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Friday 22 January 2021
Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Purchasing Illegally Defaced FirearmRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Joseph Miner pleaded guilty via videoconference before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II, to possessing a firearm with obliterated serial numbers. When sentenced, Miner faces a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea.
“With today’s guilty plea, Miner has been held accountable and faces a prison sentence for possessing an illegal firearm with obliterated serial numbers that he purchased from an undercover agent,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “This Office, together with our federal and local partners, is working tirelessly to prevent illegal firearms from endangering our community.” Mr. DuCharme expressed his grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for its outstanding work on the case.
As set forth in public filings, law enforcement began investigating Miner’s interest in illegally purchasing firearms in late 2019 when he posted on social media accounts his desire to obtain assault weapons and other firearms for a racial civil war or racial holy war. Miner expressed support on social media for racially and ethnically motivated violence, including celebrating the August 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the December 2019 machete attack at a synagogue in Monsey, New York. Although the defendant at times disavowed interest in conducting an attack himself, on multiple occasions he posted social media messages in which he displayed suicidal ideations and fantasized about “martyring” himself and “go[ing] out in a blaze of glory” in a mass-shooting attack.
In April 2020, Miner initiated contact with an undercover law enforcement agent who was posing as a firearms dealer. Miner requested firearms from the undercover agent knowing that the serial numbers were removed from the guns that the undercover agent was offering for sale. On May 12, 2020, Miner met the undercover agent at a Queens hotel and purchased a Glock 19 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Artie McConnell and Josh Hafetz are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JOSEPH MINER
Age: 30
Bayside, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-554 (WFK)
Previously convicted sex offender sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for child pornography and international kidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Clarence Michael Ransom, 53, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 20 to 35 years in federal prison for attempted production of child pornography, international parental kidnapping and failure to report international travel as a sex offender.
Ransom pleaded guilty on June 23, 2020. In the plea agreement, Ransom admitted having at least ten sexually explicit conversations over an online social networking and dating platform in May 2019. Ransom believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl, but the other party to the conversations was an undercover law enforcement officer. Ransom admitted to using extremely sexual and coercive language to try to obtain sexually explicit photographs of the person he thought was a child. Ransom was in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, when he engaged in these conversations.
Ransom also admitted kidnapping his two children from their mother, with whom he shared custody, and fleeing with them to Mexico on Oct. 8, 2019. Mexican law enforcement later arrested Ransom and transported him back to the United States for prosecution.
Ransom is required to register as sex offender based on a 1991 conviction for engaging in an unlawful sexual act with a child under 12. Ransom violated federal requirements to update his sex offender registration and to notify the proper authorities when he left the United States.
Upon his release from prison, Ransom will be subject to supervised release for life.
The FBI and United States Marshal Service investigated this case with the assistance of the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Mark A. Saltman prosecuted the case.
Otsego County Man Charged with Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - Mark Mongillo, age 31, of Unadilla, New York, appeared in federal court today on a criminal complaint charging him with methamphetamine distribution charges and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon.
Mongillo was initially arrested and charged by the Broome County District Attorney’s Office on January 20, 2021 on New York State law charges. The federal criminal complaint alleges that Mongillo possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 642 grams of methamphetamine, along with a loaded Glock pistol with a defaced serial number. It also alleges the Mongillo is a licensed pharmacist in the State of New York.
Mongillo made his initial appearance in federal court today in Binghamton, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric, and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charges set forth in the federal complaint, the defendant faces up life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, on the drug charge, and up to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of five years’ consecutive imprisonment, on the firearms charge. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Johnson City Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Beaty.
Operation Sideswipe Spotter Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents in Order to Defraud Insurance and Trucking CompaniesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced MARIO SOLOMON (“SOLOMON”), age 48, of New Orleans, was sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to documents filed in Federal Court, SOLOMON, along with his co-conspirators and others, beginning in approximately June 2017 and continuing through the present, conspired to commit wire fraud in connection with staged accidents, including two that occurred on June 6, 2017, and June 12, 2017. Previously, SOLOMON’s codefendants (Larry Williams, Lucinda Thomas, Mary Wade, Judy Williams, Dashontae Young, and Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”)) all tendered guilty pleas and admitted to their knowing participation in a scheme to stage automobile accidents in the New Orleans area in an effort to defraud insurance and trucking companies.
SOLOMON admitted to acting as a “spotter” for Labeaud in both the June 6 and the June 12 staged automobile accidents alleged in the Superseding Indictment. As a “spotter,” SOLOMON would follow Labeaud in a separate vehicle as Labeaud prepared to stage accidents with 18-wheeler tractor-trailers. After the accidents, SOLOMON would pick up Labeaud after he exited the vehicle in which he had staged an accident. SOLOMON was paid in exchange for serving as a “spotter.” SOLOMON served as a spotter in at least two car accidents that Labeaud staged with 18-wheeler tractor-trailers. SOLOMON’s codefendants received a total of $43,000 as a result of the fraudulent lawsuits that were filed on their behalf.
U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon sentenced SOLOMON to 21 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release. Additionally, SOLOMON was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $71,816.00 to the victims in this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.
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Operation Paydirt Results in Federal Charges for Six Individuals for Drug and Gun Offenses in Daytona BeachRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez, along with federal and state law enforcement partners, announces that six individuals have been charged by federal criminal complaints, as part of a joint investigation – “Operation Paydirt” – targeting firearms and drug trafficking in in Daytona Beach, Florida. (See chart for details).
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This investigation is the result of a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Daytona Beach Police Department. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Jackson Boggs, Jr., Amanda Daniels, Daniel Jancha, and Terry Livanos.
These cases prosecuted will be prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
SUMMARY CHART
Name
(Age, Residence)
Charges
Maximum Penalties
Paris Aviles
(28, Daytona Beach)
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison
Elton Jones
(48, Daytona Beach)
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison
Lascelles Francis
(29, Daytona Beach)
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison
Diven McClure
(56, Daytona Beach)
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison
Marcus Rubin
(40, Daytona Beach)
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Distribution of a controlled substance
20 years in federal prison
20 years in federal prison
Leven Reynaldo Render, Jr.
(26, Daytona Beach)
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison
Oldham County Man Sentenced to 132 Months in Prison for Distributing Narcotics on the Dark Web, Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An Oldham County man was sentenced Wednesday in United States District Court by United States District Judge Benjamin J. Beaton to 132 months (11 years) in prison for charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of firearms by a prohibited person, and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett.
John Frank Naber III, 21, was first charged by Complaint and was then indicted in April 2019. He pleaded guilty to the charges on October 7, 2020. Naber was sentenced Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in Louisville and remains in federal custody.
As part of a multi-agency narcotics and money laundering investigation targeting Naber, federal authorities executed multiple search warrants in February 2019. Investigators found and seized narcotics and pill pressing equipment which Naber used to manufacture homemade counterfeit Adderall on his family’s property in Oldham County. Naber made his counterfeit pills using methamphetamine and then sold them in bulk to his customers as a vendor on the Dark Web. Authorities also seized drug proceeds, including over $325,000.00 in cash and Bitcoin valued at over $200,000.00.
At the time of his arrest, Naber was prohibited from possessing firearms because he previously pleaded guilty to a felony offense in state court. Namely, on or about September 18, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court Case number 18-CR-000743-003, Naber pleaded guilty to Trafficking in Marijuana. Investigators seized five firearms that Naber unlawfully possessed: a Desert Eagle semi-automatic handgun; a Beretta pistol; a Kimber Micro 9 pistol; an American Tactical 1911 pistol; and a CZ 805 BREN assault rifle.
“This case serves as an example of the strong working relationships that exist among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Western District of Kentucky” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett “I commend each of the agencies involved for their work during the investigation and prosecution of this defendant.”
“One of the top priorities of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is to stop the distribution of illegal drugs in the communities that we are sworn to protect,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. “The extraordinary efforts by our HSI special agents assigned to this case, working with numerous federal, state and local law enforcement partners, resulted in this lengthy prison sentence and sends a clear message that anyone engaging in this type of illicit behavior will be arrested and prosecuted.”
“This successful partnership between the US Postal Inspection Service, HSI, IRS-CI, CBP, and Kentucky State Police should serve as a warning to anyone dealing in these dangerous and illegal substances. The Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to protecting the American public and by working with our partners, we are unwavering in our mission to identify and disrupt their illegal activity” said Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison, Pittsburgh Division.
“The laundering of drug money allows the traffickers to continue to finance their operations,” said Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “IRS CI is committed to working with our law enforcements partners to stop the flow of illegal proceeds.”
Pending federal charges remain active against Naber’s mother and codefendant, Cara Leann Naber, for conspiracy to launder drug proceeds from her son’s drug trafficking operation and for structuring financial transactions to evade federal cash transaction reporting requirements. Cara Naber has plead not guilty to all charges.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne E. Keel and Robert Bonar. The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Kentucky State Police (KSP).
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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NDTX Round-Up: January 15-21Read the Press Release
GUILTY PLEA – JOHN THOMAS RUTLEDGE
On January 19, John Thomas Rutledge, 55, plead guilty to three counts of bank robbery. During September and October of 2019, Rutledge robbed three banks in Dallas including: Legacy Texas Bank, Oakwood Bank, and Bank of America. During the commission of the robberies, Rutledge stole more than $17,000 in cash from the banks. Rutledge faces up to 20 years in federal prison for his crimes. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Read is prosecuting this case.
