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12 April 2021
Eagle Grove Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for MethRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced April 10, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
James Calvert, 44, from Eagle Grove, Iowa, pled guilty on November 13, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Calvert and others conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of mixed methamphetamine from January 2019 through March 2020 in the Wright and Webster County areas. Law enforcement caught Calvert removing approximately ¼ pound of methamphetamine from a vehicle. On at least 5 occasions Calvert was observed on home security recordings obtaining multiple ounces of methamphetamine for further distribution. The residence that Calvert and others used as a hub for their methamphetamine trafficking was located within 1,000 feet of a protected location, namely Greenwood Park, in Eagle Grove, Iowa.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Calvert was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 4-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Calvert remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Grove Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3012. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Luis Torres, a/k/a “Bubba”, age 21, was indicted on March 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 8, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years, and up to life, of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between February 1, 2019, and February 28, 2019, in Eagle Butte, Torres knowingly caused and attempted to cause a minor who had not attained the age of 16, to engage in a sexual act.
The charge is merely an accusation and Torres is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Torres was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Dominican National Sentenced for ID Theft, Theft of Public FundsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national who used the stolen Social Security number and identity of a person living in Puerto Rico to fraudulently collect more than $50,000 in government- funded benefits in Rhode Island has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and is expected to face deportation proceedings.
Beginning in February 2014, Sonia Jourdain, 56, began using the stolen Social Security number and identity when applying to obtain Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. On the SNAP application, Jourdain falsely stated that neither she, nor anyone in her household, was not a United States citizen.
In May 2016, Jourdain used the stolen identity to fraudulently obtain a Rhode Island driver’s license, and, later, twice obtained temporary disability insurance (TDI) from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.
According to the government’s evidence presented at sentencing, Jourdain fraudulently obtained $40,070.90 in Medicaid benefits, $3,800.56 in SNAP benefits, and $8,213 in TDI payments.
On February 5, 2020, Jourdain pleaded guilty to false representation of citizenship, false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft, theft of public money, and two counts of wire fraud. She was sentenced on April 7, 2021, to 30 months in federal prison to be followed by one year of federal supervised release, and to pay restitution in the amount of $52,084.46.
Jourdain is expected to face deportation proceedings upon completion of her term of incarceration.
Jourdain’s sentence is announced by Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus; Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General Phillip Coyne; Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Region of the Department of Labor - Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; and Bethanne M. Dinkins, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
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Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jamaile Huey, 42, of Detroit, Michigan pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal grand jury indicted him on the charge in February 2021.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about January 8, 2021, members of the Huntington Police Department SWAT Team executed a search warrant for the person of Jamaile Huey at an apartment on Bridge Street in Huntington. During the execution of the warrant, Huey was located in the residence and placed into custody and another individual was located and detained. While the SWAT Team was conducting a protective sweep of the residence, a small quantity of a green leafy vegetation was located on a nightstand in plain view in the bedroom where Huey was observed coming from. After Huey was secured, officers observed that he did not have any clothing on the bottom half of his body. Huey requested from officers a black pair of pants. One of the officers located a pair of black pants in the bedroom Huey was observed coming from and searched them prior to giving them to Huey. Inside of one of the pants pockets, officers located a plastic baggy containing suspected narcotics. An additional search warrant was then obtained for the residence due to the suspected marijuana that was observed in plain view and the suspected narcotics that had been in Huey’s pants. During the search of the residence, a loaded Glock, model 17, 9mm pistol, serial number BFYY530 was located in the nightstand in the room that Huey had been observed coming from when apprehended by the SWAT team. A loaded high-capacity magazine for the Glock pistol was also located in the same room. While in the room where the firearm was located, investigators also observed that the items in the room matched the background of a photograph of Huey that had been provided by a confidential informant. The located firearm and magazine also matched the firearm that Huey possessed in the photograph.
Huey faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on July 12, 2021.
The Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00030.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
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D.C. Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Two Non-Profit OrganizationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maxine Marie Williams, 49, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty on April 6, 2021 to attempting to steal more than $200,000 from two former employers, both non-profit organizations in the District of Columbia. The guilty plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, U.S Postal Inspector in Charge for the Washington Division Peter Rendina, and Metropolitan Police Department Acting Chief Robert J. Contee III.
Williams worked for one non-profit organization from approximately 2015 through March 2018. Her job responsibilities included processing donation checks that were mailed to the office, and preparing and mailing checks to vendors, service providers, and individuals. From November 2015 through March 2018, she stole 171 checks totaling $161,084.23 from the organization. Most of the checks were charitable contributions that were mailed to the organization’s office in Washington. Other checks consisted of outgoing payments from the organization to vendors, service providers, and individuals. Of the $161,084.23 in stolen checks, more than $140,000 was successfully deposited into accounts associated with Williams, including a $5,000 donor check that Williams deposited at an ATM in Hyattsville, Maryland.
After Williams was terminated from the first organization in March 2018, she secured employment with the second organization, a non-profit trade association headquartered in Washington. Between December 2018 and June 2019, Williams stole 33 checks totaling $43,398.93 from the second organization. She successfully deposited more than $38,000 into her bank account.
Williams pled guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. The maximum sentence for this offense is ten years of imprisonment. Under federal sentencing guidelines, however, Williams faces a likely recommended sentence of between 12 and 18 months in prison. As part of her plea agreement, she will be responsible for repaying the stolen funds. The Honorable Amit P. Mehta, who accepted Williams’ guilty plea, scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2021.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Inspector in Charge Rendina, and Acting Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia including Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman, Financial Analyst Bryan Snitselaar, Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart, and former Paralegal Specialist Brittany Phillips.
Columbia Man Convicted at Trial of Being a Felon in Possession of a Loaded Firearm and Possession of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart. announced that Eric Jahann Nixon, 39, of Columbia, was convicted Friday by a jury following a three-day trial in federal court in Columbia. Nixon was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as possession of crack cocaine.
Evidence presented in court showed that at approximately 7:00 PM on Friday, October 16, 2020, Columbia Police Department officers responded to Wash City Laundromat off Broad River Road after receiving a number of 911 calls about a man brandishing a firearm and assaulting a 65-year-old female attendant at the laundromat. At the scene, officers were approached by witnesses who provided a detailed description of the man and also provided officers with a cellphone video taken of him during the incident. A screenshot of the man from that cellphone video was distributed to other officers who were canvassing the area in search of him. A short time later, an officer encountered the man walking nearby and placed him in investigative detention. During a lawful pat-down search of the man, officers recovered a loaded Hi-Point .380 caliber handgun in the man’s waistband of his shorts. A further search revealed a pill bottle containing a baggie of 3 grams of crack cocaine and a razor blade. The man was later identified as Eric Jahann Nixon. Surveillance video from the Laundromat confirmed that Nixon was the man who pulled a handgun from his waistband and assaulted the laundromat attendant.
Nixon is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law based upon prior state and federal convictions. Nixon’s prior convictions include: possession of a stolen motor vehicle (1998, Lexington County), conspiracy to commit money laundering (2005, federal conviction in Columbia), assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (2005, Lexington County), throwing bodily fluid on correctional officer (2005, Lexington County), indecent exposure to adult (2010, federal conviction in West Virginia), forgery (2013, Lexington County), distribution of crack cocaine near a school (2016, Richland County), and unlawful carrying of a firearm (2018, Richland County).
Nixon faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge. Due to a prior felony drug offense, Nixon faces a minimum 15 days to maximum of 2 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,500 on the possession of crack cocaine charge.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of Columbia presided over the trial and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office. According to court filings, the sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes. Witnesses at trial also included representatives from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), the South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardon, & Parole Services, the Lexington County Clerk of Court’s Office, the United States Probation Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-State Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman who took part in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in 2019 entered a guilty plea today in federal court. Kathryn Elizabeth Casto, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Casto admitted that between April and September of 2019 she conspired with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine. During the conspiracy, Casto repeatedly obtained quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron, Ohio to various locations in West Virginia. Casto would in turn supply other drug dealers with methamphetamine that would be sold in the Huntington and Charleston areas. Casto admitted that she was aware some of her customers intended to distribute the methamphetamine she provided to them and that she was responsible for the distribution of up to 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Casto faces 5 to 40 years in federal prison when she is sentenced on July 12, 2021.
This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00245.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
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Charleston Man Indicted for Allegedly Failing to Pay Employment Taxes and Personal Income TaxesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – An indictment returned by a federal grand jury charges Jay Fisher, of Charleston, Ill., with 21 counts of tax fraud, for allegedly failing to report and pay federal employment taxes and personal income taxes. Fisher is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in federal court on April 19, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. The court hearing will take place in Urbana, via videoconference, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long.
According to the indictment, Jay Fisher was responsible for the business of Financial Logic Inc., and, as such, was obligated to file a Form 941 and remit employment taxes for his employees. Employment taxes are comprised of federal income tax, social security, and Medicare taxes. The indictment alleges that between 2015 and 2018, Fisher failed to pay more than $300,000 in employment taxes. The indictment also alleges that, between 2014 and 2018, Fisher failed to file and pay his individual income taxes.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the charges with assistance from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Moody is representing the government in the prosecution
The maximum penalty for each of the sixteen counts of failure to pay employment tax is five years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines, or both. The maximum penalty for each of the five counts of failure to pay individual income tax is up to one year in prison, up to $25,000 in fines, or both.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Berkeley County man admits to drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Orville Darby, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to drug distribution, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
Darby, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine Hydrochloride and Cocaine Base.” Darby admitted to working with others to distribute heroin, cocaine hydrochloride, and cocaine base from February 2019 to June 2019 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.Darby 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. Attorney Jeffrey A. Finucane is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
10 April 2021
Former Grand Island Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Michael Gonzalez, 44, formerly of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 9, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for possession of child pornography. Gonzalez was sentenced to 48 months in prison and will also serve 6 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. After serving his prison sentence, Gonzalez will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In January 2016, the Nebraska State Patrol received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user, later identified to be Gonzalez, was uploading an image of child pornography.
