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18 June 2021
Former Amherst Pain Doctor Going to Prison for Illegal Prescribing and Defrauding MedicareRead 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. Gautam Arora, 43, formerly of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of unlawfully acquiring controlled prescriptions by misrepresentation and fraud, and scheming to defraud a health care benefit program, was sentenced to serve 14 months in prison by U.S. District Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between April 2013 and May 2017, the defendant, while working as the pain management doctor at the Hens Pain Center in Amherst, NY, prescribed opioids to multiple patients outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. These opioids included hydrocodone, oxycodone, dextroamphetamine-amphetamine, and carisoprodol. Arora wrote approximately 61 prescriptions for controlled substances to individuals who were either not his patients, or without first conducting a proper examination, verifying their medical condition, and assessing the risk of abuse by the individual patient.
In addition, between January 1 and March 31, 2016, the defendant fraudulently billed Medicare for patient office visits totaling $92,209.50. Arora requested and received payment for medical services he did not perform or did not perform to the extent represented.
“History has taught us that inappropriate prescribing practices by some healthcare professionals were a significant contributing factor to the opioid epidemic which continues to ravage this country,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “This defendant, and others like him, put profits before the well-being of his patients. In the process, he also defrauded a federal health care program designed to help, not harm, those who receive Medicare benefits.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Española man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Douglas Smith, 71, of Española, New Mexico, was convicted today by a federal jury of involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to a criminal complaint and other court records, in the early morning hours of May 5, 2018, Smith shot a woman he believed was trying to break into his mother’s camper trailer. Smith walked outside his residence to investigate a motion sensor alarm, armed with a .22 caliber handgun. When he saw someone at the door of the camper trailer, he fired multiple rounds, one of which struck the victim in the upper left temple, killing her. No weapons or burglary tools were located near the victim.
The incident occurred on the Santa Clara Pueblo and the victim was an enrolled member of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Smith is non-Indian. Smith faces up to eight years in prison.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Novaline Wilson and Kyle Nayback are prosecuting the case.
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Acting United States Attorney Mark J. Lesko Announces Formation of Civil Rights Team in the Office’s Civil DivisionRead the Press Release
Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today the creation of a Civil Rights Team in the Office’s Civil Division. The Team, comprised of four Civil Division Assistant U.S. Attorneys and the Civil Division Chief of Civil Rights, enhances the Office’s focus on protecting the rights of the most vulnerable residents of the Eastern District of New York, especially those in disadvantaged communities. The Office has responsibility for the enforcement of our nation’s Civil Rights laws in the Eastern District of New York, which encompasses Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. There are approximately eight million residents in the Eastern District.
The Office is creating this team in recognition of President Joseph Biden’s directive in Executive Order 13985, which sets forth that “[a]ffirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.” Among the areas that the Team will focus on are policing, patterns and practices of housing discrimination, and school segregation.
In announcing the formation of the Civil Rights Team, Acting United States Attorney Lesko stated, “Today, the Eastern District of New York, a jurisdiction created by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, celebrates the Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorating the abolition of slavery, which was signed into law yesterday by President Biden. This Office is firmly committed to identifying and rooting out discrimination in all of its forms, wherever it persists, and we have a long and storied history in the Eastern District of New York of enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination. The creation of the Civil Rights Team will further strengthen the Office’s capacity to investigate and civilly prosecute civil rights violations in the City of New York and on Long Island, especially our ability to handle investigations of systemic discrimination. The establishment of the Team demonstrates the commitment of this Office to vigorously enforce our federal civil rights laws to help foster a community where individuals can live safely, free from unlawful discrimination, and ensure equal rights for all, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.”
The Office’s Civil Rights Practice is led by Civil Division Chief of Civil Rights Michael J. Goldberger; the Civil Rights Team is made up of Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel G. Balaban, Megan Freismuth, Sean Greene-Delgado, Dara Olds, and Civil Rights Investigator Laura Riley. The Civil Rights Team is overseen by Civil Division Acting Chief Joseph A. Marutollo and Civil Division Deputy Chief Richard K. Hayes. The Team will continue to partner and coordinate with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and federal, state and local agencies that enforce civil rights laws. The Office previously announced it had doubled the size of the Criminal Civil Rights Section under the leadership of Chief Elizabeth Geddes, who, among her other responsibilities, will act as liaison to the Civil Division’s newly formed Civil Rights Team.
The Office has also created a new webpage, located at https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/civil-rights, dedicated to Civil Rights Enforcement, which highlights the work of the Office and provides links to complaint forms and to other civil rights resources. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, or to report to report suspected violations of civil rights please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Along with an Illegal Alien Co-ConspiratorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that JOSE LUIS URREA, age 35 of Tucson, Arizona, and MARIO VERA-SANDOVAL, age 51 of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico were convicted and sentenced by Federal District Court Alan B. Johnson related to their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Urrea was sentenced to 63 months. Vera-Sandoval was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervision, and was convicted of illegally entering the United States, for which he received a sentence of time served.
On August 14, 2020, the defendants were stopped by Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) in Sweetwater County for a routine traffic stop. After the vehicle pulled over, the two passengers quickly exited the vehicle and began aggressively checking the tires and could not give a definitive answer as to their travel plans. During questioning, Urrea admitted he thought there was something illegal in a backpack that the trooper observed in the car. The trooper asked permission to search the vehicle, which resulted in law enforcement finding a large amount of methamphetamine, totaling 2,331.8 grams (approximately 5 pounds) inside the backpack. Urrea said he was paid $3,000 to deliver the backpack to unknown persons in another state. Vera-Sandoval was aware that the reason for the trip was to transport methamphetamine and law enforcement discovered he was in the United States illegally. Both defendants were taken into custody.
Special agents with the Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) further questioned the defendants and gathered enough evidence through their phones, dash cam footage, and their own admissions to charge them with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
“We know the interstate system is widely used by traffickers,” said Criminal Chief Nicole Romine. “That is why state agencies and local law enforcement in communities along the interstates, along with federal partners, work collectively to pursue and prosecute this type of criminal conduct. Simply put, we will not tolerate the use of our interstate system to transport drugs to or through the State of Wyoming.”
“On behalf of the DEA I’d like to commend the sharp eye of the Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers who made this significant seizure,” said Deanne Reuter, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Denver Field Division. “Officers like these are the real force multiplier when combating the trafficking of these dangerous drugs.”
This crime was investigated by the WHP, DCI, and DEA. The drug-related charges were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher and the illegal immigration charges were prosecuted by Jonathan Coppom.
17 June 2021
Winchester Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Acetyl Fentanyl and FentanylRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Winchester woman pleaded guilty today to distributing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl in February 2019.
According to court documents, Jennifer Lynn Heishman, 37, of Winchester, Virginia, contacted an individual on February 23, 2019, to arrange a purchase of heroin. Later that evening, Heishman paid $100 for two foil packets of drugs, using money provided by her boyfriend. Heishman then brought the drugs into the residence, distributed them to her boyfriend, and they ingested the drugs.
The next day, February 24, 2019, a piece of foil containing a grayish colored power was recovered from Heishman’s residence. The foil packet was one of the two packets of drugs Heishman distributed the previous day and tested positive for fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.
Heishman pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally distributing a mixture or substance containing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl. She is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22, 2021 and faces a period of incarceration within the range of 72 to 132 months.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia and Jared Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Winchester Police Department, and Northwest Virginia Drug and Gang Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lena Busscher and Randy Ramseyer are prosecuting the case.
