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Wednesday 3 February 2021
Faribault Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of ANDREW ALBERT COMEAUX, 38, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. COMEAUX pleaded guilty earlier today before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. COMEAUX is currently scheduled to be sentenced on May 25, 2021.
According to COMEAUX’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, on June 15, 2020, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at COMEAUX’s residence. During the search, law enforcement found a .22 caliber rifle and a Mosin-Nagant 7.62x54R caliber rifle. COMEAUX also admitted to possessing an AR-15 style pistol with a large capacity magazine and a homemade suppressor/silencer. Because COMEAUX has prior felony convictions in Blue Earth County and in Le Sueur County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the South Central Drug Task Force, the Cannon River Drug Task Force, Rice and Steel County Sheriff’s Offices, the Faribault and Owatonna Police Departments, Metro SWAT, and the St. Paul Bomb Squad, with coordination from the Rice County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
ANDREW ALBERT COMEAUX, 38
Faribault, Minn.
Convicted:
- Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count
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Everett, Pa. Man Sentenced for Purchasing and Selling Firearms Stolen from FederalRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Everett, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 40 months in prison followed by three years supervised release after pleading guilty last year to various counts related to firearms stolen from the National Firearms and Ammunition Destruction Branch (NFAD), United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Richard Adam Schreiber, 38, of Everett, Pa.
"No one can measure the harm Richard Schreiber caused by putting massive numbers of guns in criminals’ hands." said U.S. Attorney Brady. "Through this sentence, he will have time to reflect on his shameful disregard for the safety of our community in exchange for personal financial gain."
"The illegal distribution of firearms presents a great danger to the general public, which ATF takes very seriously," said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. "For a multitude of reasons, when an individual is engaged in the business of selling firearms without being properly licensed, these firearms often times end up in the hands of criminals. ATF has a zero tolerance policy for this type of behavior, and today’s sentencing affirms our stance."
According to information provided to the court, between August 30, 2016 and March 4, 2019, Schreiber purchased multiple stolen firearms, firearm components and ammunition from Christopher Lee Yates. Yates was an employee of Allied Security and worked at NFAD, which was a facility used by ATF and other law enforcement agencies to have firearms and ammunition destroyed. The firearms at NFAD had been seized during criminal investigations or were retired by the agencies. The investigation by ATF began in February of 2019 when a firearm was seized in Philadelphia with different serial numbers, one of which was for a "slide" or firearm component that had purportedly been destroyed at NFAD. ATF learned that Yates stole in excess of five machineguns, 115 pistols and/or revolvers, 3,000 slides and ammunition. Schreiber then sold the firearms and components over the internet from his residence in Everett, Pa. During the investigation, ATF Agents seized nine firearms from Yates, including a machinegun stolen from NFAD and an additional 11 firearms and rifles from individuals to whom Yates had sold the stolen weapons. ATF Agents also seized 99 firearms, 1,352 slides and 123,229 rounds of ammunition from Schreiber and an additional 28 firearms, including three machineguns, from individuals to whom Schreiber had sold the stolen weapons. Yates was charged with similar offenses in the Northern District of West Virginia and was sentenced in August 2019 to 14 years (168 months) in prison.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Schreiber.
Anyone with information regarding the location of these firearms, firearms parts, ammunition and/or persons who unknowingly purchased one or more of these items should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS, email [email protected]; through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips; or through the ReportIt ® app, www.reportit.com, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Elizabeth City Man Sentenced for Firearm Offense After Driving into Two Parked CarsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Stephon Ellis, 33, of Elizabeth City was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Ellis’s six prior state felony convictions include attempted robbery, breaking and entering, and possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 21, 2020, at around 1:00 p.m., the Elizabeth City Police Department was dispatched to a car crash in a residential area of Elizabeth City. Officers identified the driver as the defendant Stephon Ellis. After clipping the rear of a parked car, Ellis had turned onto a side street, where he ran into a fence and another parked car before coming to rest. Ellis later admitted that he had been under the influence of Xanax.
As the officers investigated, a witness informed them that Ellis had placed a firearm in the back-seat area of the car after the crash. Officers recovered a Taurus model PT940 .40 caliber handgun in the seat pocket behind the driver’s seat. It was fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017, the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Elizabeth City Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00030-D.
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Duquesne Man Charged with Possessing CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotic laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named John Byrnes, 43, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from on or about June 6, 2020, Byrnes possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years in prison to a term of life, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the prior record, if any, of the defendant and the seriousness of the offenses.
Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The DEA and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, Narcotics Task Force (DANET) assisted by the Swissvale and Ross Township Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Danielson Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the U.S. Postal ServiceRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, announced that ABILIO PEDROSO, 41, of Danielson, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to theft of government property related to his receipt of more than $66,000 in fraudulent postal insurance claims.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from June 2018 through August 2019, Pedroso mailed hundreds of packages through the U.S. Postal Service to people he did not know, insured each package for $300, and then made indemnity claims falsely stating that the packages were missing or that the contents were damaged. Although Pedroso purported the contents of the packages to be valuables, such as watches and iPads, he actually mailed items of little value, such as DVDs and telephone chargers.
Pedroso filed more than 240 indemnity claims and received $66,640.43 through this scheme. Most of the claims were in Pedroso’s name, but he also used other names to mail the packages, make the false indemnity claims, and deposit the proceeds of the insurance checks.
Theft of government property carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Pedroso is released pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.
Cornpeach Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter and Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Deland Cornpeach, 20, of the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Tribe, pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of assault on a federal officer in federal court on February 1, 2021. As a part of the plea agreement, Cornpeach has agreed to serve 84 months in federal prison.
In the plea agreement, Cornpeach admitted to stabbing the victim, E.P., an enrolled member of the Ute Indian Tribe, to death with a knife on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation on June 20, 2017. The assault on a federal officer charge stems from an incident at the Davis County Jail, where Cornpeach was detained on the federal manslaughter case. While at the jail, Cornpeach assaulted and inflicted injury upon two Davis County Sheriff’s Deputies who where engaged in the performance of their official duties on behalf of the federal government.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Special Agents of the FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from officers of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Connecticut Man Facing Federal Charges for Selling Cocaine Base Within 1,000 Feet of Huntington Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury, sitting in Burlington, returned an indictment charging Dorian Johnson (a.k.a. “Jon”), 27, of Bloomfield, Connecticut with distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of the Brewster Pierce Memorial School in Huntington, Vermont on November 5, 2020. The indictment also charges Johnson with possession with intent to distribute, 28 grams or more of cocaine base on January 1, 2021, related to a traffic stop in Richmond, Vermont.
