Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
15 June 2021
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Minor Following Arrest in Marion County Human Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - A Louisiana man pled guilty in federal court today to attempted enticement of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Jack P. Staton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
During an operation being conducted by law enforcement in Marion County in December 2020, Brandon Brumfield, 24, of Greensburg, Louisiana, engaged with an undercover online chatter posing as a 14-year-old on the online dating website “Plenty of Fish.” While chatting, Brumfield expressed his desire to have sex with the 14-year-old and stated he would drive to Columbia, Mississippi, from Greensburg, Louisiana, to do so. Upon arrival in Columbia, Brumfield was arrested by law enforcement with condoms in his vehicle. Brumfield subsequently admitted to law enforcement that his intent was to have sex with a 14-year-old he had met on “Plenty of Fish.”
An indictment was filed against Brumfield on September 9, 2021. He pled guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Columbia Police Department investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
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.
Local man sentenced to prison in chop shop conspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal at least 35 vehicles to dismantle and sell their parts, causing more than $300,000 in loss.
Mike Silva, 31, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of conspiring to operate a chop shop and violate the Clean Air Act. Silva operated an autobody shop that served as the chop shop where stolen vehicles were dismantled.
As part of his sentence, Silva is ordered to pay approximately $301,000 in restitution.
Conspiracy leader James A. Imes, 51, of Columbus, was sentenced in July 2019 to 120 months in prison. His wife, Tina Imes, 41, was sentenced in September 2020 to 36 months in prison. The couple was ordered to pay approximately $550,000 in restitution. Co-defendant Scottie Johnson was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay approximately $263,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, from January 2013 until April 2014, defendants stole at least 35 vehicles to dismantle them and sell their parts throughout the Midwest, earning $10,000 to $15,000 per week. Co-conspirators operated chop shops in three locations on the West side of Columbus to traffic the car parts.
Most of the vehicles were sold as parts or scrap to salvage yards. More valuable parts were sold on Craigslist through posts advertised in cities across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.
During the destruction of the vehicles, HCFC refrigerant chemicals were released into the atmosphere when vehicle air conditioning tubes were cut.
Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Laurie A. Stevenson; and Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack announced the sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J.C. Grey and Special Assistant United States Attorneys J. Michael Marous, Christopher N. St.Pierre and Heather Robinson are representing the United States in this case.
The case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Ohio EPA Special Investigations Unit, as well as the assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police Auto Theft Unit and Ohio State Highway Patrol Theft and Fraud Unit.
# # #
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Conspiring to Cultivate and Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in federal court in Portland for conspiring to manufacture 100 or more marijuana plants and to distribute 100 or more kilograms of marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.
U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal sentenced Richard Daniels, aka “Stich,” 56, to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. Daniels was also fined $2,500. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2019.
According to court records, between 2015 and February 27, 2018, Daniels was a member of an organization that cultivated marijuana at numerous locations in Androscoggin County and distributed bulk marijuana to people who were not participants in Maine’s Medical Marijuana program, including out-of-state customers. Daniels was an active participant in the conspiracy’s daily operations and personally supplied bulk quantities of marijuana to the conspiracy’s customers, including those from outside of Maine. In addition, Daniels processed marijuana into marijuana concentrate (“dabs”) which was also distributed illegally.
On February 27, 2018, law enforcement officers searched Daniels’ residence and an adjacent garage. During the search, agents seized approximately 119 kilograms of marijuana, 27 sheets of marijuana concentrate, and equipment used to manufacture marijuana concentrate.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated 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.
Krotz Springs Man Sentenced to 77 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Baton Rouge CompanyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced today that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Michael J. Kaiser, age 43, of Krotz Springs, Louisiana, to 77 months in federal prison following his conviction for wire fraud. The Court further sentenced Kaiser to serve 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Kaiser was also ordered to pay a total of $53,153 in restitution to Trade Construction Company, LLC (“Trade”) and Motiva Enterprises, LLC. Kaiser was remanded to federal prison at the conclusion of the hearing.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, from September 2015 through February 2017, Kaiser devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud his then-employer, Trade, and to obtain money and property from Trade by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. The object of his scheme was to unlawfully enrich himself and circumvent a court order requiring garnishment of 25 percent of his wages. Kaiser executed his scheme through three primary means. First, Kaiser used his Trade-issued credit card for personal purchases and submitted false and fraudulent receipts and expense reports in order to conceal his fraud. Second, Kaiser made numerous false and fraudulent representations, which included a purported court filing with forged signatures of a district judge and deputy clerk of court for the 19th Judicial District Court, in order to circumvent a valid garnishment order against him. Third and finally, Kaiser submitted false and fraudulent invoices and requests for payment, on behalf of a self-created company in which he was the sole manager and member. As a result of his fraudulent scheme, Kaiser caused an actual loss of over $53,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis stated, “Betrayal of trust such as this oftentimes threatens the financial integrity of professional businesses. Mr. Kaiser defrauded a company for his own personal benefit and was held accountable by today’s sentence. We will continue to vigorously pursue those who use their trust and skill to steal from others and, more importantly, restore justice to the victims to the best of our ability. I applaud the efforts of our prosecutors and the FBI for their exemplary work in this case.”
This matter was investigated by the Baton Rouge Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Gardner and M. Patricia Jones, who also serves as Appellate Chief, as well as former Assistant United States Attorney Chris Dippel.
Kanawha County Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County woman was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Raechel Cooper, 30, admitted that on April 9, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at her East Bank residence and found Cooper in her vehicle along with eight bags of methamphetamine hidden in a hollowed-out teddy bear. Officers found an additional amount of methamphetamine inside Cooper’s residence. In total, Cooper was found to be in possession of over 350 grams of methamphetamine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller handled the prosecution.
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 No. 2:21-cr-00036.
###
Justice Department Settles with Texas-Based Industrial Contractor to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it reached a settlement with Tecon Services Inc. (Tecon), an industrial insulation, fireproofing and painting contractor based in Texas. The settlement resolves claims that Tecon discriminated against a naturalized U.S. citizen based on her Venezuelan national origin by rejecting her U.S. passport and requiring other documents to prove her work authorization, in violation of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
The department’s investigation began after a naturalized U.S. citizen filed a discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division against Tecon. Based on its investigation, the department concluded that while verifying the worker’s legal right to work in the United States, Tecon refused to accept her U.S. passport and demanded additional and unnecessary documents, because of the worker’s Venezuelan national origin.
“Companies cannot reject valid identity and work authorization documents because of an individual’s national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement makes clear that the Justice Department will vigorously enforce federal civil rights laws to protect workers from illegal discrimination.”
The INA prohibits employers from rejecting documents that reasonably appear genuine or requesting more or different documents than necessary to prove work authorization, based on workers’ citizenship, immigration status, or national origin.
Under the terms of the settlement, Tecon will pay a $1,542 civil penalty to the United States and $4,263.75 back pay and interest to the affected worker. Tecon will also revise its policies and procedures, ensure that relevant employees participate in training on anti-discrimination requirements under the INA, and be subject to departmental monitoring over the term of the agreement.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship, immigration status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. More information on how employers can avoid discrimination in the Form I-9 and E-Verify process is available here. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment, or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public also may contact IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688; call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
Justice Department Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day; Files Cases Against Marketing Company and Executives Who Knowingly Facilitated Elder FraudRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced criminal charges in two separate cases against defendants accused of knowingly furnishing fraud schemes with information on elderly potential victims. The charges coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day intended to raise public awareness of the fight against elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
“These matters underscore the importance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the continuing threat posed by all forms of elder abuse, including elder fraud schemes that bilk seniors of their life savings,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “As the actions announced today make clear, companies and individuals that knowingly commit or facilitate elder fraud schemes will be held accountable.”
On June 14, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado arraigned a marketing company, KBM Group LLC, on a criminal information alleging that it sold millions of Americans’ information to perpetrators of elder fraud schemes. KBM Group and the Justice Department simultaneously filed a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the court, in which KBM Group agreed to settle the charges. The agreement is under consideration by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer in Denver.
Under the terms of the DPA submitted to the court, KBM Group would pay a total of $42 million, with $33.5 million of that amount going to compensate victims of fraudulent schemes that used consumer data sold by KBM Group. KBM Group also agreed to implement significant compliance measures designed to safeguard consumers’ data and prevent its sale to individuals or entities engaged in fraudulent or deceptive marketing campaigns.
In a similar case, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado unsealed an indictment yesterday charging Robert Reger, 53, of Boulder, Colorado, and David Lytle, 60, of Leawood, Kansas, with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and substantive mail and wire fraud charges, for allegedly participating in the sale of millions of Americans’ information to perpetrators of elder fraud schemes. According to the indictment, Reger and Lytle engaged in this conduct while employed at Epsilon Data Management LLC, a marketing company that resolved its criminal liability through a DPA with the Department of Justice earlier this year. Under the terms of that DPA, Epsilon agreed to pay a total of $150 million, with $127.5 million of that amount going to compensate victims of fraudulent schemes that used consumer data sold by Epsilon. Reger served as senior vice president of Epsilon’s Data Practice and Lytle served as a Business Development Manager.
As part of their negotiated DPAs, both KBM Group and Epsilon acknowledged that they sold consumer lists to a number of mass-mailing fraud schemes that sent false “sweepstakes” and “astrology” solicitations to consumers. Those solicitations stated that each consumer recipient had won a large prize or individualized psychic service that they could obtain by paying a fee. In reality, the solicitations — as known to KBM Group and Epsilon employees — were mass-produced mailings and victims who paid a fee received nothing of value. As reflected in the consumer lists sold by KBM Group and Epsilon to perpetrators of the fraud schemes, the schemes disproportionately affected the elderly and other vulnerable individuals.
“Each day we see elder financial abuse we are reminded we have more work to do,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The actions announced today demonstrate our commitment to investigating companies and individuals who facilitate the victimization of older Americans. These bold actions and the payment of compensation to the victims of these schemes should not be overlooked by corporations. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its federal law enforcement partners have demonstrated we will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities and our vulnerable populations safe from financial exploitation.”
