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Thursday 18 March 2021
Two Bank Insiders Plead Guilty to Fraudulent Loan Scheme and Bank BriberyRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that codefendants HERODE CHANCY and MICHAEL ALBARELLA, who at the time of offense were employed as a managers at a Manhattan branch of a national bank (“Bank-1”), have pled guilty before United States District Judge Lewis J. Liman in connection with their respective roles in a loan fraud and bank bribery scheme. CHANCY pled guilty on March 12, 2021, to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and ALBARELLA pled guilty today to bank bribery.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Bank employee Herode Chancy engaged in a scheme to obtain over $1 million in commercial loans for fake businesses, and his co-worker Michael Albarella then accepted a bribe to open a bank account using a stolen identity for the purpose of laundering a portion of the stolen money. Chancy and Albarella now await sentencing for their fraudulent and corrupt acts.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint, Indictment, and statements made in court:
From at least in or about March 2019 up to and including at least in or about March 2020, CHANCY and Adedayo Ilori conspired to fraudulently obtain business loans from a third-party commercial lender with the intent not to repay the loans – i.e., with the intent to “bust out” the loans. CHANCY and Ilori together submitted eight fraudulent business loan applications for a total of $1,025,000 in business loans. The business loan applications submitted by CHANCY and Ilori included doctored bank statements and listed the identities of other persons as the loan applicants, including stolen identities. CHANCY and Ilori also opened bank accounts using the identities of those other persons in order to receive the loan payments from the third-party commercial lender. CHANCY and Ilori subsequently conspired with ALBARELLA, another bank manager at Bank-1, to open a bank account using a stolen identity to launder approximately $200,000 of the expected proceeds of the loan scheme. ALBARELLA opened the bank account at Bank-1 using the stolen identity provided by CHANCY and Ilori, and ALBARELLA accepted a $10,000 bribe to open the bank account.
CHANCY and Ilori believed that the underwriter for the third-party commercial lender was participating in the scheme and agreed to pay the underwriter a “commission” for the underwriter’s role in the scheme. In reality, however, the underwriter was an undercover law enforcement officer.
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CHANCY, 41, of Bellerose, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. CHANCY also admitted that he conspired to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h). CHANCY will be sentenced by Judge Liman on July 9, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.
ALBARELLA, 35, of Floral Park, New York, pled guilty to one count of bank bribery, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. ALBARELLA will be sentenced by Judge Liman on June 28, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.
Ilori is charged with: (1) conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, (2) wire fraud, (3) mail fraud, and (4) conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and (5) aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment.
The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force and Homeland Security Investigation’s El Dorado Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara M. La Morte and Cecilia E. Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations against Ilori in the Complaint and Indictment are merely accusations, and Ilori is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Twelve Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio AreaRead the Press Release
Twelve San Antonio residents face federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division.
A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance:
Francisco Garza aka “Pancho,” 52, of San Antonio;
Joe Angel Villarreal aka “Compadre,” 55, of San Antonio;
Frank Zepeda aka “Pancho,” 51, of San Antonio;
Jose Tabares, 53, of San Antonio;
Matthew Villa, 51, of San Antonio;
Michelle Zamarripa, 59, of San Antonio;
Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio;
Rodger Hernandez aka “Rocky,” 43, of San Antonio;
Jay Haggard, 34, of San Antonio;
Oscar Heredia, 37, of San Antonio;
Jason Gutierrez aka “Big Mac,” 37, of San Antonio; and
Jacob Sanchez, 21, of San Antonio.The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired in 2020 to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. The indictment also charges Haggard with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, namely a Taurus semi-automatic pistol on August 28, 2020. According to court records, Haggard was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to four years imprisonment for aggravated robbery in Bexar County.
Yesterday, federal, state and local authorities arrested nine defendants. Hernandez, Haggard and Heredia were already in custody. During today’s arrests authorities seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, over 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, methamphetamine, three handguns and approximately $235,000. Prior to today, authorities seized approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine, 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, a firearm and approximately $124,000 along with other assets attributable to this organization.
“The arrests made yesterday in San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by the DEA along with our law enforcement partners into the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization, who were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. “Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our citizens. The DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue any individual or organization that threatens the well-being and stability of our communities.”
All the defendants, excepting Gutierrez, face between 10 years and life in federal prison upon conviction of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Gutierrez faces between five and 40 years upon conviction. Haggard faces up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
DEA, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Marshals Service, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Kendall County Sheriff’s Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Dirty Confidential.
The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operationsprimarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Tulsa Man Convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man pleaded guilty today in federal court for sexually abusing a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Oscar Manuel Cabrera-Westerheidy, 37, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor under 12 years of age in Indian Country and abusive sexual contact with a minor between 12 and 16 years of age in Indian Country.
“Oscar Cabrera-Westerheidy took advantage of a position of trust and sexually abused this child for nine years. Thankfully, in an act of courage done to protect others, she spoke out against her abuser,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I am proud of the prosecutors in my office and our partners at the FBI and Tulsa Police Department who brought this predator to justice.”
Cabrera-Westerheidy admitted that from January 2011 through August 2020, he sexually abused a child for his own sexual gratification. The victim disclosed the abuse to a parent out of concern that the defendant was caring for other children.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan set sentencing for June 17, 2021.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. Ms.Dial is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to increased jurisdictional responsibilities regarding crimes involving Native American victims or defendants and that occur within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation Reservations. Ms. Dial recently extended six more months to assist with the mission.
Swiss Hacker indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
Seattle – A prolific Swiss computer hacker, TILL KOTTMANN, 21, was indicted today by a grand jury in the Western District of Washington for computer intrusion and identity and data theft activities spanning 2019 to the present. KOTTMANN, aka “deletescape” and “tillie crimew,” who initially was charged in September 2020, remains in Lucerne, Switzerland, and has received notice of pending U.S. charges.
“Stealing credentials and data, and publishing source code and proprietary and sensitive information on the web is not protected speech–it is theft and fraud,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “These actions can increase vulnerabilities for everyone from large corporations to individual consumers. Wrapping oneself in an allegedly altruistic motive does not remove the criminal stench from such intrusion, theft, and fraud.”
According to the indictment, since 2019, KOTTMANN and coconspirators have hacked dozens of companies and government entities and posted the private victim data of more than 100 entities on the web.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that KOTTMANN used a variety of hacking techniques and predominantly targeted “git” and other source code repositories belonging to private companies and public sector entities. KOTTMANN cloned the source code, files, and other confidential and proprietary information, which at times included hard-coded administrative credentials, access keys, and other means of further system or network access. KOTTMANN then used such means of access to further infiltrate the internal infrastructure of victims and copy additional files, records, and information.
KOTTMANN then published, or “leaked,” victim data obtained through the actors’ and others’ hacking conduct. The FBI recently seized a website domain operated by KOTTMANN and used by KOTTMANN’s group to publish hacked data. In order to recruit others, grow the scheme, and further promote the hacking activity and KOTTMANN’s own reputation in the hacking community, KOTTMANN actively communicated with journalists and over social media about computer intrusions and data theft.
The indictment alleges various examples of hacks KOTTMANN committed. For instance, in February 2020, KOTTMANN illegally accessed computers belonging to a security device manufacturer located in the Western District of Washington and stole proprietary data. Likewise, in April 2020, KOTTMANN victimized the manufacturer of tactical equipment. In the latter instance, KOTTMANN improperly used the credentials of an employee to access illegally the manufacturer’s source code databases. In August, KOTTMANN hacked a Washington state agency and a U.S. government contractor and stole source code related to various web applications. And, more recently, in January 2021, KOTTMANN similarly conducted cyberattacks on an automobile manufacturer and a financial investment company. KOTTMANN published data stolen through these hacks, among many others, on KOTTMANN’s website and used social media to promote the hacking activity and the theft and release of proprietary information.
On Friday, March 12, 2021, authorities in Switzerland executed search warrants related to the criminal activity.
“A cyber-criminal could be anywhere in the world. Thanks to our foreign partnerships, international borders won't provide a haven for their illegal activities,” said Donald Voiret, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Seattle. “This indictment demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners around the globe to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises that target Americans and their businesses.”
Conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum 24 months in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on other counts of conviction.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Seattle Cyber Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Jehiel Baer with assistance from DOJ’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), as well as Canton of Luzerne Police, the Canton of Luzerne Prosecutor's Office, and the Swiss Federal Office of Justice.
kottmann_indictment_filed.pdfSussex County Man Charged with $1.9 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Sussex County, New Jersey, man was charged for his role in fraudulently obtaining federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $1.9 million, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
John Jhong, 51, of Sparta, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud, one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of money laundering. Jhong is scheduled to make his initial appearance by videoconference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate District Judge Leda Dunn Wettre.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Jhong submitted 10 fraudulent PPP loan applications to several lenders on behalf of 10 purported businesses. The PPP is overseen by the Small Business Administration designed to provide forgivable loans to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Applicants for PPP loans apply directly to banks or financial institutions participating in the program; in those applications, applicants make affirmative certifications about their average monthly payroll expenses and number of employees. Applicants also certify their intent to spend PPP proceeds on permissible business expenses, such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and interest on mortgages. PPP loans may be entirely forgiven if the recipient spends the loan proceeds on these permissible expenses within a designated period after receiving the proceeds.
Jhong’s PPP applications allegedly contained false and fraudulent representations to the participating lenders, including documentation purporting to be from the IRS. In fact, according to IRS records, none of the tax documents Jhong submitted with the PPP loan applications were ever filed with the IRS. Jhong also fabricated the existence of numerous business partners. In some instances, the personal identifying information for Jhong’s purported business partners belonged to individuals who had been deceased for over a decade.