According to court records, the government alleges that on November 5, 2020, the defendant distributed approximately 28 grams (with packaging) of cocaine base at a residence on Main Road in Huntington, which was within 1,000 feet of the Brewster Pierce Memorial School. In addition, court records indicate the government alleges that as a result of a traffic stop in Richmond, Vermont on January 1, 2021, law enforcement seized approximately 98 grams of cocaine base and 50 grams of cocaine powder. The defendant was a passenger in this vehicle which, the government alleges, had just made a trip back-and-forth from Vermont to Connecticut on New Year’s Day. The street name for cocaine base is crack.
Johnson has pled not guilty to the charges and is currently detained pending trial and being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. The penalties for the charged drug offenses are as follows: (1) drug distribution within 1,000 feet of a school: 40 years of imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of one year imprisonment, and a $2,000,000 fine; and, (2) possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a controlled substance: 40 years imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment, and a $5,000,0000 fine.
The actual sentence, however, is informed by the advisory Sentencing Guidelines. The Indictment is an accusation only and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Vermont State Police (Narcotics Investigation Unit), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. The defendant is represented by Steven Barth, Esq., of the Federal Public Defenders Office in Burlington.
Complaint Seeks Forfeiture of Iranian Oil Aboard Tanker Based on Connection to Terror GroupRead the Press Release
The United States filed a forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all oil aboard a Liberian-flagged vessel, the M/T Achilleas (Achilleas), is subject to forfeiture based on U.S. terrorism forfeiture laws.
The complaint alleges a scheme involving multiple entities affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer abroad. Participants in the scheme attempted to disguise the origin of the oil using ship-to-ship transfers, falsified documents, and other means, and provided a fraudulent bill of lading to deceive the owners of the Achilleas into loading the oil in question.
The complaint alleges in part that the oil constitutes the property of, or a “source of influence” over, the IRGC and the IRGC-QF, both of which have been designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations. The documents allege that profits from oil sales support the IRGC’s full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad.
“The forfeiture complaint filed today serves as a reminder that the IRGC and IRGC-QF continue to exert significant control over the sale of Iranian oil,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division. “As we have demonstrated in the past, the department will deploy all tools at its disposal to ensure that the IRGC and IRGC-QF cannot use profits from the sale of Iranian oil to fund terrorism and other activities that threaten the safety and security of all Americans.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will continue working with our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of illicit oil from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Qods Force,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. “We will use all available tools, including our jurisdiction to seize and forfeit assets located abroad, to combat funding for terrorists and those who would do harm to the United States.”
“This latest civil forfeiture action exemplifies the remarkable work of this multi-agency task force that works tirelessly toward furthering our shared goal of protecting the homeland from regimes that threaten our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York. “This investigation sends a message that the attempted circumvention of U.S. sanctions by the IRGC-QF will not be tolerated. HSI will continue to work with our partners and utilize the full scope of our authorities to disrupt the attempts of hostile countries and regimes to generate profits from oil sales used to support terrorism and the proliferation and delivery of weapons of mass destruction.”
“Iran uses profits from its petroleum sector to fund the malign activities of the IRGC-QF, a designated terrorist group,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael F. Paul of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. “The FBI will continue to prioritize the enforcement of sanctions, and we applaud the efforts of our agents and partners on this investigation.”
A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The United States bears the burden of proving that the oil in question is subject to forfeiture in a civil forfeiture proceeding. Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/) after the conclusion of the case.
HSI New York and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office are leading the investigation of Iranian petroleum shipments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Grady and Brian P. Hudak of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney David Lim of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s Program Operations Staff of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division has provided extensive assistance throughout the investigation.
CEO Sentenced for $150 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
The CEO of a Texas-based group of hospice and home health entities was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for falsely telling thousands of patients with long-term incurable diseases they had less than six months to live in order to enroll the patients in hospice programs for which they were otherwise unqualified, thereby increasing revenue to the company.
Henry McInnis, 50, of Harlingen, Texas was convicted by a federal jury in Brownsville, Texas, in November 2019 of one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, obstruction of justice, as well as six counts of health care fraud.
McInnis’s co-conspirator, Rodney Mesquias, 50, the owner of the hospice and home health entities, was also convicted following the November 2019 trial. He was sentenced to 240 months in prison in December 2020. Two other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“McInnis, as CEO of the company, directly oversaw a reprehensible criminal scheme that involved the submission of over $150 million in fraudulent bills, the falsification of patients’ medical records, and the payment of unlawful kickbacks,” said Acting Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “McInnis preyed upon some of the most vulnerable members of our society, including many who suffered from diminished mental capacity and who were falsely and cruelly told by co-conspirators that they had only months to live. Today’s significant sentence demonstrates the department’s continued commitment to pursuing individuals, at all levels of corporate management, who engage in criminal schemes that prioritize profits over patient care.”
“Families seek to give comfort and support to their ailing loved ones when all other medical options are gone,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “It is unconscionable and evil to prey upon the most vulnerable in our community to commit fraud against government-funded programs. The FBI is committed to protecting our communities from those who may not have the strength to protect themselves.”
“McInnis and his co-conspirator’s reprehensible and deceitful actions to defraud Medicare weren’t without harm: vulnerable beneficiaries were unnecessarily enrolled in hospice care, preventing them from accessing needed curative care,” said Special Agent in Charge Miranda L. Bennett, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate those who put ill-gotten profits above the well-being of patients in our health care system.”
From 2009 to 2018, McInnis, Mesquias and others orchestrated a scheme that involved the submission of over $150 million in false and fraudulent claims for hospice and other health care services. McInnis served as the top corporate officer and administrator and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Merida Group, a large health care company that operated dozens of locations throughout Texas.
McInnis had no medical training and worked previously as an electrician. However, he acted as the de facto director of nursing for the Merida Group. Witnesses at trial testified McInnis directed employees to admit unqualified patients to hospice and home health, keep unqualified patients on services for long periods of time and fired and reprimanded employees who refused to participate in the scheme.
McInnis also oversaw and enforced a company-wide practice of falsifying medical records to conceal the scheme. Multiple witnesses testified McInnis ordered employees to alter medical records to make it appear patients were terminally ill. In reality, some were employed or even participating in sporting events. The jury also heard that McInnis explained the purpose of the falsified records was to allow the Merida Group to pass insurance company audits.
As CEO, McInnis also adopted a policy that paid illegal kickbacks. They directed bribes to physicians under the guise of medical director fees to certify unqualified patients for hospice and home health. In some cases, they improperly offered payoffs to marketers in exchange for recruitment of patients who could be placed on extremely expensive hospice services.
HHS-OIG, FBI and Texas Health and Human Services Commission conducted the investigation. Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
CEO Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Multiple Federal AgenciesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington businessman pleaded guilty today to making false statements to multiple federal agencies in order to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar government contracts, COVID-19 emergency relief loans, and undeserved military service benefits.