A search warrant was served at Gonzalez’s residence and that search resulted in the seizure of numerous electronic items, including both a laptop and desktop computers, and a cell phone and other storage media. Law enforcement forensically examined the equipment and located 19 images of child pornography depicting children under the age of twelve.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
9 April 2021
Youth Pastor Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Nathan L. Rogers, 37, of East Aurora, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in July 2019, a mother contacted the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and stated that her 12-year-old daughter (Victim) attended a Christian music festival at Darien Lake with her church youth group. After going to the water park, the church’s youth pastor, the defendant, invited the Victim to change her wet clothes in his camper. After she finished changing, the Victim discovered an iPhone hidden in clothing on a ledge. The Victim looked at the iPhone and discovered it had been recording for about 13 minutes. After deleting the video of her changing, the Victim replaced the iPhone on the ledge. The Victim next discovered a second iPhone hidden in the sheets on the bed. She also deleted that video as well, replaced the device, and left the camper. The Victim called her mother to tell her what happened. The mother went to Darien Lake, picked up her daughter and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Rogers was subsequently arrested, charged with Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree, convicted in Genesee County Court, and sentenced to five years’ probation in December 2020, with the first six months to be served in jail.
A review of the defendant’s cell phones recovered 24,017 picture files and 2,389 video files on the phone, some of which constituted child pornography.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of William A. Sheron, Jr.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Wife and Husband Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and a Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Sonyia Cruz, age 52, of San Jose, California, and Frankie Cruz, age 46, of San Jose, California, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and conspiring to commit money laundering.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to their plea agreements, beginning in at least 2014, the married couple of Frankie and Sonyia Cruz conducted marijuana sales by purchasing bulk amounts of marijuana (24 to 25 pounds per order), shipping the marijuana to their rental home in Laurel, Maryland, and repackaging the drug parcels to sell in the District of Columbia for $2,800 or $2,900 per pound. The Cruzes then shipped the proceeds back to California after laundering the money at a Maryland Casino. In the spring of 2016, they also conducted marijuana sales in North Carolina.
From October 2015 through November 2016, Frankie Cruz, Sonyia Cruz, and other conspirators laundered approximately $674,897 derived from marijuana sales at a Maryland casino. The Cruzes attempted to laundered funds by feeding large amounts of currency into slot machines, engaging in minimal gaming activity, and cashing out the remainder of the proceeds. For example, on January 6, 2016, surveillance cameras captured Sonyia Cruz retrieving large stacks of money in small denominations from her purse and handing the funds to Frankie Cruz and a co-conspirator. Sonyia Cruz, Frankie Cruz, and a co-conspirator inserted the large piles of cash into various slot machines and engaged in minimal gaming activity when others walked by, spending less than $10 for every $500 they put into the machine. They then collected their fraudulent winnings in the form of a barcode encoded ticket, which totaled the equal value of the currency the conspirators deposited into the slot machines minus the minimal gaming expenditures. In some instances, Frankie Cruz deposited as much as $2,000 into a slot machine and cashed the same amount in the form of a ticket.
Sonyia Cruz, Frankie Cruz and a co-conspirator conducted this activity for four hours from 9 pm on January 6, 2016 to 1 am on January 7, 2016. Sonyia Cruz divided the fixed winnings amongst herself, Frankie Cruz, and a co-conspirator. All three individuals used various automated cash-out kiosks to retrieve the value of their tickets in $20 denominations.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the HSI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dwight Draughon and David I. Salem, who prosecuted the case.
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WDLA News Round-Up for the Week of April 5, 2021Read the Press Release
LAFAYETTE/MONROE/SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced the resolution of numerous cases this week in United States District Court in the Western District of Louisiana, all of which are listed below.
SENTENCING HEARING – LAFAYETTE
Eric J. Richard, 42, of Ville Platte, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to 71 months (6 years, 11 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute cocaine.
Richard was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2018 charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges in the indictment stemmed from an incident on October 25, 2017, when a Louisiana State Trooper conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Richard was driving on Interstate 10 in Calcasieu Parish. During the stop, a law enforcement canine performed a sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. Troopers searched Richard’s vehicle and found a white powdery substance, believed to be cocaine, inside a duffel bag belonging to Richard. The only other items inside the bag were a small set of scales and one shirt. The suspected cocaine was sent to the laboratory for analysis and it was confirmed that the substance found was 1,060 grams of cocaine.
The FBI and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING HEARING – MONROE
Dustin Jamond Savoie, 34, of Choudrant, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 180 months (15 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on drug trafficking and firearms charges. On January 17, 2020, Louisiana State Troopers observed a vehicle exceeding the speed limit near Ruston, Louisiana, activated his emergency lights and attempted to pull the driver over. The driver fled from officers and accelerated to a speed of over 110 mph. Once forced to stop, troopers deployed a police dog to remove the driver, who was identified as Savoie, from the vehicle. Troopers found inside Savoie’s vehicle a backpack containing a large amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia, as well as a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Further investigation revealed the firearm had been reported stolen in Lincoln Parish.
Savoie has prior felony convictions for distribution of marijuana (2011); possession of a controlled substance (2014); simple escape (2016); unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (2017); attempted possession of contraband in a penal institution (2017); and possession of controlled substances (2017) and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The ATF and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING HEARINGS – SHREVEPORT, LA
United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced the following individuals this week:
Claiborne Wayne Williams, 51, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 72 months (6 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on firearms charges. On November 13, 2019, Shreveport Police Department officers executed a search warrant at a room at the Royal Inn in Shreveport where Williams was present. When officers searched the room, they discovered several documents addressed to Williams, which were found near a revolver. Williams has prior felony convictions for conspiracy to launder drug proceeds and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine in Mississippi, and possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II CDS in Caddo Parish.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.
Jamarion Deandre Young, 29, of Shreveport, was sentenced to a total of 156 months (13 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug trafficking and firearms charges. On November 24, 2019 around 1:00 a.m., Shreveport Police Department officers observed a vehicle with no lights on traveling on Mansfield Road in Shreveport. Officers initiated a stop of the vehicle and made contact with the driver, who was Jamarion Young. Officers observed a pill bottle on the floorboard and asked Young to verify the pills were prescribed to him, which he could not. The pill bottle was retrieved and inside was suspected ecstasy pills. Young was placed in handcuffs and after being advised of his Miranda rights, stated there was no other contraband in the vehicle. However, officers observed a black bag in the back seat which contained marijuana, small clear baggies, and a digital scale, as well as other small bags with marijuana on the back seat of the vehicle. A loaded handgun was also found under the seat which came back as stolen out of Oklahoma. After a lab analysis, it was determined the ecstasy pills contained methamphetamine.
A federal grand jury indicted Young in August 2020 and he subsequently pleaded guilty on December 11, 2020 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime. Young’s prior felony convictions are for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance in Caddo Parish (2009); unauthorized use of a movable in Caddo Parish (2011); aggravated flight from an officer in Caddo Parish (2013); and illegal use of a weapon (2015).
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
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United States Intervenes in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Connections Community Support Programs, Inc.Read the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that the United States has filed a complaint in partial intervention against Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. (“Connections”) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The United States alleges that Connections violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid that falsely represented the identity and professional qualification of individuals providing mental health services.
Connections provides mental health treatment services at facilities located throughout Delaware. Medicare regulations and policies only allow providers to bill for mental health services rendered by individuals holding specific professional qualifications. Delaware Medicaid regulations and policies similarly condition whether mental health services can be reimbursed, and at which fee rate, on the professional qualification of the rendering provider.
The United States alleges that from at least January 2015 through October 2019, Connections submitted over 4,000 claims to Medicare in which it falsely certified that an individual holding an eligible qualification provided mental health services to Medicare beneficiaries when, in reality, a different Connections staff member who did not hold an eligible qualification provided the mental health service. With respect to Medicaid, the United States alleges that Connections submitted over 250,000 false claims that resulted in either full or partial overpayments due to Connections falsely certifying to the licensure or education level of the rendering provider. As a result of the false claims Connections submitted to Medicare and Medicaid, the United States alleges that Connections was paid more than $4,500,000 for mental health services for which it was not entitled to reimbursement.
“Federal healthcare regulations and policies that govern mental health services exist to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries are treated by qualified professionals,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. “We expect all providers to submit claims that are true, accurate, and complete, and entrust that they will do so. Connections violated that trust, and in the process, defrauded Medicare and Medicaid out of more than $4.5 million dollars. My office is committed to pursuing all providers who submit false claims to federal healthcare programs to obtain money to which they are not entitled.”
The original complaint was filed in 2019 under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and receive a share of any recovery. The act permits the United States to intervene in whole or in part in such actions, as the government has done here. Those who violate the Act are subject to treble damages and applicable penalties.
The matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Delaware Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The investigation and litigation are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura D. Hatcher and Jesse S. Wenger.
The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Spruill et al. v. Connections Community Support Programs, Inc., Case No. 19-475-CFC (D. Del.).
United States Brings Federal Controlled Substances Act Lawsuit Against Connections Community Support ProgramsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that the United States filed a civil complaint against Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. as well as three of its current and former corporate officers, Catherine Devaney McKay, William Northey, and Steven Davis, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The United States alleges that Connections and its corporate officers violated the Controlled Substances Act by negligently failing to keep required documentation of its distribution and dispensing of controlled substances, particularly methadone and buprenorphine used in Connections’ treatment of opioid use disorder. Each violation of the recordkeeping requirements under the Controlled Substances Act carries a civil penalty of up to $15,040.
During an inspection and audit in March 2019, diversion investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration determined that Connections was unable to provide records identifying the location of more than 244 bottles of methadone liquid and more than 1,100 doses of buprenorphine. Subsequent investigation revealed numerous additional citations from DEA at multiple Connections locations as well as dozens of additional violations not specifically identified in DEA inspections.