Based on Jhong’s alleged misrepresentations, the lenders approved Jhong’s PPP loan applications and provided Jhong’s purported business with $1.9 million in federal COVID-19 emergency relief funds meant for distressed small businesses. Jhong then converted a portion of the proceeds into a cashier’s check that was used to fund a business account.
The count of bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greater. The count of false representation of Social Security number carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greater. The count of money laundering carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greater.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez; special agents of U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John F. Grasso; special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; and special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt. She also thanked the Sparta Township Police for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Olajide A. Araromi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Government Fraud Unit, in Newark, and Trial Attorney Chad M. Davis of the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Substantial Prison Term Imposed for Fentanyl DistributorsRead the Press Release
Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Josue Medina-Perez, age 24 and Francisco Delgado, age 35, both from Phoenix, Arizona, were sentenced March 17, 2021, after admitting to being members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking Fentanyl-laced pills into the Eastern District of Washington. They each pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl. Senior United States District Judge Edward Shea sentenced Josue Medina to a 96-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year term of court supervision after release from federal prison and Francisco Delgado to a 10-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year term of court supervision after release from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Medina-Perez and Delgado were identified as members of a drug trafficking organization tied directly to Sinaloa Mexico, operating in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Medina-Perez and Delgado were identified as one of the first major sources of Fentanyl-laced pills in Eastern Washington and were responsible for transporting and distributing more than 5,000 to 10,000 pills per week beginning in 2017. These Fentanyl-laced pills are made to appear to be prescription medication. Fentanyl, an extremely potent opioid, is largely responsible for the marked increase in drug overdoses and deaths in Eastern Washington. As Judge Shea noted during the sentencing hearing, Fentanyl is the most dangerous and insidious drug facing our community today and, based upon the quantity of pills sold by Medina-Perez and Delgado and their negative impact on this community, these lengthy sentences were appropriate.
Joseph H. Harrington said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will aggressively prosecute cases involving fentanyl distribution, and the sentence imposed in this case demonstrates that fentanyl dealers will be held accountable for their illegal conduct. I commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”
Today’s enforcement action is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes. This OCDETF investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
State Department Employee Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods from U.S. EmbassyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— A U.S. Department of State employee and his spouse were sentenced today for their roles in an international conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Gene Leroy Thompson Jr., 54, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Thompson Jr.’s wife, Guojiao “Becky” Zhang, 40, was sentenced to three years’ supervised release to include 8 months of home detention. Thompson Jr. and Zhang were also ordered to forfeit a combined total of $229,302 and pay $740 in restitution.
Thompson and Zhang previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods on Dec. 20. 2020.
According to court documents, Thompson Jr. was an Information Programs Officer employed by the Department of State at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, a position that required him to maintain a security clearance. Zhang resided with him in Seoul. Between September 2017 and December 2019, Thompson Jr. and Zhang sold counterfeit goods on a variety of e-commerce platforms.
Thompson Jr. and Zhang conspired with one another to sell counterfeit Vera Bradley handbags from e-commerce accounts to persons throughout the United States. Thompson Jr. used his State Department computer to create numerous accounts on a variety of e-commerce platforms. Once Thompson Jr. created these accounts, Zhang took primary responsibility for operating the accounts, communicating with customers, and procuring counterfeit merchandise to be stored in Oregon. Thompson Jr. and Zhang also directed a co-conspirator in Oregon to ship items to purchasers across the United States.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon; and Assistant Director Ricardo Colón of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the DSS Office of Special Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Potter of the District of Oregon.
SpaceX Engineer Pleads Guilty to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – James Roland Jones, a/k/a “MillionaireMike” (33, Hermosa Beach, CA), has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Jones faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, from 2016 until at least 2017, Jones conspired with another to commit securities fraud. Jones, using the moniker “MillionaireMike,” purchased personally identifiable information (“PII”) on the dark web, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and social security numbers. He used this information, in part, to open and/or operate accounts for the purpose of conducting financial transactions based on material, non-public information related to publicly traded securities, more commonly known as “insider information.”
In April 2017, an FBI undercover employee provided Jones with purported insider information related to a publicly traded, U.S. company (“U.S. Company 1”). From April 18, 2017, until May 4, 2017, Jones and a conspirator conducted numerous securities transactions based on this purported insider information.
In June 2017, Jones gained control of an investment account that had been fraudulently opened in the name of J.L.M. (“the J.L.M. Account”). In July 2017, Jones revealed to the FBI undercover employee that Jones had insider information related to a second publicly-traded, U.S. company (“U.S. Company 2”). From July 14, 2017, until July 26, 2017, Jones and the conspirator conducted numerous securities transactions based on this purported insider information, including some of which that were executed using the J.L.M. Account.
On March 18, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced (https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2021-51) that it had also charged Jones with related conduct in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
The criminal case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Houston and Tampa Divisions). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
School Owners Indicted for Conspiracy, Fraud, Identity Theft, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Nancy W. New, 67, of Jackson, Mississippi, and her son, Zachary W. New, 38, were indicted by a federal grand jury in a seventeen-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to defraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca; Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi; Derrick Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Anthony Mohatt, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Shad White, Auditor, Mississippi Office of the State Auditor.
According to the indictment, Nancy New and Zachary New submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims for the salaries of teachers at New Summit School in Jackson to the Mississippi Department of Education under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. As a result, New Learning Resources, Inc., a for-profit company owned by Nancy New and Zachary New, fraudulently obtained in excess of two million dollars ($2,000,000) to which it was not entitled. Nancy W. New and Zachary W. New personally benefited from this scheme to defraud.
As set forth in the indictment, these fraudulent reimbursement claims included:
- false claims that individuals who no longer worked at New Summit School had continued to work there as teachers;
- false claims that individuals who were working at New Summit School in another capacity were working as teachers;
- a false claim that at least one individual who had never worked at New Summit School worked as a teacher there;
- false claims that the experience level and certification level of teachers at New Summit School were higher than they actually were, resulting in reimbursement at an artificially higher salary level;
- false claims that students who no longer attended New Summit School continued to attend school there; and
- false claims that individuals who had never attended New Summit School in Jackson were full-time students attending school at New Summit School.
The indictment alleges that, in one instance, Nancy New and Zachary New laundered approximately $250,000 of the fraudulently obtained reimbursement money through different bank accounts they controlled before finally using the proceeds to purchase a house.
Nancy New and Zachary New had their initial court appearance before United States Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball in Jackson today at 1:00 p.m. The News are scheduled for trial in May before United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves in Jackson. If convicted, they each face up to 210 years in federal prison and up to a $4,000,000 in fines.
The case was investigated by agents with the FBI Jackson Division; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dave Fulcher.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Introduce Malware into a U.S. Company’s Computer NetworkRead the Press Release
A Russian national pleaded guilty in federal court today for conspiring to travel to the United States to recruit an employee of a Nevada company into a scheme to introduce malicious software into the company’s computer network.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, from July 15, 2020, to Aug. 22, 2020, Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, conspired with others to recruit an employee of a large U.S. company to transmit malware provided by the conspirators into the company’s computer network. Once the malware was installed, Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators would use it to exfiltrate data from the company’s computer network and then extort the company by threatening to disclose the data.
As part of the conspiracy, Kriuchkov traveled from Russia to California through New York. On numerous occasions between Aug. 1, 2020, and Aug. 21, 2020, Kriuchkov traveled from California to Nevada in an attempt to entice the employee to participate in this hacking scheme, offering to pay the employee with Bitcoin if the employee transmitted the malware. After meeting with Kriuchkov, the employee reported his conduct to the victim company, which promptly contacted the FBI. The FBI then thwarted the scheme.
“The swift response of the company and the FBI prevented a major exfiltration of the victim company’s data and stopped the extortion scheme at its inception,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case highlights the importance of companies coming forward to law enforcement, and the positive results when they do so.”
“This case highlights our office’s commitment to protecting trade secrets and other confidential information belonging to U.S. businesses — which is becoming even more important each day as Nevada evolves into a center for technological innovation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prioritize stopping cybercriminals from harming American companies and consumers.”
“This is an excellent example of community outreach resulting in strong partnerships, which led to proactive law enforcement action before any damage could occur,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office.
Kriuchkov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer and is scheduled to be sentenced May 10.
The investigation was led by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office with the assistance of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, the FBI Sacramento Field Office, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel C.S. Heath and Trial Attorney Thomas Dettore of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Casper of the District of Nevada.
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Introduce Malware into A U.S. Company’s Computer NetworkRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Russian national pleaded guilty in federal court today for conspiring to travel to the United States to recruit an employee of a Nevada company into a scheme to introduce malicious software into the company’s computer network.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, from July 15, 2020, to Aug. 22, 2020, Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, conspired with others to recruit an employee of a large U.S. company to transmit malware provided by the conspirators into the company’s computer network. Once the malware was installed, Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators would use it to exfiltrate data from the company’s computer network and then extort the company by threatening to disclose the data.
“The swift response of the company and the FBI prevented a major exfiltration of the victim company’s data and stopped the extortion scheme at its inception,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case highlights the importance of companies coming forward to law enforcement, and the positive results when they do so.”
“This case highlights our office’s commitment to protecting trade secrets and other confidential information belonging to U.S. businesses — which is becoming even more important each day as Nevada evolves into a center for technological innovation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prioritize stopping cybercriminals from harming American companies and consumers.”