GUILTY PLEA – JOHN SANJIV MURGAI
On January 21, John Sanjiv Murgai, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Murgai owned a company that provided mobile x-ray services primarily in Lubbock, Texas. Murgai admitted that he agreed with an individual to fraudulently submit claims to Medicare and Medicaid for mobile x-ray claims under his provider number, falsely representing that he performed the services rather than “Company A,” an entity owned by a co-conspirator. Murgai admitted that he and a co-conspirator agreed that Murgai would keep 5% of the payments received from Medicare and Medicaid for the false claims associated with the services and transfer the remaining 95% to the co-conspirator. Murgai admits that he knew that the “Company A” was not an approved provider for Medicare or Medicaid. Murgai faces up to 5 years in federal prison for his crimes. This case was investigated by the FBI and Texas Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Brasher is prosecuting the case.
SENTENCING – ASHLEY SILVER WOOD
On January 21, Ashley Silver Wood, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Wood conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. Agents executed a lawful search warrant at a residence she shared with a co-conspirator. While executing the search warrant, agents seized a 12-gauge shotgun. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas DPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – CHARLES AUBREY HURT a.k.a. BUBBA
On January 21, Charles Aubrey Hurt, 64, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Hurt admitted that he engaged in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine with two co-conspirators. During the course of the conspiracy, agents found Hurt inside a residence with methamphetamine, cocaine, and a .38 caliber pistol. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas DPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case.
Multi-Kilo Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced William Johnson (31, Holiday) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and for possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.
Johnson had pleaded guilty on November 4, 2020.
According to court documents, Johnson traveled with a co-conspirator to deliver approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl. Johnson, driven by his companion, fled the meet location when law enforcement moved in to arrest the two. Johnson led officers on a chase for more than 20 miles, sometimes traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour. During the chase, Johnson attempted to dump the fentanyl out of the car. He also dumped a gallon of chainsaw bar oil out of the window to interfere with the police pursuit. Law enforcement ultimately disabled Johnson’s vehicle with spike strips, but not before Johnson’s vehicle had struck a bystander’s vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This investigation is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Monongalia County man admits to role in firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brandon J. Martino, of Wadestown, West Virginia, has admitted to his role in a firearms conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Martino, age 26, pled guilty today to one count of “False Statement During Attempted Purchase of Firearm.” Martino admitted to falsifying documents to illegally purchase a 9mm pistol in May 2018 in Monongalia County.
Martino faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Methuen Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Alberto Rosario, 30, of Methuen, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison on Thursday for possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 6, 2018, Nashua police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle that was believed to be involved in drug trafficking activity. Rosario was a passenger in the vehicle. During the vehicle stop, officers found that Rosario had quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, as well as $800, in his possession. A search of the vehicle later uncovered additional quantities of fentanyl and crack. The driver of the vehicle later admitted to driving Rosario from Lowell, Massachusetts to Nashua and acknowledged that Rosario was distributing drugs.
“Interstate drug traffickers cause grave damage in communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When drug traffickers come to New Hampshire to peddle fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, they should understand that they are committing a serious federal crime. We will not hesitate to bring drug trafficking charges against those who are responsible for selling these deadly substances in the Granite State.”
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.
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam Le.
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Maryland Woman Sentenced for Committing Health Care Fraud Government Continues Crackdown on People Who Defraud MedicaidRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Janet Olatimbo Akindipe, 62, of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced today to 13 months in prison for defrauding the D.C. Medicaid program out of more than a quarter million dollars.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin; James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office, Criminal Division; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General for the region that includes Washington, D.C.; and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
At various times between November 2014 and June 2020, Akindipe was employed by six different home health agencies to serve as a personal care aide for D.C. Medicaid beneficiaries. The home health agencies employed Akindipe to assist Medicaid beneficiaries in performing activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating. Akindipe was supposed to document the care she provided to the Medicaid beneficiaries on timesheets and then submit the timesheets to the home health agencies, which would in turn bill Medicaid for the services that she rendered.
Between January 2015 and June 2020, Akindipe caused the D.C. Medicaid Program to issue payments totaling $269,808 for services that she did not render. As part of her fraud scheme, she submitted false timesheets to different home health agencies purporting that she provided personal care aide services that she did not provide. She claimed she provided such services during times when she actually was working her shift as a full-time employee at the National Institutes of Health. She claimed to work more than twenty hours in a given day on more than 300 occasions. She also claimed to provide personal care aide services in the District of Columbia on days when she was not even in the United States. As part of her fraud scheme, she paid kickbacks to get Medicaid beneficiaries to sign falsified timesheets.
In addition to sentencing Akindipe to 13 months in prison, she was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution in the amount of $269,808 and a forfeiture money judgment for $119,773.
The FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who defraud the D.C. Medicaid program. Since October 2019, six former personal care aides, including Akindipe, have been sentenced in U.S. District Court for defrauding Medicaid. A seventh former personal care aide is expected to plead guilty. Cases against two other personal care aides remain outstanding.
The government counts on the public for tips and assistance in helping stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, please call the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) HHS‑TIPS [(800) 447-8477].
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman of the Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced for Multimillion-Dollar Cross-Country Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Camp Springs, Maryland man was sentenced today to 140 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, which led to the seizure of over $1 million in cash, approximately 45 kilograms of cocaine, over $240,000 worth of jewelry, four firearms, and body armor-piercing ammunition.
According to court documents, between May 2019 and February 2020, Romaine Anthony Dixon, 32, conspired to distribute cocaine. Beginning in and around July 2019, Dixon traveled to California approximately every three to four weeks to purchase cocaine. On average, Dixon would transport $500,000 to California to pay his source of supply. Dixon and his co-conspirators would then ship cocaine from California in large crates to the Eastern District of Virginia.
Dixon was arrested in his vehicle in February 2020 in possession of approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine and $11,268 in cash. One of Dixon’s co-conspirators also was arrested that day in possession of 20 kilograms of cocaine and one-and-a-half kilograms of heroin.
After the execution of search warrants at Dixon’s residence, law enforcement seized approximately $1,044,451 in cash, jewelry valued at approximately $244,125, one kilogram of cocaine, one kilogram of fentanyl, three firearms, and body armor-piercing ammunition, among other items. At another location associated with Dixon, law enforcement found kilogram wrappings and an AK-47.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Ben’Ary and Bibeane Metsch prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-156.
Major Detroit Michigan Opioid Dealer sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison for Narcotic and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Drew Wrigley announced that United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland has sentenced Jorge Pitts, AKA "Jose", age 30 of Detroit, Michigan, to 10 years in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Judge Hovland also sentenced Pitts to 3 years supervised release and a $200 Special Assessment.
On January 25, 2018, Pitts was stopped for traffic violations in New Town, ND. In response to the defendant’s suspicious behavior at the scene of the stop, a drug detection canine was deployed and detected drugs in Pitts’ vehicle. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found 1,650 oxycodone 30-mg pills separated into multiple plastic baggies concealed inside the driver’s side door panel. In this same area of the vehicle, Officers also located a loaded Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistol with a 12-round magazine and 13 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Pitts later pleaded guilty and admitted traveling to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation from Michigan on multiple occasions beginning in or about 2016 and transporting between 800 and1,000 oxycodone 30-mg pills for distribution per trip. Pitts has a weapons felony conviction in 2009 and a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2012, both of which make it illegal for him to carry a firearm or ammunition.
"Pitts was carrying illegal opioids with a street value of $130,000, and was bringing $70,000 in pills every time he trafficked this poison from Detroit to North Dakota," said United States Attorney Drew Wrigley, "those drug and firearm offenses landed him right where he belongs, far away in federal prison for the next decade."
This case was investigated by the Mandan Hidatsa & Arikara Division of Drug Enforcement; New Town Police Department; and Homeland Security Investigations, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rick L. Volk.
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Logan County Pharmacy to Pay Civil Monetary Penalties to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Family Discount Pharmacy, Inc. (“FDP”), which operated a pharmacy in Mount Gay, Logan County, has agreed to pay civil monetary penalties to resolve allegations that the pharmacy violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by filling illegitimate prescriptions. FDP ceased operating in 2019 during the course of the federal investigation. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, FDP agreed to pay $310,000 to resolve allegations that it had filled prescriptions for controlled substances that were not valid at its Mount Gay location between January 2013 and December 2018. During this time, the United States contends that FDP filled prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances “that were not written for a legitimate medical purpose by practitioners acting in the usual course of their professional medical practices and FDP’s Pharmacist in Charge, Earl Claycomb, filled said prescriptions knowing or having reason to know that the prescriptions were not written for a legitimate purpose, in violation of 21 C.F.R. § 1306.04(a) and 21 U.S.C. § 842(a)(1),” according to the settlement agreement.
The CSA prohibits the distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance without a valid prescription. A valid prescription for a controlled substance must be issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual course of his or her practice. The investigation indicated that the pharmacist-in-charge at the pharmacy knew or had reason to know that patients had presented illegitimate prescriptions that should not have been filled.