To ensure that prescription medications are not diverted for sale or abuse, the Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations impose strict reporting and recordkeeping requirements on the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of controlled substances. As detailed in the Complaint filed today, the United States alleges that Connections has a long history of negligent failure to maintain proper records, in addition to numerous instances in which required records were created after the fact and backdated to make it appear that they had been created at an earlier time. The United States also alleges that, on numerous occasions, Connections represented to DEA that it was undertaking additional measures to improve its compliance and then failed to do so.
The Complaint also alleges that McKay, Northey, and Davis, all of whom were corporate officers of Connections, negligently delegated responsibility for compliance with the Controlled Substances Act to individuals they knew were unqualified and ill-suited to those responsibilities, and that they failed to provide adequate training and supervision for those individuals.
“As one of the largest providers of substance abuse treatment in Delaware, Connections is well aware of the extent of the opioid crisis in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. “By failing for years to properly document their distribution and dispensing of controlled substances, Connections and its executives have shirked their responsibility to ensure that they were not contributing to the crisis by creating an environment in which their own inventory of controlled substances could be diverted for abuse or sale.”
“Narcotics treatment programs such as Connections Community Support Programs are entrusted with providing critical care and support to people struggling with opioid use disorder. Their mission is more vital than ever, especially during the current opioid crisis,” said Jonathan A. Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “With that responsibility comes the obligation to properly safeguard and document the dispensing of treatment drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine, which Connections and its corporate officers failed to do.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation and litigation are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura D. Hatcher and Dylan J. Steinberg.
The complaint contains allegations only, and not findings of liability.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Hold Virtual Meeting with AAPI Community Leaders to Confront Rising Discrimination Against Asian AmericansRead the Press Release
Detroit - The U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI met with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders to address the rising violence against Asian Americans.
Today, Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin along with Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters, and other law enforcement officials from their offices, participated in a listening session with approximately 20 Asian American community leaders, and members of civil rights organizations. The event took place virtually due to COVID-19 and covered topics including how the FBI conducts civil rights investigations, when cases can be prosecuted as federal hate crimes, and how incidents that do not rise to the level of a crime can be addressed through civil enforcement of federal civil rights laws.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to upholding and protecting the civil rights of Asian Americans and every citizen in this state,” said Acting US Attorney Mohsin. “Hate against any community should be a concern for every community. Federal law enforcement will take action against violence or threats of violence directed at anyone based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation."
“The FBI is committed to establishing trust and open communication and strengthening partnerships with communities across the State. It is important for all Michiganders to remember that any violent criminal act or threat against any person because of their race, color, religion or national origin is a hate crime. This includes violence against Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, or individuals from East Asian countries,” said Timothy Waters, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Anyone with knowledge of hate crimes against any member of our community is asked to report the incident to local police and/or the FBI.”
The event is one of many outreach efforts by the FBI and US Attorney’s Office to address discrimination, violence and harassment targeting people because of what they look like, which country they come from, where they worship or who they love. The aim is to learn directly from the affected community about their concerns and reaffirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting civil rights and preventing and prosecuting hate crimes.
Acting United States Attorney Saima S. Mohsin encourages anyone who has knowledge or information concerning any hate crime or incident involving bias or discrimination to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan by calling the Civil Rights Hotline at 313.226.9151 or by sending an email to [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition of Canadian Citizen for His Role in an International Fraud and Money Laundering NetworkRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that YUSUF OWOLABI ABDUL, a/k/a “Saheed Sador,” a citizen of Nigeria and a resident of Canada, was extradited today from Germany. ABDUL was charged with participation in a fraud scheme from at least in or about 2013 until at least April 2019 involving the theft and laundering of victim funds. ABDUL was arrested in Germany on December 11, 2020, on an Interpol Red Notice, and is the fifth defendant charged in this case. ABDUL is expected to be presented on Monday, April 12, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. ABDUL’s case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Yusuf Owolabi Abdul and his codefendants used a widely available telephone ‘spoofing’ service and other deceitful means to steal and conceal millions of dollars in victim funds. Thanks to the FBI and international cooperation, Abdul is in U.S. custody and facing charges in this District.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment [1]:
From at least 2013 through in or about 2018, ABDUL and various other conspirators, located in countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates (collectively, the “Conspirators”), were involved in a scheme to fraudulently access individuals’ and corporations’ bank accounts and to conduct financial transactions using those bank accounts without the knowledge or authority of the accounts’ legitimate owners (the “Bank Scheme”). As part of the Bank Scheme, the Conspirators placed thousands of calls to various United States banks, holding themselves out as legitimate accountholders of particular targeted bank accounts and using the stolen personal identifying information belonging to those accountholders. Using a particular telephone number “spoofing” service, and voice-altering technology, the Conspirators would deceive bank representatives into believing that the Conspirators were actual accountholders. In so doing, they convinced multiple U.S. banks to, among other things: move money from a victim’s savings account to the victim’s checking account (so that the Conspirators could more easily access the funds and conduct unauthorized transactions); falsely note on the account that the accountholder was traveling abroad (making the bank less likely to void suspicious international transactions made by the Conspirators); have “replacement” credit cards mailed to international addresses controlled by the Conspirators (whereupon the Conspirators could use them to make unauthorized purchases); and authorize foreign purchases made by the Conspirators.
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ABDUL, 45, a citizen of Nigeria and resident of Canada, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to the other charges. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Other defendants charged in this case include Alade Kazeem Sodiq, a/k/a “Eluku,” a citizen of the United Arab Emirates and Abdulai Kennedy Saaka, a/k/a “Kenny,” of Atlanta, Georgia, who each pled guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and were sentenced to 50 months in prison and 32 months in prison, respectively; Habeeb Audu, a/k/a “Dickson” whose case remains pending; and Dominic Francis Labiran, a citizen of the United Kingdom, who remains at large.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Germany.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher, Jonathan E. Rebold, and Andrew A. Rohrbach are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges against ABDUL, Audu, and Labiran contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and they are 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 below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Stoneham Residents Arrested on Charges of Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Stoneham residents were arrested today in connection with their alleged involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Daniel Maleus, 33, and Lilly Nguyen, 24, were charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Nguyen was also charged with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and lying to a federal agent. Maleus and Nguyen were released on conditions after an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, or gig economy workers).
As alleged in the complaint, Maleus and Nguyen conspired to file fraudulent claims for PUA using others’ personally identifiable information. The investigation connected Maleus and Nguyen to more than $400,000 in unemployment claims between April 2020 and March 2021. Nguyen also allegedly lied to a federal agent when questioned about pandemic-related deposits into her bank accounts in others’ names.
The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentenced imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of lying to a federal agent provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolanta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Nicaraguan Narcotic Smugglers Apprehended off the Coast of Columbia, in the Pacific Ocean Charged with Possessing More Than 3500 pounds of Marijuana on VesselRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Jonny Cadena Osorio and Morlin Moises Jaenstchke Calero, both of Nicaragua were charged with Conspiracy to Possess and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
The court filings allege that on March 27, 2021, the defendants were on board a vessel that was intercepted by a United States Coast Guard (USCG) cutter while on routine patrol. The vessel was sighted approximately 92 nautical miles off the coast of Isla De Malpelo, Colombia. The vessel did not have any display indicating its nationality.
A USCG helicopter reported packages being jettisoned from the vessel prior to its stop. Packages recovered from the ocean yielded 35 bales of suspected marijuana, an at-sea-weight of approximately 3,500 pounds.
The defendants made their initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida on April 8, 2021. They are being held on $250,000 bond and will later be transported to the District of the Virgin Islands for prosecution.
A criminal complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Two Mexican Nationals and Eight U.S. Citizens Indicted on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE - A federal grand jury in Anchorage returned an indictment that was unsealed this week charging two Mexican nationals and eight U.S. citizens for their roles in a drug trafficking organization.
Mexican National Rene Pompa-Villa, Christopher Pompa-Villa, Mexican National Victor Pompa-Villa, Carolos Camacho, Heydimar Marrero, Kimberly Mackey, Dustin Noonan, Tyler Landroche, Kyle Redpath and Jessica Twigg were indicted on multiple charges of distribution and intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl powder in a multi-state operation. Nine of the 10 individuals were arrested on April 7 – 8 and are currently awaiting arraignments. Victor Pompa-Villa remains at large.
According to court documents, Rene Pompa-Villa and Christopher Pompa-Villa are the alleged ring leaders of a lucrative drug trafficking and distribution organization in Anchorage and in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Beginning in March 2018 through October 2020, they regularly mailed large amounts of drugs to distributors throughout the country. They also deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds into various bank accounts. During the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement officers recovered about six kilograms of heroin, four kilograms of methamphetamine and four kilograms of fentanyl.
If convicted, the individuals face a maximum sentence of lifetime in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the indictment announcement today.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department are investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals had a significant role in making the arrests and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Tucson and San Diego played a critical role in the indictment of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Schroeder, Kelly Cavanaugh and Karen Vandergaw are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Fruit Belt Gang Members Plead Guilty to Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Antwaine Parker, 28, and Michael Woods, 32, both of Buffalo, NY, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that since August 2019, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force has been investigating the Fruit Belt Gang, whose members are allegedly actively engaged in the distribution of narcotics, firearms offenses, and gang activity. On July 1, 2020, Central Park Gang (CPG) member Shariff Jackson was murdered in Buffalo, and investigators believe that members of the Fruit Belt Gang were involved with Jackson's murder.
On July 4, 2020, defendants Parker and Woods were shot on Sycamore Avenue in Buffalo. Woods, who was shot in the head and spine, drove himself to the hospital, after throwing a gun from the scene. A 9mm handgun was recovered on the roof of a nearby building. Woods told investigators that he was driving in the area with an unnamed person when he was shot; he would not provide any additional information. Investigators believe the shooting could be the result of rival gang activity between CPG and the Fruit Belt.
In July 2020, both Woods and Parker posted photographs of themselves possessing firearms on social media accounts associated with them. Woods appeared to possess one gun, while Parker appeared to possess two guns.