According to court documents, Robert S. Stewart, Jr., 35, was the owner and president of Federal Government Experts (FGE) LLC, an Arlington-based company that purported to provide various services to the U.S. government. In this capacity, Stewart made false statements to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to obtain lucrative contracts to provide COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, Stewart fraudulently obtained loans under the federal Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and he also defrauded the VA by falsely claiming to be entitled to veteran’s benefits for serving in the U.S. Marine Corps when, in fact, he never served in the Marines.
“Stewart’s fraudulent conduct during a critical time in our Nation’s fight against COVID-19 undermined the government’s ability to provide much needed PPE to the community, including to the front-line health care workers serving our military veterans,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “In addition, by fraudulently obtaining government-backed loans intended to be lifelines to keep businesses afloat, Stewart unlawfully took and misused resources devoted to help struggling Americans.”
As part of his PPE scheme, Stewart falsely stated to procurement officials from FEMA and the VA that he was in possession of large quantities of PPE, including N95 masks. Based on Stewart’s false statements, the VA and FEMA awarded FGE contracts valued at $35,000,000 and $3,510,000, respectively. The VA intended to use the PPE purchased from FGE to protect employees and patients at various Veterans Health Administration facilities, which serve the medical needs of over nine million veterans each year. FGE failed to supply any PPE to the VA and FEMA. The U.S. government suffered no financial loss because the contract called for payment upon delivery and inspection of the goods.
“Exploiting COVID-19 relief efforts for personal gain, to receive lucrative contracts with no intention of fulfilling them, is unconscionable,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. “I am proud of everyone at DHS OIG who worked on this case. I am also thankful to our law enforcement partners who helped us bring a swift end to this scheme.”
Stewart also applied for various loans on behalf of FGE under the federal Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. These programs were designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of people suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan applications submitted by Stewart falsely overstated the number of FGE employees and the amount of FGE’s payroll, two factors that were important in determining loan eligibility and the proper amount of the loan. In addition, Stewart used some of the loan proceeds for personal expenditures rather than to pay employees or for other appropriate business expenses. The loss to the U.S. government from this fraud is approximately $261,500.
In a separate fraudulent scheme, Stewart, an Air Force veteran, submitted an application for benefits to the VA. The application was fraudulent in that Stewart falsely claimed that he also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Stewart created fraudulent documents that stated he attained the rank of Corporal in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after receiving several awards and commendations, including the Rifle Expert Badge, Pistol Expert Badge, Meritorious Mast, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Certificate of Appreciation, and the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal. Stewart, in fact, never served in the Marines. Based on his fraudulent application, he received excess benefits in the amount of $73,722.45.
“By falsely claiming to have served in the U.S. Marine Corps to unlawfully increase his veteran’s benefits, Stewart stole money dedicated to providing resources and services to American military veterans and their families. This was an affront to those who honorably served,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Parekh. “We thank our law enforcement partners for bringing Stewart to justice.”
Stewart pleaded guilty to making false statements, wire fraud, and theft of government funds and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2021. He faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and Michael J. Missal, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-5.
Burlington County Man Admits $350,000 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man today admitted stealing more than $350,000 from a special needs trust, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Eugene Young, 69, of Mount Holly, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
A special needs trust was established to provide for the supplemental care, maintenance, support, and education of a disabled individual and, in December 2017, had more than $1 million in assets in two bank accounts. In December 2017, Young caused the trust’s trustee, a senior citizen, to execute a power of attorney appointing him as the trustee’s agent.
Young used the power of attorney to gain access to the trust’s bank accounts and, between December 2017 and June 2019, used a variety of means to divert funds from the trust. Young used a debit card associated with the bank accounts to make more than 650 purchases and approximately 200 ATM withdrawals. He also wrote checks from the accounts to himself, made other withdrawals from the accounts, and cashed portions of annuity checks that were the property of the trust. The funds were not used for the benefit of the trust’s beneficiary, as required by the terms of the trust, but rather for Young’s personal use. Young misappropriated more than $350,000 from the trust before his scheme was discovered.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or twice the gross pecuniary loss to others, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for June 7, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, special agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, and special agents of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
Buffalo Man Arrested, Charged with Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead 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 Kaylen Edwards, 22, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge carries carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that on November 7, 2020, Cheektowaga Police Officers responded to Pinehurst Avenue, where a limousine bus party was being let out, following a report of disorderly persons. According to the complaint, earlier that day, the defendant was identified on social media flashing a black and silver handgun and wearing a distinct black and red jacket inside the limousine bus. A member of law enforcement sent a photo of the social media post to responding officers.
While on Pinehurst Avenue, officers observed Edwards getting into the front passenger seat of a vehicle with Georgia license plates and leave the area. The officers then observed the vehicle in violation of multiple vehicle and traffic infractions and conducted a traffic stop. The officers observed a marijuana cigar end in the center console area and immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Officers identified Edwards as the passenger. The defendant was detained. During a pat frisk, an officer felt and observed a handgun in Edwards’ side waist band. The handgun was loaded with a magazine containing seven .45 caliber rounds and one .45 caliber round in the chamber. In November 2017, the defendant was convicted of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in New York State Court, and as a result of that conviction, he is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on February 10, 2021.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Sliwinski, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
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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Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering $1.5 Million in Fraud Proceeds from Business Email Compromises and Romance Scams Targeting Elderly for Ghana-Based Criminal EnterpriseRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced that ALHASSAN IDDRIS LARI, a/k/a Hassan Lari, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit money laundering and operating an unlawful money transmitting business, in connection with his involvement from at least in or about 2014 through in or about 2020 with a Ghana-based criminal enterprise that has fraudulently obtained millions of dollars through business email compromises and romance scams that targeted the elderly. The plea was entered in front of U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels. LARI is the seventh defendant to plead guilty in the case.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Alhassan Lari and his co-defendants operated an online criminal enterprise whose profile included romance schemes targeting the elderly. Navigating the anonymous world of the internet, and especially online dating, is oftentimes complicated enough without the added peril of fraudsters lurking to scam would-be daters. This case exemplifies the need to always remain alert and cautious on the internet – especially when being asked for money by a stranger, don’t hesitate to swipe left.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: "Manipulating someone's belief in finding love and then stealing their money is not only criminal, but unbelievably cruel. Mr. Lari and his band of thieves targeted the elderly population, using their age as a weapon to break the law. These fraudsters not only used romance to scam people, they employed business email compromise schemes, a fast-growing cyber threat to which everyone should pay close attention. We can hold these people accountable, even in far-away countries, if we have help from the public. If you know someone who has been scammed, or if you believe you may be a victim, contact us at IC3.gov to report it to us."