Subject to consideration by the court, the KBM Group DPA provides that KBM Group must select, and cover the costs of, an independent claims administrator to distribute the $33.5 million to identified victims with established losses caused by fraud schemes that used KBM Group data. The claims administrator will contact identified victims directly. More information about the victim compensation amount and fund distribution will be posted at the following website: https://www.justice.gov/civil/case/united-states-v-kbm-group-llc. Victims of elder fraud schemes may also contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline, which provides services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers. The hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated both the KBM Group and Epsilon cases.
Assistant Director John W. Burke and Trial Attorney J. Matt Williams of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Weber and Hetal J. Doshi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the KBM Group case. Trial Attorneys Alistair Reader and Ehren Reynolds of the Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hetal J. Doshi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the Reger and Lytle case.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was first recognized by the Justice Department in June 2010. Since that time, government, non-profit organizations, and advocacy groups have used the day to draw attention to the extraordinary harm senior citizens experience from elder physical abuse and financial exploitation.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For information on the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-co.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/world-elder-abuse-awareness-day.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jury Convicts Repeat Felon on Illegal Gun Possession in Valdosta ShootingRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A federal jury convicted a Valdosta resident with a lengthy violent criminal history today on a federal firearms charge.
Aaron Lewis Green, Jr., 39, of Valdosta, was found guilty of one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial that began on Monday, June 14 in Valdosta federal court. The Government contends that his lengthy, violent criminal history and qualifying prior convictions under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) will expose Green to a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for September 21 at 9:30 a.m. in Valdosta before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Green is a violent criminal with pending state charges alleging that he shot a homeless man multiple times for refusing to allow his dog to engage in illegal and vicious dog fighting. Our office had jurisdiction to federally prosecute this armed career criminal for illegally possessing a firearm, and we embraced that responsibility. A citizen jury has now ensured a measure of justice for the victim and that a dangerous repeat felon will be off the streets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary.
“The dangerous threat that Green poses to the community is documented by his lengthy violent criminal record and his complete disregard for not only the lives of innocent animals, but the lives of his fellow human beings,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Now that a jury has passed judgement, our citizens will be safer while he spends significant time in prison.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in the early morning of April 29, 2018, several concerned citizens called 9-1-1 to report the sound of gunshots coming from Green’s residence on Sandy Run Drive. Green had earlier invited a homeless couple living with their Rottweiler dog out of their truck to park at his home. When the couple came to his residence, Green made several requests to the man to allow the dogs to fight. At one point, Green directed his wife to let the couple’s Rottweiler out of the homeless couple’s vehicle. A heated argument ensued around 4:25 a.m. when the man refused Green’s insistence that the dogs fight. Green pulled a loaded pistol from his waistband and fired several shots at the man, striking him multiple times in his upper torso. Green threatened the victim’s girlfriend as she attempted to load the victim into their vehicle. Once the couple found the hospital the homeless man was rushed into surgery and treated for gunshot wounds. Officers arrested Green outside of a Valdosta church, where he was found lying on the ground. At the time of his arrest, Green was armed with a knife and a semi-automatic pistol with a round in the chamber. Twelve days after his arrest, Green was Mirandized and admitted that the weapon that was found and recovered from his waistband was the firearm he used to shoot the homeless man.
Green is currently facing a state aggravated assault charge for the April 29, 2018 attack; his charge is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Green has multiple prior felony convictions in the Superior Court of Lowndes County, Georgia, including two aggravated assault convictions, a conviction for sale of cocaine and a conviction for terroristic threats.
The case was investigated by FBI and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case.
Jacksonville Man Convicted of Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Jacksonville man yesterday on charges of distributing crack cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Robert Lee Henderson, 45, would drive from Jacksonville to New Bern, NC, in order to sell crack cocaine. After selling crack cocaine to an informant in April 2019, detectives with the New Bern Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Henderson while he was traveling into town. Henderson fled, driving through a crowded intersection. He was arrested a short distance later, after he attempted to flee on foot behind a store. Nearby, officers located additional amounts of crack cocaine and cocaine belonging to Henderson. Detectives with the Jacksonville Police Department then executed a search warrant at Henderson’s residence and located four loaded firearms, over 80 grams of cocaine, smaller quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, and over $36,000 in cash.
Henderson faces a maximum of 70 years in prison when sentenced in September.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the verdict. The New Bern Police Department, Jacksonville Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation were involved in investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura S. Howard prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:20-CR-107-BO.
Indiana Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Adrian C. Gardiner, 42, Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 30 years of supervised release. Gardiner pleaded guilty to this charge on March 25, 2021.
Gardiner drove from Hammond, Indiana to Cottage Grove, Wisconsin and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child living there on numerous occasions in 2019, recording it at least two times. In addition to sexually assaulting the minor, he gave the minor alcohol and threatened the minor’s family.
Judge Conley called the defendant’s conduct “horrific” and noted that it caused harm not only to the victim, but to her entire family.
The charge against Gardiner was the result of an investigation conducted by the Cottage Grove Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Indiana State Police. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
Hattiesburg Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Charles Terry Jones, 41, sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to an individual in Forrest County on July 9, 2019, and again on July 23, 2019.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2021. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is prosecuting the case.
Hardin man sentenced to seven years in prison for raping woman on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Hardin man who admitted to raping a woman on the Crow Indian Reservation after meeting her in a Hardin casino was sentenced today to seven years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.
Elmer Burpee Yarlott II, 66, pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to aggravated sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. Yarlott was detained.
In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution alleged that on Nov. 19, 2019 in Hardin, Yarlott approached the victim in a casino and offered her a dollar if she would leave with him and his friend. After midnight, the victim left with Yarlott and his friend and they drove to the Crow Indian Reservation. Yarlott dropped off his friend and then drove with the victim to a remote area to drink alcohol and use methamphetamine. When the victim declined Yarlott’s repeated requests for sex, Yarlott threatened to kill the victim and then raped her.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
XXX
Grant County man faces firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeffery Allen McCurdy, of Cabins, West Virginia, was indicted today on a firearms charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
McCurdy, 33, was indicted on one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” McCurdy, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, is accused of having two 12-gauge shotguns and a .22 caliber long rifle in January 2021 in Grant County.
McCurdy faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Georgia Man Charged Federally with Disrupting a Delta Flight Resulting in Diversion to Oklahoma CityRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, STEPHON JAMAR DUNCAN, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged in federal court with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to the Complaint, on June 11, 2021, Duncan caused a disturbance on Delta Flight #1730, forcing the flight to be diverted to Oklahoma City. If convicted, Duncan faces up to twenty years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Travis Smith are prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public records for more information.
Four Charged in a Methamphetamine Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An alleged drug dealer and three postal carriers face charges for a methamphetamine drug conspiracy that was carried out using the U.S. postal system, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kamau Jahi Williams, 42; Erick Scott, 49; Christine Conner, 54, all of Tulsa; and Shawn Boike, 46, of Skiatook, with drug conspiracy. The indictment was unsealed today after the defendants made initial appearances in federal court. Starting as early as December 2019, the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine remains one of the most abused and dangerous drugs in Oklahoma,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Those who participate in the distribution of methamphetamine in our communities, including federal employees, will be held accountable under the law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick, lead attorney for the district’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, will prosecute this case for the United States.”
“All federal government employees hold the public’s trust to execute their job with the utmost integrity and responsibility,” said Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chavez, who oversees all DEA operations in Oklahoma. “When that is broken, they must be held accountable, and DEA Tulsa will stand firm to ensure public service puts our communities’ safety first.”
Williams allegedly ran the conspiracy in the Northern District of Oklahoma with the support of three Tulsa postal workers from the Apache Street Post Office. As part of the conspiracy, Williams’ source of supply in California mailed shipments of methamphetamine to an abandoned Tulsa address through the U.S. Postal Service. Postal carriers Scott, Boike and Conner allegedly intercepted those packages. As part of the conspiracy, the employees marked the packages as delivered and would then meet Williams at various locations in Tulsa to deliver the methamphetamine packages. Williams would allegedly send payment for the drugs to the California source of supply and also distribute the drug.
“The vast majority of U.S. Postal Service employees would never dream of violating the public trust in this manner. But for those who do, the USPS Office of Inspector General, along with our state and federal law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate egregious misconduct such as this,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Pierce, Southern Area Field Office. “These arrests are a testament to the dedication and determination of the investigative team and should send a strong message to anyone who might participate in this sort of activity.”
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick is prosecuting the case.
Former Ridgway Physician Agrees to Forgo Practicing Medicine and Pay Penalty to Resolve Allegations that He Prescribed Controlled Substances without a Medical LicenseRead the Press Release
DENVER – Loren D. Sherwood, a former physician at Dave Sherwood Family Medicine in Ridgway, Colorado, has agreed to forgo practicing medicine and pay a penalty to resolve civil allegations that he unlawfully prescribed controlled substances without a medical license in violation of federal law.
Dr. Sherwood’s medical license with the State of Colorado expired on April 30, 2017. For nearly nine months after the expiration of his medical license, Dr. Sherwood continued to issue prescriptions for controlled substances. The United States contends that this conduct violated the Controlled Substances Act, which allows only practitioners with a valid professional license to issue prescriptions of controlled substances. The United States further contends that by prescribing controlled substances after his medical license had expired, Dr. Sherwood caused invalid claims for payment to be submitted to the federally funded Medicare Program, in violation of the False Claims Act.
Dr. Sherwood cooperated with the government’s investigation of the allegations. To resolve this matter, Dr. Sherwood has agreed to pay $21,000, over time. If Dr. Sherwood fails to make timely payments under the terms of the agreement, he will be liable for $40,000. In addition, Dr. Sherwood has also agreed that he will not practice medicine again, will not in the future seek a medical license from Colorado or any other state, and will not in the future seek the reinstatement of his Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) registration number, which has been retired.
“Ensuring that only licensed medical professionals issue prescriptions for controlled substances is critical to protect patients,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch. “It also helps reduce the illegal supply of opioids and other prescription drugs available for abuse.”