Wichita Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced to 210 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, a Class A Felony.
According to court documents, Michael A. Arjona, 40, admitted that over several months in 2018 he conspired with other individuals to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Arjona confessed to a plan to sell the methamphetamine to customers in the Wichita, Kansas area.
Three other people entered guilty pleas to charges related to the drug trafficking ring that Arjona ran. Nicholas Brandt, 21, of Wichita was sentenced to 96 months after pleading guilty to Use of a Communication Device to Facilitate a Drug Offense. Cody J. Cobal, 25, of Wichita pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Matthew A. McMillan, 20, pleaded guilty to Use of a Communication Device to Facilitate a Drug Offense. Cobal and McMillan are awaiting sentencing.
The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case.
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Waterville Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man was sentenced today in federal court for three drug-related offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Rodney Lacroix, 32, to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Lacroix pleaded guilty in December 2020.
According to court records, Lacroix distributed fentanyl in Kennebec County between May 2017 and October 2018. Lacroix obtained fentanyl from out-of-state sources and used a network of distributors to sell more than 400 grams of the drug.
Lacroix was subject to enhanced penalties because of his 2013 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and cocaine.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Waterville Police Department and the Maine State Police.
United States Attorney's Office District of Arizona May 2021 Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
I. Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
281 individuals were charged in May with illegal reentry
A. 230 of those 281 individuals had previously been convicted of non-immigration criminal offenses in the U.S.
Of the 230 individuals with non-immigration criminal records:
1. 56 had violent crime convictions, including:
3 individuals had homicide convictions
7 individuals had sex offense convictions
14 individuals had domestic violence convictions2. 19 had property crime convictions
3. 45 had DUI convictions
4. 123 had drug crime convictions
B. 149 of those 281 individuals had been deported three or more times
II. Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
41 individuals were charged in May with alien smuggling
III. Illegal Entry (Criminal Consequence Initiative) (8 U.S.C. 1325)
0 individuals were charged in May with illegal entry on the CCI calendar
Criminal conviction information is based on preliminary criminal history reports provided by the arresting agency.
These numbers represent United States Attorney's Office prosecutions only. These numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
*The Department of Homeland Security instituted a policy in March 2020 of expeditiously returning aliens who illegally enter the United States rather than detaining them. The decreased number of individuals presented to this Office for prosecution coincides with the implementation of that policy and other COVID-19 related border restrictions.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-039_May Immigration and Border Crimes Report
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two men were sentenced to prison today for federal gun crimes.
Jonathan Fields, 38, of Fayette County was sentenced to 78 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. According to court documents, Fields admitted that during the early morning hours of November 6 and 7, 2019, he was illegally hunting deer in Nicholas County and shot two deer without a license and out of season. While doing so, he possessed two rifles: a Bushmaster Firearms 5.56 caliber rifle with a 30-round capacity magazine; and a Remington .243 caliber rifle. On November 12, 2019, Fields left the two firearms at the home of a friend in Summersville where they were later recovered by law enforcement officers with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Fields admitted that he knew he had a 2013 felony conviction in Nicholas County Circuit Court for voluntary manslaughter and was prohibited from possessing the firearms. The West Virginia DNR conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich handled the prosecution.
Derrick Clark, 30, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Clark admitted that on April 13, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his Cross Lanes residence and found three handguns: a semi-automatic 9mm Taurus; a .32 caliber semi-automatic Savage; and a 9mm semi-automatic C9 Highpoint. Officers also located assorted ammunition inside Clark’s residence. Clark admitted that he knew he had a 2013 conviction in Kanawha County Circuit Court for fleeing in a vehicle with reckless indifference to the safety of others and was prohibited from possessing the firearms. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia DNR, the ATF, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:20-cr-00128 (Fields) and 2:18-cr-00103(Clark).
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Two Kentucky Men Who Led Buffalo Police on A Chase Arrested on Carjacking and Weapons ChargesRead 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 Jeylani Bakari, 22, and Aweys Hussein, 20, both of Louisville, KY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with carjacking and brandishing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000.
“The defendants’ brazen and dangerous armed conduct as alleged in the criminal complaint reflects a growing disregard for both the consequences of one’s actions and the rule of law spreading throughout our cities and manifesting itself in increased violence,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Therefore, it seems particularly fitting that their travels ultimately landed these defendants at one location at which personal accountability and respect for the rule of law still offer meaningful direction—in federal court facing criminal prosecution.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of June 11, 2021, the Buffalo Police Department received a 911 call of a carjacking that had occurred in the 200 block of Woltz Avenue. At that time, two victims were sitting inside of a Dodge Charger. Three males approached the vehicle with firearms. One approached the passenger side with a Glock firearm and told Victim 1 to get out of the vehicle and “Give me the money, give me the keys, or you're going to die, (expletive).” Victim 2 was taken out of the vehicle, pushed to the ground, and another male went through Victim 2’s pockets. The 3 males then fled the scene in the Dodge Charger.
Approximately 15 minutes after the carjacking, patrol units observed the Dodge Charger in the area of Moselle and East Ferry Streets. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the vehicle led the marked units on a chase for approximately four miles. The Dodge Charger then crashed near the comer of Elmwood Avenue and Niagara Street. Inside the vehicle, officers located the defendants Bakari and Hussein, as well as a male juvenile.
During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered three firearms and ammunition. Defendant Bakari had a backpack containing 17 suspected Xanax bars, 18 bags containing a crystal¬like substance, 27 suspected Ecstasy pills, an unknown black substance, eight vaping cartridges, and a bag of suspected marijuana.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney John Flynn.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Two Former Tennessee Correctional Officers Sentenced for Civil Rights OffensesRead the Press Release
Two former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) Correctional Officers were sentenced today for assaulting an inmate in violation of a federal civil rights statute.
Nathaniel Griffin, 31, and Tanner Penwell, 24, were both sentenced to a year and a day in prison plus three years of supervised release. These are the final sentencings arising out of a staff assault of an inmate inside a cell in the Mental Health Unit at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Four other former officers previously pleaded guilty in this case and were sentenced in federal court.
“When correctional officers abuse their authority, they erode the public’s trust in law enforcement and that is unacceptable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No correctional officer is above the law and the Justice Department will not tolerate any civil rights violations. We are committed to ensuring all correctional officers keep federal prisons safe and secure and that they carry out their duties with the utmost integrity.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee will continue to prioritize the criminal prosecution of public employees who violate the civil rights of others,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our goal is to ensure that everyone – no matter who they are or their standing in the community – is treated in accordance with the requirements of the US Constitution by public officials.”
“When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas M. Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “These sentences should send a clear message that the FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”
In 2019, Griffin and Penwell both pleaded guilty using unlawful force while acting under color of law. In connection with their guilty pleas, Griffin and Penwell admitted that they punched the inmate, identified in the charging documents by the initials R.T., after he had already been beaten by another officer. They further admitted that they punched R.T. even though he never posed a threat to them or the other correctional officers. In total, R.T. was punched more than 30 times by officers. All three officers who assaulted R.T. ultimately pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights offense.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Field Office of the FBI with the support of the TDOC, and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Two Former Tennessee Correctional Officers Sentenced for Civil Rights OffensesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Two former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) Correctional Officers were sentenced today for assaulting an inmate in violation of a federal civil rights statute.