On July 14, 2020, investigators, fearing potential violence in connection with it, conducted surveillance at the funeral of Shariff Jackson. At the same time, they also conducted surveillance of defendant Parker, who was in the vicinity of 28 Burnie Lane in the McCarley Gardens Apartments. During the surveillance, Woods was observed driving to the area were Parker was. After talking with Parker, Woods left the area. A short time later, a Buffalo Police Officer initiated a traffic stop of Woods’ vehicle. Woods told the officer that he had two guns in the vehicle and gave consent to search the vehicle. Officers recovered two loaded handguns. Woods was taken into custody and the handguns were seized. Subsequently, defendant Parker left the McCarley Gardens Apartments, and the Buffalo Police conducted a traffic stop. Parker’s vehicle, which had invalid license plates, was impounded, and Parker was ticketed for various vehicle and traffic violations. Investigators then searched 28 Burnie Lane and recovered two firearms in the basement. Investigators believe the two firearms seized are the same weapons depicted in the social media photo showing Parker with two firearms.
In April 2014, Parker was convicted in state court of Criminal Possession of a Weapon and sentenced to serve 42 months in prison. In March 2012, Woods was convicted in state court of Attempted Criminal Possession of Controlled Substances and sentenced to serve five years’ probation. In addition, Woods was sentenced in July 2015 to serve 84 months in prison after being convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a result, both defendants are legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Erie Crime Analysis Center, under the direction of Director Jamie Giammaresi.
Parker and Woods are each scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2021, before Judge Sinatra.
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Two Essex County Men Arrested for Fraudulent Debit Card SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County men were arrested today for their roles in a fraudulent debit card scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Alateef Perry, 43, of Newark, and Rajohn Dawkins, 25, of Irvington, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Both defendants are scheduled to make initial appearances this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From July 2019 through March 2020, Perry and Dawkins fraudulently used debit cards in the names of other individuals, without the cardholders’ consent or knowledge, to purchase diesel fuel for commercial truck drivers in exchange for cash. Perry and Dawkins met commercial truck drivers at multiple gas stations in New Jersey, including gas stations located in Hanover and Middlesex. Perry and Dawkins used the unauthorized debit cards to fill the drivers’ commercial trucks with diesel fuel. The truck drivers then typically paid Perry and Dawkins a fraction of the fuel’s purchase price in cash, which Perry and Dawkins pocketed. Perry and Dawkins used over 500 unauthorized debit cards and ultimately stole over $220,000.
The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison and a maximum potential fine of $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt, with the investigation leading to today’s arrests. She also thanked inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins; the Township of Hanover Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark D. Roddy, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, for their assistance with this investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Truxton Woman Sentenced to 31 Months for ArsonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, Angelica Nebria Malena Chalepah, 21, of Truxton, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 31 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chalepah previously pleaded guilty to Arson.
On March 18, 2019, Chalepah set fire to a duplex residence located on the Havasupai Indian reservation. Chalepah had become angry with residents of the home and set it on fire after an argument, burning it to the ground. The two families who resided in the duplex were not home during the fire.
The victims are enrolled members of the Havasupai Indian Tribe. Chalepah is an enrolled member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-8227-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-024_Chalepah# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Men Indicted for $30 Million Foreign Exchange Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment Thursday charging two U.S. citizens and a Dutch national with conducting a foreign exchange trading scheme to steal $30 million from their investor victims.
According to court documents, Patrick Gallagher, 44, of Middleborough, Massachusetts, Michael Dion, 49, of Orlando, Florida, and Emade Echadi, 41, a resident of the Netherlands, allegedly devised a scheme in which Dion and Gallagher would solicit victims to invest in their foreign exchange company, Global Forex Management, by promising them large returns based on fabricated prior trading results. The defendants allegedly told the victims that their funds would be traded using an online trading platform provided by Echadi’s company, IB Capital. However, according to the indictment, Gallagher, Dion, and Echadi instead were working together to steal the victim investors’ money. In May 2012, they allegedly executed their scheme by intentionally creating losing trades for the investors and stole $30 million from their victims. After fabricating the massive trading loss, the defendants allegedly concealed the scheme from victims by creating fraudulent trading records and then routed the stolen money through shell companies they had set up all over the world.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and 20 years in prison for each of the other charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Inspector in Charge Delany E. De Leon-Colón of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement.
Trial Attorneys Brittain Shaw and Vasanth Sridharan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Defendants Plead Guilty in Virtual Education Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Thursday, April 8, 2021, three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Alabama State Department of Education (ASDE) by falsely inflating the number of students enrolled in public virtual schools, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.
The defendants who pleaded guilty are: (1) Thomas Michael Sisk, 55, of Toney, Alabama and formerly the superintendent of LCS; (2) Gregory Earl Corkren, 56, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and (3) David Webb Tutt, 61, of Uniontown, Alabama.
The indictment charges that the superintendents of the Athens City Schools district (ACS) and the Limestone County Schools district (LCS) conspired to fraudulently include in public virtual schools students who were in reality full-time students of private schools located in other parts of the state. As a result of reporting these fraudulently enrolled students, districts received payments from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund as if the students actually attended public schools. The various defendants then received, for their own personal use, portions of the state money. The defendants skimmed the state money through direct cash payments and through payments to third-party contractors owned by the various co-conspirators.
To obtain private school student information for use in the scheme, the defendants offered various benefits to private schools, most of which were located in Alabama’s Black Belt region. Those benefits included: laptop computers, access to online curriculum, standardized testing, and monetary payments. The students whose identities were used in the scheme had little to no connection to the public school districts. Those students continued to attend brick-and-mortar private schools each day; they continued to participate in private school athletics; and their parents continued to pay tuition to the private schools.
During his plea hearing, Sisk admitted that, in 2016, his co-defendant, William L. “Trey” Holladay, III, then the superintendent of neighboring ACS, suggested that Sisk could obtain more students for his virtual school by contracting with a company owned by Holladay’s friend, Corkren. Sisk admitted that he and Holladay were trying to add students to their enrollments to offset local tax revenue that was being lost to neighboring school districts. Sisk testified that when Holladay referred him to Corkren, Holladay suggested to him that Corkren would also be willing to make payments to Sisk personally. According to Sisk, he then contracted with Corkren and Corkren provided private school student information to be used to falsely enroll the students in the Limestone County Virtual School. These students remained falsely enrolled during the 2016-2017 school year. Throughout the year, Holladay assisted Sisk in making sure that the scheme went undetected. Additionally, Sisk admitted that he directed Corkren to pay approximately $13,000.00 to a charity with which he was affiliated. That money eventually found its way to Sisk, and Sisk used it for personal expenses including trips to New Orleans and Denver.
Corkren admitted in his guilty plea that in around 2016, he agreed with Trey Holladay to form a company and then serve as an intermediary between ACS and the various private schools. Corkren acknowledged providing computers, checks, and other benefits to the private schools in exchange for student information. He also stated that, at the direction of Trey Holladay, he prepared false documents regarding the private school students’ performances in virtual courses. The documents were false in that they showed that the students were completing virtual courses when in fact the students were not doing so and were instead taking traditional courses. Trey Holladay then submitted these false documents to the ASDE. For his work, Corkren explained that he received per-student payments from ACS and the other public school districts. Corkren then gave cash payments to Trey Holladay and co-defendant William Richard “Rick” Carter. Corkren described meeting Carter in Troy, Alabama on one occasion in June of 2017 and giving Carter cash on that day. Corkren’s plea agreement states that Corkren personally received in excess of $500,000.00 from the scheme. Additionally, over the course of the conspiracy, he paid Trey Holladay approximately $90,000.00 in cash and he paid Rick Carter approximately $21,000.00 in cash.
During his plea hearing, Tutt stated that, in 2017, Trey Holladay invited him to participate in the conspiracy by recruiting additional private schools to provide student information. Tutt agreed to do so. Tutt testified that he received monthly payments from Corkren’s company in the amount of $33,000.00. At the direction of Trey Holladay, he paid half of each payment, or $16,500.00, to a company owned by Trey Holladay’s wife, co-defendant Deborah Irby Holladay. Tutt did not know what work Deborah Holladay was doing for this money.
At some upcoming date, the defendants will be sentenced. Each of the three defendants listed above pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit offenses against the United States and, as a result, faces a maximum five-year sentence. Additionally, Corkren pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and could receive an additional two-year sentence for that offense.
The remaining individuals—Trey Holladay, Deborah Holladay, and Rick Carter—are scheduled for a trial beginning on September 13, 2021 in Montgomery. An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed. These remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General. The Alabama Attorney General’s Office also assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Alice S. LaCour, and Brett J. Talley are prosecuting the case.
Three Charged in Connection with Louisville Carjacking and Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced today that three Louisville, Kentucky, men have been charged by a federal Grand Jury in a six-count superseding indictment.
“I commend the FBI, HSI, and LMPD for their work in identifying, investigating, and apprehending the defendants who now stand charged with serious violations of federal law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bennett.
“This investigation highlights the efforts of the Violent Crime Task Force in identifying, investigating, and ultimately arresting our most violent offenders,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown. “The defendants in this case are alleged to have taken advantage of innocent bystanders, including children, for their own personal gain. This is just one example of how FBI Louisville is working diligently with our partners to protect the public from violent crime.”
According to the superseding indictment returned on February 23, 2021, Bruno Castillo-Juarez, 19, has been charged with carjacking a Honda Civic on August 27, 2020, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the carjacking. Castillo-Juarez was also charged with receiving and distributing child pornography on that same day.
The Grand Jury also charged Ruben Hernandez, 19, with production of child pornography, and Darrin Ammons, 51, with receipt of child pornography.
The charge of carjacking carries a term of imprisonment of no more than 15 years; brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence carries a term of imprisonment of no less than 7 years and no more than life; production of child pornography carries a term of no less than 15 years and no more than 30 years; and receipt and/or distribution of child pornography carries a term of imprisonment of no less than 5 years and no more than 20 years.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ann Marie Blaylock and A. Spencer McKiness. The FBI Louisville Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) are investigating this case.