“This is an excellent example of community outreach resulting in strong partnerships, which led to proactive law enforcement action before any damage could occur,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office.
As part of the conspiracy, Kriuchkov traveled from Russia to California through New York. On numerous occasions between Aug. 1, 2020, and Aug. 21, 2020, Kriuchkov traveled from California to Nevada in an attempt to entice the employee to participate in this hacking scheme, offering to pay the employee with Bitcoin if the employee transmitted the malware. After meeting with Kriuchkov, the employee reported his conduct to the victim company, which promptly contacted the FBI. The FBI then thwarted the scheme.
Kriuchkov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer and is scheduled to be sentenced May 10.
The investigation was led by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office with the assistance of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; the FBI Sacramento Field Office; and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel C.S. Heath and Trial Attorney Thomas Dettore of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Casper of the District of Nevada.
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Russell Co. Woman Pleads Guilty to $499,000 Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Leelynn Danielle Chytka pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Va., to charges that she conspired with others to defraud the government of more than $499,000, commit mail fraud, and commit aggravated identify theft, Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General announced today.
Chytka, 28, of Russell County, Virginia, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to a four-count Information charging her with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud with respect to benefits authorized and paid in connection with a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of distribution of suboxone.
“Over the past year, Virginians have endured one of the worst pandemics our country has ever seen. During this time, jobless claims in the Commonwealth dramatically increased, as unemployment spiked. While some struggled to make ends meet, this defendant and her co-conspirators worked to defraud an unemployment system which exists as a safety net for those in need,” Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said today. “They filed multiple fraudulent unemployment claims in an effort to collect almost $500,000 in benefits they were not entitled to—benefits that could have gone to Virginians that needed it. I am grateful to the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office for their diligence in bringing this conspiracy to justice.”
“Pandemic unemployment insurance benefits are a lifeline for those individuals who are qualified and in need. The Defendant along with her co-conspirators, engaged in a scheme to defraud the Virginia Employment Commission by filing for unemployment insurance using the identities of individuals, many of whom were incarcerated and not entitled to receive benefits. The Office of Inspector General will continue to work diligently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Virginia Employment Commission, and our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the unemployment insurance system from those who choose to exploit the program,” said Jonathan Mellone, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
Chytka admitted today to leading a conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States in connection with a scheme involving the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits.
According to court documents, Chytka, and others, conspired to collect personal identification information of more than 35 co-conspirators, including 15 inmates in the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections, and to file fraudulent claims of pandemic-related unemployment.
Over the course of nine months, Chytka filed fraudulent claims for at least 37 individuals, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Image and Videos Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years’ imprisonment and 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction of Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Jack Ulrich, Jr., age 43.
According to information presented to the court, Ulrich, Jr., on October 12, 2018, unlawfully possessed more than 100 photographs and videos in computer graphics files, which depicted minors, some of whom were under the age of 12 years, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ulrich admitted to possessing and sharing the sexually exploitive material with other individuals using, among other applications, Chatous, Facebook, and Dropbox. At the time of the offense, Ulrich was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2006 of a sex offense involving minors in the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Horan stated that a 10-year term of imprisonment served the purposes of deterrence, just punishment, and protection of the public.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ulrich, Jr.
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.justice.gov/psc.
Raleigh County Pharmacist Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County pharmacist was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison for her role in a fraud scheme which cost victims over $2 million in losses. She was also ordered to pay over $2.5 million in restitution to the victims and serve a term of three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions at the plea and sentencing hearings, Natalie P. Cochran, 40, of Daniels, owner of Technology Management Solutions (TMS) and Tactical Solutions Group (TSG) in Beckley, knowingly defrauded and took money and property from individuals, a financial institution and several other companies from approximately June 2017 through at least August 22, 2019. She persuaded them to invest in TMS and TSG and in phony government contracts by making false misrepresentations regarding her and her companies’ experience and purported success as government contractors. Cochran convinced at least 11 people to invest approximately $2.5 million in alleged government contracts. The investors paid through personal checks, cashier’s checks and wire transfers. She also convinced an investor to send $511,920 through a wire transfer from North Carolina. Cochran never invested the money she received from victims, instead she put it into her personal and business bank accounts for personal purposes unrelated to the investments. Cochran admitted to using investor funds to make numerous purchases over $10,000, including withdrawing more than $37,500 to purchase a 1965 Shelby Cobra. She also admitted to knowing that at least one of her investors suffered a financial hardship as a result of her scheme. As part of this scheme, Cochran used some investors’ funds to pay other investors a partial return on their investment.
Cochran pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges on September 21, 2020. Pursuant to her plea agreement, she also agreed to forfeit her interest to the United States in the assets she obtained through her fraudulent activities, including two pieces of real property, a 1965 Shelby Cobra, multiple vehicles, jewelry and nearly $45,000 seized from her business’ bank account.
“I want to commend the victims for the remarkable courage they displayed throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I also want to thank the West Virginia State Police , the United States Secret Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) and Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and Greg McVey who worked tremendously hard to ensure that the defendant was held accountable for the significant harm she inflicted on the victims.”
“The West Virginia State Police is proud that today we were able to secure justice for the numerous victims impacted by the selfish criminal conduct of Natalie Cochran,” said West Virginia State Police Lieutenant Timothy Bledsoe. “While this sentence does not undo the harm that Cochran brought upon each victim, we feel that our investigative efforts worked to ensure that she was held accountable for her criminal actions related to the operation of her Ponzi scheme.”
“The results of this investigation demonstrate the Secret Service’s commitment to protecting our nation’s financial institutions and citizens of West Virginia,” said U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Robert W. Pyle. “We will continue to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to bring offenders to justice. We would like to thank the West Virginia State Police and the FDIC-OIG for their cooperation and partnership in this case.”
“Today’s sentencing recognizes the importance of holding the defendant responsible for lying to a financial institution and investors, and fraudulently inducing them to finance her companies and fake government contracts,” said FDIC Inspector General Jay N. Lerner. “ The defendant then, in turn, purchased luxury items for her personal use with the illicit proceeds. The FDIC Office of Inspector General remains committed to working with the U.S. Attorney and our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who commit such flagrant offenses, and to help preserve the integrity of the banking sector.”
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence.
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. 5:19-cr-00247.
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Portsmouth Man Sentenced for Solar Farm Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 31 months in prison for defrauding an elderly victim of over $228,000 based upon false promises to develop a solar farm on her rural North Carolina property.
“This defendant cruelly tricked a vulnerable widower out of her retirement income as a result of his elaborate lies and deception,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “EDVA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute fraud that impacts the elderly and other vulnerable members of our communities.”
According to court documents, David Pharr, 46, promised the victim—a retired teacher whose husband had recently passed away—that he would develop a solar farm on her rural property in Sampson County, North Carolina. The victim agreed to pay Pharr an initial investment amount in exchange for the right to receive a share of the profits of the project. Pharr never installed the solar farm on the victim’s property and never paid the victim any returns. Instead, from approximately March 2014 through May 2018, Pharr fraudulently induced the victim to mail, wire, and transfer him funds for purported expenses for the solar farm that he did not actually incur. The victim lost over $228,000 as a result of Pharr’s scheme.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Shean prosecuted the case.
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 No. 2:20-cr-72.
Physician pays nearly half million dollars to resolve home health care fraud allegationsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A doctor of osteopathic medicine from Bellaire has paid to resolve allegations he falsely certified patients for home health services and received improper payments, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Truc Le, 51, is a primary care physician in southwest Houston.
In 2016, authorities began an investigation into a home health agency known as Unified Medical Group Inc. That investigation appeared to show Le had certified patients for home health services without any knowledge of the patients’ medical condition or homebound status. Instead, Le signed forms that Unified representatives provided to him on a regular basis.
In addition, Unified sent improper payments to Le in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. It prohibits offering or paying remuneration to induce the referral of items or services that Medicare, Medicaid and other federally-funded programs cover. Claims submitted to these programs in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute give rise to liability under the False Claims Act.
“Medical professionals put the integrity of our federal health care programs at risk when they just rubber-stamp forms,” said Lowery. “It is made worse when improper payments are the source of their motivation. With the investigative assistance of our federal and state partners, we will continue to do what we can to protect our nation’s systems and the citizens they are designed to serve.
Le has agreed to pay $475,000 to resolve the allegations.
The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, FBI and Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Green, Brad Gray and Andrew Bobb handled the matter on behalf of the United States.
The claims resolved by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Peoria Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Attempting to Obstruct Trial of Peoria Gang MembersRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Last week, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid sentenced Demoney T. Coleman, 22, of Peoria, Ill., to more than three years (37 months) in federal prison for trying to obstruct the trial of members of the Bomb Squad, a Peoria street gang, in late 2019. Coleman pleaded guilty in December 2020, to criminal contempt after he disobeyed multiple court orders during the Bomb Squad trial, in November 2019, by refusing to answer questions by government attorneys but voluntarily answered all questions posed by defense counsel.
Coleman, who was identified as a member of a rival gang, was called as a government witness because he had previously given information to law enforcement regarding multiple shootings involving Bomb Squad members. To ensure Coleman was able to testify fully and truthfully, Coleman was given immunity from prosecution for anything self-incriminating he may testify to while under oath at trial. Despite Coleman having this immunity, he chose to only answer questions from defense counsel and refused to answer questions from the government.
The 37-month sentence is to be served consecutive to a 72-month sentence Coleman received on March 12, 2021, for possession of a semi-automatic handgun by a felon in October 2018.
Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey stated: “To reduce ongoing gun violence in our neighborhoods it is essential that witnesses come forward and tell police what they know. Witnesses, however, cannot play games and must be truthful and complete. Coleman’s prosecution and sentence serves as an important reminder that criminal trials must be fair to both the prosecution and the defense and that obeying court orders is not optional.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Peoria Police Department, and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the case prosecution.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement and Coercion of a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Peter N. Allen, age 33, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, pled guilty today to attempting to entice a minor to engage in a sexual encounter with him. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Allen admitted that, between February 2020 and May 2020, he exchanged multiple sexually explicit messages online with an undercover officer posing as an 11-year-old girl in an attempt to entice the child into having sex with him. Allen also admitted that, on May 14, 2020, he traveled from Pennsylvania to a fast-food restaurant parking lot in New York near where he believed the child lived to meet her for sex.
At sentencing on July 21, 2021, Allen faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Allen also will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Allen’s case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as a part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Owner of Software Company Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Douglas Arvin Horning, 55, of Cadillac, pled guilty to tax evasion before the Honorable Ray Kent, United States Magistrate Judge. Horning faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced by the Honorable Paul L. Maloney, United States District Judge, later this year.
According to the plea agreement, Horning has not filed an individual tax return since 2008 or a corporate tax return since 2006 for his software company Perfect Professionals, Inc., doing business as Compass Technologies. He has not paid any individual or corporate taxes since that time. Horning also failed to pay all of the required “trust fund” taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks. Horning concealed income by routing it through a second company—even after that company was dissolved by the State of Michigan—failing to disclose the company’s bank account to the IRS, and not including that income on the Forms W-2 he issued to himself through Perfect Professionals. He likewise received unreported income by paying personal expenses using Perfect Professionals. The parties stipulated that for criminal tax purposes, Horning owes the IRS $977,983, covering corporate and individual taxes for tax years 2012 through 2016, and trust fund taxes for 2006 through 2019.
“Our Nation’s tax laws are not optional,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “We all have an obligation to pay our fair share. The refusal to do so not only imposes an added burden on other taxpayers, but when the conduct rises to the level of willful evasion, it is a felony.”
“Evading your federal individual income tax responsibilities is a violation of law,” said Miguel Rivera, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office. “Mr. Horning’s plea serves as a reminder IRS-CI is committed to bringing justice to individuals who have a duty to file and pay tax yet willfully evade their federal tax responsibilities. Evasion by failing to withhold and pay over the proper amount of employment taxes for employees is also a violation of law and can financially injure those employees from receiving benefits due to them, such as Social Security or Medicare.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant.
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Operator of Money Laundering Scheme Indicted in Manhattan Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging ABRAHAM ADENIYI with money laundering and bank fraud offenses in connection with his years-long involvement in a money laundering operation. ADENIYI, who was arrested this morning in Georgia, will be presented later today before a federal magistrate judge in the Northern District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Abraham Adeniyi used a web of bank accounts to hide millions of dollars stolen from fraud victims, some of which went to Adeniyi’s own pockets. Thanks to the FBI, Adeniyi now faces federal charges.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Criminals will always believe there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. As we allege in this investigation, Mr. Adeniyi and his cohorts stole money and attempted to conceal its origin through a series of bank accounts – all the while thinking no one would be able to track it. He discovered his luck ran out when all he found at the end of his rainbow was the FBI and the federal criminal justice system.”
According to the allegations in the indictment[1] filed against ADENIYI and other court proceedings:
From at least in or about 2017 through at least in or about 2020, ADENIYI opened and directed others to open multiple bank accounts, which received proceeds of various wire fraud schemes, and transferred and directed others to transfer those proceeds among the bank accounts he had opened, as well as to other bank accounts controlled by participants in the scheme, in order to conceal and disguise the source, location, ownership, and control of the funds. As part of the scheme, ADENIYI and others used fraudulent identification information to open accounts at FDIC-insured banks and to obtain the funds in those accounts.
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ADENIYI, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and onecount of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Anden Chow is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Operation Second Wave Update: Montgomery Woman Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Montgomery woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Carol Lynn Belton, 61, was one of 14 defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave,” which dismantled a poly-drug network operating in Kanawha and Fayette counties.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Belton obtained methamphetamine from co-defendant Jason Terrell and sold it in Montgomery between January and August 2020. She admitted to selling approximately seven ounces during her involvement in the conspiracy.
Belton faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced on June 8, 2021.
Other defendants, including Jimmie Coleman, Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., Sammy Joe Fragale II, Larry Martin, and Jason Terrell have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Gregory Woods was sentenced to 184 months in federal prison on February 8, 2021. Steven Matthew Bumpus, Roger Jarea Drake, Rashawn Akmed Miller, Craig Redman, Tonya Simerly, and Ronald Lee Thomas III are scheduled for trial on April 27, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force (CWVDTF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who led the investigation of Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., and Sammy Joe Fragale II, who were also prosecuted as part of the Second Wave investigation. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is in charge of 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 Nos. 2:20-cr-00153 (Woods) and 2:20-cr-00154 (Terrell et al).
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Ohio man admits to role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Larry Cuffman, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Cuffman, also known as “Pops,” age 60, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Cocaine Base.” Cuffman admitted to selling cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in June 2020 in Ohio County.
Cuffman faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Original case indictment here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
North Attleboro Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A North Attleboro man was sentenced today on child pornography offenses.
Nicholas Robillard, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2021, Robillard pleaded guilty to one count each of distribution and possession of child pornography.
Robillard distributed and possessed child pornography on various dates between Oct. 16, 2018 and Feb. 14, 2019. Robillard faced enhanced penalties because of prior convictions for sex offenses.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Mendell’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
New Orleans Man Admits Possessing Gun in Furtherance of Drug DealingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that REGINALD JONES, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on March 17, 2021 to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
In November 2019, JONES was indicted along with numerous other defendants for conspiring to distribute heroin, a specific count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Court documents show that as part of his plea, JONES admitted that he was intercepted on wiretaps purchasing heroin. JONES also acknowledged an intercepted call in which he was caught discussing going to shoot at unknown individuals who were messing with JONES’S brother. Specifically, on August 16, 2019, JONES was intercepted telling a co-conspirator, “I gotta go take care of something in the east with my little brother… He stay off Bullard ... Ni**a parking stolen cars in front of his store and disrespecting him. . . I’m bout to go take care of that bitch, I got drums in this bitch and everything.”
In response to the call, which was intercepted on federally authorized wiretaps, FBI agents flooded the area around Bullard to prevent a shooting. As they were doing so, another call was intercepted in which JONES ordered heroin from a co-conspirator, which caused agents to relocate to the area where the transactions were normally taking place. Once there, they observed an individual who was driving a vehicle while wearing a rolled up ski mask on his head. This was in August. Agents followed the vehicle and conducted an investigatory stop. JONES was driving and still had the rolled up ski mask on his head. There was a Glock handgun with an extended magazine containing 22 live rounds, including one in the chamber, in the driver’s seat. There were three other men in the car. Agents found two tied red bandanas and another ski mask in the car. They also found a 5.56 caliber pistol with a 45 round magazine, as well as additional ammunition and magazines.
During a subsequent inventory search of JONES’S vehicle, agents found under the back seat a Glock Model 17 Gen 5 handgun, bearing serial number BGTL281, with an extended magazine and 22 live rounds (1 round in the chamber), and approximately 28.5 grams of a tan rock like substance that field tested positive for the presence of heroin. JONES had just bought that heroin before the agents pulled him over.
Sentencing is set for June 23, 2021 before District Judge Vance. JONES faces a sentence of at least 5 years imprisonment up to life, a $250,000 fine, five years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Grow Marijuana in Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Depredation of Public LandsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Manuel S. Cardenas, 34, of San Louis Potosi, Mexico, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to cultivate marijuana on public lands and depredation of public lands, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April 14 and Aug. 4, 2019, Cardenas grew marijuana at two sites in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near the town of Helena in Trinity County.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Redding is prosecuting the case.
Cardenas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. Cardenas faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Member of Violent Baltimore Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 22 Years in Federal Prison for a Drug Conspiracy and Related Charges, Including MurderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm today sentenced Justin Antoine, a/k/a Justo, age 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, a member of a drug trafficking organization operating in Southwest Baltimore, to 270 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and for discharging a firearm resulting in death during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. In addition to the murder, Antoine admitted that he was part of a shoot-out where a bystander was shot.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“This case exemplifies the danger to the people of Baltimore resulting from the illegal drug trade,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “Justin Antoine and his co-conspirators brought the deadly combination of guns and drugs into their community. This sentence sends a strong message that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are working together to remove violent drug dealers like Antoine from our streets.”
“Today’s sentencing exemplifies the successful teamwork of Maryland law enforcement agencies to target and dismantle violent street gangs that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone. “The citizens of Maryland have the FBI’s commitment that we will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and prosecute dealers like Justin Antoine and remove violent criminals from the neighborhoods of Baltimore.”
According to his plea agreement, from at least April 2018 through January 2019, Antoine participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in and around the Edmondson Village neighborhood of southwest Baltimore. The DTO sold heroin and crack cocaine on a daily basis in street-level quantities. Antoine regularly sold heroin and crack cocaine, which he obtained from other members of the DTO.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on several occasions in early 2018, individuals in the Edmondson Village robbed Antoine, stealing drugs, drug proceeds, and a cell phone that Antoine used to communicate with drug customers. Antoine admits that on May 8, 2018, he sought out victim “J.D.” because Antoine believed J.D. was one of the participants in these robberies. Antoine was armed with a loaded pistol and went to the Mary Rodham Recreation Center. Once at the location, Antoine walked up to J.D. and shot him two times in the head, killing J.D. Antoine acknowledged that this was an intentional killing and occurred during and in relation to his drug trafficking activities. Following the murder of J.D., Antoine continued to distribute heroin and crack cocaine. In November 2018, Antoine was standing on the block where he frequently distributed drugs when a vehicle operated by friends of J.D. arrived. At least one occupant of that vehicle fired a gun at Antoine. Antoine was armed with a handgun and shot back at the vehicle. During this exchange of gunfire, a bystander was struck by gunfire.