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said: “IRS Criminal Investigation uses financial investigative expertise to pursue those individuals who engage in corruption as demonstrated in this case by Mr. Lari. Money laundering and fraud constitutes a serious threat to our communities and to the integrity of our financial system; today’s plea is an example of how the FBI and the IRS continue to work together as a formidable team to prosecute these offenders.”
According to the Indictment and other filings and statements at public court proceedings in the case:
From at least in or about 2014 through in or about February 2020, LARI was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) that committed a series of business email compromises and romance scams against individuals and businesses located across the United States, including in the Southern District of New York. LARI, while in the Bronx, New York, received or otherwise directed the receipt of at least approximately $1.5 million in fraud proceeds of the Enterprise in cash from co-conspirators or directly from victims through bank accounts he controlled. Several of these bank accounts were opened using a shell shipping company, in order to avoid detection and hide the fraudulent nature of the transactions. Once LARI received the fraud proceeds in bank accounts under his control, he withdrew, transported, and laundered those fraud proceeds to other members of the Enterprise, including those located in Ghana.
LARI also operated an unlicensed money transmitting business located in the Bronx, New York used by co-conspirators of the Enterprise to facilitate and transfer fraud proceeds from the United States to co-conspirators in Ghana.
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LARI, 48, a citizen of both the United States and Ghana, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, and one count of operation of an unlawful money transmitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. LARI will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels on June 16, 2021.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Other defendants in this case who have been sentenced include Muftau Adamu, a/k/a “Muftau Adams,” a/k/a “Muftau Iddrissu,” 32, of the Bronx, New York, who was sentenced to 51 months in prison on June 7, 2019; Prince Nana Aggrey, 45, of the Bronx, New York, who was sentenced to 30 months in prison on May 10, 2019; and Assana Traore, 41, of the Bronx, New York, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison on October 8, 2019. Adamu and Aggrey each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Traore pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money. Each of the defendants was sentenced by United States District Judge Denise L. Cote.
Any businesses or individuals who believe they may have been the victim of a business email compromise or a romance scam or have information regarding such crimes should file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (“IC3”) at https://www.ic3.gov or contact their local FBI office.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and IRS-CI. Ms. Strauss also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, for their assistance in this case.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sagar K. Ravi and Mitzi S. Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.
Boston Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston gang member pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to a cocaine conspiracy and firearm possession.
Eric Davis, 37, of Mattapan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2021.
In June 2020, Davis was charged along with 23 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement conducted an investigation into drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, Mass., formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.
The investigation, which included Davis, also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. Davis even traveled to California in April 2020 to try to obtain kilograms of cocaine.
At the conclusion of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Canton where Davis was arrested and recovered approximately two kilograms of cocaine and a firearm.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and cocaine base provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the government, the parties agreed to a sentence of between 105 to 130 months in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin O’Donnell and Timothy Moran of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Biddeford Woman Sentenced to Two Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Biddeford woman was sentenced today in federal court on methamphetamine trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby sentenced Kailey Prejean, 25, to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Prejean pleaded guilty on October 14, 2020, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
According to court records, on July 12, 2019, Prejean sold $250 worth of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in a parking lot in Biddeford. On July 17, 2019, Prejean sold a half-ounce of methamphetamine to the same undercover officer in the same parking lot. On July 24, 2019, the undercover officer arranged to buy one ounce of methamphetamine from Prejean at the same location. On that date, she was accompanied by her co-defendant, Antonio Morrissey. When the two were arrested, Morrissey was found to be armed with a loaded firearm and had approximately one ounce of methamphetamine on his person.
Morrissey pleaded guilty on November 12, 2020, and is awaiting sentencing.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Biddeford Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI investigated the case.
Bergen County Business Owner Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Prison for Employment Tax FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The owner of several Fairlawn, New Jersey, businesses was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for failing to pay more than $500,000 in payroll taxes, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Dennis Saccurato, 68, previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion before U.S. District Court Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who imposed the sentence by videoconference today.
According to the documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Saccurato owned and operated cleaning product businesses in Fairlawn, including Sparta Chem Inc., Horizon Products LLC, Compu-Kleen, and Start West Labs, and was required to pay over payroll taxes to the IRS. From 2014 to 2016, Saccurato withheld payroll taxes from the wages paid to his employees, purportedly for remittance to the IRS, but failed to pay over the taxes, which amounted to $549,715.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Saccurato to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez, in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Belmont County woman admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Sheri K. Green, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, has admitted to a methamphetamine charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Green, 56, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Green admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine from August 2019 to August 2020 in Marshall County and elsewhere.
Green faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Auburn, Washington member of Proud Boys charged with obstructing an official proceeding, other charges related to the Jan. 6 riotsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A member of the Proud Boys, a nationalist organization, was arrested today and charged in federal court in the District of Columbia with obstructing or impeding an official proceeding, among other charges.
Ethan Nordean, aka Rufio Panman, 30, of Washington state, was charged by criminal complaint in federal court in the District of Columbia with obstructing or impeding an official proceeding, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; aiding and abetting, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and knowingly entering or remaining in restricted building or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, which each carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison. Nordean will appear in federal court in the Western District of Washington at 2:00 PST.
According to charging documents, Nordean is the self-described “Sergeant of Arms” of the Seattle Chapter of the Proud Boys, a group self-described as a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.”
It is alleged that Nordean was observed marching at the front of a group of known Proud Boys shortly before the riot began. It is further alleged that Nordean was among those who entered the U.S. Capitol building after rioters, including certain persons associated with the Proud Boys, forced entry into the Capitol by means of destruction of Federal property. It is also alleged that Nordean was near the front of the crowd of rioters, who collectively approached, confronted, and vastly outnumbered Capitol Police.
Prior to Jan. 6, 2021, Nordean posted on social media certain indications of an intent to organize a group that intended to engage in conflict. For example, around Dec. 27, 2020, Nordean posted a message asking for donations of “protective gear” and “communications equipment.” On Jan. 4, 2021, Nordean posted a video on social media, which he captioned, “Let them remember the day they decided to make war with us.”
On or about the same day, Nordean posted a video of a discussion that Nordean had with another member of the Proud Boys. During the course of the hour long video, Nordean discussed what he described as “blatant, rampant voter fraud” in the Presidential election. Nordean went on to say that, rather than being complacent, the Proud Boys were going to “bring back that original spirit of 1776 of what really established the character of what America is. And it’s not complacency, it’s not low standards. It’s ‘this is how it’s going to be, and I don’t give a god damn.’” Later in the video, Nordean said, “Democracy is dead? Well, then no peace for you. No democracy, no peace.”
