015. Investigators from DHS and the Buffalo (New York) United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, along with the State Attorney General’s Office of New York, determined that dental personnel at the clinics treated patients with handpieces that had not been appropriately sterilized between usages. Dental handpieces are considered "semi-critical" devices by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are therefore required to be heat-sterilized between each patient use. The investigators also obtained statements from employees at both the New York and Pennsylvania dental clinics that senior UAHS management directed clinic personnel to wipe the handpieces with CaviWipes – germicidal disinfectant wipes used primarily to clean surfaces – between patient usages due to the insufficient number of dental handpieces. The United States alleged that billing Medicaid for services provided using unsterilized dental handpieces violates the Federal and New York False Claims Acts as well as Pennsylvania statutes. Assistant U.S. Attorneys MaryEllen Kresse and Paul E. Skirtich handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Buffalo and Pittsburgh, respectively.
"This settlement under the False Claims Act is significant", said Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman, "since it corrects improper practices exercised on a vulnerable population of patients. Those patients relied on the clinics for dental services without knowing the health risks posed by thee defective practices. The parent company, Upper Allegheny Health System, must answer for their potentially harmful conduct."
This settlement was reached by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania; the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services attached to the Governor’s Office.
The case against UAHS was brought in federal court by a whistleblower who alleged the health system violated the federal False Claims Act and the New York False Claims Act by improperly billing health-care programs. Under the federal False Claims Act, private citizens are permitted to bring lawsuits known as qui tams on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the proceeds of any settlement or judgment awarded against a defendant.
Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and states that provides medical insurance to low-income persons and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by states within federal guidelines.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there have been no determinations of liability.
United States Obtains Stipulated Judgment against Washington Company and Maine Man for False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: North South Polar, Inc., located in Renton, Washington; and Luciano A. Sapienza, of Rockland, Maine; have agreed to pay $40,585 as a result of their violations of the False Claims Act, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
As alleged in a civil complaint filed on March 11, 2021, North South Polar (NSP) and Sapienza, NSP’s president and CEO, violated the False Claims Act by converting equipment to which the federal Government held title. Specifically, in 2013, NSP and Sapienza entered into a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard to provide support services for the recovery of a World War II aircraft from a suspected crash site in Greenland. Under that contract, if the defendants purchased equipment for the mission and obtained reimbursement for that equipment from the Coast Guard, then title to that equipment would be held by the Coast Guard, and the defendants would be obligated to return that equipment upon completion of the project.
The defendants purchased and obtained reimbursement for four items of durable equipment, but upon completion of the contract, rather than return them in good working order to the Coast Guard, they instead sold the items on eBay. Their actions violated the False Claims Act, which prohibits a party from having control of Government property and knowingly returning less than all that property to the Government. Upon filing of the complaint, the parties stipulated to judgment in the amount of $40,585, representing double damages and one statutory penalty under the False Claims Act. The defendants cooperated in the Government’s investigation. The case is docketed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine as United States v. Sapienza, et al., 21-cv-00073-NT.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine investigated the case.
Two Malaysian Nationals Sentenced for Illegally Exporting Firearm Parts to Hong KongRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Malaysian nationals were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conspiring to illegally export firearm parts from the United States to Hong Kong.
Lionel Chan, 36, of Brighton, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to eight months in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $10,000. Muhammad Mohd Radzi, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced by Judge Wolf to five years of probation, with the condition that he leave the United States on or before June 15, 2021 and not return for five years or without a valid visa, and a fine of $10,000. Chan and Radzi each pleaded guilty on Jan. 22, 2021 to conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act.
Beginning in or around March 2018, Chan began purchasing a variety of U.S.-origin firearm parts online, including parts used to assemble AR-15 assault rifles and 9MM semi-automatic handguns, for a buyer located in Hong Kong. Many of the firearm parts that Chan purchased and exported to Hong Kong are restricted items that cannot be exported from the United States without a license or approval from the U.S. government. Nonetheless, Chan shipped the firearm parts via Federal Express to the buyer in Hong Kong without first obtaining the necessary export licenses. Chan intentionally concealed the contents of the shipments by providing Federal Express with false information about the shipments, and by concealing the parts inside of each package. Between March and May 2018, Chan shipped at least 12 packages containing firearm parts from Brighton to the buyer in Hong Kong.