“When pharmacies fail to follow the requirements of the CSA it significantly contributes to the opioid epidemic, causing great harm to our citizens and communities,” stated United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “This settlement agreement demonstrates that my Office, the DEA and other federal, state and local law enforcement partners, are using all tools available to address the opioid crisis.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration will not allow unscrupulous pharmacies to prioritize financial gain over the well-being of patients entrusted to their care,” said Todd Scott, special agent in charge of DEA’s Louisville Division, which serves West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. “A pharmacist who fills illegitimate prescriptions is no different from a drug dealer on the street.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Alan G. McGonigal and Gregory P. Neil.
The settlement is a result of the United States Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Abuse, Recovery and Response Team (ARREST), an innovative approach linking civil and criminal enforcement efforts together in a comprehensive attack on the opioid epidemic and healthcare fraud.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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La Crosse Felon Sentenced to 5 Years for Possessing Firearm & AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Albert Williams, 38, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 5 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. This prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Officers with the La Crosse Police Department arrested Williams following a traffic stop on September 11, 2019. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun as well as a bag of 9mm ammunition. Although Williams and the two other passengers denied knowing the handgun was inside the vehicle, Williams’ DNA was located on the grip of the firearm and on the inside of rubber gloves packaged with the 9mm ammunition.
At the time of this offense, Williams was serving a term of state supervision for a 2017 conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. He is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition as result of this and several other felony convictions.
Judge Conley, in sentencing Williams, expressed his concern that the defendant continued to pose a “real and present danger to the community,” given his extensive criminal history of arming himself and distributing controlled substances. Judge Conley also noted that although the defendant had opportunities to better himself, he had not “walked the walk,” and that he remained undeterred by substantial imposed-and-stayed prison sentences and probation.
The charge against Williams was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus.
Justice Department and FTC Announce First Enforcement Actions for Violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales ActRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced three settlements resolving alleged violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. These are the first enforcement actions that the department and the FTC have brought under the BOTS Act.
Enacted in 2016, the BOTS Act aims to prevent ticket brokers from buying large numbers of event tickets and reselling them to interested customers at inflated prices. To achieve that goal, the BOTS Act prohibits a person from circumventing access controls or measures used by online ticket sellers (such as Ticketmaster) to enforce ticket-purchasing limits. It also prevents the resale of tickets obtained by knowingly circumventing access controls.
As alleged in the three complaints filed by the United States, the defendants — Just In Time Tickets Inc. and its owner Evan Kohanian; Concert Specials Inc. and its owner Steven Ebrani; and Cartisim Corp. and its owner Simon Ebrani — committed violations of the BOTS Act to purchase from Ticketmaster thousands of tickets they then resold for millions of dollars in revenues, often at significant markups. The defendants are alleged to have circumvented Ticketmaster’s restrictions on users holding multiple accounts by creating accounts in the names of family members, friends, and fictitious individuals, and using hundreds of credit cards. They also allegedly used ticket bots to fool tests designed to prevent nonhuman visitors. In addition, the complaints assert that the defendants used programs to conceal the IP addresses of the computers they used to make purchases.
“These defendants are alleged to have cheated the system to the detriment of consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s filing serves notice that the Department of Justice will enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales Act in appropriate cases. We are pleased to work with our partners at the Federal Trade Commission on this and other matters important to consumers.”
“Those who violate the BOTS Act cheat fans by forcing them to pay inflated prices to attend concerts, theater performances and sporting events,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme for the Eastern District of New York. “This office will spare no effort in prohibiting deceptive practices that harm consumers.”
The three stipulated orders entered by the court assess civil penalties of $11.2 million against Just In Time Tickets Inc. and Kohanian, $16 million against Concert Specials Inc. and Steven Ebrani, and $4.4 million against Cartisim Corp. and Simon Ebrani, allowing suspension of a portion of such civil penalties if the defendants satisfy certain terms. The orders further provide for the suspension of the remainder of such civil penalties if the defendants pay $1,642,658.96, $1,565,527.41, and $499,147,12, respectively, and satisfy certain additional terms. The stipulated orders also contain terms to prohibit the defendants from using ticket bots or other computer programs to defeat access controls, from concealing the IP addresses of computers they use to make ticket purchases, and from purchasing tickets from any credit or debit account in the name of anyone other than the defendants or their corporate officers and employees. Under the terms, the defendants must also maintain records and provide compliance reports to the government.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Benjamin A. Cornfeld of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bonni J. Perlin and Kevin Yim from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Christine M. Todaro and Frances L. Kern represented the FTC.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Violent CarjackingRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 34-year-old Beaumont, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for carjacking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Thaddiaus Joseph Thomas pleaded guilty on August 12, 2020 to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and carjacking and was sentenced to 198 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
“Everyone deserves to live in a safe community, free from the threat of violent crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will do whatever it takes to stem the tide of violent gun crime on our streets.”
According to information presented in court, on Dec. 21, 2019, Thomas and Tremaurice Arthur Randall traveled to the Excellent Carwash located at 5010 Haden Road in Beaumont, Texas, wearing masks, where they approached a man who was sitting in the driver’s seat of his 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Thomas pointed a pistol at the man and Randall ordered him to “give it up” before the two pulled the man out of his truck and threw him to the ground. Thomas then pistol whipped the man in the head and fired one shot toward his feet. Randall and Thomas then entered the pickup truck and fled. Thomas and Randall were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 4, 2020 and charged with conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Randall, 24, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty on August 4, 2020 to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and carjacking and was sentenced on Dec. 2, 2020 to 114 months in federal prison.
This case is a 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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
International Gun Trafficker Sentenced for Illegal Straw Purchase SchemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A New Jersey resident and citizen of the Dominican Republic was sentenced today to almost five years in prison for participating in the illegal straw purchase of at least 25 firearms, which he shipped to the Dominican Republic.
According to court documents, Greilin Eurinio Santana-Munoz, 31, a carnival worker and convicted felon, used several straw purchasers to obtain at least 25 handguns from federally licensed gun stores in Virginia and Georgia. Santana-Munoz then shipped the firearms out of the country to the Dominican Republic.
Santana-Munoz used one associate to straw purchase ten handguns from Virginia gun stores in Chantilly, Manassas, and Virginia Beach. He was arrested in Georgia after ATF agents watched another straw purchaser buy four handguns at a gun store and deliver them to Santana-Munoz while he was waiting outside the store in his boss’s vehicle.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-29.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Jan. 21 was:
Michael Cain Gibson, 36, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Gibson faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Gibson was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-90.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indictment Charges Bridgeport Gang Members with Drug Trafficking, Committing 4 MurdersRead the Press Release
As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging four Bridgeport men with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking, murder and attempted murder.
Today’s announcement was made by John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England.
The indictment, which was returned on January 19 and unsealed yesterday, charges
KEISHAWN DONALD, 19
TREVON WRIGHT, also known as “Tre,” 19
KYRAN DANGERFIELD, 24,
ERIC HAYES, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” 24Wright was arrested yesterday. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel via videoconference and is detained. Donald, Dangerfield and Hayes were previously detained and are in federal or state custody.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Bridgeport, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Bridgeport Police are actively investigating multiple Bridgeport-based groups whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Donald, Wright, Dangerfield and Hayes are members or associates of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns. The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.
The indictment alleges that the East End gang distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed murder and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
Among the violent acts committed by the gang, the indictment alleges that:
- On January 30, 2018, Donald shot and killed Eric Heard, a.k.a. “Fetti,” a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On September 18, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Marquis Isreal, a.k.a. “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On December 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, a.k.a. “Arv Barkley,” an associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On January 26, 2020, Wright and “JW,” an East End associate who is now deceased, shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both associates of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On June 24, 2020, Dangerfield, JW and a juvenile shot and killed Tyler Ballew, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On October 17, 2019, Donald agreed with other East End gang members to shoot and attempt to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
If convicted, Donald, Wright and Dangerfield face a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Hayes faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
“This ongoing investigation is methodically getting to the roots of much of the violent activity Bridgeport has experienced during the last few years,” said U.S. Attorney Durham. “The allegations in this indictment, combined with charges announced in previous indictments, detail numerous, senseless violent acts committed by members and associates of warring street gangs. As gun violence continues to menace not only Bridgeport but other Connecticut cities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will employ the full weight of federal law to neutralize these violent groups and remove their members who murder and maim from the community. I thank our counterparts in the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, who are supervising this investigation with our office, and the Bridgeport Police Department, FBI, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service, for their collaborative effort in bringing these individuals to justice.”
U.S. Attorney Durham noted that, in the past year, 21 members of the East End, O.N.E. and GHB/Hotz gangs have been charged with federal offenses as a result of this ongoing investigation.
“The cooperation of federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Fairfield Judicial District continues to be a model for the protection of the life, liberty, and property of the citizens we serve through our focus on the small number of individuals who threaten the safety and security of so many,” said State’s Attorney Corradino. “I am grateful to Mr. Durham and his staff as well as the federal agents for their commitment to the greater Bridgeport community, and pledge the full resources of my office to continue these efforts.”
“The Bridgeport Police Department is committed to an ongoing partnership with varying agencies to focus on violent crime incidents that have occurred in our city and to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring,” said Acting Chief Garcia. “Gun violence, group member violence, drug activity, etc., have been an expressed concern of the residents within our communities; therefore, we have taken an even greater proactive approach by applying resources to and collaborating with these agencies, and are now witnessing the benefits of these partnerships. These indictments should be a clear message that we will not allow our communities to continue being plagued by violence.”