“The DEA continues its commitment to safeguard the public by investigating those who illegally prescribe controlled substances,” said Deanne Reuter, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Denver Field Division. “I commend the tireless efforts of our Diversion Investigators to ensure that doctors and pharmacists in our communities are abiding by the laws and guidelines set forth for the safe prescribing of medications.”
“Violating protocols that are meant to protect patients and Federal health care programs can result in serious penalty that lasts indefinitely, as the outcome of this case proves,” stated Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “HHS-OIG regards patient safety and Medicare program integrity as top priorities as we work with our law enforcement partners to detect and deter fraud.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Denver Field Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Andrea Wang on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
# # #
Visit our website http://www.justice.gov/usao/co | Follow us on Twitter @DCoNews
Sign up for new releases [email protected]
Former Mountain View Resident Christopher Doyon Apprehended in Mexico and Returned to the United StatesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE - Christopher Doyon appeared today in federal court to face an indictment charging him with failure to appear, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
According to the indictment filed in 2012, Doyon, 56, formerly of Mountain View and now a resident of Mexico City, Mexico, failed to appear at a February 2, 2012, status conference after being placed on pretrial release in a 2011 criminal case. The status conference was set in case number 11-683 when Doyon was ordered to appear before United States District Judge Lowell D. Jensen in United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Doyon was indicted on September 21, 2011, for conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer and intentional damage to a protected computer, aiding and abetting. According to the 2011 indictment, Doyon participated in a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack against Santa Cruz County’s computer servers on Dec. 16, 2010, that caused Santa Cruz County’s website to go offline. A DDoS attack is an attempt to render computers unavailable to users by saturating the target computers or networks with external communication requests, thereby denying service to legitimate users. The indictment further alleges that the People’s Liberation Front (PLF) coordinated and executed the attack. The PLF is associated with other hacking groups such as Anonymous.
According to the 2011 indictment, the December 2010 DDoS attack was orchestrated as part of “Operation Peace Camp 2010” in retaliation for the enforcement of certain camping policies. The City of Santa Cruz enacted Section 6.36.010 of its Municipal Code, entitled “Camping Prohibited,” which contained restrictions and definitions on camping within Santa Cruz City. In response to the legislation, protesters occupied the Santa Cruz County Courthouse premises from approximately July 4, 2011 to Oct. 2, 2011. Law enforcement officers from Santa Cruz County disbanded the protest and several protesters were charged with misdemeanor crimes in Santa Cruz County. In retribution for Santa Cruz City’s enforcement of Section 6.36.010 of the Municipal Code, and Santa Cruz County’s disbandment of the protest, the PLF coordinated and executed a DDoS attack against Santa Cruz County’s computer servers. The County of Santa Cruz, Calif., maintained a website on the Internet allowing for access to the government’s entities and programs, including Emergency Services, Law Enforcement, the Courts, Social Services, Agricultural Extension, Employment, Surplus Sales, Vendor Registration, and Construction Projects and Proposals. According to the 2011 indictment, as part of Operation Peace Camp 2010, Doyon and others allegedly conspired to intentionally damage the protected computers hosting the website for the County of Santa Cruz. Doyon was arraigned on the conspiracy and intentional damage charges and was released pending trial. Doyon then failed to appear for further court proceedings.
On June 11, 2021, Doyon was arrested by Mexican immigration authorities and deported to the United States. On June 12, 2021, he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Today he appeared before Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu and was detained pending further proceedings. Defendant's next appearance is scheduled for June 15, 2021, before Magistrate Judge Ryu for arraignment and identification of counsel.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
With respect to the 2012 indictment, the maximum statutory penalty for failure to appear after pre-trial release, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3146(a)(1), is two years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. With respect to the 2011 indictment, the maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer in violation 18 U.S.C. § 1030(b) is five years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. The maximum statutory penalty for causing intentional damage to a protected computer and aiding and abetting in violation 18 U.S.C. §§ 1030(a)(5)(A), (c)(4)(A)(i)(I), (c)(4)(B)(i) & 2 is 10 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. In the case of both indictments, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The San Jose Branch Office is handling is case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the FBI Mexico City legal attache; the Cellular Analysis Survey Team Unit, CID; Mexico City Task Force (which consists of agents from the Mexican Agencia de Investigación Criminal); Mexican State Police and Prosecutors in the State of Morelos (Fiscalia General del Estado de Morelos, Unidad Especializada Contra el Secuestro y Extorsión) and Mexican Immigration (Instituto Nacional de Migración); Interpol; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Mexico City Office; and United States Department of State, Office of American Citizen Services, Mexico City office.
Former Energy Broker Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
A former Texas energy broker pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and wire fraud and to violate various provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act for his role in an insider trading and kickback scheme.
According to court documents, Mathew Webb, 51, of Tiki Island, admitted he conspired with others to misappropriate material, nonpublic information and to use that information to engage in fraudulent, pre-arranged trades in natural gas futures contracts. He shared the net profit from these fraudulent trades with others involved in the fraudulent trading scheme. Webb further admitted he and others agreed to falsely document certain proceeds as income on IRS forms in part to conceal the true nature of the funds and to make the illicit profits appear to be legitimate income paid.
According to court documents, Webb also admitted that he paid kickbacks to an energy trader and co-conspirator from commission fees paid by the co-conspirator’s employer to Webb’s brokerage. In exchange for these commission fee kickbacks, Webb’s co-conspirator agreed to direct his employer’s business to Webb’s brokerage. The scheme generated proceeds of approximately $5.9 million, and Webb personally profited in the amount of $585,000.
Webb pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and wire fraud and to violate various provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 20.
In two related cases, Marcus Schultz, 41, and John Ed James, 51, pleaded guilty in July 2020 and February 2021, respectively.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery of the Southern District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turns of the FBI’s Houston Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office made the announcement.
Trial Attorneys Leslie S. Garthwaite, Della Sentilles, and Drew Bradylyons of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Deputy Chief Suzanne Elmilady and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zahra Fenelon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section plays a pivotal role in the Department of Justice’s fight against white collar crime around the country and is the national leader in prosecuting fraud and manipulation in the U.S. commodity markets.
Former Construction Executive Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Tax Evasion and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A New York construction executive was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 46 months in prison for evading taxes on more than $1.4 million in bribes he received from building subcontractors.
According to the criminal information, as well as other public documents and recent court proceedings, between 2011 and 2017, Ronald Olson of Long Island, New York, was Vice President and Deputy Operations Manager at Turner Construction Company, a construction firm that performed building projects in New York City for Bloomberg LLP. Olson used his position to participate in a scheme to obtain bribes from construction subcontractors, who paid kickbacks in exchange for construction contracts and subcontracts. In total, Olson received approximately $1,450,000 in unlawful cash payments, which he did not report on his 2011 to 2017 tax returns. Olson also received bribes in the form of renovations and improvement projects at his Long Island residence and his Long Beach Island, New Jersey, beach house.
In related proceedings, co-conspirator Anthony Guzzone, a former Director of Global Construction at Bloomberg, was sentenced on Jan. 19, 2021, by the Honorable Lewis J. Liman to 38 months in prison for evading taxes on more than $1.45 million in bribes in the same scheme; Michael Campana, a subordinate construction manager at Bloomberg also involved in the same scheme, was sentenced on July 24, 2020, by the Honorable Denise L. Cote to 24 months in prison, for evading taxes on more than $420,000 in bribes. In addition, Vito Nigro, a construction manager at Turner, has pleaded guilty to evading taxes on more than $1.8 million in bribes that he received due to his involvement, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stanley J. Okula of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raymond Lewis of the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Construction Executive Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Tax Evasion and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RONALD OLSON, a former vice president and deputy operation manager at Turner Construction Company (“Turner”), was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 46 months in prison for evading taxes on more than $1.5 million in bribes he received from building sub-contractors, in connection with a number of building projects undertaken for Bloomberg LP (“Bloomberg”). OLSON previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who imposed sentenced today.
In related proceedings, co-conspirator Anthony Guzzone, a former director of global construction at Bloomberg, was sentenced on January 19, 2021, by the Honorable Lewis J. Liman to 38 months in prison, for evading taxes on more than $1.45 million in the same scheme; Michael Campana, a subordinate construction manager at Bloomberg, was sentenced on July 24, 2020, by the Honorable Denise L. Cote to 24 months in prison, for evading taxes on more than $420,000. In addition, Vito Nigro, a construction manager at Turner, has pled guilty to evading taxes on more than $1.8 million in bribes that he received in the same scheme, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.[1]
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Bribery and tax evasion impose hidden, unfair costs on law-abiding customers, employers, and taxpayers. The type of criminality uncovered in this case undermines a just society. Appropriately, Ronald Olson has been sentenced to prison for his crime.”
According to the four criminal Informations filed in these federal cases, as well as other public documents and recent court proceedings:
Between 2011 and 2017, OLSON was vice president and deputy operations manager at Turner, a construction firm that performed various building projects in New York City and elsewhere for Bloomberg, a global financial firm. Throughout those years, Guzzone oversaw such building projects at Bloomberg, while Nigro worked at Turner as a subordinate to OLSON. Beginning in 2013, Campana was also a construction manager at Bloomberg, and a subordinate to Guzzone. Each of the defendants participated in a scheme to obtain bribes from construction sub-contractors, who paid kickbacks to the defendants in exchange for being awarded various construction contracts and sub-contracts performed for Bloomberg.
In all, the defendants have pled guilty to failing to pay taxes, between 2010 and 2017, on bribes exceeding $5.1 million. The defendants received such bribes in various forms, including millions of dollars in cash, as well as construction projects on their individual homes and properties, and the direct payment of personal expenses. For OLSON, such personal expenses included hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of repeated renovations and improvement projects at OLSON’s home on Long Island and his beach house on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, which were fraudulently documented through a series of false invoices. Projects included home improvements, the cutting and installation of marble, gardening, and the repaving of OLSON’s driveway. OLSON also used a sham lease for his beach house, through which he falsely characterized $20,000 per month in bribe payments as rent. Other payments included Guzzone’s receipts of several sets of Super Bowl tickets, worth approximately $8,000 per ticket; and Campana’s receipt of charges related to his 2017 wedding, such as approximately $40,000 paid by sub-contractors to a catering hall in New Jersey, over $13,000 to a photography studio, and over $23,000 to a travel agent for airline tickets purchased in connection with Campana’s honeymoon. Each of the defendants evaded federal income tax on this bribery income, by failing to declare it on income tax returns for various years between 2010 and 2017.