In or around April 2018, Radzi joined the conspiracy and also began illegally exporting firearm parts from the United States to Hong Kong. Between May and October 2018, Radzi shipped 21 packages from Brooklyn, N.Y., to the buyer in Hong Kong. In October 2018, two of those packages were intercepted by Hong Kong authorities and found to contain numerous firearms parts, including a firing pin, a gun sight and numerous pistol grips, which were export controlled. Like Chan, Radzi failed to obtain an export license for any of these shipments.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation in Boston; and William Higgins, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Massachusetts State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Casey of Mendell’s National Security Unit prosecuted the case.
Two Kern County Residents Charged in Separate Cases for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Christopher Howard, 45, of Delano, and Liandro Romero Cuevas, 33, of Bakersfield, appeared in federal court this week after a grand jury returned separate indictments charging them with being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 28, police officers encountered Howard in Delano while he was carrying a pouch bag that contained a loaded 9 mm handgun and an additional loaded high-capacity magazine. Howard cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition because he has sustained numerous felony convictions, including for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, escape, and two second degree burglary convictions.
According to the indictment in a separate case, on Feb. 4, Cuevas possessed a Savage Arms 12‑gauge rifle in Kern County. Cuevas is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has sustained three felony convictions, including for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
These cases were the product of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bakersfield and Delano Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Stokman and Christopher D. Baker are prosecuting the cases.
If convicted, Howard and Cuevas face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Twin Falls Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE - Miles Patrick Barclay, 47, of Twin Falls, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for distribution and possession of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced today. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Barclay to serve 25 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Barclay pleaded guilty to the charges on October 29, 2020.
According to court records, in June 2019, Barclay began communicating online with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old female. Barclay engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the 14-year-old and asked her to take explicit images of herself and send them to him. Barclay also sent the 14-year-old images and videos of child pornography.
A federal magistrate judge issued a search warrant for Barclay’s residence in Twin Falls. Members of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed the search warrant and seized two cellphones and two laptop computers from the residence. A forensic examination of the devices revealed hundreds of files of child pornography. Barclay admitted to communicating online with an underage female and to trading child pornography with other individuals through the internet.
At sentencing, Judge Winmill also ordered Barclay to pay restitution of $27,000 to victims in the images he possessed and to forfeit the electronic devices used in the commission of the offense. As a result of conviction, Barclay will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Idaho ICAC Task Force and the Rupert Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Twin Falls Police Department, and the Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Three Charged in Florida to Connecticut Gun Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that ERIC WOODIE, 30, of New Britain; DOMINIC COLON-BROWN, 27, of Farmington; and JULIAN JUDGE, 22, of New Britain, have been charged federally with trafficking firearms that were stolen in Florida to Connecticut.
Colon-Brown and Judge were arrested yesterday on criminal complaints. They appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish and are detained pending detention hearings scheduled for June 1. Woodie has been detained in state custody since March 2021.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in late February 2021, Woodie rented a car, which Judge and Colon-Brown used to drive to Florida to obtain stolen firearms and bring the firearms back to Connecticut. On March 8, 2021, law enforcement recovered a .40 caliber handgun and a high capacity magazine that Woodie discarded during a foot chase in New Britain. A subsequent search of a New Britain apartment where Woodie and Judge resided revealed three additional loaded firearms, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and approximately 60 grams of cocaine. The serial number on one of the firearms found in the apartment matched the serial number of a firearm that had been stolen in Florida in February 2021.
It is further alleged that Woodie, Colon-Brown and Judge are captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms, and that Judge and Colon-Brown posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms.