“Addressing gang violence head on continues to be a top priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sundberg. “These recent arrests are just a peek into our overall strategy to reduce gun violence, prevent and dismantle gangs in Connecticut.”
“This investigation is an example of ATF’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at the Bridgeport Police Department, FBI and DEA,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brady. “Together we identified, targeted, investigated and arrested alleged violent criminals. This indictment should serve as a warning that we will not tolerate gang related violence and those who cause it.”
“Drug trafficking, along with the violence that all too often accompanies it, is a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Boyle. “Drug dealers and street gangs value their own profits over human life, and are responsible for fueling drug addiction and much of the violent crimes across New England. These crimes hold law abiding citizens of Connecticut hostage to drug-fueled lawlessness. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.”
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Peter D. Markle and Karen L. Peck.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Illegal possession of firearm, home-made grenades sends Billings felon to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billing man who admitted making grenades to blowup mailboxes and possessing a rifle after a felony conviction was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.
Foster John Michael Witzel, 31, pleaded guilty on Sept. 1, 2020 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of a destructive device.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The prosecution said in court documents that on Feb. 2, 2020, Witzel was peering into a Billings residence before a homeowner scared him off. Billings Police officers found Witzel nearby and in possession of improvised grenades. Witzel made statements that he had made the devices out of gunpowder and BB’s and that he was going to “blow up mailboxes and stuff.” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents determined the devices were grenades and that Witzel had not registered them in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record as required.
On June 15, 2020, Witzel was found asleep in a stolen car with an AR style rifle on his lap. Witzel was on probation at the time for a state felony conviction in Montana and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Huntington Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Role in Akron to Huntington Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that Niki Renee Maynard, 50, of Huntington, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“Maynard will spend the next six years in prison for conspiring with Akron sources to distribute large amounts of meth in Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “I commend the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that conducted the joint investigation that dismantled this drug network.”
Maynard previously pled guilty and admitted that between the fall of 2018 and September of 2019, she participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Huntington area. During the conspiracy, Maynard repeatedly obtained quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron to Huntington. Maynard relied on multiple individuals from Akron to deliver the methamphetamine to her and Maynard would in turn distribute the methamphetamine to various customers in Huntington. Maynard also admitted that she permitted others to sell methamphetamine from her residence located at 1223 26th Street in Huntington and that she was responsible for distributing up to 500 grams of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.
This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00245.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Huntington Man Enters Guilty Plea to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Harold Arthur Thompson, 30, of Huntington, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin.
“Great job by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police in conducing this traffic stop and interdicting the heroin and meth Thompson had in his possession,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “These dangerous drugs would have been distributed in our communities if not intercepted by law enforcement.”
Thompson admitted that on September 14, 2019, he was in a vehicle that was pulled over by law enforcement. Thompson admitted that during that traffic stop, he exited the vehicle and attempted to conceal a plastic bag containing 2.9 grams of methamphetamine and 2.5 grams of heroin by removing it from his pants pocket and kicking it underneath the vehicle. Thompson admitted to possessing the heroin and methamphetamine and that both substances were packaged in individual plastic bags for sale. He also admitted that, in addition to the drugs, he possessed digital scales and packaging materials.
Thompson faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on May 3, 2021.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Cremeans is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00151.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Gangster Disciples leaders sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Shauntay Craig, a/k/a Shake, and Donald Glass, a/k/a Smurf, both leaders of the national gang, the Gangster Disciples, have been sentenced for racketeering conspiracy involving murder. Glass was also sentenced for firearms crimes.
“Members of the Gangster Disciples left a trail of death and destruction across Georgia and much of the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “The sentence for these two gang leaders sends a resounding message to those who seek to inflict irreparable harm on their communities in furtherance of a violent gang. It should reassure citizens that we will use every asset we have to abolish gang activity.”
“As leaders of the Gangster Disciples, these defendants terrorized communities across the country by engaging in, and ordering others to engage in, multiple acts of violence, including murder,” said Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The significant sentences imposed upon defendant Craig for his national leadership role in the gang, and defendant Glass for his creation of an army of teenagers who shot and killed indiscriminately, demonstrate that even the most sophisticated and ruthless gangs are no match for the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
“The Gangster Disciples are a ruthless gang that preyed upon our communities for far too long, and Craig and Glass were the driving force behind the devastation the gang caused,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is our goal to dismantle these organized, violent criminal enterprises and we could not do it without the efforts of the FBI led Safe Streets Gang Task Force and its state and local partners.”
“We are glad justice is being served and hope this sentencing sends a message that no one is above the law,” said DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha V. Ramos.
“Each time we take a dangerous criminal off or our streets and out of our communities, we all win. The arrest of these violent gang members sends a resounding message that criminal activity will not be tolerated in Atlanta and puts their fellow gang members and other violent suspects on notice, that we will find you and hold you accountable.” Atlanta Police Department Interim Chief Rodney Bryant.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Christine, the charges and other information presented in court: The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois, dating back to the 1970’s. The gang is highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as “Positions of Authority” or “POAs.” The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which is “Silence and Secrecy” – a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. Violations of the rule are punishable by death. Evidence at trial showed that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for twenty-four shootings from 2011 through 2015, including twelve murders.
Shauntay Craig was a Board Member, the highest-ranking position in the Gangster Disciples. He was responsible for violence, drug trafficking, and murders, including orchestrating the murder of a government informant in Colorado to protect his drug empire.
Donald Glass led the H.A.T.E. Committee, a specialized enforcement team within the Gangster Disciples that reigned terror through its numerous murders, shootings, and robberies. As leader of the H.A.T.E. Committee, Glass ordered his band of teenage shooters, including a juvenile who Glass groomed to be an assassin, to shoot and kill more than ten people.
- Shauntay Craig, 42, of Birmingham, Alabama, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Craig was convicted on August 30, 2019, after he pleaded guilty to the offense of racketeering conspiracy involving murder and drug trafficking.
- Donald Glass, 30, of Decatur, Georgia, has been sentenced to life plus ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Glass was convicted on May 16, 2019, following a jury trial, of the offenses of racketeering conspiracy involving murder, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and causing death through the use of a firearm for the murder of Robert Dixon.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Atlanta Police Department, DeKalb County Police Department, Aurora Police Department (Colorado), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Marshal’s Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Georgia Department of Corrections, with significant assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Kim S. Dammers, Principal Deputy Chief of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan K. Buchanan, Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime and National Security Section, and Erin N. Spritzer of the Northern District of Georgia, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Conor Mulroe of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.Gangster Disciples Leaders Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Two leaders of the national gang the Gangster Disciples were sentenced today for a racketeering conspiracy involving murder.
Shauntay Craig, aka Shake, 42, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Craig pleaded guilty in August 2019 to racketeering conspiracy involving murder and drug trafficking.
Donald Glass, aka Smurf, 30, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to life plus 120 months in prison. Glass was convicted by a federal jury in May 2019 of racketeering conspiracy involving murder, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, causing death through the use of a firearm for the murder of Robert Dixon, and other firearms crimes.
“As leaders of the Gangster Disciples, these defendants terrorized communities across the country by engaging in, and ordering others to engage in, multiple acts of violence, including murder,” said Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The significant sentences imposed upon defendant Craig for his national leadership role in the gang, and defendant Glass for his creation of an army of teenagers who shot and killed indiscriminately, demonstrate that even the most sophisticated and ruthless gangs are no match for the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
“Members of the Gangster Disciples left a trail of death and destruction across Georgia and much of the United States,” said Bobby L. Christine, Acting U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Georgia. “The sentence for these two gang leaders sends a resounding message to those who seek to inflict irreparable harm on their communities in furtherance of a violent gang. It should reassure citizens that we will use every asset we have to abolish gang activity.”
“The Gangster Disciples are a ruthless gang that preyed upon our communities for far too long, and Craig and Glass were the driving force behind the devastation the gang caused,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. “It is our goal to dismantle these organized, violent criminal enterprises and we could not do it without the efforts of the FBI led Safe Streets Gang Task Force and its state and local partners.”
Craig was a Board Member, the highest-ranking position in the Gangster Disciples. He was responsible for violence, drug trafficking, and murders, including orchestrating the murder of a government informant in Colorado to protect his drug empire.
Glass led the H.A.T.E. Committee, a specialized enforcement team within the Gangster Disciples that reigned terror through its numerous murders, shootings, and robberies. As leader of the H.A.T.E. Committee, Glass ordered his band of teenage shooters, including a juvenile who Glass groomed to be an assassin, to shoot and kill more than 10 people.
According to the charges and other information presented in court, the Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago dating back to the 1970s. The gang is highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as “Positions of Authority” or “POAs.” The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which is “Silence and Secrecy” – a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. Violations of the rule are punishable by death. Evidence at trial showed that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for 24 shootings from 2011 through 2015, including 12 murders.
This case was investigated by the FBI Atlanta’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Atlanta Police Department, DeKalb County Police Department, Aurora Police Department (Colorado), IRS – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Services, and the Georgia Department of Corrections, with significant assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Kim S. Dammers, Principal Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS), Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan K. Buchanan, Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime and National Security Section and Erin N. Spritzer of the Northern District of Georgia, and OCGS Trial Attorney Conor Mulroe prosecuted the case.