The day before the riots, Nordean posted the following statement to social media: “It is apparent now more than ever, that if you are a patriot, you will be targeted and they will come after you, funny thing is that they don’t realize is, is we are coming for them. You’ve chosen your side, black and yellow teamed with red, white and blue against everyone else.”
On Jan. 8, 2021, Nordean posted a photo on social media of a U.S. Capitol Police officer administering pepper spray on Jan. 6, 2021, with the following caption: “if you feel bad for the police, you are part of the problem. . .”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason B.A. McCullough and James B. Nelson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Taryn Meeks of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western District of Washington. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with assistance by the FBI’s Seattle Division.
The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at https://tips.fbi.gov/.
The charges contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence actually imposed is required to be imposed based on the specific factors of the offense and the defendant, in consultation with the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
nordean_-_complaint_affidavit.pdfArmstrong County Felon Indicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Ford City, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Tanner Virostek, age 23, of Ford City, PA, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 17, 2020, Virostek possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The Indictment also alleges that on or about July 17, 2020, the defendant possessed a firearm in furtherance of this drug trafficking crime. Virostek, a convicted felon, is prohibited by Federal law from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 5 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Cook is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Multiple Fraudulently-Obtained Unemployment Insurance Benefits Debit CardsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Arizona man pleaded guilty today to possession of multiple unemployment benefits debit cards — all in different names — and intending to fraudulently obtain nearly $223,000 in benefits to be paid to him, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent-in-Charge Quentin Heiden of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Los Angeles Region.
Delashaun Dean, 32, of Tolleson, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of counterfeit and unauthorized access devices. U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 11, 2021.
According to admissions made in connection with Dean’s guilty plea, between October 3 and October 5, 2020, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found 15 unemployment insurance benefits debit cards issued by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) on Dean and in his hotel room. The debit cards were all in different names, not in Dean’s name. In addition, law enforcement found a fake driver’s license and a spiral notebook with personal identifying information of multiple individuals, which was used to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. At least $222,930 in unemployment benefits were approved for the claims associated with the recovered EDD cards.
The statutory maximum sentence is 10 years in prison, supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Albuquerque woman charged with drug trafficking and assaulting a federal officerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sarah Patricia Loya, 22, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court on Feb. 2 where she was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and assaulting a federal officer. Loya will remain detained pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 4.
According to a criminal complaint, on January 29, Loya allegedly agreed to meet a person, who was in fact an undercover law enforcement agent, for Loya to sell 25 fentanyl pills. After the transaction was complete and law enforcement officers attempted to detain Loya’s vehicle, Loya allegedly attempted to avoid arrest by accelerating her vehicle into a concrete barrier. When that attempt failed, an agent wearing a clearly marked police insignia approached Loya, identified himself as police and commanded Loya to stop the vehicle. Loya allegedly ignored those commands and attempted to accelerate through law enforcement vehicles.
Loya allegedly collided with a vehicle with a task force officer inside. At that point agents were able to detain Loya’s vehicle. Though Loya allegedly resisted, agents were able to subdue her and she was arrested.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Loya faces up to twenty years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Eicker is prosecuting the case.
Tuesday 2 February 2021
White River Man Sentenced for Assault with Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a White River, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on February 1, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Anthony Black Wolf, age 33, was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Black Wolf was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 9, 2020. He pled guilty on November 6, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in the Lower Swift Bear Community, near White River, on January 11, 2020. On that date, Black Wolf was at his home drinking alcoholic beverages and socializing with a group of individuals that included the victim. At some point, Black Wolf became angry and picked up an axe. Black Wolf repeatedly swung the axe at the victim, striking the victim once on each arm and causing severe lacerations.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Black Wolf was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wheeling woman sentenced for embezzling nearly $350,000Read the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Cindy Shearer, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 months of incarceration for embezzling nearly $350,000 from her previous employers, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Shearer, 58, pled guilty to one count of “Wire Fraud” and one count of “Filing False Income Tax Return” in September 2020. From April 2013 until the end of 2019, Shearer was employed as the office manager by Cane Business Forms & Systems and later reorganized as Precision Printed Products, a printing company in Triadelphia, West Virginia.
Shearer admitted to writing checks totaling $276,892.88 from Cane Business Forms & Systems and a total of $67,672.41 from Precision Printed Products to herself, but listing the check as paid to a legitimate vendor. She would then cash or deposit the checks into her own bank account. Shearer also admitted to not claiming the embezzled money on her personal taxes, defrauding the IRS of approximately $54,509.
Shearer was ordered to pay restitution to both business owners and restitution to the IRS that totals $399,074.29.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service investigated.U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Wheeling man sentenced for child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremy Crinkey, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months of incarceration for having child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crinkey, 44, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography – Previous Conviction” in August 2020. Crinkey, having previously been convicted of possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia in 2012, admitted to having images of child pornography in his possession in March 2020 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Probation Office and the FBI investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
West Virginia Woman Admits Filing for Pandemic Unemployment Benefits for Incarcerated Co-defendantRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Clarksburg, WV, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy and fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Christina Weigner, age 48, of pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Weigner conspired to commit fraud in connection with emergency benefits and did commit fraud by filing for pandemic unemployment assistance in her co-defendant’s name.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, which provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. Individuals are eligible for these unemployment benefits if they are unemployed due to the pandemic and are otherwise able work.
On June 11, 2020, an application for pandemic unemployment assistance was electronically filed in the name of Levi Stroud, an inmate at State Correctional Institution-Greene. In the application, the filer (who was later determined to be Christina Weigner) represented that she was Stroud, that Stroud was unemployed as a direct result of the pandemic, and that Stroud could accept a job if one were offered. Additionally, Weigner made 19 separate certifications that Stroud was unemployed for particular weeks due to the pandemic, even though he was serving a state sentence.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Weigner on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Labor conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Christina Weigner.
Waubay Man Charged with Possession of Firearm by Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Waubay, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Levi Ambrose Locke, age 29, was indicted on January 12, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on January 27, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is ten years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
According to the indictment, on or about October 2, 2020, Locke, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charges are merely accusations and Locke is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
Locke was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Washington Man Sentenced to 21months in Federal Prison for Assaulting Female Victim on the Colville Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Daniel Parks Conant Jr., age 28, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty on July 7, 2020, to Crime on Indian Reservation, Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Clark to a 21-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal custody.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Clark was driving with his then girlfriend, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. En route, Conant became upset with her when their vehicle ran out of gas. Conant began hitting her in the face with his fists several times and dragged her across the roadway. Fortunately, she was able to get away, flag down police, and report the assault to authorities.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the very serious nature of domestic assault. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington works closely with federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to ensure that Native American Women and families are protected from violence such as this.”