This case falls with the purview of the Violent Crime Task Force. The partners on the task force include: The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), HSI, LMPD, the Kentucky State Police, the Jefferson Co. Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Third Anniversary of "Operation 922" Sees 149 Defendants Charged with Federal Crimes in Domestic Violence-Derived CasesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY — This week, five defendants were charged in separate and unrelated cases, demonstrating the continued commitment to, and benefit of, the Western District of Oklahoma’s "Operation 922" domestic violence initiative, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Nationally, these prosecutions are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction initiative. Through PSN, partnering law enforcement agencies identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and develop comprehensive solutions for lasting crime reductions.
"Operation 922" is the local implementation of the PSN initiative in the Western District of Oklahoma. Specifically, "Operation 922" focuses on domestic violence abusers who are found in possession of firearms or ammunition. This initiative stems from the federal prosecutors’ use of Title 18, United States Code Section 922, in which Congress has prohibited the possession of firearms and ammunition by various categories of individuals, such as those who are prior convicted felons, are subject to a victim Protection Order, are previously convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and are unlawfully using or addicted to controlled substances. By targeting the subject matter of domestic abuse and focusing on particularly violent domestic abusers, "Operation 922" does not directly or indirectly target any geographic area, socio-economic status, educational level, or ethnicity, because domestic abuse occurs in all neighborhoods, cities, and rural areas throughout the Western District of Oklahoma, including Indian Country.
This is the third anniversary since "Operation 922" began in March of 2018. Over this period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 149 defendants from 17 different counties in domestic violence-derived cases. Of those charged cases, 127 defendants have already been convicted or entered guilty pleas. Of those convicted, 98 defendants have been sentenced to an average of 76.5 months in federal prison. As a result, 211 guns and 3,367 rounds of ammunition have been seized from these defendants. Although this initiative targets domestic violence-derived cases, a closer review reflects that one-third of the “Operation 922” defendants charged are affiliated with one of 22 different gangs.
"Operation 922" is the result of a collaborative partnership with law enforcement and non-governmental entities in the Western District of Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, Oklahoma City Police Department, United States Marshals Service, Palomar Family Justice Center, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
"The safety of Oklahoma neighborhoods depends first on the safety in our homes," said Acting U.S. Attorney Troester. "When law enforcement has answered repeated calls for help from domestic violence victims, and the domestic abuser is now in possession of a firearm, that next call to law enforcement may be lifechanging for the victim or the responding officer. That is the crucial point when officers have the opportunity to remove illegally possessed guns from those abusers with a domestic violence history. We are confident that our prosecutions are saving the lives of victims and of officers who are called to respond. I am grateful for the dedicated efforts of Deputy Criminal Chief Lori Hines, who leads this initiative in our office, and our partners with whom we join forces to combat domestic violence throughout Oklahoma."
"Domestic violence impacts all parts of our community and is a priority for the police department," said OCPD Police Chief Wade Gourley. “Without strong partnerships we would be unable to successfully prosecute and reduce the damage caused by violence in the home. Operation 922 has become an extremely valuable resource in dealing with domestic violence and has truly saved lives. When firearms are involved in domestic abuse, statistics show the outcomes are far more likely to be fatal. Through our partnerships and strong support from the Family Justice Center, we protect victims and stop the cycle of violence in the home."
"Operation 922 is an invaluable partnership that is saving lives," said Kim Garrett, CEO of Palomar Family Justice Center. "When abusers are held accountable, it is a powerful message to survivors: you matter, you are valued, we care about your safety. We are proud to be a part of this life-saving collaboration and commend the U.S. Attorney’s office on their commitment to public safety."
This week, federal charges were filed in the following five separate and unrelated cases as part of "Operation 922":
- RYAN EVERETT O’NEAL, 29, of Duncan, was charged by Complaint on April 6, 2021, with assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian County, after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. If convicted, O’Neal faces up to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.
- XAVION RAYELL THOMPSON, 23, of Edmond, was indicted on April 8, 2021, for illegal possession a firearm, while subject to a victim Protection Order issued out of Logan County that restrained him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner. If convicted, Thompson faces up to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.
- PATRICK SEAN HICKS, 39, of Del City, was indicted on April 8, 2021, for illegal possession a firearm as a convicted felon, and while subject to a victim Protection Order issued out of Oklahoma County that restrained him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner. If convicted, Hicks faces up to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.
- JUSTIN DALE JACKSON, 32, of Oklahoma City, was indicted on April 8, 2021, for illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, after allegedly threatening his former girlfriend. If convicted, Jackson faces up to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.
- GEORGE MORALES SANCHEZ, 41, of Oklahoma City, was indicted on April 8, 2021, for the illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Sanchez faces up to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Texas Man Charged with Intent to Attack Data CentersRead the Press Release
A Wichita Falls man who allegedly plotted to blow up a data center in Virginia has been charged with a malicious attempt to destroy a building with an explosive, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
Seth Aaron Pendley, 28, was arrested on Thursday after allegedly attempting to obtain an explosive device from an undercover FBI employee in Fort Worth. He was charged via criminal complaint and made his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton Friday morning.
“We are indebted to the concerned citizen who came forward to report the defendant’s alarming online rhetoric. In flagging his posts to the FBI, this individual may have saved the lives of a number of tech workers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “We are also incredibly proud of our FBI partners, who ensured that the defendant was apprehended with an inert explosive device before he could inflict real harm. The Justice Department is determined to apprehend domestic extremists who intend to commit violence, no matter what political sentiment drives them to do so.”
“The FBI’s highest priority is ensuring public safety and we thoroughly investigate all credible threats,” said Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “We continually ask the public to report suspicious or threatening behavior to law enforcement, and in this instance, that vigilance may have prevented injuries and the destruction of property.”
According to the complaint, the investigation began after a concerned citizen contacted the FBI on Jan. 8 about alarming statements posted on MyMilitia.com, a forum dedicated to organizing militia groups.
A user who went by the screenname “Dionysus” stated he was planning to “conduct a little experiment,” that he said would “draw a lot of heat” and could be “dangerous.” When another user asked what outcome Dionysus desired, he responded, “death.”
A confidential source provided the FBI with the user’s email address, which was registered to Mr. Pendley.
A subsequent search of the defendant’s Facebook account showed that he had boasted about being at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
In private messages, he allegedly told friends that although he did not actually enter the Capitol building, he did reach the “platform,” where he swiped a piece of glass from a broken window and interacted with police. He said he brought a sawed-off AR rifle to D.C., but left the weapon in his car during his movement to the Capitol.
In late January, Mr. Pendley began using Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to communicate with another confidential source. The source told the FBI that Mr. Pendley allegedly stated he planned to use C-4 plastic explosives to attack prominent tech company's data centers in an attempt to “kill of about 70% of the internet.”
On March 31, the confidential source introduced Mr. Pendley to an individual who he claimed was his explosives supplier. In actuality, the man was an undercover FBI employee.
In recorded conversations, Mr. Pendley allegedly told the undercover he planned to attack web servers that he believed provided services to the FBI, CIA, and other federal agencies. He said he hoped to bring down “the oligarchy” currently in power in the United States.
On April 8, Mr. Pendley again met with the undercover FBI employee to pick up what he believed to be explosive devices. (In actuality, however, the undercover gave Mr. Pendley inert devices.) After the agent showed Mr. Pendley how to arm and detonate the devices, the defendant loaded them into his car. Mr. Pendley was then arrested by FBI agents who monitored the delivery of the inert devices.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Pendley is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office, Wichita Falls Resident Agency and FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Boudreau of the Northern District of Texas is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Alexandra Hughes of the National Security Division.
UPDATE (4/14/21): Mr. Pendley has been ordered detained pending trial.
Terrebonne Parish Man Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that CAESAR RAYMON WILLIAMS, 41, from Terrebonne Parish, was charged in a 5-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with distribution of, and possession with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base, “crack cocaine,” in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
If convicted of these narcotics trafficking charges, WILLIAMS faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Houma Police Department, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Bücher.
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Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man from a north suburb of Chicago was sentenced today to more than 13 years in federal prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham, a foreign terrorist organization also known as ISIS.
U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood imposed the 162-month sentence on EDWARD SCHIMENTI, 39, of Zion, Ill. A jury in 2019 convicted Schimenti on one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to ISIS, and one count of making false statements to the FBI.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Zion, Ill., Police Department provided valuable assistance. The case was investigated by the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and David Rojas of the Northern District of Illinois, and Trial Attorney Alexandra S. Hughes of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Evidence at trial revealed that Schimenti advocated on social media for violent extremism in support of the terrorist group. In 2015, Schimenti began meeting with undercover FBI employees and individuals who, unbeknownst to Schimenti, were cooperating with law enforcement. During the meetings, Schimenti discussed his devotion to ISIS and his commitment to ISIS principles.
In 2017, Schimenti furnished cellular phones to one of the cooperating individuals, believing the phones would be used to detonate explosive devices in ISIS attacks overseas. On April 7, 2017, Schimenti drove with the cooperating individual to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, with the understanding that the cooperating individual would be traveling to Syria to fight with ISIS.
A co-defendant, JOSEPH D. JONES, 39, of Zion, Ill., was also convicted of the conspiracy charge. Judge Wood last month sentenced Jones to 12 years in federal prison.
Statement by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the President’s FY22 Discretionary Funding RequestRead the Press Release
The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s priorities for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending. The funding request invests in the core foundations of our country’s strength and advances key Justice Department priorities, including increasing funding for federal civil rights enforcement, addressing the rise of domestic terrorism, combatting gun violence and reforming criminal justice systems.
“The President’s proposed funding request prioritizes resources the Justice Department needs to advance its mission of ensuring equal justice under law,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This proposal makes critical investments in a wide range of departmental priorities, including strengthening civil rights enforcement and defending against domestic and international terrorism.”