Woodie, Colon-Brown and Judge are each charged with conspiring to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and to transport stolen firearms in interstate commerce, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, New Britain Police Department, Farmington Police Department, West Hartford Police Department and Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
Texas Woman Indicted on Unemployment Fraud Charge Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Texas woman was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday in connection with her alleged involvement in a scheme to fraudulently claim COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Donna Wasson, 36, of San Antonio, Texas, was indicted on three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Wasson was charged in a criminal complaint on April 16, 2021.
According to charging documents, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, or gig economy workers).
It is alleged that Wasson applied for Massachusetts unemployment benefits despite residing in Texas and receiving unemployment benefits via the Texas Workplace Commission. In addition, Wasson allegedly carried out instructions concerning other fraudulent unemployment claims from a former Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) employee, and accessed unemployment claims under multiple stolen identities to fraudulently obtain benefits to which she was not entitled.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year 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 is being 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 Nikitas Splagounias, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, Program Integrity Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Abely and Dustin Chao of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Talladega County Man Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Talladega man on drug charges, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Anthony Lamon Frazier, 39, to 120 months in prison followed by five years ‘supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. A jury convicted Frazier in December 2020.
“Today’s sentence sends a message to those dealing methamphetamine in our communities – you will get caught and spend time in a federal prison,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to eliminate methamphetamine distribution across the Northern District of Alabama.”
“ATF’s partnerships focuses on the devastating impact of contraband and works with the entire community to deter poor choices and provide alternatives,” ATF SAC French said.
In October 2019, Frazier delivered almost two pounds of methamphetamine to an individual and used his Talladega County government work truck to distribute the narcotics.
ATF investigated the case, along with the Talladega County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Blake Milner and Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
St. Croix Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking over 22 Kilos of Cocaine Through the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis, sentenced Jakwaan Sweeny, Jr., 22, of St. Croix, to 72 months incarceration for trafficking cocaine yesterday, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court records, on September 24, 2018, Sweeney provided his co-conspirator with a travel bag containing 22.78 kilos of cocaine and an airline ticket to Atlanta. On the day of travel, Sweeney’s co-conspirator entered the Cyril E. King Airport and checked the bag for the flight. During a routine screening, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered the cocaine located in the luggage. Sweeney’s co-conspirator entered a guilty plea to the federal cocaine conspiracy charge in 2018.
In addition to 72 months incarceration, Judge Lewis also sentenced Sweeney to five years supervised release, imposed a $1,500 fine, and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and CBP. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter and is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Six Individuals Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 29, 2021, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a two-count indictment, which was unsealed today, charging six defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rafael Riviere-Vázquez, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Juan Field Office, and John F. Kanig, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Caribbean Field Division. The FBI and DEA led the investigation.
The indictment alleges that since the year 2014, until in or about September 2019, the defendants distributed cocaine, within Puerto Rico and the Continental United States, all for financial gain and profit.
As part of the conspiracy, the members would mail kilograms of cocaine to the Continental United States concealed in U.S. Postal parcels. Some members of the conspiracy would receive these parcels in the Continental United States for further distribution. Similarly, members of the conspiracy would mail bulk cash consisting of the proceeds of the sales of the narcotics from the Continental United States back to Puerto Rico.
The individuals indicted are:
Yavick Rodriguez-Santos, a/k/a “Yavo”
Lisandro Bermúdez-Negron, a/k/a “Gambo”
Gadiel Figueroa-Rodriguez
Luis Catala-Fuentes, a/k/a “Pinto/El Loco”
Luis Diaz-Ramos
Jose Rivera-Ortiz
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Vance Eaton from the Gang Section is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Sioux City Man Who Embezzled Money from Indian Tribal Organization Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who engaged in rebate schemes, fraudulent invoice schemes, and stole items belonging to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska was sentenced on May 28, 2021, to 1 month in federal prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Jason Ehlers, age 48, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
In a plea agreement, Ehlers admitted that he stole and embezzled from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska at least $22,432.00. Ehlers admitted to using his position as a General Manager with BluStone Homes, also known as HoChunk Real-Estate, solely owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, to engage in rebate schemes, a fraudulent invoice scheme, and theft of construction supplies for his own benefit.