Nathaniel Griffin, 31, and Tanner Powell, 24, were both sentenced to a year and a day in prison plus three years of supervised release. These are the final sentencings arising out of a staff assault of an inmate inside a cell in the Mental Health Unit at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Four other former officers previously pleaded guilty in this case and were sentenced in federal court.
"When correctional officers abuse their authority, they erode the public’s trust in law enforcement and that is unacceptable," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "No correctional officer is above the law and the Justice Department will not tolerate any civil rights violations. We are committed to ensuring all correctional officers keep federal prisons safe and secure and that they carry out their duties with the utmost integrity."
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee will continue to prioritize the criminal prosecution of public employees who violate the civil rights of others," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee. "Our goal is to ensure that everyone – no matter who they are or standing in the community – is treated in accordance with the requirements of the US Constitution by public officials."
"When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas M. Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office. "These sentences
should send a clear message that the FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect."
In 2019, Griffin and Powell both pleaded guilty using unlawful force while acting under color of law. In connection with their guilty pleas, Griffin and Powell admitted that they punched the inmate, identified in the charging documents by initials R.T., after he had already been beaten by another officer. They further admitted that they punched R.T. even though he never posed a threat to them or the other correctional officers. In total, R.T. was punched more than 30 times by officers. All three officers who assaulted R.T. ultimately pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights offense.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Field Office of the FBI with the support of the TDOC, and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
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Two Career Criminals Arrested for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two career criminals still on supervised release on previous federal convictions were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
Ozair Pereira, 33, of Brockton, and Robert Roscoe, 30, of Boston and Attleboro, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl. Following an initial appearance today before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley, Pereira and Roscoe were detained pending detention hearings scheduled for June 25, 2021 and June 21, 2021, respectively.
According to the indictment, on four occasions in February and March 2021, Pereira and Roscoe conspired with others to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl. At the time of their involvement in the fentanyl trafficking, Pereira and Roscoe were each on supervised release for separate federal convictions.
In October 2018, Pereira was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin. At the time of his sentencing, Pereira had two previous convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm.
In December 2019, Roscoe was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of his sentencing, Roscoe had previously been convicted of armed robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, and assault and battery on a police officer.
Due to Pereira’s previous federal drug trafficking conviction, on the charge of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years of supervised release and a fine of up to $8 million. On the charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl, Roscoe faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel C. Gomes; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tulsa Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man was sentenced today in federal court for sexually abusing a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Oscar Manuel Cabrera-Westerheidy, 37, of Tulsa, to 11 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for abusive sexual contact with a minor under 12 years of age in Indian Country and abusive sexual contact with a minor between 12 and 16 years of age in Indian Country. The Court further recommended he receive drug abuse and sex offender treatment while in prison.
Cabrera-Westerheidy admitted that from January 2011 through August 2020, he sexually abused a child. The victim disclosed the abuse to a parent out of concern that the defendant was caring for other children.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial prosecuted the case. Ms.Dial is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to increased jurisdictional responsibilities regarding crimes involving Native American victims or defendants and that occur within the Muscogee Nation and Cherokee Nation Reservations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources
Todd County Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Todd County, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon Against a Minor, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Commission of a Sex Offense Against a Minor While Required to Register as a Sex Offender, Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Alton Bear Heels, age 29, was indicted on June 8, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 11, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between on or about April 4, 2021, and on or about April 5, 2021, in Todd County, Bear Heels knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a minor who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years by the use of force and by threat of death and serious bodily injury. The indictment also alleges that between on or about April 3, 2021, and April 5, 2021, Bear Heels assaulted the minor with dangerous weapons, specifically a metal bar, a knife, a collapsible baton, and a bat, with the intent to bodily harm.
The indictment further alleges that, at the time of the above described conduct, Bear Heels was a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by virtue of a conviction under Indian tribal law, and that he knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charges are merely accusations and Bear Heels is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Bear Heels was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Todd County Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Todd County, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child.
Conrad Good Voice, Jr., age 26, was indicted on June 8, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 11, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between on or about March 1, 2019, and March 1, 2021, in Todd County, Good Voice knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with two children under the age of 12.
The charges are merely accusations and Good Voice is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Good Voice was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Texas Man Admits Defrauding Business Opportunity Buyers of More Than $5 MillionRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Texas man today admitted defrauding victims of more than $5 million in connection with the sale of medical-related business opportunities, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
David Weinstein, 62, formerly of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and now of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From December 2015 through November 2020, Weinstein and his conspirators, Vijay Reddy and Kevin Brown, advertised business opportunities for sale on various websites. They purported to sell “blocks” of contracts with medical providers who allegedly wanted to outsource their medical billing, collections, appeals, answering, credentialing, or transcription functions. The buyers would then provide the contracted services to the medical providers and earn a profit. The conspirators promised to deliver a specified number of providers and pledged that their proprietary marketing efforts would provide a guaranteed client base to the buyers.
To induce buyers to purchase the business opportunities, the conspirators created fake references purporting to be buyers who vouched for their prior business purchases from the conspirators. In fact, the references were Weinstein, Reddy, and their friends and family members, and they used aliases and disguised phone numbers to speak with potential buyers.
After agreeing to purchase the blocks of medical providers, victims entered contracts with companies represented by Weinstein or Reddy and wired down payments ranging from $15,000 to $240,000 to accounts controlled by Weinstein or Brown. The remainder of each purchase price was payable when the conspirators fulfilled the contract by delivering the agreed-upon number of providers.
After receiving the down payments, Weinstein and Reddy typically delivered to each victim only a small number of medical providers. Despite not fulfilling the contracts of any of the buyers identified by law enforcement, the conspirators continued to sell blocks of medical providers to new buyers and refused to provide refunds for their failures to satisfy the terms of the contracts. The conspirators also periodically sold batches of previously signed contracts and disclaimed further responsibility for those contracts to insulate themselves from complaints or legal action from disgruntled buyers.
Brown acted as the business broker for most of the transactions and received a commission for the sales he brokered. Weinstein or Reddy acted as the seller and signed the contracts with the victims. At least 77 victims sent more than $5 million to accounts controlled by the conspirators. The conspirators spent the victims’ money on personal expenses, including a travel, jewelry, real estate, a wedding, a college education, and other business investments.
The wire fraud conspiracy count is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering count is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison. In addition, both counts are punishable by a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. As part of his plea agreement, Weinstein agreed to make restitution in excess of $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25, 2021.
Reddy pleaded guilty on June 9, 2021, to his role in the scheme.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Driscoll in Philadelphia; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez in Newark; and postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Damon Wood in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel A. Friedman and Diana Vondra Carrig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
The charge and allegations in the criminal complaint against Brown are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Syracuse Man Indicted for Assaulting a U.S. Postal EmployeeRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Javon Mayo, age 29, of Syracuse, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with assaulting a United States Postal Service employee, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Joshua McCallister, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The indictment charges that on December 24, 2020, Mayo struck a letter carrier in the face while the carrier was performing his official duties, and injured the carrier as a result. Mayo is detained pending a detention hearing scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks on June 22.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted of the charges set forth in the indictment, Mayo faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Syracuse Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.