The President’s 2022 discretionary request:
- Reinvigorates Federal Civil Rights Enforcement. In order to protect marginalized communities, the discretionary request invests $209 million, an increase of $33 million, in the department’s Civil Rights Division, Community Relations Service, and other programs. These funds would support: police reform; the prosecution of hate crimes across the nation, and especially in communities uniquely impacted by bias, xenophobia, and driven by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, such as Asian-American communities; the enforcement of voting rights in the Civil Rights Division; mediation and conciliation services for community conflicts arising from discriminatory practices; and other activities.
- Addresses Domestic Terrorism. The discretionary request provides an additional $101 million to address the rising threat of domestic terrorism while respecting civil rights and civil liberties. This increase includes $45 million for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for domestic terrorism investigations, $40 million for the U.S. Attorneys to manage increasing domestic terrorism caseloads, $12 million for additional response capabilities at the U.S. Marshals Service, and $4 million to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to support research on domestic terrorism threats. These investments complement funding provided for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Combats the Gun Violence Public Health Epidemic. The discretionary request includes $2.1 billion, an increase of $232 million above the 2021 enacted level, for DOJ to address the gun violence public health crisis plaguing communities across the nation. Investments include $401 million in state and local grants, an increase of $162 million or 68 percent above the 2021 enacted level.
- Invests in Community Policing, Police Reform, and Other Efforts to Address Systemic Inequities. Policies that create strong, positive ties between law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to making the nation’s communities safer and to rooting out systemic inequities in the justice system. The discretionary request provides $1.2 billion, an increase of $304 million, to support a range of programs supporting police-community relationships, including the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program and programs that support community-oriented policing policies and practices, such as racial sensitivity and implicit bias training and additional support for hate crime training and police innovation programs.
- Invests in Efforts to End Gender-Based Violence. The discretionary request proposes a historic investment of $1 billion to support Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs at DOJ, a $487 million or 95-percent increase over the 2021 enacted level. This funding supports substantial increases for longstanding VAWA programs, in addition to funding for new programs to expand restorative justice efforts, protect transgender victims, and support women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges.
These discretionary investments reflect only one element of the President’s broader agenda. In the coming months, the Administration will release the President’s Budget, which will present a unified, comprehensive plan to address the overlapping crises we face in a fiscally and economically responsible way.
For more information on the President’s FY22 discretionary funding request, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/FY-2022-Discretionary-Request/.
Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, Inc. Agrees to Pay $30,000 and Implement Compliance Improvements to Resolve Claims it Failed to Return Community Service Grant Funds to the United StatesRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY & PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorneys Sandra J. Stewart and Jennifer Arbittier Williams jointly announced that Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, Inc. (“SEACAP”) has agreed to pay $30,000 and to implement enhanced compliance measures to resolve claims arising from SEACAP’s administration of community service grants funded through AmeriCorps (formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service).
For years, SEACAP has administered multiple grants in AmeriCorps’ Senior Corps program. These grants included the Foster Grandparent Program, which places seniors in school and community settings to serve youth with exceptional needs. Like other federal grant recipients, SEACAP is subject to various administrative requirements, including an annual audit by an outside accountant.
The settlement resolves claims that SEACAP improperly retained federal funds even after being told by its outside accountant that it needed to return those funds to the United States. After SEACAP received a Civil Investigative Demand for information relating to its grant administration, it actively cooperated with the United States’ investigation, including by producing detailed financial and administrative documentation. The United States reached an ability-to-pay agreement with SEACAP to repay what it could without using federal funds and to significantly enhance its compliance efforts.
“Each day, the Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership supports impoverished Alabamans, helping families to find food, obtain school supplies, and meet unexpected utility and other costs. The federal government relies on its non-profit partners to help ensure that federal grant funds are being used to assist their communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Today’s settlement is a reminder that everyone receiving federal grant funds must adhere to grant compliance conditions and return funds to the government to help others when those conditions require them to do so.”
“Every federal grantee, including community service organizations, is required to honestly and openly account for federal funds. This obligation is at the heart of the relationship between the United States and federal grantees,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Federal grantees are obliged to return funds to the United States if they determine that they have not been spent properly or fully drawn down. Strict compliance with grant requirements ensures that federal funds reach those who need them most.”
“SEACAP learned from its accountants that the organization owed money to CNCS (now known as AmeriCorps), but neither returned the money nor informed CNCS of the debt. Wrongfully retaining those funds prevented another organization from using them to meet the needs of its community,” said Deborah J, Jeffrey, Inspector General of AmeriCorps. “We intend SEACAP’s new integrity measures to strengthen the organization and ensure that this never happens again, and we appreciate the work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Alabama for holding SEACAP accountable and ensuring the integrity of this AmeriCorps program.”
Acting United States Attorneys Stewart and Williams also praised SEACAP’s agreement to enhance its compliance program: “We commend Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, Inc. for taking the serious steps necessary to make sure this issue never recurs. We hope the compliance measures it has undertaken will be a model for other grantees looking to meet their responsibilities to the United States.”
This investigation was conducted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Alabama with the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul W. Kaufman and Bryan C. Hughes of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Stephen Wadsworth of the Middle District of Alabama handled the investigation and settlement. This case was initiated as a part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Strike Force focus on grant fraud.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
JENNIFER CRANDALL
Media Contact
215-861-8300
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106DOUGLAS HOWARD
Media Contact
334-551-1706
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
131 Clayton Street
Montgomery, AL 36104Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, Inc. Agrees to Pay $30,000 and Implement Compliance Improvements to Resolve Claims It Failed to Return Community Service Grant Funds to the United StatesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA and MONTGOMERY – Acting United States Attorneys Jennifer Arbittier Williams and Sandra Stewart jointly announced that Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, Inc. (“SEACAP”) has agreed to pay $30,000 and to implement enhanced compliance measures to resolve claims arising from SEACAP’s administration of community service grants funded through AmeriCorps (formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service).
For years, SEACAP has administered multiple grants in AmeriCorps’ Senior Corps program. These grants included the Foster Grandparent Program, which places senior citizens in school and community settings to serve youth with exceptional needs. Like other federal grant recipients, SEACAP is subject to various administrative requirements, including an annual audit by an outside accountant.
The settlement resolves claims that SEACAP improperly retained federal funds even after being told by its outside accountant that it needed to return those funds to the United States. After SEACAP received a Civil Investigative Demand for information relating to its grant administration, it actively cooperated with the United States’ investigation, including by producing detailed financial and administrative documentation. The United States reached an ability-to-pay agreement with SEACAP to repay what it could without using any other federal funds it has received for its operations, and to significantly enhance its compliance efforts.
“Every federal grantee, including community service organizations, is required to honestly and openly account for federal funds. This obligation is at the heart of the relationship between the United States and organizations that receive federal grant money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Federal grantees are obliged to return funds to the United States if the funds have not been spent properly or fully drawn down. Strict compliance with grant requirements ensures that federal funds reach those who need them most.”
“Each day, the Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership supports impoverished Alabamans, helping families to find food, obtain school supplies, and meet unexpected utility and other costs. The federal government relies on its non-profit partners to help ensure that federal grant funds are being used to assist their communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Today’s settlement is a reminder that everyone receiving federal grant funds must adhere to grant compliance conditions and return funds to the government to help others when those conditions require them to do so.”
“SEACAP learned from its accountants that the organization owed money to CNCS (now known as AmeriCorps), but neither returned the money nor informed CNCS of the debt. Wrongfully retaining those funds prevented another organization from using them to meet the needs of its community,” said Deborah J, Jeffrey, Inspector General of AmeriCorps. “We intend SEACAP’s new integrity measures to strengthen the organization and ensure that this never happens again, and we appreciate the work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Alabama for holding SEACAP accountable and ensuring the integrity of this AmeriCorps program.”
Acting United States Attorneys Williams and Stewart also praised SEACAP’s agreement to enhance its compliance program: “We commend Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership, Inc. for taking the serious steps necessary to make sure this issue never recurs. We hope the compliance measures it has undertaken will be a model for other grantees looking to meet their responsibilities to the United States.”
This investigation was conducted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Alabama with the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul W. Kaufman and Bryan C. Hughes of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Stephen Wadsworth of the Middle District of Alabama handled the investigation and settlement. This case was initiated as a part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Strike Force focus on grant fraud.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
South Florida Man Indicted for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – A South Florida man appeared today before a federal magistrate judge in Miami to face an indictment charging him with conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.
According to the indictment, Erick Calderon 40, of Westlake, Florida, owned a construction company, SUTS Contractors, Inc. and was employed at two other construction companies, Global Drywall Services, LLC. and IWES Contractors, Inc. Between February 2015 and September 2015, Calderon and others paid these companies’ construction workers in cash through a shell company, El Valle, says the indictment. El Valle fraudulently posed as a subcontractor of SUTS, Global Drywall, and IWES, which allowed those companies to write checks to El Valle for services purportedly performed. According to the indictment, the checks were then cashed at various check cashing stores in Miami-Dade County and the cash was returned to Calderon, who in turn, paid the companies’ workers in cash. It is alleged that the scheme minimized the payment of federal employment taxes by SUTS, Global Drywall, and IWES and caused them to underreport wages performed on construction jobs by these construction companies to the IRS.
If convicted, Calderon faces up to five years of imprisonment.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Tyler R. Hatcher, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Miami Field Office, and Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by IRS-CI in Miami and DOL-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lois Foster-Steers.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20183.
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Sioux Falls Man Charged with Multiple Fraud Counts regarding Pandemic Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Bank Fraud, Attempted Bank Fraud, False Statement to a Financial Institution; Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity, and False Statement.