As detailed in the government’s sentencing memo and presented at today’s hearing, on November 26, 2018, Antoine planned to rob an unlicensed taxi driver whom Antoine believed refused to return a gun that he had left in the driver’s vehicle. During a wiretapped call, Antoine said that if the driver gave him any issues during the robbery that he was “splatting that sh*t,” meaning he would murder the driver. Another wiretapped call captured Antoine discussing his attempt to illegally purchase an assault rifle.
Law enforcement arrested Antoine on January 10, 2019, as he was traveling to work. Investigators seized a loaded firearm and heroin from Antoine. Antoine admitted that he possessed the heroin with the intent to distribute the drugs.
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 is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the ATF, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Anne Arundel County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta, who is prosecuting the case.
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Man Charged with Threatening Violence Against Former President Trump and Other Federal OfficialsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly threatening to commit violence against former President Trump, a federal judge, and the former United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.
DAMIEN GRANT, 33, of Peoria, Ill., is charged with three counts of influencing a federal official by threat, two counts of mailing threatening communications, and one count of threatening the President of the United States. The indictment was returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Peoria. Arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Sean M. Cox, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Springfield, Ill., Division of the FBI; William Hedrick, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; and Brendan O. Heffner, United States Marshal for the Central District of Illinois. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Tazewell County, Ill., Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois upon recusal by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.
According to the indictment, Grant on Nov. 30, 2020, stated in a letter addressed to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, “You have 2 days to drop all charges and investigations against me or im going to make sure you never see Christmas...I might have someone walk in the Court House and blow all you evil [expletive] to pieces.”
The indictment accuses Grant of sending similarly threatening letters in December 2020 to President Trump and a U.S. District Judge in the Central District of Illinois.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge of threatening the President carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, while each of the other counts in the indictment is punishable by up to ten years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Louisiana Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of a Gay Man and Plot to Kidnap and Murder Other Gay MenRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man was indicted and charged today in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana on six counts, including hate crime, kidnapping, firearm and obstruction charges.
Chance Seneca, 19, of Lafayette, was charged by a federal grand jury on March 18 based on his attempted murder of a gay man and his overarching scheme to kidnap and murder gay men whom he met online.
The indictment alleges that on June 19 and 20, 2020, Seneca attempted to kidnap one man and successfully kidnapped two other men through his use of Grindr, a dating application for gay and bisexual men. The indictment further alleges that the defendant attempted to murder one of these men because of his gender and sexual orientation, and that the defendant intended to dismember and keep parts of the victim’s body as trophies, mementos and food. The indictment further alleges that the defendant possessed a firearm in furtherance of the hate crime, and that he tried to cover up his actions by deleting communications between himself and the victim of the attempted murder.
The statutory maximum for the hate crime, kidnapping and firearm offenses is life imprisonment. The statutory maximum for the attempted kidnapping and obstruction offenses is 20 years. The statutory minimum for the gun charge is five years.
The indictment was announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pam Karlan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran.
The FBI conducted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Abendroth of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
For more information and resources on the department’s efforts to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
Lithonia man charged with defrauding the USDA’s COVID Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Christopher A. Hayes made an initial appearance on federal charges of making a false claim to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Hayes was charged via an information filed on March 18, 2021.
“During the global pandemic, the government has provided a wide range of financial relief,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “Unfortunately, when criminals steal these funds, they take them out of the hands of those suffering hardship, such as farmers, who are the focus of the USDA relief efforts.”
“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals who explicitly apply for aid to exploit taxpayer funded pandemic relief programs such as CFAP,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, USDA-Office of Inspector General. “We appreciate the partnership with our federal partners in pursuing this type of fraud and holding these bad actors to account in this great time of need.”
“It’s truly disheartening, that during this pandemic individuals are devising schemes to take advantage of funds set aside for those financially impacted,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge IRS-Criminal Investigation. “IRS-Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in uncovering fraud and recommending prosecution.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges, and other information presented in court: Hayes was charged with submitting a false claim to the USDA’s CFAP for the claimed loss of livestock at his commercial farming operation. CFAP provided direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. Hayes allegedly did not own or operate a commercial farming operation and did not have losses associated with any livestock when he made a claim under CFAP.
In addition, Hayes allegedly submitted a fraudulent IRS Form 7200, which, when used legitimately, allows an employer to request an advance payment of employer credits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA provides small and midsize employers refundable tax credits that reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave wages to their employees for leave related to COVID-19. In total, Hayes attempted to obtain over $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funding.
Christopher A. Hayes, 35, of Lithonia, Georgia, made an initial appearance on March 18, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III. Members of the public are reminded that the information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Klapman and Christopher J. Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Frauds Section, are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Las Vegas Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax Returns, Causing Nearly $3 Million in Tax LossRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas tax preparer pleaded guilty today to preparing fraudulent tax returns over a seven year span and causing nearly $3 million in tax loss to the IRS, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Anita Edoria Santa Ana, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of the preparation and filing of a false tax return. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 21, 2021.
According to court documents and admissions made in court, Santa Ana operated tax return preparation businesses in Las Vegas under the names Santana Tax Service and Silver Income Tax LLC. For tax years 2012 to 2018, Santa Ana falsified clients’ tax returns by claiming deductions and exemptions to which clients were not entitled. In total, Santa Ana caused a tax loss of at least $2.9 million to the IRS.
“As we approach the May 17 filing deadline, Nevadans should remain vigilant when seeking tax return preparers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou. “Our office is committed to working closely with the IRS Criminal Investigation team to investigate and prosecute unscrupulous tax preparers who take advantage of law-abiding taxpayers and cause tax losses to the IRS.”
“Santa Ana is the type of tax return preparer we warn taxpayers about every year,” said Special Agent in Charge Sullivan. “Choose wisely, because a large refund that you are not entitled to today could result in owing more to the IRS later.”
The statutory maximum penalty Santa Ana faces is three years in prison, a period of supervised release, and monetary penalties.
The case was investigated by the IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva is prosecuting the case.
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Lame Deer man sentenced to prison for attempted sexual abuse of minor, abusive sexual contactRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who admitted sexual abuse charges involving a minor was sentenced today to 50 months in prison and to five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.
Coolidge Allen Killsontop, 42, pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2020 to attempted sexual abuse of a minor and to abusive sexual contact as charged in an indictment.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Killsontop was detained.
In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that in 2018 or 2019 in Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Killsontop was in a residence with the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was between the ages of 12 and 16. Killsontop groped the victim and attempted to sexually abuse her again after she had fallen asleep.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Lafayette Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of Gay Man and Plot to Kidnap and Murder Other Gay MenRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - A federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana, has returned a six-count indictment charging Chance J. Seneca, 19, of Lafayette, with hate crime, kidnapping, firearm, and obstruction charges based on his attempted murder of a gay man and his overarching scheme to kidnap and murder gay men whom he met online.
The indictment was announced today by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pam Karlan for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran.
The indictment alleges that on June 19 and 20, 2020, Seneca attempted to kidnap one man and successfully kidnapped two other men through his use of Grindr, a dating application for gay and bisexual men. The indictment further alleges that the defendant attempted to murder one of these men because of his gender and sexual orientation, and that the defendant intended to dismember and keep parts of the victim’s body as trophies, mementos, and food. The indictment further alleges that Seneca possessed a firearm in furtherance of the hate crime, and that he tried to cover up his actions by deleting communications between himself and the victim of the attempted murder.
The statutory maximum for the hate crime, kidnapping, and firearm offenses is life imprisonment. The statutory maximum for the attempted kidnapping and obstruction offenses is 20 years. The statutory minimum for the gun charge is five years.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is conducting the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Abendroth of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
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Kroger Shooter Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to federal hate crimes and firearm charges arising out of the racially motivated shootings of Black individuals at a grocery store.
Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearm charges arising out of his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and his attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Bush previously pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to a life term in state prison.
During the plea hearing in federal court, Bush admitted that on Oct. 24, 2018, he drove to a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head. Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim and chose to shoot him because of the victim’s race. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store.
In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman, and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim and chose to shoot her because of her race.
Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim and chose to shoot at him because of his race. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, “Don’t shoot me [and] I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”
“Today’s guilty plea will ensure that a violent and disturbed man will never get another chance to target and terrorize the Black community,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Civil Rights Division. “It won’t bring back two pillars of the Louisville community, whose tragic and senseless deaths we mourn, but we hope it sends the message that the Justice Department will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of bias-motivated violence to justice.”
“The work of the Jeffersontown Police Department, FBI and ATF in responding to and thoroughly investigating this tragic event is commendable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The outstanding effort of the federal prosecutors assigned to this case and the solid working relationship we have with our state counterparts in the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office were instrumental in bringing about this plea.”
“The senseless murder of two of our citizens because of their race has no place in our community. Hate cannot, and will not, win,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown. “Today’s guilty plea is just one example of the Justice Department's and the FBI’s commitment to protecting civil rights for all and vindicating the rights of violent crime victims.”