Former Selma Police Department Officer Sentenced for Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced defendant Matthew Blaine Till, 34, a former officer of the Selma Police Department, to five years’ probation for obstruction of justice by corrupt persuasion of a witness. Till pleaded guilty to three felony obstruction-of-justice charges on September 25, 2020.
In connection with his guilty plea, Till admitted that on April 30, 2020, he used force against a citizen while on duty as a Selma police officer. On multiple occasions thereafter, Till instructed a fellow law enforcement officer not to say anything to anyone—including a federal agent—regarding a phone call Till had received from his wife shortly before the use-of-force incident. Till admitted that he gave those instructions with the intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a federal law enforcement officer of information relating to the possible commission of a federal civil-rights violation.
The United States recommended a custodial sentence of incarceration. The Court imposed a five-year probationary sentence. Till was not ordered to pay a fine, but the judge ordered him to pay $300 in special assessments. Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Till will no longer be able to work in local, municipal, state or federal law enforcement, nor as a corrections officer or private security guard.
Following the Court’s pronouncement of Till’s sentence, United States Attorney Richard W. Moore said, “We have always made clear that the U.S. Attorney’s Office supports law enforcement officers and we have specifically emphasized that you do not assault those officers. It is equally true that we hold law enforcement officers to a high standard and if they violate the rights of citizens and, as in this case, obstruct justice by attempting to cover up what they have done, we will vigorously prosecute them. I appreciate the investigation done by the FBI and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in this case. This former Selma police officer has been removed permanently from law enforcement. We recommended to the district court judge a custody sentence within the guidelines but ultimately it was the judge’s decision to put Till on probation.”
Till has pending state criminal charges in Dallas County, Alabama. On September 29, 2020, a state grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Till, charging him with second-degree assault, a felony, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor, and obstructing governmental operations, a misdemeanor. An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless he or she is proven guilty at trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Alabama Attorney General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Roller and Deborah Griffin prosecuted the federal case in coordination with the Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson, who is prosecuting the state case.
Former Rocky Mountain Bank loan officer sentenced to prison, fined for fraud, money laundering crimesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A former Rocky Mountain Bank loan officer who admitted to approving loans to a bank customer while at the same time profiting from private, undisclosed loans to the customer was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $50,000, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.
Stephen Phillip Casher, 47, pleaded guilty on June 24, 2020 to bank fraud and to money laundering. Casher was charged in a 14-count superseding indictment alleging bank fraud and related crimes. A jury trial began on June 22, 2020. The prosecution and Casher reached a plea agreement during trial.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters allowed Casher to self-report to prison.
The prosecution presented evidence that Casher worked as a market president for Rocky Mountain Bank (RMB) from about November 2011 until January 2017. During that time, Casher was one of the people responsible for approving bank loans to Larry Price, Jr. or one of Price's related companies. Casher, along with several private investors, also made large, private, high interest loans to Price. Though Casher helped approve many bank loans to Price, neither Casher nor Price disclosed the private loans to RMB. Casher never informed RMB that he had a conflict of interest that might impair his impartiality in reviewing loans involving Price.
In September 2014, RMB loaned H&P Investments $3.75 million. Price controlled H&P investments and acted as an unlimited guarantor of the loan. Casher was one of the bank officials who approved this loan and was responsible for collecting Price's personal financial statement and providing it to the bank. A few days before the bank loan, Casher, along with a private investor, privately loaned Price $900,000. The private loan was specifically concealed and omitted from the personal financial statement that Casher had arranged for Price to sign on the same day the private loan was executed, resulting in a false entry in RMB's books.
In June 2015, RMB loaned Seven Lands Holdings approximately $1.18 million. Price controlled Seven Lands Holdings and acted as a personal guarantor of the loan. Price used the loan to buy five houses and turn them into rental properties. In early 2015, several private investors associated with Casher loaned Price $1.5 million. Casher brokered this deal and eventually received $20,000 as a "thank you" from the private investors.
One of homes Seven Lands Holdings was buying belonged to Casher and, as a result, he was removed from RMB's chain of approval. Nevertheless, Casher provided lender information on the loan and was involved in preparing loan documents. Neither Casher nor Price informed RMB about the $1.5 million private loan before the bank loaned Seven Lands Holdings $1.18 million. RMB's entry misrepresented Price's net worth and liquidity. Casher personally profited from this RMB loan because he received a large portion of loan funds from the sale of his house.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich, Zeno Baucus and Timothy Tatarka prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the IRS.
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Former Gulfport Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Mail Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Timothy Frank Ross, 54, formerly of Gulfport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to serve 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit mail theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Chris Cave with the U. S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office. Ross was also ordered to pay outstanding restitution to a victim in the amount of $594 and a $2,000 fine.
From September 2016, through March 2017, Ross and co-conspirators stole mail from victims’ residences and their mailboxes in the Gulfport and Bay St. Louis areas. Ross and his co-conspirators cashed checks from the stolen mail and made deposits with stolen checks into a bank account controlled by a co-conspirator.
Ross was indicted on July 24, 2019. He pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on October 22, 2020.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Former Federal Contractor Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Polish citizen, who was employed as a federal contractor for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, was sentenced today to five years in prison for receiving images of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents, Michal Piotrowicz, 40, while living in Alexandria, used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to receive and possess over 1,000 images of child pornography, featuring the sexual exploitation of young girls. While he was under investigation, Piotrowicz was intercepted and arrested at Dulles International Airport as he attempted to leave the country.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay V. Prabhu and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa L. Chong prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-211.
Former Elizabethtown Police Officer Sentenced - For Second Time in Federal Court - To Imprisonment for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Brian Leasor, 54, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was sentenced by United States District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings on January 19, 2021, to 10 years in prison followed by a life term of Supervised Release for accessing with intent to view child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett.
According to the Plea Agreement, in 2018, Leasor was serving a 10-year term of Supervised Release imposed in Criminal Action Number 3:05CR-003 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. In that case, Leasor had pled guilty to one count of receiving child pornography. While in the course of his term of Supervised Release in the Western District of Kentucky, Leasor was enrolled in a monitoring program for his cellular telephone with monitoring services through RemoteCOM. On October 22, 2018, Leasor’s Internet history and computer search terms were reviewed through the monitoring company. His then supervising United States Probation Officer (USPO) conducted a follow-up review. The supervising USPO learned that Leasor had searched the Internet for sexually explicit terms related to young females.
After reviewing the information from the monitoring software, USPOs conducted a search on Leasor’s residence in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The USPOs found several unauthorized digital items and seized Leasor’s unauthorized cellular telephone for additional forensic examination. The digital items were turned over for digital examination by the United States Secret Service. The examination revealed 40 specific searches involving terms associated with child sexual exploitation that occurred between August and October 2018. The websites and URLs visited in connection with these searches involved child pornography.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The United States Probation Office Western District of Kentucky with assistance from the United States Secret Service and Kentucky State Police conducted the investigation.
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This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Fayetteville Doctor Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Mail Fraud and Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and Michael Missal, Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, announced that Robert Morris Levy age 54, of Fayetteville, Arkansas was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $497,745.70 in restitution for one count each of Mail Fraud and Involuntary Manslaughter. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to the plea agreement, Levy held a medical license issued by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure issued in 1997. In 2005, the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (“Fayetteville VA”) hired Levy to serve as the Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medical Services, a position he held until his termination in 2018.
In 2015, Levy was interviewed by an administrative fact-finding panel regarding reports that Levy was under the influence of alcohol while on duty. Levy denied the allegations. In 2016, Levy appeared to be intoxicated while on duty, and a subsequent drug and alcohol test revealed Levy’s blood alcohol content was .396.0 mg/dL. As a result, the Fayetteville VA summarily suspended Levy’s privileges to practice medicine and issued Levy a written notice of removal and revocation of clinical privileges. Levy acknowledged that the pending proposed removal and revocation of clinical privileges was “due to unprofessional conduct related to high blood alcohol content while on duty” and in July 2016, Levy voluntarily entered a three-month in-patient treatment program, which he completed in October 2016.
Toward the end of the treatment program, Levy executed a contract with the Mississippi Physician Health Program and the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure in anticipation of returning to practice medicine at the Fayetteville VA. In the contract, Levy agreed to maintain sobriety to ensure his ability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients. Levy agreed to “abstain completely from the use of . . . alcohol and other mood-altering substances” and to submit to random urine and/or blood drug screens. Non-compliance would potentially subject Levy to loss of his medical license and, in turn, his employment by the Fayetteville VA. Levy returned to work at the Fayetteville VA in October 2016.
As part of the contract, Levy randomly provided urine specimens and blood samples for drug testing from November 2016 through June 2018. Each blood sample and urine specimen tested was reported negative for the presence of drugs and alcohol. On twelve occasions beginning in June 2017 and continuing through 2018, while Levy was contractually obligated to submit to random drug and alcohol screens, Levy purchased for personal consumption 2-methyl-2-butanol (2M-2B), a chemical substance that enables a person to achieve a state of intoxication but is not detectable in routine drug and alcohol testing methodology. On July 2, 2017, in furtherance of the scheme to defraud, Levy caused a package containing 2M2B to be shipped in interstate commerce from a chemical supply company in Virginia to Levy’s residence in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The package containing 2M2B was sent from Virginia and delivered to Levy’s home in the Western District of Arkansas by United Parcel Service, a commercial interstate carrier.