* * *
OLSON, 54, of Massapequa, New York, pled guilty on July 29, 2020, to a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2011 through 2017. In addition to the prison term, OLSON was sentenced today to three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $661,519.57 in unpaid taxes and interest.
Guzzone, 52, of Middletown, New Jersey, pled guilty on September 29, 2020, to a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2010 through 2017. He was sentenced on January 19, 2021, to 38 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $574,005.33 in unpaid taxes and interest.
Campana, 35, of Tuckahoe, New York, pled guilty to a tax evasion charge on November 26, 2019, for the tax years 2014 thought 2017, and was sentenced on July 24, 2020, to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution of $155,000 in unpaid taxes, and a fine of $10,000.
Nigro, 60, of Middletown, New Jersey, pled guilty on October 28, 2020, to a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2011 through 2017. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2021. The charges against Nigro carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, and an order of restitution.
Ms. Strauss praised the excellent work of the Internal Revenue Service.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raymond Lewis, and Stanley J. Okula, Senior Litigation Counsel of the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] In addition, all four defendants have pled guilty in New York State Supreme Court, Indictment No. 04038-2018, to participating in the underlying bribery scheme, and are awaiting sentencing.
Five Defendants Charged in Conspiracy to Launder Illicit Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An indictment unsealed today in federal court charges five defendants with conspiring to launder illicit drug proceeds in Chicago for more than a decade.
Charged in the money laundering conspiracy are VIVIANNA LOPEZ, also known as “Mia Flores,” 40; VALERIE GAYTAN, also known as “Olivia Flores,” 45; ARMANDO FLORES, 52, of Round Rock, Texas; LAURA LOPEZ, 58, of Chicago, Ill.; and BIANCA FINNIGAN, 32, of Sycamore, Ill.
The indictment was returned June 9, 2021, in U.S. District Court in Chicago, and ordered unsealed today. Initial court appearances for Laura Lopez and Finnigan are scheduled to occur telephonically today at 3:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert in Chicago. Vivianna Lopez, Gaytan, and Armando Flores were arrested today outside of the Northern District of Illinois. Their initial court appearances in other federal district courts will be held at times to be determined.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago; and William Hedrick, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Erskine and Erika L. Csicsila.
According to the indictment, the defendants laundered drug trafficking proceeds generated by the husbands of Vivianna Lopez and Gaytan. The husbands surrendered to federal authorities in December 2008 and were incarcerated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, the indictment states. For the next 12 years, the defendants maintained portions of the drug proceeds at multiple locations, including Laura Lopez’s residence in Chicago and Armando Flores’s residence in Texas, and used the money for the benefit of themselves, the incarcerated husbands, and others, the indictment states. The conspirators allegedly laundered the money through the use of currency exchanges, credit cards, money orders, gift cards, U.S. mail deliveries, and other means.
The charges allege that the money was spent on various items, including more than $165,000 in private school tuition for children of Vivianna Lopez and Gaytan, more than $99,000 in international and domestic travel by Vivianna Lopez and Gaytan, more than $80,000 for Vivianna Lopez’s residential rent, and approximately $11,000 in child support for a child of one of the incarcerated husbands.
The indictment seeks forfeiture from Vivianna Lopez and Gaytan in the amount of $504,858.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Ellicott City Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution, Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte today sentenced Tiba Sakuri Conley, age 31, of Ellicott City, Maryland, to 157 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for federal drug distribution and firearms charges. Conley was convicted by a federal jury on September 25, 2020, after a four-day trial.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Bornstein of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Lisa D. Myers of the Howard County Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on April 21, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Conley’s residence in Ellicott City, Maryland. When law enforcement entered his residence, Conley was in the kitchen with bags of cocaine base (also known as crack cocaine), powder cocaine, digital scales with white residue, baking powder, a pyrex measuring cup with white residue, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol on the kitchen counters on either side of him. Law enforcement recovered approximately 70 grams of crack cocaine and approximately 72 grams of powder cocaine, which Conley possessed with the intent to distribute, as well as four digital scales and $9,495 in United States currency ($495 of which was recovered from Conley’s person).
In furtherance of his drug trafficking, Conley also possessed another .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a 5.56x45 millimeter semi-automatic rifle, and a 7.62x39 millimeter semi-automatic rifle There were almost 200 rounds of ammunition recovered from the residence—much of it loaded into large capacity magazines for the rifles. Evidence presented at trial showed that Conley was the major contributor of DNA found on three of the firearms recovered from his residence. In a recording played at trial, Conley acknowledged that he was “cooking” when law enforcement entered his residence and that, “They got me.”
The evidence showed that Conley knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a previous felony conviction. At the time of the search, Conley was on probation for two other crimes—a conviction for armed robbery in Washington, D.C. and a conviction for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in Prince George’s County.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington and Baltimore field offices’ Cross Border Task Force, which focuses on the most egregious and violent street crews impacting the Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Howard County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked the Metropolitan Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Dwight J. Draughon, who prosecuted the case.
# # #
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un contratista industrial con sede en Tejas que resuelve una acusación de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con Tecon Services Inc. (Tecon), un contratista de aislamiento industrial, ignifugación y pintura con sede en Tejas. El acuerdo resuelve acusaciones de que Tecon había discriminado a un ciudadano estadounidense naturalizado por motivos de su nacionalidad de origen venezolana al rechazar su pasaporte estadounidense y requerir que entregara otros documentos para demostrar su autorización para trabajar, en contra de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés).
La investigación del Departamento comenzó después de que un ciudadano naturalizado de los EE. UU. presentó una demanda de discriminación contra Tecon ante la División de Derechos Civiles. Con base en su investigación, el Departamento concluyó que durante el proceso de verificar el derecho legal de la trabajadora a trabajar en los Estados Unidos, Tecon se negó a aceptar su pasaporte estadounidense y exigió documentos adicionales e innecesarios por motivos de la nacionalidad de origen venezolana de la trabajadora.
«Las empresas no pueden rechazar documentos válidos de identidad y de autorización para trabajar por motivos de la nacionalidad de origen del individuo», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Este acuerdo deja claro que el Departamento de Justicia hará cumplir con firmeza las leyes federales de derechos civiles para proteger a trabajadores de la discriminación ilegal».
La INA prohíbe que los empleadores rechacen documentos que parecen ser genuinos o que pidan documentos adicionales o diferentes a los que sean necesarios para demostrar su autorización para trabajar con base en el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía del empleado o bien por su nacionalidad de origen.
Conforme los términos del acuerdo, Tecon pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos de 1.542 $ y pagos retroactivos e interés al trabajador que ascienden a 4.263,75 $. Por otra parte, Tecon revisará sus políticas y procedimientos, asegurará que los empleados relevantes participen en una capacitación sobre los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA y se someterá a la supervisión por parte del Departamento durante el término del acuerdo.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía o bien por la nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Para más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación en los procesos del Formulario I-9 e E-Verify, haga clic aquí. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688; llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
Dominican Republic Man Charged with Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that a Dominican Republican national was arrested Friday, June 11, 2021, on St. Thomas on criminal charges related to allegedly illegally reentering the United States.
According to court documents, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents discovered Timoteo Upia-Frias, 73, living in a neighborhood on St. Thomas while conducting an operation investigating undocumented immigrants in the United States Virgin Islands.
Criminal and immigration records confirmed that on September 6, 2016, Timotero Upia-Frias was removed from the United States by ICE agents and returned to his native country, the Dominican Republic, following his conviction in the District Court of the United States in 2008 for possessing with intent to distribute heroin.
Upia-Frias is charged with illegal reentry pursuant to 8 U.S.C § 1326. If convicted, Upia-Frais faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI and ICE are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Payne is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Department of Justice Observes the 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina conducted a webinar training with nursing homes and long-term care (LTC) facilities throughout our District. The topic of the training was Elder Abuse in Nursing Home Settings: How to Recognize and Prevent. As the COVID-19 pandemic devastated nursing homes early in the pandemic and exacerbated many of the systemic problems already existing in many of the nation’s nursing homes making monitoring and detection of elder abuse more difficult, the training focused on educating nursing home staff on recognizing and preventing elder abuse and neglect. The training focused on critical issues to keep all nursing home and LTC facility residents safe and discussed five types of abuse: physical, psychological, financial, sexual, and neglect/abandonment. The training also provided tips for nursing home and LTC staff to recognize compassion fatigue and using self-care techniques to combat it. Lastly, a list of resources was provided to report elder abuse should it occur in their facility.
For more information about DOJ’s efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse, please visit the Elder Justice Website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. You can also contact the Victim Connect Hotline between 9am-6pm, Monday through Friday, at: 1- 855-4VICTIM (1-855-4842846), or contact the Elder Justice Coordinator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina at (919) 856-4530.
A Proclamation on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2021 | The White House
Older Americans make invaluable contributions to our families, our communities, and our Nation every day. But for far too many, the sacred promise of aging with dignity in America is broken by ...
www.whitehouse.gov
Department of Justice Observes 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by Reiterating Commitment to Protect SeniorsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark today joined the entire Department of Justice in observing the 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Justice Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
“As some of the most vulnerable among us, senior citizens are unfortunately a prime target for criminals,” Clark said. “Annually, at least 10 percent of older Americans are victims of some form of elder abuse, including abuse and neglect, marketing scams, investment rip-offs and imposter schemes. My office and the Department of Justice are committed to stopping those who prey on this vulnerable community.”
As the world takes this day to remember the elderly during these uncertain times, the Department of Justice remains committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to prevent and prosecute fraud on America’s seniors. Last year, the Department declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities.
Major strides have already been made to that end:
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: In 2020, the Department launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833-FRAUD-11. Staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist elders and caretakers who believe they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing appropriate services.
- Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force: Established in June 2019 to combat foreign elder fraud schemes, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel.