“In its mission to protect our nation, ATF stands committed to swiftly arresting those who create terror in our communities through violent acts of hate,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division. “In this instance, two Louisville African-Americans were gunned down while shopping for groceries – merely due to the color of their skin. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for the victims and families of violent hate crimes and we will work tirelessly to enforce laws to prevent these tragedies.”
Bush faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Bush’s sentencing in federal court will be held on June 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, the ATF Louisville Field Division and the Jeffersontown Police Department and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to federal hate crimes and firearm charges arising out of the racially motivated shootings of Black individuals at a grocery store.
Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearm charges arising out of his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and his attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Bush previously pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to a life term in state prison.
During the plea hearing in federal court, Bush admitted that on Oct. 24, 2018, he drove to a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head. Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim and chose to shoot him because of the victim’s race. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store.
In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman, and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim and chose to shoot her because of her race.
Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim and chose to shoot at him because of his race. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, “Don’t shoot me [and] I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”
“Today’s guilty plea will ensure that a violent and disturbed man will never get another chance to target and terrorize the Black community,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Civil Rights Division. “It won’t bring back two pillars of the Louisville community, whose tragic and senseless deaths we mourn, but we hope it sends the message that the Justice Department will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of bias-motivated violence to justice.”
“The work of the Jeffersontown Police Department, FBI and ATF in responding to and thoroughly investigating this tragic event is commendable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The outstanding effort of the federal prosecutors assigned to this case and the solid working relationship we have with our state counterparts in the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office were instrumental in bringing about this plea.”
“The senseless murder of two of our citizens because of their race has no place in our community. Hate cannot, and will not, win,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown. “Today’s guilty plea is just one example of the Justice Department's and the FBI’s commitment to protecting civil rights for all and vindicating the rights of violent crime victims.”
“In its mission to protect our nation, ATF stands committed to swiftly arresting those who create terror in our communities through violent acts of hate,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division. “In this instance, two Louisville African-Americans were gunned down while shopping for groceries – merely due to the color of their skin. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for the victims and families of violent hate crimes and we will work tirelessly to enforce laws to prevent these tragedies.”
Bush faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Bush’s sentencing in federal court will be held on June 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, the ATF Louisville Field Division and the Jeffersontown Police Department and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
Kroger Shooter Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to federal hate crimes and firearm charges arising out of the racially motivated shootings of Black individuals at a grocery store. The federal plea was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan of the Civil Rights Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Jr., the Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville FBI; and R. Shawn Morrow the Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville ATF.
Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearm charges arising out of his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and his attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Bush previously pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to a life term in state prison.
During the plea hearing in federal court, Bush admitted that on Oct. 24, 2018, he drove to a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head. Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim and chose to shoot him because of the victim’s race. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store.
In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman, and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim and chose to shoot her because of her race.
Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim and chose to shoot at him because of his race. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, “Don’t shoot me [and] I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”
“Today’s guilty plea will ensure that a violent and disturbed man will never get another chance to target and terrorize the Black community,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Civil Rights Division. “It won’t bring back two pillars of the Louisville community, whose tragic and senseless deaths we mourn, but we hope it sends the message that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of bias-motivated violence to justice.”
“The work of the Jeffersontown Police Department, FBI, and ATF in responding to and thoroughly investigating this tragic event is commendable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “The outstanding effort of the federal prosecutors assigned to this case and the solid working relationship we have with our state counterparts in the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office were instrumental in bringing about this plea.”
“The senseless murder of two of our citizens because of their race has no place in our community. Hate cannot, and will not, win,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown. “Today’s guilty plea is just one example of the Department of Justice’s and the FBI’s commitment to protecting civil rights for all and vindicating the rights of violent crime victims.”
“In its mission to protect our nation, ATF stands committed to swiftly arresting those who create terror in our communities through violent acts of hate,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. “In this instance, two Louisville African Americans were gunned down while shopping for groceries – merely due to the color of their skin. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for the victims and families of violent hate crimes and we will work tirelessly to enforce laws to prevent these tragedies.”
Bush faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Bush’s sentencing in federal court will be held on June 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Louisville Field Division, and the Jeffersontown Police Department, and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Fraudulent Chicago-Area Tax Return PreparerRead the Press Release
The United States has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, seeking to enjoin a tax preparer from South Chicago Heights, Illinois, from preparing federal income tax returns for others.
The civil complaint filed against Leannette Scott alleges that she prepares federal income tax returns on which she reports false sole-proprietorship business expenses and education credits. According to the complaint, the IRS interviewed 21 of Scott’s customers, 17 of whom allegedly stated that Scott included incorrect and false information on their 2018 income tax returns. The complaint alleges that the IRS determined that the returns of these 17 customers reflect an actual tax loss to the United States of $39,287.
The complaint further alleges that Scott prepared at least 562 income tax returns from 2016 to 2020, for tax years 2015 through 2019. According to the complaint, Scott’s fraudulent tax preparation activities have caused the United States to lose substantial tax revenue, undermined public confidence in the administration of the federal tax system, and caused harm to her customers by exposing them to statutory penalties for substantially underreporting and underpaying their tax liabilities.
Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. (More information can also be found here.) The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax preparer, has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers, and offers information on how to avoid “ghost” tax preparers, whose refusal to sign a return should be a red flag to taxpayers. The IRS also has a list of important reminders for taxpayers who are about to file their 2020 tax returns, including how to prepare for a smooth filing process.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $72,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Judge sentences St. Louis man for carjackings and possession and brandishing a firearmRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Ramonte Willey to 17 years in prison today. The 24-year-old St. Louis, Missouri resident pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking and one count of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Willey committed two carjackings in the City of St. Louis. On December 7, 2018, Willey approached a victim’s Chevrolet Impala, which was parked in a Family Dollar parking lot in the 5000 block of Enright Avenue. Willey demanded the victim’s money. Brandishing a handgun with an extended clip, Willey then forced his victim out of the vehicle, saying “Get out of the f**king car!” Willey took the Impala from his victim, driving away from the scene of the crime.
On January 27, 2019, Willey arrived at a gas station in the 2000 block of N. Florissant in a stolen Kia Optima. Willey then got out of the Optima, approached a victim who was pumping gas, and put a gun in the victim’s side. Willey then took the victim’s car, a Toyota Camry. As the victim fled, Willey fired shots at him. Willey drove off in the Camry. The driver of the Optima also drove off, following Willey.
The next day, St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers saw a Kia Optima consistent with the vehicle used in the carjacking. Willey was driving the Optima. When detectives tried to pull over the vehicle, Willey sped off. Even after detectives deployed spike strips. Willey continued to drive recklessly, throughout the City of St. Louis, violating stop signs and endangering others. Ultimately, the Optima became disabled in the 2900 block of Marcus.
Detectives demanded the occupants of the vehicle place their hands in the air. Willey, the driver of the vehicle, opened the door of the vehicle and placed his hands in the air, before reaching back into the vehicle. Willey ultimately exited the Optima and laid on the ground with a bag strapped to his torso. The bag contained two boxes of ammunition. Detectives also recovered two firearms, including a handgun with an extended clip and another handgun, and a box of ammunition from the vehicle.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
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Judge sentences St. Louis County man to 10 years for drug and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Teran Martin to 120 months in prison today and ordered Martin to forfeit $23,488 and the several firearms law enforcement seized in the course of investigating the crimes charged. The 27-year-old Ferguson, Missouri resident had previously pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possessing one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On January 7, 2020, Drug Enforcement Administration investigators executed a federal search warrant at Martin’s residence and seized a firearm along with quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base, and heroin. Investigators searched two more locations and seized additional items belonging to Martin, including eleven more firearms, additional quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine, and approximately $23,488. Martin has admitted the $23,488 seized by law enforcement are proceeds he obtained by selling controlled substances.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and St. Louis County Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jay Redd prosecuted the case.
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Johnson County Man Sentenced to 125 Months for Importing Pounds of Methamphetamine from GeorgiaRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Johnson County man, Sean Tharp, was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison on Thursday, by United States District Judge Robert E Wier, following his conviction for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Tharp pled guilty to the charge in November 2020.
According to his plea agreement, between April 2020 and September 2020, Tharp conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Tharp admitted that he developed a relationship with a supplier of methamphetamine outside of Kentucky, from whom he obtained pound quantities of methamphetamine on multiple occasions. Tharp admitted to traveling to Georgia to obtain the methamphetamine, which he brought back to the Johnson County area to sell. In his plea agreement, Tharp admitted that the conspiracy involved at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Under federal law, Tharp must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Tharp’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Doug Saylor, Johnson County Sheriff, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Johnson County Sheriff’s Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble.
Iron Youth Member Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
In San Antonio today, 19-year-old Iron Youth member and Smiley resident Caleb Nathaniel Oliver pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
By pleading guilty, Oliver admitted that he purchased a fully automatic machine gun from an undercover officer for $1,000 on February 5, 2021. Court documents reflect that Oliver is a member of the group called Iron Youth, a racially motivated violent extremist group that advocates violence in the furtherance of its objectives. Beginning in September 2020, Oliver had several meetings with undercover officers to discuss the purchase of the machine gun.
Oliver, who faces up to 10 years in federal prison was released on bond. Sentencing is scheduled for June 14, 2021, before U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra.
The FBI conducted this investigation with assistance from the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. Harris and Mark Roomberg are prosecuting this case.