Superseding Indictment Unsealed Charging Former Head of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood and His Mother with Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, a Superseding Indictment was unsealed charging CHANCE ALAN WILSON, 36, of McAlester, and DEANNA DANNETT WILSON, 55, of Wayne, Oklahoma, with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On June 1, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a twelve-count Superseding Indictment against Change Alan Wilson and Deanna Dannett Wilson. According to the Superseding Indictment, Chance Alan Wilson was the head of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang that operates largely within prison facilities throughout Oklahoma. It is alleged that Chance Alan Wilson, using contraband cell phones from his prison cell, organized and led a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states. He allegedly relied on a network of individuals outside of prison to distribute methamphetamine, collect proceeds from that distribution and launder those proceeds.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that one of those individuals assisting Chance Alan Wilson’s activity was his mother, Deanna Wilson. It is alleged that she accepted large sums of drug proceeds from Chance Alan Wilson and used those funds to purchase various assets, including a $138,000 manufactured home, purchased with cashier’s checks and cash.
Yesterday, the Superseding Indictment was unsealed following the defendants’ arraignment.
If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, Chance Alan Wilson faces a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison and a fine up to $10,000,000. If convicted on the money laundering conspiracy charge, Chance Alan Wilson and Deanna Wilson each face a period of imprisonment of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000. If convicted of engaging in a monetary transaction using drug proceeds, Deanna Wilson faces a period of imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of not more than $250,000 (or a fine of twice the value of the property involved in the transaction whichever is greater)
The case is a result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue System – Criminal Investigations, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Snyder is prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that the Indictment is merely accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Reference is made to public filings for further information.
St. Thomas Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Tashawn T.A. Warner, 24, resident of St. Thomas, V.I., pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of marijuana.
According to court documents, on December 11, 2020, Tashawn T.A. Warner was arrested on St. Thomas pursuant to a federal arrest warrant. Immediately prior to his arrest, Warner was observed loading bags into the trunk of a 2020 Gray Toyota Corolla registered to Warner in Florida with Florida license plates. After Warner closed the trunk and got into the Corolla, a Black Infinity G37x, drove up the hill towards Warner at a high rate of speed and stopped next to Warner’s vehicle. Warner exited the Corolla, removed the bags from the trunk of the Corolla, and placed something into the trunk of the G37x. Warner then briefly opened and closed one of the passenger side doors of the G37x, which then drove off. As Warner got back into the Corolla, he was arrested. At the time of his arrest Warner had $5,520 in the pocket of his pants.
Later, on December 11, 2020 federal agents obtained federal search warrants for both the Corolla and Infinity G37x. The Corolla contained the backpack that agents had previously seen Warner place into the vehicle, prior to his arrest. The backpack contained a glass jar containing two sandwich bags of approximately 90 grams of marijuana. The center console of the Corolla contained approximately $500 cash, a small scale, small baggies, and rolling papers.
Warner faces up to one-year imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000.00. He also agreed to forfeit his vehicle as part of the plea agreement. A sentencing date will be set by the Court.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan Albino.St. Thomas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – King Bob Leonard, 28, of St. Thomas, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today.
According to Leonard’s plea agreement and other court documents, in January and February of 2018 Leonard conspired with others to distribute cocaine. He operated through a number of text messages that were seized as part of the investigation. Further, the investigation revealed that the defendant and others coordinated the delivery of between 400 and 500 grams of cocaine in St. Thomas, USVI.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.St. Francis Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, was sentenced on June 14, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Antoine Joseph Metcalf, a/k/a Tony Metcalf, age 49, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Metcalf was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 14, 2019. He pled guilty on March 29, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy that occurred between January 2015 and December 2019. During this time, Metcalf conspired with several others to distribute between 200 and 350 grams of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in central South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Metcalf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Seven charged for roles in a $110 million compound drug schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A compound pharmacy owner, three marketers, a referring physician and two clinic office staff have been taken into custody in connection with a multi-million dollar health care fraud and kickback scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
A federal grand jury sitting in McAllen returned a 15-count indictment charging John Ageudo Rodriguez, 51, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, 40, his father Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, 71, and Alex Flores Jr., 51, all of McAllen; Hector DeLaCruz, Jr., 50, Edinburg; Araceli Gaona, 35, Mission; and Erika Hernandez Salinas, 38, Donna.
All are expected to have their initial appearances tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.
The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive illegal kickbacks and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Rodriguez was the owner of Pharr Family Pharmacy (PFP), according to the indictment. From May 2014 to September 2016, PFP allegedly billed various federal health care programs more than $110 million, including claims that were false, fraudulent and the result of illegal kickbacks.
According to the indictment, Mohammad Chowdhury, Flores and DeLaCruz were purported marketers for PFP who were the conduits for several million dollars in kickbacks relating to the referral of prescriptions for high-reimbursing compound drugs to the pharmacy. In numerous instances, the marketers allegedly received kickbacks from Rodriguez, which they shared with referring physicians.
Dr. Chowdhury is a physician with a medical practice in Edinburg known as Center for Pain Management, according to the charges, while Gaona and Salinas were employees at the clinic. The indictment alleges Mohammad Chowdhury paid kickbacks to his father for referring prescriptions to PFP, including prescriptions for high-reimbursing compound drugs that were not medically necessary nor what the patients wanted. Gaona and Salinas are charged with conspiring to pay and receive kickbacks and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with their alleged receipt of kickbacks to help coordinate the flow of prescriptions from the medical clinic to the pharmacy.
The indictment alleges Rodriguez and his co-conspirators targeted specific health care benefit programs known to pay high reimbursements for compound drugs, such as Federal Employee’s Compensation Program, TRICARE, Medicare and various private insurance plans.
As part of the scheme, Rodriguez allegedly provided PFP marketers with pre-filled prescription pads intended to be given to physicians. The charges allege these included compound drugs and other prescription items that would yield the highest possible reimbursement to PFP, without regard to medical necessity.
If convicted of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, they face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 possible five. The penalty for conspiracy to pay and receive illegal kickbacks is five years with a $25,000 maximum fine. Those charged and convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering face up to 20 years in prison and fine of up to $500,000.
The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (OIG), FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Labor-OIG, Veterans Affairs-OIG, Texas Health and Human Services—OIG, Department of Health and Human Services-OIG, and Texas Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Swartz and Asha Natarajan are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Pittsford Man Going to Prison for 18 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Luke Vuittonet, 21, of Pittsford, NY, who was convicted of production of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison and 25 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between August 6 and August 12, 2019, the defendant produced digital photographs depicting a minor victim engaged in prohibited sexual conduct. The images were produced on Vuittonet’s cellular telephone.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
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Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced on Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months imprisonment, followed by three (3) years supervised release, on her conviction related to a charge of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Gloria Anderson, 37, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA.
According to information presented to the Court, on June 26, 2020, Anderson robbed the Dollar Bank, located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Anderson entered the bank and handed bank personnel a note that read “Gimme $10,000 or I will shoot.” Anderson took $10,000 from the bank but was arrested by City of Pittsburgh Police shortly after she exited the bank and walked across the street.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police made the initial arrest of Anderson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the federal investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Anderson.