Ehlers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ehlers was sentenced to 1 month of imprisonment. He must also pay a $10,000 fine and serve a 2-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 Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4089.
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Russian Cybercriminal Convicted of Defrauding American Companies of Millions of Dollars Through Digital Advertising SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Aleksandr Zhukov, a Russian national, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn of four counts of a superseding indictment charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. The charges arose from Zhukov’s sophisticated scheme to defraud brands, ad platforms and others in the U.S. digital advertising industry out of more than $7 million. The verdict followed a three-week trial before United States District Judge Eric R. Komitee.
Mark J. Lesko, 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 verdict.
“Today, after evaluating the evidence and wading through the complexities of digital advertising on the internet, the jury recognized the defendant for who he is — a fraudster who used computer code to steal millions from U.S. companies,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lesko. “Zhukov may have thought that he could get away with his fraud by carrying it out from halfway around the world, but this verdict sends a powerful message that U.S. law enforcement will bring such cybercriminals to justice, wherever they are.”
Mr. Lesko thanked the FBI’s Cyber Division and the NYPD for their extraordinary efforts in carrying out the multi-year investigation.
“Aleksandr Zhukov took an old-fashioned fraud into cyberspace to steal millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. But his guilty verdict, and the meticulous work of the prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, highlights the vigilance of our NYPD detectives and law enforcement partners in tracking wrongdoers into the digital frontier,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
The internet is, in large part, freely available to users worldwide because it runs on digital advertising: website owners display advertisements on their sites and are compensated for doing so by intermediaries representing businesses seeking to advertise their goods and services to real human customers. In general, digital advertising revenue is based on how many users click or view the ads on those websites. As proven at trial, Zhukov used computer programming and infrastructure spread around the world to exploit the digital advertising industry through fraud. He and his co-conspirators represented to others that they ran legitimate companies that delivered advertisements to real human internet users accessing real internet webpages. In fact, Zhukov and his co-conspirators faked both the users and the webpages: they programmed computers they controlled to load advertisements on fabricated webpages, via an automated program, in order to fraudulently obtain digital advertising revenue. The victims included The New York Times, The New York Post, Comcast, Nestle Purina, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and Time Warner Cable.
The evidence at trial established that between September 2014 and December 2016, Zhukov carried out his digital advertising fraud scheme through a purported advertising network called Media Methane. Media Methane had business arrangements with other advertising networks whereby it received payments in return for placing advertising placeholders (“ad tags”) on websites. Rather than place these ad tags on real publishers’ websites, however, Media Methane rented more than 2,000 computer servers housed in commercial datacenters in Dallas, Texas, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and used those datacenter servers to load ads on fabricated websites, “spoofing” more than 6,000 domains. To create the illusion that real human internet users were viewing the advertisements loaded onto these fabricated websites, the defendants programmed the datacenter servers to simulate the internet activity of human internet users: browsing the internet through a fake browser, using a fake mouse to move around and scroll down a webpage, starting and stopping a video player midway, and falsely appearing to be signed into Facebook. Zhukov leased more than 650,000 Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses, assigned multiple IP addresses to each datacenter server, and then fraudulently registered those IP addresses in the names of U.S. companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable to make it appear that the datacenter servers were residential computers belonging to American internet users who were subscribed to various residential internet service providers. In discussing the scheme with a co-conspirator, Zhukov boasted about the money he would earn and referred to himself as the “king of fraud.” As a result of this elaborate scheme, the defendant falsified billions of ad views and caused businesses to pay more than $7 million for ads that were never actually viewed by real human internet users. Zhukov was arrested in Bulgaria in November 2018 and extradited to the United States in January 2019.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Saritha Komatireddy, Artie McConnell, and Alexander F. Mindlin are in charge of the prosecution.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attachés abroad and foreign authorities in multiple countries provided critical assistance in this case. The Office extends its appreciation to the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office of Bulgaria, the Regional Prosecution Office of Varna, the Cybercrime Department of the Bulgarian General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Regional Directorate of Varna, and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office for Bulgaria for their assistance in apprehending defendants in this case.