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Houston Marijuana Ringleader Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
In Del Rio yesterday, a federal judge sentenced Houston resident Michael Dewayne Dennis, aka Michael Spiller, to 18 years in federal prison for leading a conspiracy that distributed over 11,000 kilograms of marijuana throughout the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Deputy Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, San Antonio Division; and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered Dennis, 38, to pay a $2,500 fine and be placed on supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term. Judge Moses also granted the government’s motion to forfeit the defendant’s interest in the following property: $197,313 in seized currency, two real properties in Houston, and 19 firearms. Judge Moses further ordered a $7.2 million money judgment against the defendant for proceeds derived from his criminal conduct.
On September 12, 2019, a federal jury convicted Dennis of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. According to evidence presented during trial, Dennis led a marijuana trafficking conspiracy from at least July 2014 to June 2018. During this time Dennis and his co-conspirators brought marijuana into the U.S. from Mexico and transported the marijuana to Dennis’ compound in Houston where it was packaged for sale and distribution. One of the smuggling methods involved illegal aliens carrying loads of marijuana on their backs to pick-up locations near Del Rio. After the marijuana was dropped off, drivers transported the marijuana to Houston. Over the course of the conspiracy, Dennis facilitated the distribution of at least 11,194 kilograms of marijuana.
“This sentence identifies how HSI works to investigate the infrastructure of a criminal enterprise,” said HSI Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Craig Larrabee. “When organizations accumulate assets from illicit activities, HSI and law enforcement partners will work to dismantle the organization and target those assets. This lasting effect helps to better protect our communities.”
On July 11, 2018, HSI and DEA agents, with assistance from the Houston Police Department, arrested Dennis following a stand-off with law enforcement. During the stand-off, Dennis brandished a firearm and was shot. He has since remained in federal custody.
“The prosecution and sentencing of Michael Dennis sends a clear message to all who engage in the distribution of illegal drugs,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. “DEA and our partners will continue to work together to see that anyone involved in this illicit trade will be brought to justice.”
HSI, DEA and U.S. Border Patrol conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Bale Out Boys. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Hail, John Kennedy and Antonio Franco prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations of those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
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Fresno Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Valentin Martinez, 41, of Fresno, today to six years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2019, Martinez was a back-seat passenger in a car when law enforcement officers conducted a traffic-enforcement stop of the car and obtained permission from the driver to search it. Next to where Martinez was seated, officers found a tool bag with a firearm, ammunition, a scale, and plastic bags. Martinez admitted the items in the tool bag were his and admitted that he had methamphetamine on his person. On June 12, 2020, Martinez pleaded guilty to firearm and drug trafficking offenses.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
Fresno Felon Indicted for Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Daniel Santos Galaviz, 27, of Fresno, charging him with unlawfully possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 24, officers arrested Galaviz after he fled on foot from a vehicle during an attempted traffic stop. Officers recovered a loaded magazine from Galaviz during his arrest. Galaviz is prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his prior criminal record.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Galaviz faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
Fourth Circuit Upholds Jury Conviction in Foreign-Agent ProsecutionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit today upheld an Eastern District of Virginia jury verdict convicting a man of acting and conspiring to act as an agent of the Turkish government within the United States without disclosing that relationship to the U.S. government. The Fourth Circuit also vacated an order granting a new trial and remanded the case for further proceedings before the district court.
According to court records, Bijan Rafiekian, 69, of San Juan Capistrano, California, along with his alleged co-conspirator, Kamil Ekim Alptekin, 43, of Istanbul, a Turkish national with close ties to the highest levels of the Government of Turkey, were involved in a conspiracy to act covertly within the U.S. on instructions from the Turkish government. The plot included using the services of the Flynn Intel Group (FIG), a company founded by Rafiekian and retired General Michael T. Flynn, to publicly and privately influence U.S. politicians and public opinion against a Turkish national, Fethullah Gulen, who is an imam, writer and political figure living in the U.S. Since 2015, the Government of Turkey has filed multiple extradition requests for Gulen in an effort to convince the U.S. government to extradite Gulen to Turkey.
Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's National Security Division John C. Demers and Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following statement with respect to the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in United States v. Rafiekian:
“A federal jury found Rafiekian guilty of acting as an undisclosed agent of Turkey and conspiring to do so. We are pleased the Fourth Circuit concluded that the jury’s verdict was amply supported by the evidence. The Court’s careful legal analysis confirmed the broad scope and importance of transparency requirements for individuals acting within the United States at the direction of foreign governments. This case is a reminder to those who act covertly within our country on behalf of a foreign power that they face criminal consequences for their conduct. The Department will continue to combat covert foreign influence operations using the Foreign Agents Registration Act and all the tools at its disposal.”
According to court documents, the purpose of the conspiracy was to use FIG to delegitimize Gulen in the eyes of the American public and U.S. politicians, with the goal of obtaining his extradition, which was meeting resistance at the U.S. Department of Justice. At the same time, the conspirators sought to conceal that the Government of Turkey was directing the work. However, not only was Rafiekian told by Alptekin that Turkish cabinet-level officials had approved the budget for the project, but Alptekin also told Rafiekian and Flynn during the project that he was providing the Turkish officials updates on the work. Rafiekian understood that Alptekin was relaying the Turkish officials’ directions on the work to Rafiekian, Flynn, and others at FIG. During a September 2016 meeting in New York City organized by Alptekin, Rafiekian personally met with Turkish officials and heard them express their desire for Gulen’s extradition, an objective he then pursued using FIG’s personnel and connections.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, the scheme included using Alptekin’s Dutch shell company to act as FIG’s “client.” FIG was paid $600,000 in three installments from an account in Turkey in Alptekin’s name. After Alptekin made the payments to FIG, FIG kicked back 20% of the payments to Alptekin’s shell company.
Rafiekian was convicted on charges of acting as an undisclosed foreign agent and of criminal conspiracy to act as an undisclosed foreign agent and to make a materially false Foreign Agents Registration Act filing. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Taft Grano argued the case on appeal. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Gillis and John T. Gibbs of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case at trial.
Fort Totten Man Arrested for MurderRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Nick Chase announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Cody James Belgarde, age 34 of Fort Totten, ND, for First Degree Murder.
An indictment unsealed today alleges Belgarde shot to death a juvenile male on the Spirit Lake Reservation on January 14, 2021. The death was discovered after a report of a house fire at a residence in Fort Totten.
Grand jury Indictments are allegations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy assigned to the case.
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Former Waterbury Resident Sentenced to Prison for Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAYSHON FRAZIER, 30, of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2019, the DEA New Haven Task made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of crack cocaine from Frazier’s associate in Middletown. After Frazier’s associate was incarcerated on a state probation violation in early September 2019, Frazier took over his associate’s drug distribution activity. Between September and November 2019, investigators made three controlled purchases of crack, totaling approximately 40 grams, from Frazier in Waterbury, where Frazier formerly resided.
Frazier was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on November 27, 2019. On December 22, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base (“crack”).
Frazier, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 19, 2021.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Middletown Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Sarala V. Nagala.
Former State Department Employee Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods from U.S. EmbassyRead the Press Release
A former U.S. Department of State employee and his spouse were sentenced today for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic hundreds of thousands of dollars in counterfeit goods through e-commerce accounts operated from State Department computers at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Gene Leroy Thompson Jr., 54, and Guojiao “Becky” Zhang, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods on Dec. 20. 2020. Thompson Jr. was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Zhang was sentenced to three years of supervised release, the first eight months of which will consist of home confinement. Thompson Jr. and Zhang were also ordered to forfeit a combined total of $229,302.
According to court documents, Thompson Jr. was an Information Programs Officer employed by the Department of State at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea, a position that required him to maintain a security clearance. Zhang resided with him in Seoul. Between September 2017 and December 2019, Thompson Jr. and Zhang sold counterfeit goods on a variety of e-commerce platforms. Thompson Jr. used his State Department computer at the embassy to create numerous e-commerce accounts, including additional accounts under aliases to continue the conspiracy and avoid detection after several e-commerce platforms suspended the couple’s other accounts for fraudulent activity. Zhang took primary responsibility for operating the accounts, communicating with customers, and procuring merchandise to be stored in the District of Oregon. Thompson Jr. and Zhang also directed a co-conspirator in the District of Oregon to ship items to purchasers across the United States.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon; and Assistant Director Ricardo Colón of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the DSS Office of Special Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Potter of the District of Oregon.
Former Meridian Police Officer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Royric “Roy” Benamon, 27, a former officer with the Meridian Police Department, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to a prison term of 12 months and one day, followed by two years of supervised release, for extortion under color of right, also known as the federal Hobbs Act, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.
In April 2020, then-Officer Benamon on two separate occasions pulled over drivers in the middle of the night in Lauderdale County, and received from each of them cash payment in exchange for not issuing the driver a ticket.
Benamon was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2020 on two counts of extortion under color of right. On December 2, 2020 Benamon entered a guilty plea to one count of the indictment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca stated, “One of the worst possible betrayals of the public trust is the abuse of power for personal gain by armed police officers. We are determined to root out those bad actors who abuse their position of trust in this way, as they both endanger the community and besmirch the reputation of all honorable officers who follow their duty to protect and to serve.”
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
Former Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter Sentenced for Racketeering Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) was sentenced today on racketeering charges.
Issac Felix-Rivera, a/k/a “King Izzy,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served (approximately 4.5 months in prison) and three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. In December 2020, Felix-Rivera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
Felix-Rivera admitted to his role in the Latin Kings drug distribution conspiracy based in the City of New Bedford, where the gang ran a vast cocaine base distribution network that used multi-unit apartment buildings known as “trap houses” to distribute the narcotics. Members of the Latin Kings dealt drugs in the trap houses, obtaining their supply of cocaine base from co-defendant, and leader of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings, Jorge Rodriguez, a/k/a “King G.” Evidence developed during the course of the investigation included multiple recordings of Latin Kings members cooking cocaine base, directing violence against rival gang members, meting out discipline and handling firearms used to protect the Latin Kings’ drug distribution network.