James Bunker, d/b/a Genuine Builders, Inc., d/b/a Tri-State Ag Services, LLC, d/b/a Falls Framing, LLC, and d/b/a No. 18, LLC, age 50, was indicted on April 6, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 8, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and up to $1,200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Bunker defrauded or attempted to defraud banks in connection with his efforts to acquire loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, or the Main Street Lending Program that relate to pandemic relief programs. The Indictment also alleges that Bunker submitted or caused to be submitted false financial documents to the banks and lied on loan forgiveness applications submitted to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The charges are merely accusations and Bunker is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery is also assisting in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Bunker was released on bond pending trial which has been set for June 15, 2021.
Sault Ste. Marie Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced that Ralph Fletcher Hepner, Jr., 53, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 360 months’ imprisonment for abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of twelve. In addition to the prison term, U.S District Judge Paul L. Maloney ordered Hepner to serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison and to have no contact with the victim.
“The federal penalties for hands-on sexual abuse of a child under twelve are severe because the crime is so awful,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “While children are resilient in many ways, they are robbed of their innocence and the trauma from this sort of offense endures for years. This sentence sends a strong deterrent message and will keep the victim and other potential victims safe from Hepner for years.”
The charge arose from an incident in early 2018, in which Hepner sexually abused a nine-year-old child at his home on the Sault Ste. Marie reservation. Sault Ste. Marie law enforcement became aware of the incident when the victim reported the abuse to a relative. After an extensive investigation, a federal grand jury indicted Hepner. He entered a plea of guilty to the abusive sexual contact charge on December 14, 2020.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Police and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah N. Bobee prosecuted the case.
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Russell County Man Sentenced for Possessing, Selling ExplosivesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Castlewood, Virginia man, who illegally possessed military grade explosives, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to 72 months in federal prison, Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Charlie Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division (ATF) announced.
Thomas Blake Hill, 21, pleaded guilty in November 2020 to two counts of possessing and selling explosive materials that had been shipped in interstate or foreign commerce.
Hill, a convicted felon, attempted to trade military grade C-4 explosives M-60 ignitors for methamphetamine.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Virginia State Police and the Sheriff’s Offices of Russell and Washington County. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case for the United States.
Rotterdam Man Sentenced to 136 Months for Attempted Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Randy Eignor, age 50, of Rotterdam, New York, was sentenced today to 136 months in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for attempted online enticement of a minor.
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 previously entered guilty plea, Eignor admitted that he attempted to entice and coerce an individual, whom he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, to engage in sex. After days of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with the person whom he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, Eignor arranged to meet her in Colonie, where Eignor was arrested on February 12, 2020.
In sentencing Eignor, United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino specifically found that Eignor had previously engaged in a pattern of activity involving prohibited sexual conduct, which included his having molested three children placed in his care.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, the Colonie Police Department, and the Rotterdam Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s’ offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
Romanian National Extradited to U.S. for Multi-State ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Romanian national was extradited from Germany to the District of Massachusetts to face racketeering conspiracy charges relating to an ATM skimming operation throughout Massachusetts and other states including Connecticut, New York and South Carolina.
Dragush Nelo Hornea, 26, was charged in a May 2017 indictment on one count of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (more commonly known as RICO conspiracy) and one count of conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices. Dragush Hornea was detained in federal custody following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, Dragush Hornea was a member of the Hornea Crew (Crew), led by co-conspirators Constantin Denis Hornea and Ludemis Hornea, and engaged in ATM skimming – obtaining debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting bank customers, creating counterfeit cards, and making unauthorized withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts. In total, the skimming activities resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
Specifically, it is alleged that over a period of 18 months, Dragush Hornea and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to steal debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting ATM customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia and other locations within the United States. In particular, members of the Crew installed skimming devices in the following locations: Amherst, Bellingham, Billerica, Braintree, Chicopee, Quincy, Southwick, Waltham, Weymouth, and Whately, Mass.; Enfield, Conn.; Columbia, Greenville, Greenwood, Mauldin, and Saluda, S.C.; Savannah, Ga.; and Yadkinville, N.C. The stolen information was then used by Hornea and other coconspirators to clone the victim customers’ debit cards and make unauthorized withdrawals from those victim customers’ bank accounts at ATMs throughout the United States.
Dragush Hornea was charged with 13 co-defendants in a May 2017 indictment. Thus far, all co-defendants have been convicted and those sentenced have received sentences ranging from one year and one day to 65 months in prison.
The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; John Gibbon, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was also provided by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Service; Massachusetts Department of Correction; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Amherst, Billerica, Braintree, Boston, Quincy, Southwick, Waltham, Whately, and Westwood Police Departments; Connecticut State Police; Greenwich Police Department; the New York City Police Department; Houston Police Department; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Department; Florence and Saluda (South Carolina) Police Departments; and the Solicitor’s Offices of Greenville and Saluda Counties. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictments are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rochester Man Arrested, Accused of Setting Off Explosive Devices in A City NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that James A. Pane, 50, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with using the mails to threaten to attempt to kill, injure, or intimidate or unlawfully damage or destroy property by means of explosive, and mailing threatening communications. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, between January 20 and February 2, 2021, numerous explosions were heard and seen by neighbors living in the area of Falleson Road in the City of Rochester. After responding to reports of explosions by residents on Leander Road near Falleson Road, the Rochester Fire and Police Departments, on January 23, 2021, responded to the area to investigate what may have caused the explosions. Officers noted that they believed at least one of the explosions took place in front of a residence on nearby Falleson Road. On February 2, 2021, numerous neighbors called 911 around 2:37 a.m., after another boom noise shook the neighboring houses. Investigators obtained doorbell surveillance video from the area and observed a dark-reddish-colored pick-up truck in the area at the time of the explosions. Subsequent investigation determined that a residence on Falleson Road was the target of the explosions. One occupant of the residence told investigators that he had a falling out with a lifelong friend identified as the defendant. A records check determined that Pane drives a red pick-up truck.
Between February 24, 2021, and March 9, 2021, investigators were notified that numerous neighbors in the Falleson Road/Leander Road neighborhood received letters addressed to the “homeowner.” The envelopes were plain white envelopes with no return address. Inside each envelope was a single piece of regular sized white paper with large printed words stating: “I don’t mean to bother you people in this neighborhood. But the little (expletive) crack head at *** Falleson owes me a lot of money for drugs. He is a liar and a thief. He burned down his fathers cottage in the 1000 island for the insurance money, which he was suppose to pay me off with. He didn’t. I will keep throwing bombs off in his yard until he pays.call the cops they won’t catch me.” During the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered a list of addresses from the defendant’s garbage tote. The list included a number of the Falleson and Leander Road residences that received the letters.
On April 8, 2021, a search warrant was executed on Pane’s Harding Road residence and his red pick-up truck. Investigators recovered materials used in assembling the explosive devices. The defendant was arrested following the execution of the search warrants.
Pane made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing on April 13, 2021.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan, the Rochester Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr., and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard. Additional assistance was provided by the Buffalo and Syracuse Resident Offices of the ATF.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Rineyville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison After Being Caught During Sting OperationRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Melvin Dowell, 55, previously pled guilty before United States District Judge David J. Hale for attempted online enticement and transfer of obscene material to a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. Yesterday, Judge Hale sentenced Dowell to 10 years in prison followed by a 10-year term of Supervised Release, ordered payment of a $5,000 Special Penalty Assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and imposed a $12,000 fine. Dowell will be required to register as a sex offender.
“Outstanding effort by AUSA Lawless and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners on a successful investigation and prosecution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bennett. “I am grateful for their dedication and the work they do to protect the children of the Commonwealth from sexual exploitation and abuse.”
“This case reminds us that predators will use any means necessary to exploit children, and it’s important for parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about online safety,” said Attorney General Cameron. “I appreciate the work of our Department of Criminal Investigations and our law enforcement partners in identifying and stopping this predator, and I am grateful to Acting U.S. Attorney Bennett and his team for prosecuting the case.”
According to the Plea Agreement, on August 14, 2019, a Detective with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations posed as a 15-year-old girl. That same day, an unknown subject (later identified as Dowell), reached out to the UC. The two communicated over e-mail and eventually text message. Dowell directed the conversations to a sexual nature. He requested “naked” images of the UC, requested details about her sexual history, sent sexually explicit images of himself, and requested to meet the girl to engage in sex acts.
On August 30, 2019, law enforcement officials agreed to meet Dowell at a predetermined location in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Dowell continued to communicate with the UC and gave updates to his arrival time while in route. At approximately 6:38 p.m., Dowell stated he had arrived at the location. At the same time, a red Ford Ranger pickup pulled into the driveway of the house where the two had agreed to meet. Dowell then got out of the truck and entered the residence where he was arrested. A pat down search revealed that Dowell had two Skyn brand, non-latex condoms (as discussed during their communications).
After being advised of his constitutional rights, Dowell admitted that he had met a person online that stated they were a minor. He went on to say that he traveled to the location where he was arrested after discussing sex acts with her. He also admitted using the Internet to engage in the conversations via his cell phone. Dowell stated that his cell phones were inside the truck he had driven to the location. Search of the phones under the authority of a search warrant revealed the communications between Dowell and the UC.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The joint investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and Kentucky Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the Elizabethtown Police Department, United States Marshals Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
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This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Five Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for five bank robberies, including one that resulted in a high-speed chase.
Dong Lee, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 110 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2020, Lee pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery. Lee was charged with co-defendant Charles Lamont Wheeler who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Between Sept. 8, 2018 and Sept. 14, 2018, five banks in the Greater Boston area were robbed. Based on the similarity of the robberies, and the descriptions of the robbers provided by bank tellers, it was determined that the same two individuals were responsible for these robberies. On Sept. 14, 2018, Lee and Wheeler robbed a branch of the Abington Bank in Avon. Later in the day, the defendants robbed a branch of the Crescent Credit Union in Brockton and were both arrested following a high-speed car chase in Attleboro.