This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tribal Law Enforcement Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Police. This case was prosecuted by Richard R. Barker, Assistant United States Attorney, and Michael L. Vander Giessen, Special Assistant United States Attorney, for the Eastern District of Washington.
U.S. Attorney Muldrow’s Statement on the Murder of Two FBI Special Agents in the Line of DutyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow released the following statement regarding the fatal shootings of FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin and FBI Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger, and the wounding of three other agents, as they executed a federal court-ordered search warrant in Sunrise, Florida:
“On behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, I join Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and countless others in expressing our deepest condolences to the families and colleagues of these two fallen FBI special agents. We also pray for a swift and complete recovery for the wounded agents. Today’s senseless shooting is a stark and tragic reminder of the dangers faced by our brave men and women in the FBI and throughout law enforcement who dedicate themselves to making our communities safer. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. May their memories be eternal.”
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U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan’s Statement Regarding Today’s Agent-Involved Shooting in South FloridaRead the Press Release
Miami, Fl. – South Florida U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan today issued the following statement on the tragic agent-involved shooting in Sunrise, Florida:
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the deaths of FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger, who were shot and killed today in the line of duty while executing a federal court-ordered warrant in Sunrise, Florida. We pray for the loved ones of these Special Agents and for their three colleagues who were injured during the shooting. Today’s tragic events remind us of the bravery of federal agents, who risk their lives to protect our communities and our country. We must never forget that, just as we will never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by Special Agents Alfin and Schwartzenberger.”
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Two FBI Special Agents Killed and Three Wounded Serving a Warrant in Sunrise, FloridaRead the Press Release
Anchorage - This morning FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were killed in the line of duty and three other agents were wounded while executing a federal court-ordered search warrant in a crimes against children investigation in Sunrise, Florida.
U. S. Attorney Bryan Schroder issued the following statement:
“We honor the lives of Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, killed this morning in Sunrise, Florida. We also hope for a full recovery of the three agents that were injured. These agents were serving a court-ordered search warrant in a case involving violent crimes against children. Protecting those who cannot protect themselves, especially children, is one of the most sacred responsibilities in law enforcement. These agents died and were injured fulfilling that duty. Let this also be a stark reminder of the dangers all law enforcement officers face every day. They risk their lives to protect us, and I remain grateful for that sacrifice.”
Ten Years in Federal Prison for Armed Bank RobberRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Christopher Lee Wheatfall-Grate, age 29, of Denver, was sentenced to ten years (120 months) in federal prison for his role in an armed bank robbery. The sentence will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
According to the facts in the plea agreement, on April 16, 2019, two robbers, one of whom was the defendant, entered the U.S. Bank in Westminster. Both robbers were brandishing handguns, ordering “hands up.” The defendant jumped over the teller counter and confronted two tellers. The second robber directed the bank manager to the vault and demanded access. Since more than one bank employee was necessary to open the vault, the defendant forced three other tellers to the vault area to obtain access. The robbers then fled with less than $1,400.00 and escaped in a waiting vehicle that had been stolen.
Defendant Wheatfall-Grate pleaded guilty on February 20, 2020, to one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to pay restitution to U.S. Bank in the amount of $1,318.00.
“Bank robbery is simply one of the dumbest crimes: low payout, guaranteed arrest by the FBI, and a long federal prison sentence,” said United States Attorney Jason Dunn. “Would-be bank robbers really need to reassess whether a different, and lawful, line of work would be more fruitful.”
“Monday’s sentencing of Christopher Wheatfall-Grate reflects the continuing impact federal, state and local partnerships have on combating individuals who commit armed bank robberies in our community,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “We will continue to aggressively investigate individuals who target our financial institutions and needlessly threaten their personnel to ensure they are held accountable. The FBI would like to thank the Lakewood and Westminster Police Departments, as well as the United States Attorney’s Office, for their dedication and hard work in this investigation.”
United States District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced Wheatfall-Grate on February 1, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Denver Police Department, and the Denver Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kurt J. Bohn handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 19-cr-00230-RBJ
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Suburban Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Conducting Illegal Sports Gambling BusinessRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man pleaded guilty in federal court today to conducting an illegal sports gambling business and laundering the proceeds through an offshore company.
VINCENT DELGIUDICE, also known as “Uncle Mick,” 55, of Orland Park, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, and one count of conducting an illegal gambling business, which is punishable by up to five years. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall did not immediately set a sentencing date. A status hearing was set for March 8, 2021.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Terry Kinney, Ankur Srivastava, and Abigail Peluso.
The FBI’s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative (ISG) is designed to tackle illegal sports gambling and combat threats of influence from criminal enterprises.
Delgiudice admitted in a plea agreement that from 2016 to 2019 he directed an illegal bookmaking business in Chicago, Lemont, Frankfort, Orland Park, and Woodridge. Delgiudice and his agents accepted wagers on the outcome of professional football, basketball, baseball, and hockey games, as well as collegiate sporting events, the plea agreement states. Delgiudice further admitted that he retained the services of a company in Costa Rica to manage the accounting, recordkeeping, and website management of his bookmaking operation, and that in 2018 and 2019 he sent the company at least $113,625 to promote the continued operation of the illegal gambling business.
Statement of United States Attorney Lawrence KeefeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - This morning FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were killed in the line of duty and three other agents were wounded while executing a federal court-ordered search warrant in a crimes against children investigation in Sunrise, Florida. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts are filled with concern and grief about the FBI agents who lost their lives or were wounded in the line of duty today in south Florida. All of us in local, state, and federal law enforcement recognize and honor the daily risk taken by the brave women and men who dedicate themselves to keeping the public safe. This tragic incident is especially heart-wrenching as it affects our U.S. Department of Justice family here in Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with the agents, their loved ones, and their colleagues on this most difficult day.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Press Release - Statement of U.S. Attorney KeefeStatement by U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey on the Deadly Shooting of FBI Special Agents in FloridaRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – United States Attorney J. Douglas Overbey, along with Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson and FBI Director Christopher Wray, mourn the loss of the two FBI Special Agents who died in the line of duty today in Sunrise, Florida.
“Our office stands together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and mourns the loss of these two heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Our office sends our deepest condolences to their families, and we pray for a speedy recovery for the officers who were injured during the incident,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey.
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South Texas woman sent to prison for trying to drive across border with drugs hidden in car doorsRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 42-year-old Brownsville resident has been sentenced following her conviction in Laredo federal court to conspiring with others to import more than 10 kilograms of meth from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Ana Lisa Lopez pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2020, to importing meth and conspiracy to do so.
Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Lopez to serve a 63-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the serious nature and amount of narcotics she attempted to smuggle.
On Nov. 8, 2019, Lopez approached the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo driving a Chevrolet Aveo. At that time, authorities conducted an inspection of the vehicle and found 21 bundles of meth concealed within the door frames.