Pittsburgh Woman Facing at Least a Decade in Prison after Pleading Guilty in Heroin/Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of narcotics trafficking in connection with a large-scale investigation conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Raelynn Stevenson, age 31, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of fentanyl and heroin before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. Ms. Stevenson is one of 40 defendants charged in the Indictment and Superseding Indictment returned in this case.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and drug-trafficking activity in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019. Intercepted communications revealed that the defendant both collaborated with lead defendant Christopher Highsmith and supplied her own drug customers. On several occasions during the conspiracy, the defendant and Highsmith discussed the weight, packaging, and distribution of narcotics.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of $8,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded the defendant to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Bloch Brendan J. McKenna are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Passaic County Man Charged in Tax Evasion and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for his role in a kickback tax evasion scheme related to his role as plan administrator of two union-related employee benefit plans, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Jose Santa Maria, aka “Joe,” of North Haledon, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with five counts of tax evasion, one count of paying kickbacks related to an employee benefit plan, and one count of making false statements in relation to an employee benefit plan. He is scheduled to appear by videoconference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From at least 2013, Santa Maria served as the plan administrator, through Company-1, for a health fund and a training fund related to a labor union. At the same time, Santa Maria was employed by Individual-1, who served as counsel for the two union funds. The president of Company-1 was related to Individual-1. From 2013 through 2019, Santa Maria derived approximately $750,000 in income from Company-1, which was paid by the two union funds. He did not report any of the income to the IRS or pay the associated income taxes. Santa Maria also unlawfully paid at least $50,000 to Individual-1, through payments from Company-1 to Company-2, which was owned by Individual-1. These unlawful payments were designed to maintain Santa Maria’s position as the plan administrator to the funds and vice president of Company -1. Company-1 also received insurance commissions, which Santa Maria caused to not be reported, as required, on filings with the IRS and Department of Labor, for the union health fund.
The counts of tax evasion each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of paying kickbacks related to an employee benefit plan carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of making false statements related to an employee benefit plan carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited investigators of the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, under the direction of Regional Director of the New York Regional Office Thomas Licetti; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez; and police investigators of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under the direction of Acting Inspector General Michael Farbiarz, with the investigation with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Oregon Man Pleads Guilty After Pocketing Millions in Covid-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—An Oregon man pleaded guilty today after fraudulently converting to personal use loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Aaron Lloyd, 51, of Lebanon, Oregon, pleaded guilty to bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
Lloyd took advantage of economic relief programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), including Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These programs were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans and small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“CARES Act relief programs were designed to help American small businesses weather a historically difficult time in our nation’s economic history. Andrew Lloyd saw an opportunity to profit off the COVID-19 pandemic and did so at the expense of hardworking Americans. Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to unfairly enrich themselves from public funds set aside to help those in need,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“While Americans suffered with the economic collapse that COVID-19 brought to our communities, Lloyd decided to cash in on the catastrophe. As hard working, honest people were forced onto unemployment and into food lines, Lloyd was pouring millions of stolen dollars into brokerage accounts and real estate deals. Thanks to our investigative partnerships, he will now face years in prison,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon.
“As our country continues to recover from the destructive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are individuals like Andrew Lloyd who opt to do further harm to our country by exploiting the suffering of fellow Americans,” said Corinne Kalve, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI). “IRS:CI will continue to pursue those who choose to abuse our financial system and who choose to steal pandemic recovery funds for their own illicit gain.”
“Lying to gain access to economic stimulus funds will be met with justice,” said Weston King, SBA Office of Inspector General Western Region Special Agent in Charge. “SBA OIG will aggressively pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
According to court documents, in October 2020, federal agents initiated an investigation into Lloyd based on information suggesting he had fraudulently applied for PPP loans and EIDL at multiple financial institutions. Beginning in April 2020, Lloyd began submitting loan applications using numerous business names and personally identifiable information of relatives and business associates without their consent.
Lloyd submitted false documentation to justify the loan amounts requested, including an IRS Form 944 listing the 2019 wages purportedly paid by entities controlled by Lloyd. Total wages allegedly paid by these entities ranged from $3 million to more than $4.7 million. Lloyd’s loan applications also included lists of between 56 and 64 employees and the total wages paid to each. The loan application packages included some of the same information across the different business entities, including the businesses’ physical locations and the names of several dozen employees.
In total, Lloyd submitted nine PPP loan applications, six of which were accepted, resulting in a payout of more than $3.4 million. Lloyd also applied for numerous EIDLs, of which one was accepted, resulting in an additional $160,000 in payments to Lloyd. Upon receipt of the funds, Lloyd purchased real estate and invested in securities. Lloyd transferred more than $1.8 million of the above-described PPP loan funds to his E*TRADE Securities brokerage account. Securities Lloyd purchased using the fraudulently acquired funds substantially increased in value.
In January 2021, agents seized Lloyd’s brokerage account, which included 15,740 shares of Tesla, Inc. purchased with proceeds of his fraud. In March 2021, agents seized another account containing more than $660,000 in securities and cash. The securities and cash seized from Lloyd’s accounts are presently valued at more than $11 million.
On January 5, 2021, Lloyd was charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. He was arrested and made his first appearance in federal court on January 7, 2021. On June 6, 2021, he was charged by superseding criminal information with bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
With his continued acceptance of responsibility, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will join Lloyd in jointly recommending a sentence of 61 months in federal prison. He will be sentenced on September 9, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
As part of his plea agreement, Lloyd has agreed to pay more than $3.6 million in restitution to the U.S. Treasury. Lloyd also agreed to forfeit more than $11 million in cash and securities and 23 properties that were purchased with PPP funds.
An accomplice of Lloyd’s, Russell Anthony Schort, 39, of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, was charged alongside Lloyd for similar conduct. Schort is scheduled to plead guilty on July 1, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the SBA Office of Inspector General and IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
One sentenced, other defendants admit guilt on separate federal chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: One man has been sentenced in the Southern District of Georgia to federal prison and others have admitted guilt in U.S. District Court on separate charges involving drugs and firearms.
Joseph Brandon Melton, 30, of Waycross, was sentenced to 71 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Melton to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Joseph Melton’s extensive criminal record and participation in a violent gang makes it abundantly clear that he is a danger to the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to bring to justice those who threaten the safety of our citizens.”
Melton, a member of the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang, admitted to illegally possessing a semi-automatic pistol when he was charged Jan. 23, 2020, by deputies from the Ware County Sheriff’s Office. Melton was on probation for a prior state felony conviction at the time of his arrest.
Other defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty to felony charges in U.S. District Court:
- Gary Hamiter Joye Jr., 36, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. A Fort Gordon Military Police officer found Joye Sept. 9, 2020, asleep in his car, which was illegally parked on the lawn of the post laundry service. In a subsequent search of Joye’s vehicle, investigators found a quantity of methamphetamine, along with drug sales paraphernalia and $3,000 in cash.
- Jonah Robert Schafner, 33, of Grovetown – sentenced March 9 to 108 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon – faces an additional five years in prison after pleading guilty to Escape from Custody. After his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Augusta, Schafner escaped from the Jefferson County Jail while he was awaiting transfer to federal prison. He was taken into custody four days later in Columbia County.
- Letrail Jerome West, 42, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. West admitted illegally possessing drugs and an SKS-style rifle when arrested Oct. 30, 2019, by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies
- Newman Everette Tryon, 38, of Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Tryon admitted illegally possessing a revolver when he was arrested Oct. 30, 2019, by Chatham County Police.
- Jamerson Brandon Turner, 28, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Turner admitted illegally possessing a pistol when questioned May 15, 2020, by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies.
- Tron Smith, 34, of Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith admitted to illegally possessing a pistol when arrested by Savannah Police officers June 17, 2019.
- Chance Derrell Christian, 32, of Kingstree, S.C., pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Christian admitted illegally possessing a loaded revolver when arrested May 11, 2020 on Interstate 20 in Columbia County after a traffic stop and subsequent search of his vehicle by the Georgia State Patrol.
- Delvon Brown, 35, of Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brown – who has previous convictions on state felonies, including illegal firearms possession – admitted to illegal possession of a semi-automatic pistol during a traffic stop Sept. 5, 2019, by Savannah Police officers.