- Annual Elder Justice Sweep: In March 2020, the Attorney General announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in the Department’s history. The Department, together with every U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss through fraud schemes that largely affected seniors.
- Holding foreign-based perpetrators accountable: Transnational criminal organizations are targeting our elder population in schemes including mass mailing fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, IRS and Social Security Administration imposter scams, and technical-support scams.
- Money Mule Initiative: Since October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners began a concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and prosecute money mule activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior citizens.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of elder fraud, please report it to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11. Reporting can help authorities try to stop those who commit fraud and also help prevent others from becoming victims.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty in Extensive Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fredericksburg man pleaded guilty today in connection with a conspiracy to illegally straw purchase 62 firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in Virginia.
“The straw purchasing of firearms poses a significant threat to our communities by placing guns in the hands of unlicensed and potentially dangerous individuals,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “As a convicted felon and fugitive, the defendant ran a firearms trafficking operation, using co-conspirators to conduct 62 fraudulent gun purchases throughout Virginia. As Attorney General Garland recently emphasized, the Department of Justice is determined to take concrete steps to reduce the tragic toll of gun violence in our communities. Alongside our partners at the ATF, EDVA will continue to investigate, prosecute, and dismantle straw purchasing rings that could potentially feed into this senseless violence.”
According to court documents, Jesus Funez Fuentes, 37, was convicted in 2011 of a felony firearms-related offense in New York. Fuentes was also wanted by law enforcement in Virginia for his failure to appear for court proceedings in a separate felony narcotics case in 2017. While still a fugitive, Fuentes used two co-conspirators to straw purchase 62 firearms on his behalf from FFLs in Virginia. As a convicted felon, Fuentes was prohibited by law from purchasing the firearms himself or possessing any firearms and ammunition.
Shelby Lee Apperson, 37, of Fredericksburg, pleaded guilty on April 29 to making a false statement in connection with a firearms purchase. As part of her guilty plea, Apperson admitted to straw purchasing 32 firearms for Fuentes between August 2018 and January 2020.
Maria Antonia Lovos, 31, of Fredericksburg, also pleaded guilty today to her role in the conspiracy to make false statements to FFLs in the course of purchasing firearms. As part of her guilty plea, Lovos admitted to purchasing 30 firearms for Fuentes in less than one month in 2019. In each transaction, Apperson and Lovos falsely represented that they were the actual transferees of the firearms. Apperson and Lovos then provided the firearms to Fuentes, who sold all but one of the guns for a profit.
Multiple firearms straw purchased in connection with this conspiracy have been recovered by police officers in Baltimore and in Virginia. An automated ballistics evaluation conducted by the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) revealed that one of the firearms straw purchased by Lovos and subsequently sold by Fuentes had been used by others in Baltimore, including in three separate attempted homicides in May 2020.
As part of today’s plea, Fuentes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements to FFLs in the course of purchasing firearms, and one count of possessing ammunition as a prohibited person. Fuentes is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, and he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Apperson and Lovos will each face up to five years in prison when they are sentenced on September 22 and October 27, respectively. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Blanchard is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:21-cr-136, 1:21-cr-102, and 1:21-cr-86.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Charge Involving A DeathRead 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 Jason Yelder, 38, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possessing with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and an $8,000,000 fine.
“This Office remains committed to bringing those who distribute drugs that kill others to justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “While much of our effort recently has rightfully been directed toward stopping the distribution of deadly fentanyl, this prosecution reminds us that other illicit drugs kill too. And when they do, this Office will do all that we can to bring those who distribute them to justice.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that in 2017, the defendant, as a result of a methamphetamine trafficking conviction, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison and five years post-release supervision. Yelder was released from custody and supervision began on May 25, 2018.
In February 2019, the defendant broke off all contact with probation personnel. In July 2019, the U.S. Marshal’s Service located Yelder at a hotel on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, which the defendant had rented and was using distribute methamphetamine. On July 15, 2019, Yelder was arrested and found to be in possession of 21 baggies containing a total of approximately 30 grams of between 98% and 99% pure methamphetamine.
Prior to Yelder’s arrest, on May 28, 2019, an individual identified as K.L. was found dead by the train tracks near 355 Lakefront Boulevard in Buffalo. Previously, K.L. had been at another hotel room rented by Yelder on Pearl Street. While at the hotel, the defendant gave K.L. a vial of liquid methamphetamine. The toxicology report for K.L. revealed methamphetamine in K.L.’s system, and the medical examiner concluded that, but for the methamphetamine in K.L.’s system, K.L. would not have died. The defendant admitted his role in the overdose death of K.L.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 30, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
# # # #
Cleveland man sentenced for selling heroin and fentanylRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Andre Cornell Diggs, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced today to 41 months of incarceration for a drug charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Diggs, also known as “Dre” and “Big Homie,” age 39, pled guilty in December 2020 to one count of “Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Diggs admitted to selling a heroin and fentanyl mixture near Riverview Towers in Wheeling in December 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Related case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
Cleveland man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Sylvester Deangelo Walker, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced today to 100 months of incarceration for a drug charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Walker, also known as “DBOS,” 25, pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Walker admitted to selling methamphetamine in November 2020 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Cleveland man sentenced for cocaine distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Anthony Toler, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced today to 46 months of incarceration for a drug charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Toler, age 35, pled guilty in January 2021 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base.” Toler admitted to having cocaine case, also known as “crack,” in Ohio County in February 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Chinese National Pleads Guilty to $20 Million COVID-19 Pandemic Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MUGE MA, a/k/a “Hummer Mars,” a Chinese national who resided in New York, New York, pled guilty today in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. In connection with loan applications for relief available from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program, MA falsely represented to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and at least five financial institutions that his companies, New York International Capital LLC (“NYIC”) and Hurley Human Resources LLC (“Hurley”), had hundreds of employees and paid millions of dollars in wages to those employees, when, in fact, MA appears to have been the only employee of his companies. MA was previously arrested on May 21, 2020, and has been detained since his arrest. He pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As he admitted in court today, Muge Ma attempted to secure over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans intended for businesses devastated by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. In furtherance of the scheme, Ma falsely represented to banks and the SBA that he owned two companies with hundreds of employees to whom he paid millions in wages. In truth, Ma appears to be the only employee of either company and he had no legitimate claim to the funds for which he applied. Small businesses are facing uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, the least of which should be opportunists attempting to loot the federal funds meant to assist them. Now Muge Ma awaits sentencing for his admitted criminal skulduggery.”
According to the allegations contained in public filings in Manhattan federal court:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the SBA’s PPP. Pursuant to the CARES Act, the amount of PPP funds a business is eligible to receive is determined by the number of employees employed by the business and their average payroll costs. Businesses applying for a PPP loan must provide documentation to confirm that they have previously paid employees the compensation represented in the loan application. The CARES Act also expanded the separate EIDL Program, which provided small businesses with low-interest loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing due to COVID-19.
From at least in or about March 2020 through at least on or about May 15, 2020, MA applied to the SBA and at least five banks for a total of over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans for his companies NYIC and Hurley (together, the “Ma Companies”) through the SBA’s PPP and EIDL Program. In connection with these loan applications, MA represented, among other things, that he was the sole owner and executive director of the Ma Companies, that the Ma Companies were located on the sixth floor of his luxury condominium building in New York, New York, and that NYIC and Hurley together had hundreds of employees and paid millions of dollars in wages to those employees on a monthly basis. In fact, however, MA appears to have been the only employee of NYIC since at least in or about 2019, and Hurley does not appear to have any employees. In order to support the false representations made by MA in the loan applications about the number of employees at, and the wages paid by, the Ma Companies, MA submitted fraudulent and doctored bank records, tax records, insurance records, payroll records, and/or audited financial statements to five different banks, and also provided links to the Ma Companies’ websites, which describe them as purportedly “global” companies. In the course of these loan applications, MA also misrepresented that he was a United States citizen, when, in fact, he is a Chinese national with lawful permanent resident status in the United States. MA also used the name and identity of another person in connection with the submission of a fraudulent loan application and supporting documentation to at least one financial institution.
Before the discovery of the fraudulent conduct by MA, the SBA approved a $500,000 EIDL Program loan for NYIC and a $150,000 EIDL Program loan for Hurley, and at least a $10,000 loan advance was provided to NYIC. In addition, a bank approved and disbursed over approximately $800,000 in PPP loan funds for Hurley, which were frozen in connection with this investigation. As a result, MA sought to withdraw his loan applications from the banks and return the funds.
* * *
MA, 37 of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years to be run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the FBI’s Financial Cybercrimes Task Force, SBA-OIG, and IRS-CI. Ms. Strauss also thanked the New York City Police Department, the Office of the New York State Comptroller, and the New York State Department of Labor for their assistance with the investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution.
Chicago Resident Pleads Guilty to Delivering Three Kilograms of Heroin to New Orleans Drug DealerRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RICKY REDD, age 35, a resident of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty on June 10, 2021 to conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. REDD is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years of supervised release upon his release from prison and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, on December 27, 2017, agents intercepted communications between REDD and Arthur Johnson, a New Orleans based heroin dealer. In these communications, REDD and Johnson discussed REDD’s pending delivery of heroin. REDD was driving that day from Chicago to New Orleans to give Johnson a bag containing approximately three kilograms of heroin.
Later that same day, surveillance agents observed REDD and Johnson twice meet at the Holiday Inn Hotel, located at 330 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans. During the first meeting, REDD gave Johnson the bag containing approximately three kilograms of heroin. During the second meeting, Johnson gave REDD approximately $187,000. REDD was to earn a small amount of the money that Johnson paid him.
The evidence against REDD includes numerous intercepted communications, including jail calls, physical surveillance, and witness statements.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan will sentence REDD on October 6, 2021. REDD, Johnson, and five other defendants were charged in 2018 with conspiring to distribute heroin in the New Orleans area.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI’s New Orleans Gang Task Force in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Charleston Couple Plead Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston couple pleaded guilty this week to federal gun and drug charges. Larry James Williams, 66, and Mary Ann Coon, 44, were indicted on the charges in August 2020.