Rodriguez previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in November 2020 to 18 years in prison.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Felix-Rivera is the 20th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former Lynn Haven City Commissioner and Developer Charged in Superseding Indictment Against Former Lynn Haven Mayor and City AttorneyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – In an ongoing case arising from alleged public corruption by Lynn Haven City’s former Mayor and Attorney, David James Finch, 70, and Antonius Genzarra Barnes, 55, were indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud, and substantive counts of wire fraud and honest services fraud. Finch is also charged with making false statements to the FBI. The 44-count superseding indictment alleges that Finch, a Lynn Haven developer, and Barnes, a former Lynn Haven City Commissioner, conspired with Lynn Haven’s then-Mayor, Margo Deal Anderson, and then-City Attorney, Joseph Adam Albritton, to ensure that contracts for numerous multimillion-dollar infrastructure and construction projects and post-Hurricane Michael debris clean-up activities were awarded to Finch. In return, Finch allegedly provided money and gifts to Anderson and Barnes, and Albritton received money from a company doing debris clean-up.
Acting United States Attorney Jason R. Coody of the Northern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas of the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office, and Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced the superseding indictment at a press conference this afternoon.
The original indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Panama City in August 2020, charged Anderson and Albritton with conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud, substantive counts of wire fraud, honest services fraud, and theft concerning Federal programs. Anderson was also charged with making false statements to FBI agents, while Albritton was charged with submitting a false invoice to an insurance company for hurricane debris removal from his residence. These charges were directly related to activity that took place in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in October 2018.
The August 2020 indictment also charged Anderson and Albritton with devising a scheme to defraud Lynn Haven and its citizens of their right to honest services of Anderson, as Mayor, and Albritton, as City Attorney. These allegations, that both Anderson and Albritton solicited and received bribes or kickbacks from City projects that they approved, are related to yesterday’s charges against Finch and Barnes. The indictment charged that Albritton drafted and implemented an agreement for trash pick-up with co-conspirator David White, owner of Erosion Control Specialists (ECS). In exchange for orchestrating the agreement, Albritton allegedly demanded kickbacks from White. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Albritton received money from ECS for each trash invoice paid by Lynn Haven.
The superseding indictment alleges that Anderson halted progress on plans to permit a city-owned site for disposal of vegetative debris, even though using the city-owned site would have saved Lynn Haven millions of dollars in disposal fees. Instead, the indictment alleges Anderson directed the City Manager to use Finch’s company for vegetative debris disposal. According to the indictment, the city of Lynn Haven paid disposal fees in excess of $2 million to Finch.
The superseding indictment also alleges that between 2015 and the present date, Anderson helped Finch win multiple multimillion-dollar contracts with the city of Lynn Haven. In August 2017, Anderson, as Mayor of Lynn Haven, signed an agreement known as the “½ Cent Infrastructure Surtax Design/Build Contract” with Finch’s construction company – Phoenix Construction Services, Inc. The agreement made Phoenix the contractor or vendor for numerous multimillion-dollar Lynn Haven infrastructure projects that would not require any bid procedure. As alleged in the indictment, Phoenix was paid a total of $5.6 million for work related to this contract.
Additionally, during the same time period, Finch was awarded a contract for the 17th Street Ditch Stormwater project. For this project, Anderson signed a 30-year promissory note on behalf of Lynn Haven to Finch that eventually totaled more than $5 million, obligating the city of Lynn Haven to pay Finch the principal amount of the note along with millions of dollars in interest. Both Anderson and Barnes voted for this arrangement and received benefits from Finch as a result.
Between April and August 2020, the superseding indictment alleges that Anderson and Finch sought to have Finch construct the rebuild of municipal buildings, despite a City Commission approved plan in place to have architects prepare designs for the rebuilding and have FEMA and insurance proceeds pay for most of a $19 million dollar project. Anderson, as Mayor, attempted to thwart that plan and have Finch instead handle the rebuild for $15 million, most of which the City would have to finance since FEMA would not approve the Finch design/build proposal. Anderson and Finch allegedly pressured the City Manager and Police Chief to support their plan to the detriment of City residents.
In return, the superseding indictment charges Anderson with accepting things of value from Finch, including travel in a private airplane, lodging aboard a private yacht, meals and entertainment. According to the indictment, Anderson and her husband also received a $106,000 motorhome from Finch in February 2018.
In the superseding indictment, Finch is alleged to have provided Barnes with $45,000 in loans, which were never repaid. As Commissioner, Barnes voted consistently to approve Finch and his projects before, during, and after receipt of the monies that he received from Finch during a two-year period. Between August 2015 and December 2017, Barnes moved, seconded, and voted on matters before the Lynn Haven City Commission favorable to Finch’s business interests, including the “½ Cent Infrastructure Surtax Design/Build Contract” and the 17th Street project.
During the time periods when the alleged crimes were being committed, neither Anderson, Albritton nor Barnes filed required quarterly gift reports documenting that they received gifts in excess of $100 according to the indictment.
The superseding indictment also charges Finch with making false statements to FBI agents when he was interviewed relating to the criminal investigation. Finch is charged with making false statements and submitting a false document to the FBI in July 2020 concerning the transfer of a motorhome to Anderson and her husband. Finch provided the FBI with a bill of sale for the motor home, falsely stating he sold the motor home to Anderson’s husband on July 6, 2018, for $70,000. Although the bill of sale indicates that $35,000 was already paid and that another $35,000 was owed “with 6 percent interest,” the indictment alleges that there is no record any money was ever paid to Finch by Anderson’s husband for the motorhome other than a $20,000 check issued to Finch by Anderson’s husband 22 months after the motorhome transfer when the federal investigation of public officials had been publicized.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen M. Kunz and Andrew J. Grogan.
If convicted, Anderson, Albritton, Finch, and Barnes each face prison terms of up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud, substantive wire fraud and honest services fraud, and mail fraud. Anderson and Albritton also face up to 10 years for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Both Anderson and Finch face an additional 5 years if convicted for making false statements to federal agents. Albritton faces a maximum of 20 years for submitting a false invoice to an insurance company.
Finch and Barnes made their initial appearance in court at 1:30 pm EST this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Fitzpatrick, at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee. Anderson and Albritton will be scheduled by the Court for an arraignment on the superseding indictment.
This indictment is a follow-up to the indictment returned in November 2019 of five defendants, including former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White, former Lynn Haven Community Services Director David Horton, and Erosion Control Specialists owner David White, for conspiring to commit wire fraud, substantive counts of wire fraud and honest services fraud, relating to post-Hurricane Michael clean-up activities in Lynn Haven. All five of the defendants indicted in November 2019 have pled guilty to charges from the first indictment and are awaiting sentencing.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Press Release - Former Lynn Haven City Commissioner and Developer Charged in Superseding Indictment Against Former Lynn Haven Mayor and City Attorney anderson_et_al._-_superseding_indictment.pdfFormer Long Island Rail Road Employee Charged with Falsifying Inspection ReportRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Stuart Conklin, a former employee of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), with making a false entry in a railroad inspection report required to be maintained by the LIRR under United States Department of Transportation regulations. Conklin surrendered to federal authorities earlier today, and his initial appearance is scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Daniel M. Helzner, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region (DOT-OIG); and Carolyn Pokorny, Inspector General for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, announced the arrest.
“As alleged, Conklin’s false inspection report endangered passengers on a heavily used line of the Long Island Rail Road and potentially placed scores of riders in harm’s way,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “Today’s arrest sends a strong message that this Office is committed to ensuring integrity in reports that are critical to the safe operation of the transport system.”
“This investigation demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the safety and integrity of commuter rail systems in New York and around the country,” stated DOT-OIG Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Helzner. “Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue to hold accountable those individuals who are responsible for inspections and oversight when their neglectful actions compromise the safety of the traveling public.”
“It was an unconscionable betrayal to all New Yorkers for this signal inspector to allegedly claim a critical piece of Long Island Railroad infrastructure was safe when he didn’t even bother to look at it," stated MTA Inspector General Pokorny. “This is yet another example of why the MTA must stop relying on honor systems and implement systemic reforms to verify that claimed work was actually completed. By falsifying federally required documents, this individual put many riders at risk and it is a miracle no one was critically injured because of his actions.”
As alleged in the complaint, Conklin was employed by LIRR as a Signalman and his responsibilities included performing regular inspections of rail bonds. Rail bonds are electronic jumpers around joints in the rails of a railroad track to ensure continuity of conductivity for signal currents. Conklin completed an inspection report indicating that he had inspected a particular rail bond on April 26, 2019, and that the bond had passed inspection. Video footage from a LIRR camera showed that Conklin in fact did not inspect the bond during his shift that day.
On May 25, 2019, at approximately 3 a.m., a westbound LIRR train collided with the rear of an eastbound train that had pulled onto a sidetrack to permit the westbound train to pass. A subsequent investigation by the LIRR determined that the rail bond Conklin had falsely indicated he had inspected on April 26, 2019, was broken and was the cause of the derailment. Conklin submitted a handwritten letter of resignation six days after the derailment.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, Conklin faces up to two years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Turner Buford is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
STUART CONKLIN
Age: 63
Magnolia, TexasE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-MJ-329