- Zachary Brent Sadler, 27, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Sadler admitted pawning a handgun in October 2019, and he later was charged by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when attempted to repurchase the gun and was denied during a background check.
- Kijordan Markel Ceaser, 22, of Thomson, Ga., pled guilty to Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. Ceaser, who was on parole after a conviction on state charges, admitted illegally possessing a pistol when agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision searched his residence Sept. 17, 2020.
“These cases are the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “These prosecutions will ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and contribute to the restoration of order and peace.”
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the U.S. Marshals Service, along with state and local agencies including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia State Patrol, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Savannah Police Department, and the Chatham County Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland, Henry W. Syms Jr., Noah J. Abrams, Alejandro V. Pascual IV, Steven H. Lee and John P. Harper III, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Caban Jr.
Ohio man sentenced for soliciting minor for child pornographyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Dorst, of Shade, Ohio, was sentenced today to 60 months of incarceration for a child pornography charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Dorst, age 59, pled guilty in December 2020 to one count of “Solicitation of Child Pornography.” Dorst admitted to asking a minor in Harrison County to send material of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The crime occurred in February 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney Pleads Guilty in Connection with Staged Accident ProbeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DANNY PATRICK KEATING, JR., age 52, of New Orleans, Louisiana, entered a plea of guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans before Chief United States District Court Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.
KEATING was the thirty-third (33rd) defendant charged in the Government’s federal probe into the intentional staging of motor vehicle accidents with tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles in the metropolitan New Orleans area. Thus far, twenty-three (23) of the thirty-three (33) indicted defendants have tendered guilty pleas in federal court.
According to today’s guilty plea, KEATING was a personal injury attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana. KEATING admitted to conspiring with Damian Labeaud and others to defraud insurance companies, commercial carriers, and trucking companies in a scheme involving intentionally staging automobile accidents.
Labeaud referred staged accidents to KEATING and other New Orleans personal injury attorneys for $1,000.00 per passenger for accidents involving tractor-trailers and $500.00 per passenger for accidents not involving tractor-trailers. KEATING advanced Labeaud thousands of dollars for these accidents and instructed Labeaud that he owed KEATING a certain number of accidents based on the amount of money advanced. For instance, on July 17, 2017, KEATING gave Labeaud $15,000.00 so Labeaud could purchase a $15,000.00 Chase Bank cashier’s check to buy Mario Solomon’s truck.[1]Additionally, on September 25, 2017, KEATING wrote a $17,000.00 check to himself for “advertising” and used the proceeds to purchase a $17,000.00 cashier’s check payable to Labeaud. The Indictment alleges KEATING paid Labeaud another $12,500.00 in checks during the month of June 2017.
KEATING admitted he knowingly paid Labeaud for thirty-one (31) illegally staged tractor-trailer accidents. KEATING represented seventy-seven (77) plaintiffs involved in the thirty-one (31) accidents staged by Labeaud. KEATING settled seventeen (17) of the thirty-one (31) staged accidents. The Indictment charged that KEATING and his clients received approximately $1,500,000.00 in settlement resulting from his representation of his clients involved in the staged accidents and that KEATING kept approximately $358,000.00 in attorney’s fees.
KEATING admitted he filed lawsuits in state and federal court in Louisiana on behalf of his clients who were involved in the staged accidents. The lawsuits filed on behalf of the seventy-seven (77) plaintiffs fraudulently alleged who was driving the vehicles, misrepresented who was at fault in the staged accidents, and falsely claimed injuries. KEATING used the U.S Postal Service to mail settlement demands on behalf of his clients who were involved in staged accidents from the Eastern District of Louisiana to various out-of-state locations. In many cases, clients of KEATING provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with lawsuits filed by KEATING.
KEATING faces a maximum term of five (5) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, KEATING faces a term of supervised release up to three (3) years after his release from prison. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for January 20, 2021, before Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.
“Fraud, regardless of its scope and means of orchestration, is a serious crime. Especially egregious is fraud committed against the hardworking taxpayer by a member of our legal community, said U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Louisiana Duane A. Evans.” This guilty plea sends a clear message that our office, along with our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute all such corruption cases regardless of status.
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message to individuals who choose to engage in fraudulent schemes that grossly impact automobile and health insurance industries. They will be held accountable. Mr. Patrick Keating, a local attorney, took an oath to uphold the United States Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, but instead, violated those laws and his oath in order to unjustly enrich himself by engaging in a scheme which resulted in the filing of fraudulent auto and medical insurance claims,” stated Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams, Jr. ”I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Eastern District of Louisiana, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their partnership and outstanding work accomplished during this investigation.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera; Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.
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[1]Solomon was a spotter who worked with Labeaud in staging automobile accidents. Solomon pled guilty on May 28, 2020, and was sentenced on January 22, 2021.
New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to distribute large quantities of cocaine.
Jaime Torres, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and five grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Oct. 19, 2021. Torres was charged in December 2019, along with 12 co-defendants.
From at least February 2019 through December 2019, Torres conspired with others to distribute large quantities of cocaine. Investigators intercepted a number of communications between Torres and co-conspirators, including communications on or about June 17, 2019, in which Torres and various co-conspirators agreed to distribute two kilograms of cocaine or more. Later that same day, investigators seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine from Torres’s storage unit, along with 117 grams of a mixture and substance containing heroin, 55 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and over 43 grams of methamphetamine.
The charging statute for each count provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspector Service, Boston Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Seth G. Shackford, 41, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about September 10, 2020, Nashua police detectives arrested Shackford on an outstanding federal warrant during a motor vehicle stop. A standard inventory search was conducted prior to towing the vehicle. Officers located a bag on the passenger seat containing unused hypodermic needles. A backpack located in the rear passenger seat revealed a safe. After obtaining a search warrant, officers opened the safe and found over 80 grams of methamphetamine, over 10 grams of fentanyl and a ledger with references to drugs, cash, and customers.
Shackford is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2021.
“Drug traffickers continue to pose a significant danger to the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “To protect the public, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who choose to sell these deadly substances.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Montz Woman Charged with Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that IGEL CASANOVA GIBBINS (“GIBBINS”), age 43, of Montz, Louisiana, was charged on June 15, 2021 by a Bill of Information for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
According to the Bill of Information, the case against IGEL CASANOVA GIBBINS (“GIBBINS”) began after the State of Louisiana complied with a request from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide the SSA with death data of approximately 1.6 million Social Security number holders who had died in Louisiana from January 1, 1979, through December 31, 2019. As part of that data, the State of Louisiana disclosed that D.C., a participant in the SSA’s Retirement Survivor Insurance program (“RSI Program”), died on or about August 16, 2012.
Unaware of D.C.’s death, the SSA erroneously released approximately $202,417.00 in RSI Program funds from August 2012 through December 2020, via automatic wire transfers (i.e., direct deposit) to D.C.’s jointly held Capital One Bank (“Capital One”) account. GIBBINS, D.C.’s daughter, was a joint account holder of the Capital One account. D.C.’s RSI Program benefits were not transferrable to GIBBINS. Following the automatic deposit of RSI Program benefits, GIBBINS accessed the funds and wrongfully converted the funds to her own personal use, depleting nearly all account funds. The funds were used on purchase transactions or transfers out of the account to pay bills, for example, such as for mortgage payments and vehicle loan payments. GIBBINS never advised the SSA of D.C.’s death.