According to court documents, during a traffic stop conducted on MacCorkle Avenue in the early morning hours of May 8, 2020, law enforcement officers found Williams and Coon to be in possession of seven firearms, as well as large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and methamphetamine, digital scales, plastic baggies and $3,882 in U.S. currency. Williams admitted that he and Coon possessed over 79 grams of methamphetamine, nine grams of heroin, acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl mix and over six grams of a methamphetamine and fentanyl mixture with the intent to distribute those controlled substances. Williams pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute those substances, as well as being a felon in possession of firearms and faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 13, 2021.
Coon admitted that she intended to distribute the controlled substances found in the vehicle on May 8, 2020. Coon admitted that she possessed multiple firearms to protect herself, the drugs and the drug proceeds. She pleaded guilty to using and carrying firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Coon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison when she is sentenced on September 13, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie White and Greg McVey are handling the prosecution.
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 No. 2:20-cr-00129 (Williams, et al.).
###
Camden County Man Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Theft of Government Funds with Stolen Electronic Benefits MachineRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for his role today in a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in government funds using fraudulently procured electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Luciano Estevez, 51, previously pleaded guilty by teleconference before U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
Formerly known as the Food Stamps program, SNAP is administered by the USDA to assist low-income individuals and families with the purchase of groceries and food items. SNAP recipients receive EBT cards, similar to commercial debit cards, to make food purchases. Retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits have EBT terminals to process the food purchases. Food purchases are made by swiping the EBT card at the terminal, and having customers enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The EBT terminal verifies the PIN, determines whether the customer’s account balance is sufficient to cover the proposed transaction, and informs the retailer whether the transaction should be authorized or denied. The amount of the purchase is deducted electronically from the SNAP benefits reserved for the customer and the purchase amount is credited to the retailer’s designated bank account.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Estevez and others targeted low-income individuals who possessed or had access to EBT cards, and unlawfully purchased the cards from these individuals in exchange for cash and controlled substances. Two confidential sources working with law enforcement engaged in 43 controlled transactions involving EBT cards totaling more than $40,500, which they exchanged for cash and controlled substances, including prescription opioids.
The defendants used the unlawfully procured EBT cards to purchase bulk goods and food items from large national superstores. These goods and food items were then resold in small convenience and grocery stores owned or affiliated with the defendants or their associates, resulting in a profit for the defendants. Hundreds of EBT cards fraudulently procured by the defendants were used at these superstores, resulting in the misappropriation of approximately $150,000 in government funds.
Estevez also unlawfully procured an EBT terminal registered to a superstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to use at his small grocery store in Camden, which was not registered as a lawful SNAP merchant in the USDA program. Through this terminal, the scheme netted approximately $110,000 in SNAP funds.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Estevez to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $155,091 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Driscoll in Philadelphia; and the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina O. Hud of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
California Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Renato Salazar-Lopez, age 34, of San Ysidro, California, was sentenced to 135 months in prison before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, following his conviction by a jury of possessing with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
According to evidence presented at his November 2, 2020 jury trial, a Hobart police officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Renato Salazar-Lopez on Interstate 90 near the Portage Toll Plaza. During a search of the vehicle, police recovered approximately 4.8 kilograms of heroin in the trunk.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Hobart Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to More Than 31 Years’ Imprisonment for Attempted Murder and Assault of an FBI Special AgentRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Ronell Watson was sentenced to 382 months years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II, for the attempted murder and assault of Christopher Harper, a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Watson was convicted by a federal jury in July 2019 following a two-week trial.
Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Today, justice has been served. This Office is gratified by the lengthy prison sentence the court imposed on Watson for his senseless, cold-blooded and unprovoked shooting of Special Agent Harper, who came close to losing his life,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lesko. “This Office will never tolerate murderous assaults on members of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities.” Mr. Lesko extended his grateful appreciation to the New York City Police Department for its assistance during the investigation and the medical staff at Kings County Hospital for saving Special Agent Harper’s life.
“Ronell Watson has now learned illegal behavior comes with lasting consequences. He will now spend the next 31 years of his life in federal prison for his ambush attack of FBI Special Agent Harper. While Watson is no longer a threat to the community, FBI Special Agents and our law enforcement partners remain on watch for those like him who have no regard for the lives of their fellow citizens. I would like to acknowledge Special Agent Harper's bravery and quick thinking, which not only saved his life, but led to Watson's swift arrest. His professionalism and courage under fire were an example for all of us. This office is also eternally grateful to the NYPD, civilians, and the medical teams who responded to save their fellow public servant,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
On December 8, 2018, Special Agent Harper was on-duty conducting surveillance in an unrelated case. At approximately 3:20 p.m., Watson, driving a BMW sedan in the wrong direction, approached Agent Harper’s vehicle. Watson partially blocked Agent Harper’s vehicle, exited his BMW and approached Agent Harper’s vehicle with his hand inside the pocket of his sweatshirt. As Agent Harper tried to maneuver his vehicle around the BMW, Watson pulled a handgun out of his pocket and fired multiple shots, wounding Agent Harper in the back; the bullet lodged in one of his lungs. Agent Harper returned fire at Watson, wounding him in the hand. Watson abandoned his bullet-ridden BMW at a nearby auto body shop, then had a friend drive him in another vehicle to the hospital where he was ultimately arrested. Special Agent Harper underwent multiple surgeries to have the bullet removed from his lung and continue his service as a Special Agent of the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Francisco J. Navarro is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
RONELL WATSON
Age: 33
Canarsie, BrooklynE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-4 (WFK)
Bronx Man Indicted for Offering Bribes to Public OfficialRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Muhammad Z. Aabdin, age 30, of the Bronx, New York, has been indicted for offering bribes to a public official and using facilities of interstate commerce to commit a bribery offense. The indictment was announced today by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office.
The indictment, returned by the grand jury on June 10, 2021, alleges that in September and October 2020, Aabdin offered unsolicited bribes to a contracting officer with the Veterans Administration (“VA”) in Syracuse. Aabdin allegedly offered to share profits with the VA contracting officer in exchange for her awarding VA contracts to him for personal protective equipment (“PPE”) and assisting him in getting payments on such contracts. The contracting officer reported Aabdin’s alleged bribery offers to law enforcement.
Aabdin has been released pending disposition of the charges. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges filed against Aabdin carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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 VA Office of Inspector General, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Boston Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on drug distribution charges.
David A. Wood, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to three years in prison and three years of supervised release, during which time he will be subject to geographic restrictions. In November 2020, Wood pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Wood distributed fentanyl in Boston on Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, 2019, distributed crack cocaine on Dec. 10, 2019, and possessed fentanyl with the intent to distribute it on Dec. 19, 2019.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Belmont County woman sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Sheri K. Green, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day of incarceration for a methamphetamine charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Green, 56, pled guilty in February 2021 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Green admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine from August 2019 to August 2020 in Marshall County and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison After Being Convicted at Trial for Charges Related to the Attempted Armed Robbery of a Food Service Company Where an Employee Was ShotRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Alex Smith, a/k/a Skeet, age 34, of Halethorpe, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery and for the attempted armed robbery of a food service business in Baltimore on December 5, 2018, during which an employee of the business was shot. A federal jury convicted Smith on January 10, 2020, after a five-day trial.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Amal Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at Smith’s five-day trial, on December 5, 2018, Smith and co-defendant Cornell Slater committed an attempted armed robbery of a food service business, which was Slater’s former employer. At approximately 3:22 a.m., Slater picked Smith up at his residence and the two traveled to the business. At 4:30 a.m., four employees arrived for the morning shift to open the store. Surveillance cameras show Smith and Slater waking across a parking lot in the direction of the employee entrance. As employees entered the store, Smith and Slater trailed them through the open door, posing as employees.
As detailed in court documents and described during trial testimony, upon entering the building Slater confronted two victims outside of the manager’s office, pulling out a gun and shooting one of the victims in the face. Slater then forced the other employee toward the direction of the cash room, where the safe was stored. In the meantime, Smith entered the employee breakroom and confronted two other victims, brandishing a firearm while he ordered the victims to hand over their cell phones and get on the floor. Once Slater and the victim reached the cash room, the victim quickly entered the room and shut the door behind him, knowing that the door would lock automatically.
Knowing that they had been locked out of the cash room, Smith and Slater fled to Slater’s vehicle and drove off.
As detailed in court documents, the conspirators drove to Slater’s home and Smith took a ride sharing service back to his house. To conceal his participation in the robbery, Smith switched his phone number and deleted all of his text messages with Slater, including numerous communications before and after the robbery. Slater was subsequently arrested on December 18, 2018, outside of his residence in Odenton, Maryland. The 9mm pistol used in the shooting at the restaurant supply company, as well as another shooting that Slater admitted to committing, was found under Slater’s bed, along with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
On the eve of trial, co-defendant Cornell Slater, a/k/a Chopper, age 34, of Odenton, Maryland, pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and to another shooting. Judge Bennett sentenced Slater to 30 years in federal prison.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF the Baltimore Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Warwick, who prosecuted the case.
# # #
Aurora Man Sentenced to 11.5 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DENVER -- Peter Trujillo, 33, of Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced today to 138 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore. Trujillo previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The prison sentence will be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
Trujillo sold methamphetamine and firearms to undercover ATF agents in November and December 2017, during four separate meetings in Denver County. He sold a total of nine firearms ranging from pistols to AR-15-style rifles, several hundred rounds of ammunition, and approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine. Trujillo was legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to his 2012 Colorado felony conviction for identity theft.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping the dangerous mixture of illicit drugs and guns from our streets,” said Deputy U.S. Attorney J. Chris Larson. “Harsh penalties await those like Mr. Trujillo who seek to profit by putting our communities in peril.”
“Those who bring violence and dangerous drugs into our communities will be met not only with every resource ATF has, but also with the skill and dedication of all of our partners at the Department of Justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge David Booth.