On February 4, 2014, Levy conducted a cursory and rudimentary workup of a biopsy of a tumor in the lymph node of an Air Force veteran and rendered a diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The Government’s evidence would show this diagnosis was incorrect and that Levy’s workup prior to finalizing the incorrect diagnosis was cursory and rudimentary. The Government’s evidence also showed that Levy made a patently false entry in the veteran’s medical record by stating that another pathologist agreed with Levy’s diagnosis, when in truth and fact, Levy well knew when he made the false entry in the veteran’s medical record that no other pathologist agreed with Levy’s diagnosis. The evidence also revealed that prior to Levy entering the false diagnosis, another pathologist had written to Levy, urging Levy to perform more diagnostic tests in the case due to the concern that Levy’s diagnosis of large B cell lymphoma was wrong. The veteran died at the VHSO on July 26, 2014, of small cell carcinoma for which the veteran received no treatment to prolong his life. The veteran was not treated for small cell carcinoma due to Levy’s grossly and criminally negligent conduct that demonstrated a wanton and reckless disregard for the veteran’s life.
“There is no more important work for our office than seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our communities in Western Arkansas,” said Acting US Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. “The victims of this case are people who gave selflessly to ensure the safety and security of the United States. They deserve the best medical care that we can provide for them. They deserve to have doctors in charge of their treatment who are dedicated and vigilant, just as these victims were in their service to our Country. Instead, this defendant’s criminal conduct in this case caused irreparable harm to the victims and their families. We are very proud to work with the dedicated VA OIG agents to achieve this conviction and sentence. While we can never repair what this defendant has broken, it is our hope that this sentence will serve as an important step towards comforting the victim’s families and striving to ensure that this criminal conduct will not occur again.”
“This sentence should send a strong message that those who abuse their positions of trust in caring for veterans will be held accountable. I thank the VA OIG special agents who worked tirelessly on this case and the US Attorney’s Office for its outstanding efforts,” said VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “Our thoughts are with all those harmed by Dr. Levy’s actions and we hope they find some small measure of comfort from what happened here today.”
A federal grand jury indicted Levy in August 2019, and he entered a guilty plea in June 2020.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Criminal Chief Kyra Jenner and Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Achorn prosecuted the case for the United States.
Farmington Woman Sentenced to 60 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Sasha Rand, 34, of Farmington, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on Thursday for fentanyl trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between late 2017 and December 18, 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New Hampshire State Police conducted an investigation of drug trafficking by Rand and her husband, Derek Rand, who used New Hampshire-based drug couriers to obtain fentanyl in Massachusetts and bring it to New Hampshire for distribution. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized over one kilogram of fentanyl from members of this drug trafficking organization. Both Rands were arrested in December of 2018 as part of a DEA-led takedown of fentanyl traffickers in the Rochester, New Hampshire area.
Derek Rand was sentenced in December of 2019 to serve 90 months in federal prison.
Sasha Rand previously pleaded guilty on September 11, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl traffickers are jeopardizing public health and safety by distributing this deadly drug in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to keep our community safe, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate, prosecute, and incarcerate those who responsible for selling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. Fentanyl traffickers who do business in the Granite State should understand that their unlawful conduct will lead to a substantial stay in federal prison.”
“Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “DEA will continue to use every resource available to identify traffickers, like Ms. Rand who distribute this poison to the citizens of New Hampshire. Today’s sentence not only holds Ms. Rand accountable for her crimes but serves as a warning to those who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This matter was investigated by the DEA, New Hampshire State Police, and the Dover Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Davis.
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Ex-board member of Montana Native Women’s Coalition admits to theft of grant fundsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS –A former board member of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition admitted on Jan. 21 to stealing grant funds for unapproved travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said today.
Barbara Mary Daychief, 43, of Browning, pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds. Daychief was a board member of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition. Daychief faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Judge Cavan continued Daychief’s release pending further proceedings. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The prosecution said in court documents that the purpose of the Lame Deer-based Coalition is to help Native American victims of domestic and sexual violence. The Coalition receives funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), which provides grants for victim services.
While serving on the Coalition’s board, Daychief received travel advances for travel to various locations. In November of 2017, Daychief claimed $1,874.18 in travel money for a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. All travel funds provided to Daychief were funds from OVW.
Although initially intending to travel to the claimed destinations, Daychief ultimately did not travel as planned. Rather than pay back the travel advances as required, Daychief kept the money for herself. When interviewed by law enforcement, Daychief admitted she obtained travel advances despite not traveling as claimed. Because Daychief has kept the federal funds for approximately three years, her actions intentionally deprived OVW from using the federal funds for other desired purposes.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Weldon and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General.
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Estate of Deceased Urologist Agrees to Pay More Than $1.7 Million to Settle False Claims Act LiabilityRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that the Estate of Dr. Patrick T. Hunter has paid the United States $1.75 million to resolve allegations that Dr. Hunter violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims for kidney stone procedures that were not medically justified and for engaging in an illegal kickback arrangement. Dr. Hunter passed away in March 2019.
The settlement relates to Dr. Hunter’s submission of claims for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, a procedure used to break up kidney stones. According to the settlement agreement, between January 2010 and April of 2016, Dr. Hunter performed lithotripsy procedures on Medicare and TRICARE patients that were medically unnecessary because the procedures were not medically indicated or because there were no kidney stones in those patients.
The settlement agreement also resolves allegations that Dr. Hunter engaged in an illegal kickback arrangement with the Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery, LP, where he performed the lithotripsy procedures. Dr. Hunter and the Orlando Center allegedly entered into an illegal kickback arrangement where Dr. Hunter agreed to perform his lithotripsy procedures at the Orlando Center in exchange for payments from the Orlando Center, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. These procedures were then billed to and paid by Medicare and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Physicians that perform illegal and baseless procedures violate the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to pursuing providers who perform unnecessary procedures and engage in illegal kickback agreements that violate the law.”
“Health care fraud impacts both Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers alike. Fraud schemes are especially insidious when unscrupulous medical professionals try to enrich themselves by performing unnecessary procedures and engaging in kickback arrangements with others in the health care community,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “With our law enforcement partners, our agency will continue to investigate individuals who commit health care fraud.”
The settlement resulted from a lawsuit originally filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Scott Thompson. Mr. Thompson sued under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act permitting a private citizen to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in the recovery. The Act also allows the United States to intervene and prosecute the action. Mr. Thompson will receive $385,000 of the proceeds from the settlement with Dr. Hunter’s Estate.
The United States’ intervention in this matter illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the HHS Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Health Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy R. Bloor and Sean Keefe led the investigation.
The case is captioned United States ex rel. Thompson v. Surgical Care Affiliates et al., Case No. 6:16-cv-2189-Orl-22KRS. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims against Dr. Hunter’s Estate in that case. The case remains pending against the other defendants. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission Announce First Enforcement Actions for Violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales ActRead the Press Release
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – The Department of Justice and the United States Attorney Office for the Eastern District of New York, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced three settlements resolving alleged violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. These are the first enforcement actions that the Department and the FTC have brought under the BOTS Act.
Enacted in 2016, the BOTS Act aims to prevent ticket brokers from buying large numbers of event tickets and reselling them to interested customers at inflated prices. The BOTS Act prohibits a person from circumventing access controls or measures used by online ticket sellers (such as Ticketmaster) to enforce ticket-purchasing limits. It also prevents the resale of tickets obtained by knowingly circumventing access controls.
As alleged in the three complaints filed by the United States in the Eastern District of New York, the defendants—Just In Time Tickets, Inc. and its owner Evan Kohanian; Concert Specials, Inc. and its owner Steven Ebrani; and Cartisim Corp. and its owner Simon Ebrani—committed violations of the BOTS Act to purchase from Ticketmaster thousands of tickets they then resold for millions of dollars in revenues, often at significant markups. The defendants allegedly circumvented Ticketmaster’s restrictions on users holding multiple accounts by creating accounts in the names of family members, friends, and fictitious individuals and using hundreds of credit cards. They also allegedly used ticket bots to fool tests designed to prevent nonhuman visitors. In addition, the complaints assert that the defendants used programs to conceal the IP addresses of the computers they used to make purchases.
“Those who violate the BOTS Act cheat fans by forcing them to pay inflated prices to attend concerts, theater performances and sporting events,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme. “This Office will spare no effort in prohibiting deceptive practices that harm consumers.”
“These defendants are alleged to have cheated the system to the detriment of consumers,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Today’s filing serves notice that the Department of Justice will enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales Act in appropriate cases. We are pleased to work with our partners at the Federal Trade Commission on this and other matters important to consumers.”
The three stipulated orders entered by the court assess civil penalties of $11.2 million against Just In Time Tickets, Inc. and Kohanian, $16 million against Concert Specials, Inc. and Steven Ebrani, and $4.4 million against Cartisim Corp. and Simon Ebrani. The orders further provide for the suspension of the remainder of such civil penalties if the defendants pay $1,642,658.96, $1,565,527.41, and $499,147.12, respectively, and satisfy certain additional terms. The stipulated orders also contain terms to prohibit the defendants from using ticket bots or other computer programs to defeat access controls, from concealing the IP addresses of computers they use to make ticket purchases and from purchasing tickets from any credit or debit account in the name of anyone other than the defendants or their corporate officers and employees. Under the terms, the defendants must also maintain records and provide compliance reports to the government.