The SSA determined that GIBBINS fraudulently obtained $200,396 in (SSA) disability benefits from her father’s Capital One Bank account.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, GIBBINS faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige O’Hale.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a St. Cloud, Minnesota, man convicted of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor was sentenced on June 14, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Nathan Paul Grondahl, age 25, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $5,100.
Grondahl was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2019. He pled guilty on March 22, 2021.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on November 22, 2019, when Grondahl left his home in Minnesota to travel to Hartford, South Dakota, for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with a 13-year old female. Grondahl had met the minor on social media and had been communicating with her for a few days. Grondahl also requested that the minor female send him nude pictures of herself.
This case was investigated by the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Grondahl has been allowed to self-surrender by June 28, 2021.
Miami, Florida Man Charged with Gary Bank Robbery and MurderRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- James Anthony King, Jr., age 24, of Miami, Florida, has been indicted for armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the use and carrying of a firearm during that robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
According to the indictment, on June 11, 2021, King participated in an armed robbery of First Midwest Bank on Ridge Road in Gary, Indiana, where the use of a firearm resulted in the death of Richard Castellana.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the Judge after a consideration of federal statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department; the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office; the Indiana State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Gary Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Padula, David Nozick, and Kevin Wolff.
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Members of Albuquerque drug trafficking organization charged with possessing, trafficking methamphetamine and fentanylRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John Seibel, 25, Robert Pettit, 51, and Barbara Dockery, 64, all of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court today for their parts in a drug trafficking organization run by Seibel (the Seibel DTO). Detention hearings for each defendant are scheduled for June 21.
On June 9, a federal grand jury indicted Seibel and Pettit on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and four counts of distribution of 40 grams and more of fentanyl.
Dockery is charged in a criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
The defendants were arrested on June 15 in a joint law enforcement operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). A DEA Task Force executed warrants at five locations in Albuquerque, including the residences of Seibel, Pettit, and Dockery. In Dockery’s residence, law enforcement located approximately 3,838.3 gross grams of fentanyl and 924.2 gross grams of methamphetamine allegedly belonging to the Seibel DTO.
The indictment alleges that from March 26 to June 9, Seibel, Pettit and others conspired to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court records, Seibel, assisted by his co-conspirators included Pettit and Dockery, allegedly sold “blues,” which are counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, as well as fentanyl pills manufactured in Albuquerque using a pill press machine.
“For some time we’ve known the damage methamphetamine trafficking has caused to our communities, and we are now seeing the devastation caused by counterfeit fentanyl pills, which sadly includes overdose deaths,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Fred J. Federici. “Prosecution of those who manufacture and distribute these illicit and dangerous narcotics is and must remain a top priority for the District of New Mexico.”
“The drug trafficking organizations that produce and distribute these potentially-lethal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl care only about one thing: maximizing profits,” said Kyle W. Williamson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “DEA will continue to disrupt and dismantle these DTOs to break the wave of fentanyl flooding and endangering our communities.”
Indictments and complaints are only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Seibel, Pettit and Dockery face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Among the agencies that participated in the investigation were the DEA Albuquerque District Office, DEA El Paso Division, DEA El Paso Division SRT, DEA Las Cruces District Office, DEA St. Louis Division, DEA South Central Laboratory, DEA Aviation, FBI Albuquerque Field Office, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, Pueblo of Laguna Police Department, Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department, Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, Rio Rancho Police Department, Torrance County Sheriff’s Office, Belen Police Department and Albuquerque Fire & Rescue.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting this case.
Man from La Union charged with being a felon in possession of ammunitionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jose Alfredo Morales, 30, of La Union, New Mexico, was charged today in federal court with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Morales will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on May 15 officers from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault involving strangulation at a residence in La Union. The officers obtained a warrant to search the residence in which they allegedly found multiple rounds of ammunition.
On May 19, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a federal search warrant for the home, of which Morales is the sole resident, and allegedly located multiple rounds of ammunition.
Morales has prior felony convictions, including for shooting at or from a motor vehicle, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery upon a peace officer. As a convicted felon, Morales cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Morales faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography after his state conviction was vacated due to lack of jurisdiction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Matthew Steven Janson, 37, knowingly used the internet to receive child pornography from April 18, 2016 to May 25, 2016.
According to the plea agreement, Janson admitted to possessing at least 600 images of child sexual abuse including the abuse of prepubescent minors who had not attained 12 years of age. The materials were possessed and knowingly accessed via Janson’s computer and within the Muscogee Nation Reservation. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell set sentencing for Oct. 15, 2021.
Janson is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Janson’s state conviction was vacated due to the Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma. He previously pleaded guilty in state court and was sentenced to 10 years with 5 years suspended.
The Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams is prosecuting the case. Ms. Williams is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to increased jurisdictional responsibilities regarding crimes involving Native American victims or defendants and that occur within the Muscogee Nation and Cherokee Nation Reservations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Madison Felon Sentenced to 63 Months for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jaime Williams, 34, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 63 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. Williams pleaded guilty to this charge on March 17, 2021.
The charge in this case stemmed from a traffic stop of Williams’s vehicle on September 26, 2020. After stopping Williams, police searched his vehicle and located a loaded 9-millimeter Ruger handgun on the driver’s side floorboard. This handgun had previously been reported stolen. Additionally, officers located crack cocaine in the vehicle and MDMA in Williams’s pocket.
This is Williams’s third conviction for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. At time of the offense in this case, he was serving a term of extended supervision in connection with his two state convictions for this crime.
The charges against Williams were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus.
Lawrence Man Sentenced for Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing and possessing fentanyl.
Yunior Darismir Prandys Torres, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2020, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, aiding and abetting.
Torres was arrested on July 17, 2019 after he participated in the sale of over 20 grams of a substance containing fentanyl to an undercover agent on two occasions in July 2019 in Lawrence.
Torres was indicted as part of a coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley dubbed “Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Massachusetts State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the North Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kanwit of Mendell’s office prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Opioids Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas man today pleaded guilty to distributing opioids that resulted in the overdose death of another person.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Daniel Anguiano, 42, distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills — containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl — to a man who died after consuming the counterfeit pills.
Fentanyl is classified as Schedule II controlled substances, and acetyl fentanyl is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is approximately 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. A few milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, may be deadly. Acetyl fentanyl is an analog of fentanyl that is 10-15 times more potent than morphine. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is a common drug of abuse.
Anguiano pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2021.
For the distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, Anguiano faces: (a) a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment; and (b) a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the DEA made the announcement.
This case is the product of an investigation by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sokolich is prosecuting the case.
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Kailua man receives over 24 years in prison for drug trafficking and money launderingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson sentenced Justin K. Wilcox, aka Justin Kaanoi, aka Ali’i, 39, of Kailua, Hawaii, today to concurrent imprisonment terms of 295 months and 240 months for his roles in conspiracies to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and commit money laundering, respectively. Wilcox previously pled guilty on August 5, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Wilcox also received with five- and three-year concurrent terms of supervised release to follow imprisonment.
Judith A. Philips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, stated that according to court documents and information presented in court, Wilcox was the Oahu leader and organizer of the drug conspiracy which operated in Hawaii and involved more than five members with drugs supplied by a Las Vegas, Nevada source. The sentencing court found Wilcox responsible for the possession and distribution of 3,880 grams of pure methamphetamine, or “ice,” and 1,393 grams of cocaine.