Trujillo is the second and last defendant to be sentenced in connection with this case. Co-defendant Patrick Sweeter was sentenced in April 2021 to a year and a day of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aaron M. Teitelbaum.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Case Number: 20-cr-197-RM
# # #
Visit our website http://www.justice.gov/usao/co | Follow us on Twitter @DCoNews
Sign up for news releases [email protected]
Augusta woman sentenced, ordered to pay restitution for CARES Act fraudRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A woman who admitted to submitting loan applications containing knowingly false representations in an effort to secure COVID-19 relief loans has been sentenced in U.S. District Court and ordered to pay restitution.
Jacinthia Williams, 44, of Augusta, was sentenced to 12 months plus one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Chief U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Williams to pay $61,600 in restitution.
“Funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act was provided to help small businesses survive pandemic-related losses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “When unscrupulous actors attempt to swindle the funds for their own enrichment, those criminals will be held accountable.”
As described in court documents and testimony, in June and July 2020 Williams applied for and received three loans totaling $137,500 under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program comprised of funds appropriated by the CARES Act. Williams has already paid a portion of the fraudulently obtained loans back to the SBA.
In pleading guilty to the charges, Williams admitted falsifying the loan applications by inflating the number of employees of the businesses and the amount of money those businesses earned prior to the pandemic-induced economic downturn. She also admitted to spending some of the loan proceeds on purely personal matters.
“Making false statements to fraudulently gain access to SBA’s disaster assistance loan programs is unacceptable,” said Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the SBA Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region. “SBA OIG, in coordination with its law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its leadership and dedication to pursuing justice.”
“Stealing from American taxpayers, whose money was intended to keep small businesses afloat during the worldwide pandemic, is the definition of greed,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “We will always work collaboratively with our partners to bring those who prey on our financial systems to justice.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration will aggressively pursue those who endeavor to defraud taxpayer-funded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act programs, which were established to provide assistance to American business owners during these unprecedented times,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners in this effort.”
To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case, with prosecution for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator Patrick J. Schwedler and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Porter.
Armed drug traffickers head to prisonRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two men will now serve substantial prison sentences for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Jose Guadalupe Lopez, 41, Weslaco, pleaded guilty in October 2020.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane imposed a 67-month sentence to be followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Lopez had a prior federal drug trafficking conviction for marijuana and that he had now advanced to kilogram quantities of meth. In handing down the sentence, the court held Lopez responsible for the co-defendant’s firearms, noting that guns and drugs are tools of the trade.
Johnathan Ivan Torres, 22, Mercedes, also had pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January also to 120 months in prison. At that time, the court found Torres was in possession of two firearms in connection with his distribution of approximately 6.5 kilograms of meth.
Beginning in May 2019, law enforcement discovered Torres was a source of supply for meth in Hidalgo County. The investigation revealed Lopez and Torres had been communicating and actively discussing the sale and distribution of the narcotics. Authorities ultimately discovered both men in possession of several kilograms of meth.
An additional search of the location where Torres had been residing yielded an additional half a kilogram of meth and two firearms in close proximity to the drugs.
The investigation revealed the meth had been imported from Mexico with a 98% purity level.
Both have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra Andrade and Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case.
Anchorage Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Funds from an Alaska Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage woman pleaded guilty today to embezzling nearly $175,000 from the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission (ANHSC), which was primarily funded through federal grants issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
The grants were intended to support tribal nonprofits in collecting harbor seal and Steller sea lion harvest data as well as conduct bio sampling to monitor the health of marine mammal populations in Alaska.
According to court documents, Joni Bryant, 44, embezzled money from ANHSC for her personal use between July 2014 to October 2016. During that time Bryant was employed as the Executive Director of the ANHSC and was responsible for managing federal grants, as well as the day-to-day financial management of the organization.
Bryant embezzled the money by using the ANHSC checking account and credit cards to make unauthorized personal purchases and cash withdrawals. The unauthorized expenditures included paying for personal travel for herself and family, personal purchases at various retail stores, gas and grocery purchases, wireless service charges and paying personal insurance and utility bills.
Bryant pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an Alaska tribal organization. As part of the plea agreement, Bryant has agreed to pay restitution to NOAA in the amount of $174,290.67. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General (DOI-OIG) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General and the Anchorage Police Department (APD).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce is prosecuting the case.
###
Alleged Gang Members Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Nine alleged members of the “Hogg Life” gang have been charged with federal drug crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
The defendants were indicted last Wednesday. Several of them made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lee Ann Reno on Monday.
During a multi-pronged operation on Friday, law enforcement agents arrested several of the defendants and recovered nearly a kilogram of bulk marijuana, multiple grams of psilocybin (hallucinogenic mushrooms), oxycontin, alprazolam, four pistols, and more than $17,000 cash. This seizure follows the execution of a search warrant served in May, when law enforcement seized more than 125 pounds of bulk marijuana, THC products, and psilocybin products, and over $63,000 in cash from members of the “Hogg Life” gang.
According to court documents, the investigation began in spring 2018, when multiple anonymous callers reported interstate drug trafficking to the Amarillo Police Department. At least one tipster indicated that the alleged traffickers regularly posted about their illicit dealings on Snapchat.
In spring 2020, a cooperating defendant told the Amarillo Police Department’s Narcotics Unit that a group calling itself “Hogg Life,” a Crips gang, trafficked in marijuana. The cooperating defendant said dealers located in Texas mailed currency to a supplier in California in exchanged for narcotics, which were shipped to them through the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx.
The cooperating defendant confirmed the operation was facilitated through Snapchat and identified several dealers’ accounts. He also identified the account belonging to the California supplier, who he said branded his narcotics with “Dank of America.”
Shortly thereafter, an undercover agent posing as a buyer initiated Snapchat conversations with local Amarillo dealers. Videos and images captured from their accounts show the cultivation, packaging, and advertisement of large quantities of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and other THC products. The local “Hogg Life” gang members allegedly sold marijuana and THC products with their own brand name, “No Boof.”
Both the supplier and the dealer allegedly flaunted their drug proceeds, frequently posting about luxury travel and dining, exotic vehicles, designer clothing and jewelry, and adult entertainment.
Those charged include:
- Demarcus Dave Grabert, aka “Rackz,” 24, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of Psilocin, one count of distribution of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
- Grant Leonard Glover, 33 charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of psilocin, and one count of distribution of marijuana.
- Tremaine Devante Watson, aka “T-watt,” 29, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of psilocin, one count of distribution of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
- Ashton Andrew Burns, aka “Trayo,” 31, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
- Doshon Lee Johnson, aka “Nolia Boy Tat,” 24, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of psilocin
- Andre Shemar Lewis, aka “30,” 25, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
- Chandler Geveon Smith, aka “Lil Chan,” 23, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Davona Traveil Carter, 28, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
One defendant, whose name remains sealed per court order, is a fugitive.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 40 years prison time.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Marie Bell is prosecuting the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Observes 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Carlton S. Shier , IV, joins the entire Department of Justice in observing the 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and joins the international voices condemning elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The Department of Justice is committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative (EJI), to preventing and prosecuting fraud on America’s seniors.
“World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to protecting elderly Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shier. “We simply must prioritize protecting the elderly from the many forms of abuse they face, including financial, physical, and sexual abuse, exploitation, and neglect. While law enforcement has a primary role in this effort, we need to remember that everyone has a role. Friends and family should actively intercede when they are concerned that elderly loved ones are at risk of abuse, exploitation, or neglect. Elderly populations are at much greater risk; so, we must all be vigilant in watching over elderly friends and family, become knowledgeable about the various and prominent forms of elder abuse, and learn how to report it to the appropriate authorities. Our elderly deserve that commitment and protection.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges, particularly for the elderly. Not only are seniors among those most susceptible and affected by the disease, but they also acutely feel the effects of pandemic precautions. During the pandemic, seniors are more isolated from their families, friends, and loved ones, making them more vulnerable to bad actors who would exploit the public health emergency to prey on the elderly, particularly with fraud schemes. This year especially, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an important reminder of the dangers.
In its role, and with cooperation from local, state, and federal partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritizes combating elder financial exploitation. Two recent examples of Eastern District of Kentucky elder fraud cases include:
- U.S. vs. Fafunmi et al.: In August 2020, Ismaila Fafunmi, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges related to a romance fraud and grant fraud scheme. In his plea agreement, Fafunmi admitted that he worked in conjunction with others, who communicated through online chats, to perpetrate a scheme to defraud U.S. citizens through a romance scheme, which targeted women over the age of 50. Fafunmi and his co-conspirators would set up fake profiles on dating websites profiling American men, often military members. Fafunmi’s co-conspirators would engage in conversations with victims through the dating website, making the victims believe they were in a romantic relationship with the fictitious profile. Fafunmi, who was located in the United States, would then help to move the funds from the victim to his coconspirators, located abroad. Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/nigerian-national-pleads-guilty-romance-fraud-and-grant-fraud-scheme
- U.S. v. Teegarden: In October 2020, Rebecca Teegarden was sentenced to 36 months for theft by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft. Between 2013 and 2019, Teegarden was employed as a bank teller and admitted to repeatedly using customers’ names and account numbers to make miscellaneous debit cash withdrawals from the customers’ bank accounts, without the customers’ consent. Teegarden held the cash in her teller drawer and later converted the money to her own use, by depositing it into her or her mother’s bank accounts. Teegarden admitted that she selected the accounts of her victims because those customers were elderly and did not regularly monitor their accounts In total, Teegarden admitted that she stole $79,086.00 from victims who were customers at the Bank.. Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/bracken-county-woman-sentenced-36-months-theft-bank-employee-and-aggravated-identity
Another example of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts includes participation in the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force, a cooperative effort that brings together the law enforcement resources of federal, state, and local agencies involved in protecting the elderly. For more information on the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force, including how to report abuses, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/elder-justice-task-force.
More broadly, other Department of Justice elder fraud initiatives include:
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: Last year, the Department of Justice launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11. Staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist elders and caretakers who believe they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing appropriate services.
- Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force: Established in June 2019 to combat foreign elder fraud schemes, the strike force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel. Since its inception, prosecutors in strike force districts brought cases against more than 140 sweep defendants.
- Annual Elder Justice Sweep: In March of 2020, the Department announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in department history. The Department, together with every U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss through fraud schemes that largely affected seniors.