Following an investigation, it was determined that Lee and Wheeler were responsible for the robberies of the Santander Bank in Andover on Sept. 8, 2018; Berkshire Bank in Boston on Sept. 8, 2018; Rockland Trust in Braintree on Sept. 12, 2018; Abington Savings Bank in Avon on Sept. 14, 2018; and Crescent Credit Union in Brockton on Sept.14, 2018.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police Department; Avon Police Chief Jeffrey J. Bukunt; Brockton Police Chief Emmanuel Gomes; Attleboro Police Chief Kyle P. Heagney; and North Attleboro Police Chief John J. Reilly made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Anjan Ghosh Tagore, age 48, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for receipt of child pornography and 18 months in federal prison for violating his supervised release from a previous federal conviction for possession of child pornography. The sentences were imposed on April 8, 2021 and are to be served consecutively. Judge Messitte also ordered that Tagore forfeit his electronic devices and pay $3,000 in restitution to a child pornography victim. Upon his release from prison, Tagore must also continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
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; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to Tagore’s plea agreement, in February 2019, the United States Probation Office was alerted by monitoring software that Tagore searched for images of “naked/nude/preteen” children on his desktop computer. When confronted about his use of his authorized computer to search for “naked/nude/preteen” children, Tagore denied any knowledge of his computer being used that way, although he later admitted to viewing this material. On April 16, 2019, Montgomery County Police contacted the U.S. Probation regarding a complaint that Tagore had been using a computer at a library in Montgomery County to view nude images of children at a library. Tagore’s U.S. Probation Officer had not authorized Tagore to use a computer or the internet. Furthermore, searching for and viewing images of nude children was a violation of the rules and regulations of Tagore’s sex offender treatment program, nor did Tagore report his questioning by the Montgomery County Police as he was required to do under the terms of his supervised release.
In April 2019, upon questioning by a U.S. Probation officer, Tagore turned over several USB drives and Micro SD cards, which Tagore was not allowed to possess. A search warrant was executed on the digital media and a forensic analysis revealed 105 video files depicting child pornography, including prepubescent children, at least one of which was an infant or toddler.
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 Attorney’s 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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Port Matilda Man Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Dashem, age 36, of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 240 months' imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann for receiving and possessing child pornography. The federal sentence imposed by Judge Brann will be served consecutively to a state prison sentence that Dashem is currently serving.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Dashem pleaded guilty in November 2020 to receiving and possessing child pornography.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Ocean County Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Jason Vella, 39, of Toms River, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Judge Thompson imposed the sentence by videoconference today.
On Sept. 19, 2019, investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office executed a search warrant on Vella’s residence and recovered 150 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, $2,295 in cash and pieces of jewelry.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Vella to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited the members of the FBI’s Organized Crime Task Force under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; and investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O=Malley of the U.S. Attorney=s Office’s Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
Navajo man sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joshua Gutierrez, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced April 7 in federal court to 12 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter involving the use of a firearm in Indian Country.
Gutierrez pleaded guilty Oct. 15, 2020. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on March 29, 2020, while visiting the home of his girlfriend and her father, Gutierrez was awakened by an argument. He armed himself with a handgun, walked toward the room where the argument was taking place, and passed one of the men involved in the argument. As they passed each other, the man swung at Gutierrez, and Gutierrez shot the man in the chest, killing him. Gutierrez then pointed the gun at two other people and threatened to shoot them if they did not leave. The incident took place in To’hajiilee, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. In his plea, Gutierrez waived any claim of self-defense.
Upon his release from prison, Gutierrez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros prosecuted the case.
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Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Melvin Stanford, 43, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing crack cocaine, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stanford distributed crack cocaine and other drugs to various customers in the Nashua area.
Stanford is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2021.
In addition to Stanford, three defendants in this case have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The following defendants have already been sentenced to federal prison: Donald Johnson received 42 months; Marvin Morrison received 15 months; Terray Morrison received 120 months; Melvin Nooks received 120 months; and Mallory Nooks received 60 months. One other defendant is awaiting trial.
“This prosecution is another example of our ongoing effort to fight back against drug trafficking in New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are damaging our community by selling dangerous drugs.”
“Putting Melvin Stanford and his fellow drug traffickers out of business is a win for the citizens of Nashua. The FBI and our partners will not cede our cities to drug pushers who have no regard for the harm and violence they bring into our neighborhoods,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police, Nashua Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Dover Police Department and Portsmouth Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald and Anna Krasinski.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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NDTX Round up: April 2 – 8Read the Press Release
SENTENCING – MATTHEW ALLEN
On April 6, Matthew Allen, 37, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for attempted arson. Allen and another man drove from Houston to Dallas to commit arson of a local night club. Allen and the man wore Tyvek suits and used a crowbar to break into the nightclub. Once inside, Allen poured gasoline throughout the interior of the building. An unknown ignition source lit the gasoline causing Allen to flee the location. Once the fire flamed out, Allen returned to the night club and observed the man whom he arrived with dead from severe burns. Allen retrieved car keys from the man’s motionless body and returned to Houston. The ATF, FBI, Dallas Fire Department, and Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Walt Junker prosecuted the case.
GUILTY PLEA – ELLIS CHARLES WHITE
On April 6, Ellis Charles White, 45, plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. White sold synthetic cannabinoids to an undercover officer at a Dallas area store that had been under investigation due to sustained complaints about drug trafficking and illegal gambling on the premises. Dallas Police executed a search warrant at the store and seized synthetic cannabinoids, methamphetamine, a firearm, and ammunition. White faces up to 20 years in federal prison for his crimes. The DEA and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myria Boehm prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – ANTHONY RENEE ESPINOSA
On March 30, Anthony Renee Espinosa, 29, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for transporting and shipping child pornography. Espinosa admitted that he has been involved in child pornography offenses for approximately six years and uses websites and mobile to receive, distribute and view child pornography. He also admitted that he joined specific social media groups in which users would share child pornography and would trade material with other Kik users in exchanged for other child pornography. Law enforcement seized Espinosa’s cellular devices and located over 300 images of child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothlin prosecuted the case.
Montgomery County Man Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Open Credit Card Accounts at Retail and Telecommunications Stores Using the Stolen Personal Information of Hundreds of VictimsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Abdel Ndiaye, a/k/a “Pac,” age 32, of Boyds, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme in which Ndiaye and his co-conspirators opened credit card accounts at numerous retail and telecommunications stores in order to obtain money and property. The guilty plea was entered on April 7, 2021.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Matthew S. Miller of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, from October 2015 to April 2018, Ndiaye conspired with Jonathan Henry, Dominique Davis, and others to obtain real individuals’ personally identifying information (PII), without the victims’ knowledge or permission. Ndiaye not only knew that the personal information belonged to real people, but he also used a minor’s identity to lease his Maryland apartment.
As detailed in the plea agreement, Ndiaye then provided the victims’ PII to other conspirators and Ndiaye and other conspirators used the stolen PII to create fraudulent driver’s licenses. As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators used the victims’ personal information and fraudulent driver’s licenses to apply for instant credit at various retailors and telecommunications stores in the names of the victims to purchase merchandise and electronics. To evade detection by law enforcement, co-conspirators traveled to stores located in different states including Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
On April 19, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ndiaye’s Maryland apartment. Officers located a 75’’ Samsung television and Bose Soundtouch 300 soundbar. On March 7, 2019, Ndiaye used the same minor’s identifying information to open credit accounts and purchased the soundbar and television for $3,750. Law enforcement also recovered the PII of approximately 659 victims located within a folder in Ndiaye’s bedroom dresser drawer, a total of $17,231 in cash which were proceeds or derived from proceeds of the scheme. Also found in the apartment were shredded driver’s licenses, a shredding machine, and blank card stock used to create fraudulent identification cards and credit cards, as well as a credit card encoder which Ndiaye used to create fraudulent credit cards. Officers located 10 telecommunication statements with the same account number but difference customer names and addresses.
Officers also recovered several items Ndiaye had thrown out of the apartment window prior to law enforcement’s entry including Ndiaye’s laptop, driver’s license holograms from nine different states, as well as 14 fraudulent Maryland driver’s licenses.
During the investigation, law enforcement selected 145 potential victims out of the total 659 victim PII recovered from Ndiaye’s apartment and sent the victim information to the card issuers and telecommunications stores. From three credit card issuers or telecommunications stores, Ndiaye and his co-conspirators opened over 60 fraudulent accounts and caused a loss of over $142,000 to the three retail institutions.
Ndiaye admitted that he and his co-conspirators used the stolen personal information of at least 62 victims to open fraudulent accounts, causing a total loss to the card issuers and telecommunication stores at least $150,597.06. As part of his plea agreement, Ndiaye has agreed to the entry of a restitution order for the full amount of the victims’ losses.Ndiaye faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has not yet scheduled Ndiaye’s sentencing date.
Jonathan Henry, age 29, of Bethesda, Maryland, and Dominique Davis, age 30, of Germantown, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and were sentenced to 41 months and 30 months in federal prison, respectively.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the United States Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly O. Hayes and Dana J. Brusca, who are prosecuting the case.
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Man Sentenced to 162 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An Illinois man was sentenced today to 162 months, the equivalent of 13 ½ years, in prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.
Edward Schimenti, 39, of Zion was convicted by a federal jury in 2019 on one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to ISIS, and one count of making false statements to the FBI. According to court documents, Schimenti advocated on social media for violent extremism in support of the terrorist group. In 2015, Schimenti began meeting with undercover FBI employees and individuals who, unbeknownst to Schimenti, were cooperating with law enforcement. During the meetings, Schimenti discussed his devotion to ISIS and his commitment to ISIS principles.
In 2017, Schimenti furnished cellular phones to one of the cooperating individuals, believing the phones would be used to detonate explosive devices in ISIS attacks overseas. On April 7, 2017, Schimenti drove with the cooperating individual to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, with the understanding that the cooperating individual would be traveling to Syria to fight with ISIS.
Co-defendant, Joseph D. Jones, 39, of Zion was also convicted of a conspiracy charge and sentenced last month to 12 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. for the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office made the announcement.
The Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and David Rojas of the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorney Alexandra S. Hughes of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.