The drugs weighed approximately 10.5 kilograms and have a street value of approximately $73,500.
She was permitted to remain on bond and surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prison facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yoona Lim is prosecuting the case.
Siloam Springs Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced today that Jon Anderson, age 44, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison without the possibility of parole followed by 20 years of supervised release on one count of Accessing the Internet with the Intent to View Child Pornography. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks, United States District Judge, presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in May 2019, the Cyber Crimes Division of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received information that a residence in Northwest Arkansas was downloading images of child pornography. On July 31, 2019, detectives with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office traveled to the residence in Siloam Springs, and encountered Anderson. During that interaction detectives found evidence of child pornography on the devices in the home. On or about August 1, 2019, Anderson was arrested.
Anderson was indicted in January of 2020 and was convicted after a trial in Fayetteville in October 2020.
This case was investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Carly Marshall and Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case was prosecuted 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.
Sedalia Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Sedalia, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing crack cocaine.
Jeffery Wayne Taylor, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 6, 2020, Taylor was convicted at a bench trial of two count of distributing crack cocaine and one count of possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Taylor sold a total of 32.8 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant, working with law enforcement, on 10 separate occasions from March 2 to June 8, 2018. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Taylor’s residence on June 8, 2018, and seized crack cocaine packaged for sale, which was hidden under the lowest piece of vinyl siding attached to the house.
Taylor’s initial sale of crack cocaine to the confidential informant on March 2, 2018, was approximately six months after his release on probation following his third drug-trafficking conviction in state court. Taylor had been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment under Missouri’s shock incarceration program and was released to a term of five years of probation on Aug. 9, 2017. In addition to manufacturing crack cocaine, Taylor was also found in possession of several firearms. Although he knew he faced a 15-year prison sentence, Taylor began selling crack cocaine to the confidential informant about six months later.
Taylor’s extensive criminal history began in 1990 when he started a fight in which the victim was punched and kicked in the head, face, and chest, and suffered a broken nose, abrasion to the left cornea, laceration to the upper lip, and a number of bruises and abrasions which required hospitalization for several days. The next year, Taylor was convicted of driving while intoxicated, an offense for which he was also convicted six years later in 1997. While on probation from his 1991 felony assault conviction, Taylor was charged in four different cases with felony distribution of a controlled substance, twice in 1993, and twice again in 1996. Just a year after completing his term of probation for his felony assault conviction, in 1997, Taylor was arrested and charged with felony statutory rape, two driving while intoxicated offenses, and three counts of felony distribution of a controlled substance. That same year, in a separate case, he was convicted of three counts of distributing cocaine and one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in November 1997 (the maximum sentence the state court could impose). Taylor served about seven years of his term and was granted parole in June 2004. He was also convicted in 1998 of two additional counts of distributing cocaine and sentenced to the maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment. Taylor was paroled in 2004 and, while on parole, arrested for stalking his ex-wife in 2010.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department.
Roofing Business Owner Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
DURANGO – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Ryan Wilkinson, age 42, of Durango, Colorado was sentenced on February 2, 2021, to serve 3 months in prison, followed by 6 months of home confinement to be served during 3 years of supervised release for tax evasion. Wilkinson was also ordered to pay restitution of $228,300.41 to the IRS. Wilkinson pleaded guilty on October 23, 2020.
According to the Information and plea agreement, Wilkinson is the sole owner and operator of a roofing company in Durango, Colorado. From at least January 2015, through December 2017, Wilkinson earned substantial personal income from this company but did not file federal income tax returns despite being aware of his legal obligation to do so. During this time, Wilkinson hired a bookkeeper to assist with the QuickBooks for his company yet refused to provide sufficient records and information for the bookkeeper to accurately record Wilkinson’s income and expenses. Additionally, Wilkinson had his company pay the rent on his personal residence and make payments for one of his personal investments. He instructed the bookkeeper to classify these payments as business expenses, despite being told that these personal expenses could not be classified as business expenses. Wilkinson also used a company credit card to pay other personal expenses.
“You’re not going to get away with cheating the IRS in the District of Colorado,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “Cheating on your taxes hurts everyone. If you try it, you can be sure that the excellent agents with IRS-CI together with the federal prosecutors in my office are going to catch you and hold you accountable. This cheater will now have a federal felony conviction on his record for the rest of his life.”
“The term voluntary compliance means that each of us is responsible for filing a tax return when required and for paying the correct amount of tax,” according to Special Agent in Charge Andy Tsui. “Mr. Wilkinson ignored his duty to file federal tax returns to evade paying taxes and is now a convicted felon with a prison term to serve.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pegeen D. Rhyne is prosecuting this matter.
Case Number: 20-cr-00332-REB
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Real Estate Developer Among Four Individuals Charged in Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a real estate developer and three others for allegedly participating in a mortgage fraud scheme that defrauded financial institutions out of at least $3 million.
ANDRZEJ LAJEWSKI, who owned Des Plaines-based Highland Consulting Corp., and Chicago-based Quality Management and Remodeling Inc., schemed with two mortgage professionals and the owner of a remodeling company to fraudulently obtain at least $3 million in mortgage loans by making and causing to be made materially false representations to financial institutions regarding the buyers’ qualifications for the loans, according to an indictment returned Jan. 28, 2021, in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The false representations concerned the buyers’ employment history, income, assets, source of down payment, and intention to occupy the properties, the indictment states. In some instances Lajewski fraudulently claimed to lenders that the buyers were employed by his companies – even though he knew that was untrue – to help the buyers qualify for the mortgage loans, the indictment states.
The alleged fraud scheme lasted from 2010 to 2016 and involved numerous properties on the South Side of Chicago.
The indictment charges multiple counts of financial institution fraud against Lajewski, 53, formerly of Wheeling, the two mortgage professionals – loan originator AGNIESZKA SIEKOWSKI, 46, of Northbrook, and loan processor ALDONA BOBROWICZ, 45, of Arlington Heights – and the home remodeler, ANDRZEJ BUKOWSKI, 66, formerly of Wheeling. Arraignments for Siekowski and Bobrowicz are scheduled for Friday at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold. Arraignments for Lajewski and Bukowski have not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Brad Geary, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalia Coleman and Jason Yonan.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of financial institution fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Escape from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of escaping federal custody, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Stephen Gaza, aged 40, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Gaza escaped from federal custody on October 6, 2020: after being granted a furlough to report to Renewal, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gaza failed to report.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Felon Found with Illegal Firearm Indicted on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA. - One resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Juan Santiago, 41, no known address, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about January 28, 2021, Santiago was found to be in possession of a firearm. His prior felony convictions make it unlawful for him to possess a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The defendant is currently being detained at Butler County Jail.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Ball is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Agency and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Ombrah Lane, 33, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about May 18, 2020, the defendant possessed a firearm, after being convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The defendant remains incarcerated pending the resolution of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pharmaceutical Distributor Vistapharm, Inc. Agrees to Pay $325,000 to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Vistapharm, Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $325,000 to resolve allegations that Vistapharm violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to maintain records required by the CSA. In addition to paying a civil penalty, Vistapharm has agreed to sign separately a Memorandum of Agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The United States alleges that Vistapharm failed to make available or to maintain in a readily retrievable format more than nine hundred copies of DEA 222 Forms, which are a required record for purchases and sales of Schedule II controlled substances. The United States also alleges that Vistapharm failed to maintain adequate records for six categories of controlled substances handled by its distribution facility in Largo, Florida, which led to overages or shortages in Vistapharm’s expected inventory.