- Money Mule Initiative: Since October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners began a concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and prosecute “money mule” activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior citizens. In 2019, actions were taken to halt the conduct of more than 600 domestic money mules, exceeding a similar effort against approximately 400 money mules in the previous year.
- Holding foreign-based perpetrators and those who flee the United States accountable: Transnational criminal organizations are targeting our elder population in schemes including mass mailing fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, IRS and Social Security Administration imposter scams, and technical-support scams.
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
— END —
14 June 2021
U.S. Recovers $650,000 from Local Providers Who Billed Medicare and Medicaid for Screening Tests Not PerformedRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus announced today that the United States has reached a settlement that resolves civil claims against Zaheer Shah, M.D. Park Square Urgent Care, Inc., and several affiliated entities, related to the defendants’ alleged submission of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for urine drug screening tests they were ill-equipped to perform.
The agreement, under which the defendants will pay a total of $650,000, resolves a civil case filed by the government in federal court in the District of Rhode Island: United States of America v. Park Square Urgent Care, Inc., et al. No. 20-cv-00110-WES-LDA. The settlement is based on an analysis of the defendants’ ability to pay based on an extensive review of their current financial condition.
The government’s case alleged that these medical providers, acting under the direction of Dr. Shah, submitted tens of thousands of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid, seeking reimbursement for urine drug tests that they did not, and could not, perform, because their testing laboratories lacked the equipment or capability to carry out the tests. Despite the fact that these labs could only perform simpler tests, which carry a lower reimbursement rate, the labs were alleged to have knowingly billed Medicare and Medicaid for more complex, and expensive, drug screening tests.
In announcing the settlement, Acting United States Attorney Myrus thanks Attorney General Peter F. Neronha for the support and cooperation of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control and Patient Abuse Unit in this investigation.
The government’s case was litigated by Assistant United States Attorney Bethany N. Wong, and was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
###
Twenty-Year Sentence in GirlsDoPorn Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Joseph Green (619) 546-6955 and Alexandra F. Foster (619) 546-6735
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 23, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Adult film performer and producer Ruben Andre Garcia was sentenced in federal court today to 20 years in prison for conspiring with the owners of the adult websites GirlsDoPorn (GDP) and GirlsDoToys (GDT) to recruit young women to appear in sex videos for adult websites using force, fraud, and coercion.
From approximately 2013 to 2017, Garcia worked as a recruiter, producer, and actor for the GDP and GDT websites, which grossed millions of dollars during this time. Garcia pleaded guilty in December 2020, admitting that as part of a premeditated scheme, Garcia recruited victims to appear in sex videos for the websites by promising them that these videos would never be posted online, that the videos would never be released in the United States, and that no one who knew the women would ever find out about the videos. Throughout the scheme, Garcia knew these representations were false. Garcia knew the videos were being posted on the fee-based websites, GDP and GDT, and excerpts were posted on free pornographic sites such as Pornhub.com, one of the most frequently viewed websites in the world receiving millions of views, to drive paying viewers to GDP and GDT.
Garcia admitted that he and co-defendant Michael Pratt were the lead recruiters for GDP and GDT. Their target market was 18 to 20-year-old women. Garcia and Pratt created Craigslist advertisements, along with fake websites and email addresses consistent with the websites to cause their victims to believe that they were applying to work asclothed models. Only after the victims responded to the advertisements would Garcia and Pratt disclose that they were actually seeking women for pornographic video shoots.
When victims expressed hesitation, Garcia directed other young women to contact the victims and falsely reassure them that the videos would not be posted online and that none of the victims’ friends, families, colleagues or classmates would find out. Young women were selected as references, because Garcia, Pratt and Matthew Wolfe believed the victims were more likely to believe other young women over Garcia or Pratt. The references were paid a fee for each victim they attempted to recruit, with additional compensation for victims who agreed to film a video.
Garcia and other members of the conspiracy took active steps to ensure the victims did not find out that he and the other members of the conspiracy operated GDP and GDT. Garcia knew that most of the young women they were recruiting would have never agreed to appear in a video if they knew that videos of their explicit sexual activity would be posted on the internet and marketed to their friends and family.
Most of the videos created as a part of the conspiracy were shot at hotels or short-term rental units in the San Diego area. If one of the victims agreed to act in the pornographic video, Garcia and his co-conspirators promptly booked flights to San Diego within a day or two to limit the chances that the victim would change her mind. After the victim arrived at the hotel or short-term rental unit, Garcia would continue to falsely assure them that the videos would not be posted online and that no one who knew the victims would see - or even know about - the videos. Victims were told that the contracts they were presented with simply said what the victims had already been told, including that the videos would not be posted online. Nowhere on the contract could the reader find a reference to “girlsdoporn,” “girlsdotoys” or pornography at all. The companies were instead identified with innocuous names, such as Bubblegum Casting. Victims were not provided a copy of the contracts that they signed.
Before some of the video shoots, victims were offered alcohol or marijuana. Victims who consumed alcohol or smoked marijuana were directed to make a recorded statement saying that they were not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, even though they had just smoked marijuana or drank alcohol.
As a part of the conspiracy, Garcia and others would at times coerce victims into completing the videos once they were underway. Garcia and other co-conspirators threatened to sue the victims, cancel flights home, and post the videos online, if the victims did not complete the sex videos. Hotel room doors were at times blocked by camera and recording equipment, and the victims felt powerless and unable to leave.
Victims were also misled about how long the video shoots lasted. Most were told the video production would take around 30 minutes, when in reality, they typically lasted for several hours. The sex for the video shoots was rough and caused many victims pain, and in some cases bleeding. Some victims asked to stop filming. In response, Garcia and others told the victims that they had to continue and finish the videos. Victims were also often paid significantly less than originally promised with Garcia and others would citing a tattoo, a mole, or some other perceived “imperfection” to pay the victim less.
Once the videos were posted online many victims contacted Garcia and his co-conspirators seeking to get their videos taken off the websites. The victims’ calls were blocked or ignored.
“This defendant lured one victim after another with fake modeling ads, false promises and deceptive front companies, ultimately devolving to threats to coerce these women into making sex videos,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Even when victims told Garcia how the scheme had devastated their lives, he showed no regard for their well-being. The crime was utterly callous in nature and there is no excuse or justification for his conduct, which was driven purely by greed. The harm inflicted by this defendant will last a lifetime for his victims. Hopefully today’s sentence will offer them a sense of justice.” Grossman praised prosecutors Joseph Green, Alexandra Foster and Sabrina Feve; FBI Special Agents; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Unit for their excellent work on this case.
“Ruben Garcia chose to exploit and deceive these young women for his personal satisfaction and financial gain and today he was held accountable for those decisions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “Today's sentence is the first in this case, however it is definitely not the last. I hope this sentence serves as a start to the healing process and brings some sense of justice for these young women, each with their whole life ahead of them.”
The next hearing in the ongoing case is June 25, 2020, at 2 p.m.
Any additional victims of the alleged crime are encouraged to call the San Diego FBI at 858-320-1800.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Michael James Pratt. Individuals with information about Pratt should contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 19cr4488-JLS
Ruben Andre Garcia Age: 31 San Diego, CA
*Pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 7, Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 19cr4488-JLS
Michael James Pratt Age: 36 Fugitive
Matthew Isaac Wolfe Age 37 San Diego, CA (pending trial)
Theodore Gyi Age: 42 Rancho Aliso, CA (Pleaded guilty to Superseding Information charging Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371)
Valorie Moser Age: 38 San Diego, CA (Pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information charging Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371)
Amberlyn Dee Nored Age: 27 San Diego, CA (pending trial)
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 (charging all defendants)
Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison, $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3014.
Count 2 (Pratt)
Production of Child Pornography, 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e)
Minimum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; Maximum penalty: 30 years in custody, $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3014.
Count 3 (Pratt)
Sex Trafficking of a Minor by Force, Fraud and Coercion, 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a)(1) and (2)
Minimum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; Maximum penalty: life in custody, $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3014.
Counts 4 (Pratt, Wolfe, Garcia), 5 (Pratt, Garcia), 6 (Pratt, Wolfe, Garcia), 7 (Pratt, Garcia, Gyi), 8 (Pratt, Garcia, Gyi)
Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, 18 U.S.C. § 1594
Minimum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; Maximum penalty: life in custody, $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $5,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3014.
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
FBI
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
SunTrust Bank Robber with Multiple Prior Felonies Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident pleaded guilty to a bank robbery in which he said he had a gun and demanded cash from a SunTrust Bank teller.
Dontrell Scott, 28, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Clay Land today. Scott faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. on August 31.
“Federal and local law enforcement worked quickly, detaining Scott within hours after he robbed the bank, terrifying the teller, other employees and customers who witnessed his crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Individuals who choose to terrorize peaceful places of business will be caught and will face justice in the Middle District of Georgia.”
“Thanks to the quick reaction of our local law enforcement partners, this suspect was arrested and unable to threaten any more innocent victims,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Scott now faces serious prison time on federal charges with no opportunity for parole.”
According to facts admitted to in court, Scott walked undisguised into a SunTrust Bank branch on 1st Avenue in Columbus on November 5, 2019, holding a bottle of Powerade and carrying a camouflage bag. Scott approached a teller at her workstation, told her he had a gun and demanded money. Scott put the money in his bag, left his Powerade on the counter and exited the building.
Columbus Police Department and FBI responded to the scene and quickly distributed high quality still photographs from the surveillance video to other law enforcement agencies and the public. Scott was immediately identified, and later that same afternoon the Phenix City Police Department received a tip that a suspect matching the bank robber’s description had been spotted at a local used car lot. Shortly thereafter, officers detained Scott, who was also wanted on outstanding warrants. When arrested, Scott was wearing the same clothes seen in the bank surveillance footage. A subsequent search of Scott’s hotel room located the camouflage bag from the bank robbery and a notebook where someone had written: “I have a gun this is a robbery quickly # go dawgs!” In addition, Scott’s DNA was found on the lid of the Powerade left behind at the scene. Scott has prior felony convictions in Muscogee County Superior Court, to include Robbery, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime and Theft By Receiving Stolen Property.
FBI, Columbus Police Department and Phenix City Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case.