The Defendant:
ALEKSANDR ZHUKOV
Age: 41
Russian FederationE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-633
Robstown man gets huge sentence for sexual exploitation of a childRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 53-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Santos Gonzalez pleaded guilty March 2.
Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton sentenced Gonzalez to 420 months in prison. He will then have to serve the rest of his life on supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Gonzalez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the time of his plea, Gonzalez admitted to soliciting co-defendant Diane Martinez to produce and send illicit photographs of a minor victim. In exchange, he provided Martinez money for groceries and medication.
Forensic analysis of Facebook accounts belonging to Gonzalez and Martinez revealed they communicated between Jan. 21, 2016, and May 20, 2020. Throughout the thousands of pages of communication, Gonzalez expressed wanting to have sexual intercourse with the minor victim. Gonzalez would offer food, groceries, gifts and other items of monetary value in exchange for Martinez sending nude photographs of the child.
Eventually, Gonzalez no longer used Martinez as an intermediary, directly soliciting the minor victim for sex.
Authorities received information about the abuse from a family acquaintance of the victim as well as a tablet used to commit the crimes.
Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced July 28 before Judge Tipton.
Homeland Security Investigations, Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Popejoy and Dennis Robinson 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.
Retired FBI Agent Charged with Fraud in $800,000 ‘Secret Probation’ SchemeRead the Press Release
A retired FBI agent who allegedly convinced a Granbury woman she was on “secret probation” and conned her out of roughly $800,000 has been federally charged, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
William Roy Stone, Jr., 62, was indicted Tuesday on seven counts of wire fraud, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of false impersonation of a federal officer, one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, and one count of false statements to law enforcement. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford on Friday.
According to the indictment, in November 2015, Mr. Stone allegedly convinced his victim, identified in court documents as C.T., that she was under “secret probation” for drug crimes in “Judge Anderson’s court in Austin, Texas.”
He allegedly told the victim that the fictious federal judge had appointed Mr. Stone and another individual to “mentor” and “supervise” C.T., and claimed that her conditions of probation mandated that she report her activities, as well as a list of her assets, to Mr. Stone. Moreover, he said, C.T. was obligated to pay any expenses Mr. Stone incurred while supervising her, and was forbidden from disclosing her probation status to anyone. If she did not comply with the terms of this probation, Mr. Stone said, she would risk imprisonment and the loss of her children.
In order to convince C.T. the probation was real, Mr. Stone allegedly claimed that he had the ability to monitor her cell phone communications, said he discussed C.T.’s probation with a psychiatrist, enlisted another person to leave messages on his own phone purporting to be from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration “Intelligence Center,” and even placed “spoof” calls between himself, C.T., and the fictious Judge Anderson.
He told C.T. that he’d incurred significant expenses traveling to Austin to discuss C.T.’s probation with Judge Anderson, and intimidated her into reimbursing him for expenses associated with those trips. Further, he collected money he claimed was “restitution” for a wronged company which he secretly deposited into his own bank account. Eventually, he convinced her to hand over large sums of money to purchase a home and cars. At one point, he allegedly proposed to marry her, claiming he would then seek discharge of her probation.
Over the course of several years, C.T. gave Mr. Stone more than $800,000.
“Stone allegedly conned, threatened and stole from his victim, exploiting her trust in law enforcement for his own financial gain. The OIG is committed to holding accountable those who commit this type of conduct,” said Cloey C. Pierce, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Dallas Field Office.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Stone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 178 years in federal prison.
The Texas Rangers and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Fort Worth Police Department. Mr. Stone retired from the FBI in October 2015 from the Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcus Busch and Katherine Miller are prosecuting the case.
Readout of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Call with Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Karen AndrewsRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met virtually with Karen Andrews, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs. In this inaugural meeting, the Attorney General and Home Affairs Minister reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening our bilateral cooperation on countering common threats, including those posed by terrorism and cybercrime. The two leaders also discussed their intention to work to promote infrastructure security and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. They look forward to further in-depth discussions on these and other issues central to the protection of the citizens of both our countries.