“Scrupulous recordkeeping is essential to maintaining the CSA’s closed system of distribution and preventing dangerous drugs from being diverted and falling into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “We expect all DEA registrants, regardless of the size of their organization, to be especially meticulous in their recordkeeping because the CSA and the welfare of the public demand it.”
“Pharmaceutical distributors are responsible for helping to ensure that controlled substances are not diverted.” said DEA Miami Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis. “In addition to monitoring employees and customers, distributors are required to inventory their controlled substances, to verify their receipt and distribution, and to maintain complete and accurate records. When one or more of these responsibilities break down, diversion can occur with the consequence of controlled substances potentially falling into the wrong hands.”
This settlement results from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Tampa District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsay Saxe Griffin and Christopher Emden pursued this civil settlement on behalf of the United States.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Parmelee Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on February 1, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Trudell Smith, Jr., age 30, was sentenced to time served through May 13, 2021, equal to approximately 21 months in custody, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 14, 2019. He pled guilty on November 30, 2020.
Smith was convicted of a sex offense in February 2008. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. Between May 27, 2019, and August 13, 2019, Smith failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.
Smith was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison and Lifetime Supervision for Receiving Images Depicting the Sexual Abuse of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Willie Humes (65, Orlando) to nine years in federal prison for receiving images over the internet depicting children being sexually abused. Humes was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. Humes had pleaded guilty on August 17, 2020.
According to court documents, Humes was identified during an undercover investigation when FBI agents discovered that he was using peer-to-peer networks to download child sex abuse materials. During an interview with law enforcement, Humes admitted to viewing child exploitation materials for many years. Humes was arrested after a search warrant was executed at his residence and a subsequent search of his electronic devices revealed multiple images of child exploitation materials.
According to evidence and testimony presented at sentencing, Humes had sexually abused a family member when the individual was a child. After learning about the current investigation and Humes’s arrest, the victim provided a statement during the sentencing hearing describing Humes’s prior sexual abuse.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Gardella.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Oklahoma City Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lilliana Alvarez Soto, age 22, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Drug Conspiracy in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, punishable by not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000,000.00, or both; and to Money Laundering Conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(2)(A), punishable by not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $500,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on November 4, 2016 and continuing until on or about the date of Indictment, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, LILLIANA ALVAREZ SOTO did willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with others known and unknown, including Enrique Pacheco, to violate federal drug laws by acquiring kilograms of heroin and distributing it for money.
The Indictment further alleged that from on or about July 15, 2019 through on or about the date of Indictment, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant, did knowingly combine, conspire, and agree with others, persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956, to wit: to transport, transmit and transfer and attempt to transport, transmit and transfer a monetary instrument and funds from a place in the United States to and through a place outside the United States with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, many prominent agencies which are members of the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (“HIDTA”), contributed to this investigation, including: the Tulsa Police Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Miami Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the El Reno Police Department, the Yukon Police Department, the Duncan Police Department, the Norman Police Department, the Choctaw Police Department, the Edmond Police Department, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County District Attorney’s Office, and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation was coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. OCDETF is an initiative led and coordinated by the Office of the United States Attorney.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Ohio woman admits to role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jennifer M. Cuffman, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, has admitted to her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Cuffman, also known as “Jennifer Proctor,” age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Fentanyl.” Cuffman admitted to working with others distribute the drugs from February 2019 to July 2020 in Ohio County and elsewhere.
Cuffman faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Original case indictment here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
Ohio woman admits to role in drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Brookelyn Myers, of Bellaire, Ohio, has admitted to her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Myers, also known as “Brooke,” age 24, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl.” Myers admitted to selling a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in December 2019 in Ohio County.
Myers faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Original case indictment here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/26-charged-drug-conspiracy-involving-heroin-fentanyl-crack-cocaine-and-meth-wheeling
Nashua Man Sentenced to 35 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Charles Daye, 28, of Nashua, was sentenced to 35 months in federal prison on Monday for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 23, 2019, following a traffic stop, Nashua police officers located fentanyl and cash on Daye’s person. Evidence located on his cellphone, as well as Daye’s admissions, confirmed that he was distributing fentanyl in Nashua. Subsequently, on December 17, 2019, and January 16, 2020, a cooperating individual working with law enforcement officers made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Daye.
Daye previously pleaded guilty on October 27, 2020.
“Fentanyl trafficking is a crime that can have deadly consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect public health and safety, Operation SOS is targeting the fentanyl dealers whose actions are damaging Nashua and other communities in Hillsborough County. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate the drug dealers who are distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Montgomery Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Robbing Credit UnionRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Monday, February 1, 2021, Bryan Dennard, a 36-year-old from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. Dennard was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Dennard has a pending forfeiture order against him for the stolen bank proceeds.
According to court records and statements made in open court, on June 16, 2020, Dennard walked into the Guardian Credit Union on Taylor Road in Montgomery, Alabama, and handed the teller a backpack and a note. The note demanded that the teller place money in the bag and further warned, “You don’t want to see me when I get angry.” The teller put money in the bag totaling $3,675.55, and handed it back to him. Dennard then exited the credit union, got into a waiting car, and sped away. The Montgomery Police Department (MPD) put out a “be on the lookout” bulletin with Dennard’s picture taken from surveillance video from the credit union. Later, MPD officers responded to a call of a person being shot. When they arrived on the scene, officers recognized the shooting victim as Dennard, who stated he had been robbed and was shot in the leg. Dennard was transported to the hospital to treat his injuries. Ultimately, Dennard was charged with bank robbery and admitted he had robbed the credit union. Dennard also stated that the money stolen from him during the shooting was the proceeds from the bank robbery.
On July 14, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Dennard and his driver for bank robbery. Dennard pleaded guilty to the charge on October 6, 2020. The driver’s charge is still pending.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Russell T. Duraski prosecuted the case.