At the sentencing hearing, the court found that Wilcox utilized his Kailua clothing company, “Armed and Dangerous,” as a front business to launder cash drug proceeds. As a result, the court ordered Wilcox to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $127,000 for proceeds that Wilcox obtained as a result of his drug trafficking activities.
In addition to the seizure of 8.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and 1.39 kilograms of cocaine, federal law enforcement agents also seized over $160,000 in cash, two firearms, and ammunition over the course of the investigation.
A total of eight individuals were convicted for their participation in the drug conspiracy along with a ninth man who was convicted of related drug charges. All nine received sentences of 41 months imprisonment or greater, with five, including Wilcox, receiving sentences of over ten years, two of which exceeded 20 years.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark A. Inciong and Michael Albanese handled the prosecution.
Kadoka Man Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Kadoka, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on June 14, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Timothy Kills In Water, age 34, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims fund in the amount of $100.
Kills In Water was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9, 2020. He pled guilty on March 31, 2021.
Between October 2017 and May 2018, Kills In Water knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota. In total, Kills In Water distributed between 500 grams and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine to other people, who sold it on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Kills In Water was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Justice Department Settles with North Carolina School District to Provide Equal Opportunities to English Learner StudentsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to resolve the department’s investigation into the Rowan-Salisbury School System’s (District) programs for its English learner students. The department’s investigation found system-wide failures to provide these students with the instruction and support they need to learn English and fully participate in school. The department conducted its investigation under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974.
“Students and parents who are not fluent in English have a right to access all of their school’s education programs and activities — and access starts with meaningful communication and appropriate instruction by school districts,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department recognizes that today’s English learner students are tomorrow’s bilingual graduates. These students will bring essential and diverse language skills into our workforce and communities. We are encouraged that the Rowan-Salisbury School System has committed to the goals of equity and fairness at the heart of this agreement and we will continue to fight to ensure that all students enjoy access to educational opportunity regardless of background.”
Under the settlement agreement, the District will increase language instruction for all English learner students, including those with disabilities, so they can become fluent in English. The District will also train its teachers and administrators on how to support English learner students in academic subjects such as math, science and social studies. The District will continue to improve its translation and interpretation services for Limited English Proficient parents so all parents can fully participate in their children’s education. The Justice Department will monitor the district’s implementation of the settlement agreement over the course of the next three full school years.
The Spanish version of the press release is available here: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un distrito escolar de Carolina del Norte para la provisión de la igualdad de oportunidades a estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés | ESPANOL | Department of Justice. The enforcement of the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 is a top priority of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at https://www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Justice Department Settles with North Carolina Dental Offices over HIV DiscriminationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement to resolve a claim that Night and Day Dental Inc. discriminated against a woman with HIV in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Night and Day Dental operates nine dental offices throughout North Carolina. This settlement is part of the department’s Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative (initiative), a partnership of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s offices across the nation to ensure that people with disabilities, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, who have HIV and who have mobility disabilities, have equal access to medical services.
Title III of the ADA prohibits dentists and other health care providers from discriminating against people with disabilities, including HIV. Following an investigation, the department found that Night and Day Dental discriminated against a woman with HIV when it refused to accept her as a new patient because of her HIV status. The patient was seeking routine dental care, including a cleaning and check-up. In addition, Night and Day Dental has a policy of requiring certain bloodwork results from patients with HIV before deciding whether to provide dental care, when in fact requiring such results is not medically necessary or recommended.
“Turning away patients with HIV or requiring them to provide information that is not medically recommended, creates unfair barriers to health care for people with HIV,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The ADA requires health care providers to treat patients based on current medical knowledge about their particular health conditions, and not based on stereotypes or misconceptions about a disability. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that people with HIV do not face discrimination in health care settings or other areas of life.”
Under the settlement, Night and Day Dental must pay $30,000 to the victim of the discrimination. In addition, Night and Day Dental must train its staff on the ADA, develop and use a non-discrimination policy, and report and explain to the department every time it either refuses to treat a person with HIV or stops providing treatment after learning of a patient’s HIV.
This matter was handled by the Disability Rights Section of the department’s Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Barrier Free Health Care Initiative visit www.ada.gov/usao-agreements.htm. For more information about this agreement or the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov or call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383). For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report.
Jury finds one former St. Louis officer guilty on civil rights violation chargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A jury found Dustin Boone, 37, of St. Louis, Missouri guilty on one count of aiding and abetting the deprivation of civil rights under color of law of undercover police officer Luther Hall. The jury was undecided on Christopher Myers, 30, of St. Louis, Missouri regarding his one count of destruction of evidence in a federal investigation as a result of destroying Hall’s cell phone.
Both former St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers committed the crimes during the 2017 Jason Stockley protests. The re-trial of both officers lasted nine days.
The evidence during the trial, which wrapped Thursday, proved that Dustin Boone assisted former police officer Randy Hays in the assault of undercover police officer Luther Hall. Det. Hall was undercover during the protests following the acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley.
United States District Judge E. Richard Webber presided over the trial.
“As a police officer for the City of St. Louis, Dustin Boone violated the sacred trust placed in him to serve and protect members of the community,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “Our hope is this conviction serves as a deterrent to those who consider abusing their authority and a step toward restoring the community’s faith in the justice system and law enforcement.”
“Law enforcement officers must obey the law as well as enforce it,” said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Those who violate their oaths do a disservice to the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. First Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin and Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood handled the case.
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Jury Convicts Portland Man for Role in Drug Robbery and ShootingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal jury in Portland found a local man guilty today for shooting and robbing two marijuana sellers in August 2017.
Ernest Franklin Evans, 39, a Portland resident, was found guilty of Hobbs Act robbery and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on August 3, 2017, an associate of Evans set up a ruse to purchase of 10 pounds of marijuana from two local marijuana sellers. After arriving at an agreed upon location, the two marijuana sellers wheeled out a large black tote full of marijuana. Shortly thereafter, two masked men—Evans and a second associate—came out from behind the corner of a building with guns drawn. Evans had a sawed-off shotgun and his associate had a pistol. Evans shot both marijuana sellers with a sawed-off shotgun and took their marijuana.
Evans was arrested on November 19, 2018, following the execution of a federal search warrant on his Portland residence.
On May 11, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count superseding indictment charging Evans with robbery and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and drug trafficking crime.
Evans faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years’ supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Portland Police Bureau; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter D. Sax and Jeffrey S. Sweet.
Jury Convicts Carson Indian Colony Resident of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a Reno man on June 16, 2021 for committing voluntary manslaughter on tribal land.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven Bryan, 51, shot and killed his son with an AR-15 style rifle on or about December 13, 2019, on the Carson Indian Colony.
Bryan was found guilty of one count of voluntary manslaughter. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Penelope Brady and Andolyn Johnson are prosecuting the case.
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Judge sentences unregistered St. Louis taxpayer for tax fraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Lakisha Smith to 32 months in prison and ordered her to pay $10, 416 in restitution to the to the Internal Revenue Service today. The 39-year-old St. Louis, Missouri resident pleaded guilty, in March, to two counts of tax fraud.
Smith, from 2013 to 2016, prepared approximately 28 fraudulent tax returns for her clients using the TaxAct commercial website. She prepared client returns reporting false income and withholdings in order to generate larger tax refunds. Smith typically received cash payments of up to $2,500.00 from the false refunds paid to her customers.
Smith was not registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a return preparer.
The Internal Revenue Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Roy is handling the case.
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