Rapid City Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
Javier Clark Moreno, age 40, was indicted on May 20, 2021. Clark appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on May 24, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 5 up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Moreno was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. The charges relate to Moreno receiving and possessing child pornography between October 2020 and February 2021, at Rapid City. The charges are merely an accusation and Moreno is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Moreno was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Quebec Woman Arrested, Charged with Selling and Smuggling Wildlife SkullsRead 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 Vanessa Rondeau, 26, of Montreal, Quebec, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with Lacey Act Trafficking, Lacey Act False Labeling, and smuggling. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendant owns and operates a business called The Old Cavern Boutique in Montreal, which offers for sale a variety of unique curiosity and oddity items, many composed in whole or in part from wildlife. A review of The Old Cavern Boutique’s Facebook page revealed numerous wildlife items for sale, many of which are protected under Federal laws.
On August 29, 2019, Rondeau advertised a taxidermy mounted crow for sale through Facebook for $325. The advertisement included a photograph and instructions to “pm [private message] if interested.” On September 20, 2019, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Special Agent sent the defendant a Facebook private message, in a covert capacity, inquiring about the crow mount. The Special Agent stated that he resided in the United States and asked about the cost to have the crow mount shipped, and about any problems shipping “these things” to the United States because it might be a “protected species.” Rondeau replied that she has never had a problem and explained, “I label them as Art piece.”
On December 3, 2019, and again on December 28, 2019, Rondeau offered a polar bear skull for sale. The post included photographs listed an asking price of $750 dollars (in the first posting) and $799 (in the second posting). The post instructed interested buyers to “pm [private message] if interested.” On January 13, 2020, in a covert capacity, the USFWS Special Agent contacted the defendant and requested photos of any available polar bear skulls. Rondeau sent a photograph of a polar bear skull with a comment that it was her “Last one.” The defendant offered to sell the polar bear skull for $750, plus $30 for shipping to Buffalo, NY. After requesting and receiving additional photographs, the Special Agent agreed to buy the polar bear skull. The Special Agent received the polar bear skull on February 2, 2020.
On January 24, 2021, Rondeau posted an advertisement for another polar bear skull for sale for $699 on The Old Cavern Boutique Facebook page. The Special Agent again expressed interest in buying the polar bear skull, and the defendant agreed on the price of $685 for the skull, which included a $35 shipping fee. On February 11, 2021, the Special Agent received the second polar bear skull.
The defendant made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Vermont and was released on $50,000 cash bail. Rondeau will appear in the Western District of New York on June 15, 2021, at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, under the direction of Ryan Noel, Special Agent-in-Charge of the USFWS-Office of Law Enforcement North-Atlantic Appalachian Region. Additional assistance was provided by the Vermont Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Vermont Office of Customs and Border Protection.
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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Project LEAD Graduates First Two Classes in the Municipality of LoízaRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– In December of 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico began a 20-week school curriculum with students from 5th and 8th grades to teach them about the criminal justice system and the importance of making good decisions. The curriculum included techniques to help students resolve conflicts and resist peer pressure. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Zenón Matos was in charge of the Project.
Project LEAD (Legal Enrichment And Decision-making) was established in 1993 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Its goal is to teach children that the choices they make today can affect their lives forever. Through an agreement between the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, the program was translated for the first time into the Spanish language. In addition, the USAO was allowed to tailor Project LEAD’s curriculum to focus on situations that youth in the District of Puerto Rico are likely to encounter.
An evaluation of the program was conducted by Bernadette Chi, PhD and Ellen Middaugh, M.A. of the University of California, Berkley in 2003 to gauge its impact on students’ knowledge and attitudes about the legal system as well as Project LEAD’s capacity as a delinquency prevention model. The evaluation showed that Project LEAD provides:
- Protective factors that decrease students’ propensity to become involved in negative and illegal activities.
- An increase in students’ knowledge about the legal system.
- An increase in positive dispositions, for example: Confidence in their own decision-making capacities; Attitudes about the legal system; and Attitudes about authority.