The claims resolved by the settlements in these cases are allegations only, and there has not been any final determination of liability or wrongdoing.
This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Bonni J. Perlin and Kevin Yim of the Eastern District of New York, with Trial Attorney Benjamin A. Cornfeld of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. Christine M. Todaro and Frances L. Kern represented the FTC.
E.D.N.Y. Civil Docket Nos: 21-CV-212 (GRB); 21-CV-214 (DRH); 21-CV-215 (GRB
Council Bluffs Woman Sentenced for Possessing Firearm and Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Jade Good, 34, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Good to imprisonment for a term of 180 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On January 21, 2018, narcotics investigators served a warrant authorizing the search of Good’s room at a motel on South 13th Street in Omaha. When officers entered the room, they observed Good with a loaded 9mm firearm, over $27,000 in U.S. currency, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine in her possession. The currency was administratively forfeited to the Omaha Police Department.
This case was investigated by Omaha Police Department.
Convicted Felon from Tuskegee Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Possessing an AK Pistol Loaded with Rifle RoundsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Thursday, January 21, 2021, Brian Bernard Burton, a 36-year-old from Tuskegee, Alabama, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal firearms charge, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. Burton was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and statements made in open court, in June of 2019, a Lee County deputy was on patrol and spotted a vehicle with an expired tag. After initiating a traffic stop, deputies quickly discovered that the driver, Brian Burton, had outstanding warrants for his arrest. When Burton was placed into custody, deputies inventoried the vehicle and found a black backpack behind the driver’s seat that contained a Century Arms AK pistol. A high-capacity magazine was attached to the firearm containing 20 rounds, with one round in the chamber. The rounds were 7.62x39mm caliber, also known as “rifle” rounds that are capable of piercing the soft body armor commonly worn by law enforcement. Burton has a previous felony conviction for attempted murder and is prohibited from possessing firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives (ATF) was notified and began to investigate the case for federal charges.
On January 15, 2020, Burton was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm and a warrant for his arrest was issued. In June of 2020, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force suspected that Burton was located at a residence in Auburn. When they arrived at the house, agents discovered that Burton was hiding in the attic and had to cut the ceiling open to retrieve him. Burton pleaded guilty to the firearms charge on August 14, 2020.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan A. Kirkpatrick and Russell Duraski prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Tavares Speaight (25, Tampa) to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Speaight to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
Speaight had pleaded guilty on October 21, 2020.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers went to an apartment complex in Tampa looking for Speaight, who had outstanding arrest warrants. Speaight fled when he saw the officers and, after a brief foot chase, was arrested. Subsequent to the arrest, officers located a handgun on Speaight’s person. Speaight had previously been convicted of robbery, a felony, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This case is 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 and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Convicted Felon on Trial for Drug and Gun Charges Is Found GuiltyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte federal jury has convicted Marcus Isaiah Curry, 37, of Gastonia, N.C., on drug trafficking and firearms charges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. presided over the two-day trial, which ended late yesterday.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Travis Brittain of the City of Gastonia Police Department (GPD) join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement determined that Curry engaged in drug trafficking in and around Gastonia, North Carolina. On March 5, 2020, FBI agents and GPD officers executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, and seized crack cocaine, powder cocaine, various chemicals and other supplies used for cooking powder cocaine into crack cocaine, and $1,801 in drug proceeds. Law enforcement also recovered from the residence two firearms and ammunition, including an assault pistol loaded with an extended high-capacity magazine, a .45 caliber handgun capable of firing shotgun shells, and a 100-round capacity ammunition drum loaded with 76 rounds. Curry has multiple prior felony convictions and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. According to witness testimony, in addition to engaging in drug trafficking activities, law enforcement determined that Curry was planning to intimidate a witness.
The jury convicted Curry of four counts of distribution of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Curry is in federal custody and faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI and GPD for their investigative work on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
Co-owner of Title Pawn Business Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – An Alabama businessman pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a scheme that cost his partners and investors half-a-million dollars in losses, said Peter D. Leary, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Matthew Hinkle, 49, of Dadeville, Alabama, pleaded guilty to one count wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land. Hinkle is facing a maximum 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Hinkle’s sentencing is scheduled for April 13, 2021. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hinkle was president and co-owner of Title Wave Title Pawn, a loan company with locations in Columbus, Phenix City, Alabama and Auburn, Alabama. According to the stipulation of facts entered into court, between January 2014 and October 2017, Hinkle used company funds for his own personal use, including payments for auto loans, property tax, community association fees, loan repayment for a personal airplane, retail store purchases, convenience stores purchases and restaurant purchases. Hinkle, who was a minority owner in the business, provided false and misleading information to his business partners, investors and the company accountant regarding the financial health of the business. Hinkle frequently had to move company funds between accounts in order to service customer loans, investor interest payments and other business-related payments. While using the Company funds to finance his personal lifestyle, Hinkle repeatedly requested additional investment contributions from his business partners and outside investors under the guise of expanding the business. The co-owners were alerted to the dire financial condition of the company in 2017. They confronted Hinkle, who admitted the company was running out of money, but couldn’t explain why. Hinkle left the business in September 2017 and couldn’t be reached by the co-owners. The business ceased activity in November 2017. The final restitution amount will be determined at sentencing, but according to the terms of the plea agreement, restitution will not exceed $522,642.22.
“Acts of fraud cause grave harm to their victims, many who struggle to recover from the financial losses. Fraud is a major crime and is taken seriously in the Middle District of Georgia. We will investigate and prosecute those found using illegal business practices to deceive people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leary. “I want to thank the FBI for their work investigating this case and helping to bring justice for the victims.”
“Hinkle deceived his business partners and investors who placed their trust in him only to lose their company and investments,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “He will now spend time in prison for choosing his own greed over the company's trust.”
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Carlton S. Shier, IV to Serve as Acting United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., has announced that, following his resignation on Sunday, January 24, 2021, First Assistant United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV will serve as the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Shier has served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney since 2013. As the First Assistant, he has acted as the U.S. Attorney’s principal deputy and advisor, supporting the U.S. Attorney in managing the operations of the Lexington headquarters, and its two branch offices in Fort Mitchell and London. Shier previously served as the Acting U.S. Attorney from January to November of 2017.
The Eastern District of Kentucky encompasses the 67 easternmost counties in the Commonwealth, has a population of approximately 2.2 million, and includes the cities of Lexington, Covington, Frankfort, Ashland, Pikeville, Somerset, and London. The United States Attorney oversees a staff of approximately 110, including 49 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes and representing the United States in civil litigation, in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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Camden County Man Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man was charged today with allegedly distributing videos and images of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Ryan Osinski, 31, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He appeared scheduled to appear by videoconference later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In December 2020, law enforcement officers interviewed Osinski after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images of child sexual abuse were shared from an IP address assigned to Osinski’s residence. During and after the interview, law enforcement officers lawfully reviewed the contents of Osinski’s cell phone, which contained numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse. Additional investigation revealed the existence of links and folders on a cloud storage website controlled by Osinski that Osinski transmitted to others using a social media application on his cell phone. These links and folders contained numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse, including materials that depicted prepubescent children and sadomasochistic conduct.
The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Cherry Hill Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer, with the investigation leading to today’s charge. She also thanked the Department of the Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, for its assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the Camden Office.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Buffalo Woman Arrested on Fentanyl and Cocaine Charges in the Southern TierRead 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 Jade Hooks, 22, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 19, 2021, a Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputy observed a vehicle in the driveway of a residence on Erie Street in the Town of Little Valley that was known as a location used to distribute illicit narcotics. The deputy initiated surveillance of the vehicle and noticed that it was running and occupied. The deputy continued to surveil the vehicle after it left the Erie Street residence and traveled to a residence on Jefferson Street, which is also a known location utilized for the distribution of illicit narcotics. The deputy observed a female, later identified as the defendant, exit the vehicle carrying a black backpack-style bag. After getting out of the vehicle, Hooks walked to the trunk area and placed the bag into the trunk, and then re-entered the vehicle and left the residence. The deputy continued to surveil the vehicle and a short time later conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle, during which members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force arrived at the scene. An investigator noticed the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Hooks and two passengers were then removed from the vehicle and the vehicle was searched. Investigators recovered a digital scale containing suspected drug residue, approximately 40 grams of suspected crack cocaine, a large quantity of United States currency, and approximately 206 grams of suspected fentanyl, which was located in the black backpack in the trunk.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on January 27, 2021.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, 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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Box Elder Man Found Guilty of Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Christopher Golden, age 50, was found guilty of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography following a federal court trial in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on January 21, 2021.
The convictions carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund, a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and restitution.
Evidence at trial established Golden knowingly received and possessed sexually explicit images of minor females between June 2014 and September 2018. Golden was arrested in Rapid City in 2018 on a Colorado fugitive warrant for sexual exploitation of a child. At the time of his arrest, Golden had five devices containing child pornography and multiple devices on which he had installed data shredding applications and other anonymizing software.