The 20-week curriculum, taught by AUSA Kelly Zenón-Matos, focuses on the social and legal consequences of juvenile crimes, such as illicit drug use, shoplifting and property damage. Project LEAD also teaches students techniques for resolving conflict, resisting peer pressure, promoting tolerance and respect for diversity, and the role of education in achieving economic stability. Students also learn about the federal and state judicial systems, including how they function and the roles prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and defendants play in the litigation process. The curriculum concludes with students performing a scripted mock trial, putting into practice what they have learned about the criminal justice system.
“We are very proud of these two groups that successfully completed the Project LEAD curriculum and we will continue with this project, reaching more students every semester, said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Thanks to AUSA Kelly Zenón-Matos for your hard work and believing in your students. Thanks to the Public Affairs and Community Engagement Division and their Chief, AUSA Jacqueline Novas, and many other AUSAs and staff for your continued and relentless support in this project.”
Project LEAD was possible with the collaboration of many federal and state agencies. Special thanks to the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico Federal Public Defender; US Marshals Service; Municipality of Loíza; PR Department of Justice; PR Department of Corrections; PR Department of Labor; Agents from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau; Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources; US Fish and Wildlife; DHS Special Agent Carol T. Kohn and her anti-bullying organization 10-8 In Service; and many Assistant US Attorneys and staff.
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Philadelphia Corrections Officer Indicted for Smuggling Contraband into Philadelphia PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Haneef Lawton, 33, a Philadelphia Corrections Officer, Kernard Murray, 36, a currently incarcerated inmate, and Charene Stallings, 42, Murray’s girlfriend, all of Philadelphia, PA, were charged by Indictment with bribery, and conspiring to distribute narcotics and cell phones in a contraband smuggling scheme at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (“PICC”).
The seven-count Indictment charges defendant Lawton and his co-conspirators with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, and distribution (and possession with intent to distribute) a controlled substance (Suboxone). Stallings is also charged with an additional count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base or crack.
The Indictment alleges that Lawton agreed with Murray to smuggle contraband on multiple occasions into PICC in exchange for a series of bribes. It further alleges that Murray arranged to sell the incoming contraband to other inmates. As part of the arrangement, Murray is charged with securing the agreement of his fellow inmate buyers to make payment arrangements with Stallings via cash and electronic peer-to-peer payment methods such as CashApp. In return for Lawton’s agreement to deliver the contraband to Murray, Murray and Stallings are alleged to have paid Lawton over $11,400, also using CashApp. As noted in the forfeiture notice, Murray and Stallings are alleged to have trafficked as much as $69,000 worth of contraband into PICC.
“Corrections officers have a difficult, oftentimes dangerous, job,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “But this does not give them an excuse to break the law, nor does it give them license to sell their silence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate this kind of lawless behavior.”
“Corrections officers are responsible for maintaining a safe environment in our prison facilities,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “This alleged conspiracy to smuggle in dangerous contraband undermined daily order at PICC, posing a threat to both staff and inmates and putting lives at risk. Shutting down such a bribery scheme underscores the FBI's commitment to go after corruption wherever we may find it festering.”
If convicted, the defendants Lawton and Murray face a maximum possible sentence of 45 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $2 million fine. Stallings faces those same penalties and an additional potential mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a $10,000,000 fine for the cocaine base.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Affairs from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric L. Gibson.
New Bedford Woman Sentenced for Embezzling Nearly $600,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former bookkeeper of a New Bedford-based seafood company was sentenced yesterday in connection with embezzling nearly $600,000 from her employer.
Kara Howland, 37, of New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 18 months in prison, two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $779,104. On Feb. 3, 2021, Howland pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return.
Between January 2016 and December 2019, Howland embezzled $598,241 from her employer by writing checks from her employer’s bank accounts to pay her credit card bills. Howland altered the company’s internal accounting records to make it appear that the checks were paid to legitimate vendors. Additionally, Howland did not report or include the funds that she embezzled on her federal income tax filings, resulting in a tax loss of $180,863.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Craig A. Marech, Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence Office of the U.S. Secret Service made the announcement today. The New Bedford Police Department also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
NDTX Round up: May 21-27Read the Press Release
SENTENCING – DIEGO GUTIERREZ PINALES
On May 24, Diego Gutierrez Pinales, 54, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Pinales, a drug trafficking organizations source of supply, had 437 contacts via phone with a co-conspirator from December 2017 to March 2018. Based on law enforcement’s investigation, Pinales provided 10 kilograms of cocaine to the co-conspirator for further distribution. On one occasion, Pinales met the co-conspirator at a Dallas residence to sell two kilograms of cocaine for $29,000 each. The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kull prosecuted the case.
GUILTY PLEA – ADAM GRANT ROBINSON
On May 25, Adam Grant Robinson, 40, plead guilty to bank robbery. Between October 2018 and December 2018, Robinson committed 11 bank robberies in Garland, Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Corpus Christi, and Austin. In each of the bank robberies he took money from the bank employees. Robinson now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for his crimes. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Read is prosecuting the case.
GUILTY PLEA – ROBERTO ARCHULETA
On May 25, Roberto Antonio Archuleta plead guilty to possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl. In August 2020, a Texas State Trooper stopped a vehicle traveling near Greenville, Texas. Archuleta was driving with Gilberto Lira as his front-seat passenger. Archuleta consented to the trooper’s search of the vehicle which revealed two gym bags, one which held multiple packages of Fentanyl. During an interview with law enforcement, Archuleta admitted that he had been paid $2,500 to deliver the opioids to Charlotte, North Carolina. Archuleta now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for his crimes. The Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanna Etessam is prosecuting the case.
GUILTY PLEA – RICHARD MANSFIELD BEACHEM
On May 27, Richard Mansfield Beachem, 31, plead guilty to carjacking. Beachem stole a Nissan Sentra at gunpoint by threatening to kill the driver of the vehicle if he did not give Beachem the car. As soon as the victim exited the vehicle, Beachem’s accomplice, a juvenile, got into the driver’s seat along with Beachem and they drove away. Beachem now faces up to 15 years in federal prison for his crimes. The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fabio Leonardi is prosecuting the case.
Monroeville Felon Indicted for Illegally Possessing 3 Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The one-count Indictment returned on May 19 and unsealed today, named Douglas Wright, age 39, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from on or about November 16, 2020 and continuing thereafter until on or about December 28, 2020, Wright possessed three firearms and various calibers of ammunition. According to the Indictment, Wright has multiple felony convictions. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony, from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Merchant Mariners Sentenced for Unlawfully Receiving LicensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencings, in April and May 2021, of the following defendants for convictions for receiving and possessing Coast Guard issued merchant mariners licenses to which they were not entitled: JONATHAN ABBEY, RAFAEL ATKINS, CHARLES FRANKS, JERRY FUDGE, JUSTIN GANDY, ANTHONY GARCES, EDWARD JONES, BRANDON MACK, HUGO MARQUEZ, MILES MARTS, DEVERICK MORROW, OCTAVIAN RICHARDS, ANTWAINE TRAVIS, and ROBERT WINTERS.
Each of these defendants was sentenced to a year of probation and 100 hours of community service. In pleading guilty, each of these defendants admitted to cheating on Coast Guard exams by paying for the entry of false scores. During their guilty pleas, these defendants acknowledged paying various individuals, including former mariners Alexis Bell, Micheal Wooten, and Sharron Robinson, who have plead guilty and are awaiting sentencing, as well as former Coast Guard employees Dorothy Smith, Eldridge Johnson and Beverly McCrary, who are scheduled to stand trial on June 28, 2021.
As alleged in the indictment, Smith, a Coast Guard credentialing specialist, entered false scores in exchange for bribe payments. The indictment alleges that Smith used a network of intermediaries, which included her former co-workers Johnson and McCrary. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment’s allegations against Smith, Johnson, and McCrary are merely charges and their guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon is in charge of the prosecution.
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