The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, and members of the Black Hills Fugitive Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama prosecuted and tried the case.
A sentencing date will be scheduled. Golden was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Atlanta Man Admits to Bribing U.S. Marine Corps Official in Exchange for $2,000,000 in Transportation ContractsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DARREL FITZPATRICK, aged 30, pleaded guilty on January 21, 2021 to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 201(b)(1). The Honorable Carl J. Barbier set sentencing for April 29, 2021. FITZPATRICK faces up to five years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.
According to the Factual Basis, in 2019 FITZPATRICK was a senior account manager at Company A, a bus brokerage company that provided transportation to the United States Marine Corps Reserves. That same year, FITZPATRICK started a competing transportation brokerage company called National Charter Express.
In 2019, FITZPATRICK agreed to pay kickbacks to Erik Martin, a civilian employee of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, in exchange for Martin directing business to Company A, and then later, National Charter Express. The conspiracy resulted in at least $2,000,000 in transportation contracts being corruptly awarded to companies associated with Fitzpatrick. In exchange, Fitzpatrick wired and attempted to wire Martin over $250,000 in bribes.
U. S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the United States Secret Service for their investigation in this case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Myles Ranier.
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Armed Bank Robber Gets 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Justin Mychal Smith, 28, of Muncie, Indiana, was sentenced to serve 17 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for participating in armed bank robbery and the brandishing of a pistol during the robbery. U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff also imposed a period of supervised release of 5 years and ordered Smith to pay $5,090 in restitution. In March 2020, Smith’s co-defendant, Trayshauon Raheim Atkinson, 22, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison.
On November 30, 2018, Smith and Atkinson entered the PNC Bank on Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo. Atkinson handed the teller a handwritten note, which stated, “I HAVE A BOMB…DON’T MAKE NO MOVES…GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY…MOVE FAST.” At the same time, Smith produced a semiautomatic pistol and pointed it directly at the teller’s face. Smith scaled the teller’s counter, with the pistol still pointed at her. He moved over to another teller in front of Atkinson and shoved the gun into the face of that teller. She recoiled back and Smith grabbed the cash.
Atkinson was identified and arrested shortly after the robbery. Smith was a fugitive until July 2020 when he was arrested in California. Smith was returned to Michigan and pleaded guilty to the charges on October 14, 2020. He is also wanted in connection with a murder in Indiana. Anyone with information regarding this crime should contact the FBI at (269) 349-9607. The murder charge is merely an accusation, and Smith is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
At sentencing, Judge Neff expressed concern regarding the serious and violent nature of the robbery and was deeply troubled by Smith’s long history of violence and guns. While she was mindful of the need of deterrence of Smith and others who might consider robbing a bank, she was most aware of the need to protect the community from Smith.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Birge stated, “Banks represent financial stability and economic growth for surrounding communities; those who rob them deserve serious punishment. Bank employees are just trying to help customers. No one should have to suffer the violence and danger of an armed robbery. I am grateful for the outstanding work by the KDPS and FBI to identify and track down these bank robbers. It is through efforts like theirs that my office and the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office can hold bank robbers accountable.”
“Bank robberies are serious violent crimes that can jeopardize public safety and traumatize victims,” said Timothy Waters, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Michigan is safer with Justin Smith and his codefendant behind bars. We thank our law enforcement partners in the Kalamazoo Department of Public Service for helping us hold this reckless criminal accountable.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru, in cooperation with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office, and investigated by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the FBI.
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Alton Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Matthew L. Richardson, 32, of Alton, Illinois, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison
for two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Richardson pleaded guilty to
the charges in August 2020. His prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised
release.In November 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) received information
that Richardson was selling methamphetamine and firearms. On Nov. 8, 2019, a confidential informant
purchased a shotgun and methamphetamine from Richardson. The transaction was captured on camera,
and Richardson could be seen on the video sawing and filing the barrel of the shotgun down to an
illegal length prior to the sale.On Dec. 2, 2019, ATF agents and Illinois state probation officers arrested Richardson at his
residence in Alton. At the time of his arrest, Richardson was on Illinois state probation for a
2019 conviction in Madison County for possession of methamphetamine. During a search of
Richardson’s bedroom, agents found a loaded revolver with a filed off serial number.In handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle explained that the
87-month prison term was necessary to reflect the seriousness of Richardson’s offense, to protect
the public, and to deter him from future criminal activity. Judge Yandle observed that Richardson
was actively contributing to the spread of methamphetamine and guns on the streets, and that when
illegal drugs and firearms go hand-in-hand, they inevitably lead to violence and death.The case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Christopher Hoell.Alleged Murderer Charged with Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
The man charged by the state with the October 9, 2020 murder of James Faith has now been charged with federal firearm crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah.
Darrin Ruben Lopez, 48, was charged via criminal complaint Friday with transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with the intent to commit a felony offense. Mr. Lopez, currently in the custody of the Dixon County Sherriff’s Office in Tennessee on a Dallas County murder warrant, will make his initial appearance in federal court once he is extradited back to Dallas.
“This defendant allegedly gunned down an innocent man in broad daylight,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “I hope this case makes one thing crystal clear: If you carry a gun across state lines in order to commit violence, you will be subject to federal prosecution.”
“ATF is committed to working with its partners to go after evil amongst us. I am in awe of the meticulous police work performed here by homicide detectives at the Dallas Police Department. Mr. Lopez is alleged to have killed in cold blood. If not for law enforcement determination, he may still be walking the streets among us,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Division Jeffrey C. Boshek II.
According to the complaint, on October 8, Mr. Lopez allegedly drove with his .45 caliber handgun from his home in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee to James Faith's home in Dallas, where Mr. Lopez allegedly laid in wait, then shot the victim seven times – three times in the head, three times in the chest, and one time in the groin – before fleeing the scene and returning home.
James Faith was walking his dog with his wife, Jennifer Faith, when he was murdered in the early morning hours of October 9.
A search of Ms. Faith’s cell phone revealed that she and Mr. Lopez had been engaged in what she described to a friend as a “full-blown emotional affair.”
Mr. Lopez’s cell records show the pair were in near constant contact, sending one another hundreds of text messages each day for several months, including in the weeks before and after the murder. However, the afternoon before the murder, the phones suddenly stopped communicating, and did not start communicating again until nine hours after James Faith was killed.
Witnesses to the murder told law enforcement that the shooter was driving a black Nissan Titan with a distinctive white “T” emblem on the left rear windshield.
Agents later observed a black Nissan Titan with a “T” emblem parked on Mr. Lopez’s property in Tennessee. They were also able to trace his route on October 8th and 9th from Tennessee to Texas through cell phone tower data, debit card transactions, Google precision location data, and surveillance video at truck stops.
During the execution of a search warrant on Jan. 11, ATF agents recovered what ballistic tests later proved to be the .45 caliber handgun used to kill James Faith inside Mr. Lopez’s Tennessee residence.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Lopez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ms. Faith has not been charged with a criminal offense.*
If convicted of the firearm offense, Mr. Lopez faces up to ten years in federal prison. (He also faces up to life in a state penitentiary on the Dallas County murder charge.)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Aviation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.
*UPDATE: Jennifer Faith was arrested at her home in Oak Cliff on Feb. 24, charged via criminal complaint with obstruction of justice. More information here.
Alleged Leader of Conspiracy to Steal and Sell Construction Equipment, Recreational Vehicles and Boats ApprehendedRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – An alleged leader of a series of schemes in several states to steal and sell nearly $700,000 worth of excavators, sport boats, jet skis, all-terrain vehicles, and trailers has been apprehended in Winter Park, Florida.
Jose A. Montes, aka Jose Rivera, aka “Tuto”, 36, of Cranston, indicted by a federal grand jury in Providence on November 20, 2020, on charges of interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, was apprehended Wednesday without incident by members of a United States Marshals Service Task Force, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and United States Marshal Wing Chau.
Montes appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Orlando and was ordered detained while awaiting removal to Rhode Island.
It is alleged that members of the conspiracy, often times using rented and stolen trucks, hauled away the stolen excavators, boats, jet skis, ATVs, and trailers from businesses in South Kingstown and Tiverton, RI; Auburn, Rehoboth, and Easton, MA; Waterford, Vernon, and Stafford, CT; and Hampstead, NH. Many of the stolen items were stored in Providence, Johnston, Warwick, North Providence, Scituate, and Glocester, R.I. Several of the stolen items were hauled to Florida to be sold.
Two Bobcat excavators each valued at $60,000 and one valued at $75,000, were allegedly stolen from an Auburn, Mass., dealer between late Friday, April 10, 2020, and late Saturday April 11, 2020. Using GPS built into the equipment, the excavators were located on April 13, 2020, and recovered by law enforcement. Two of the excavators were discovered in Johnston. The third was found in North Providence. GPS data showed that two of the stolen machines were stored on a farm in North Scituate before being moved to Johnston. One of the excavators was brought briefly to a residence in Warwick.
GPS data showed that the third excavator was first taken to a location in Glocester then moved to North Providence, where it was located and seized by law enforcement.
An ATV stolen from a dealership in Hampstead, New Hampshire in July 2020 was discovered on Gallup Street in Providence and towed by police to an impound facility. The ATV was subsequently stolen again from the impound.
In addition to Jose Montes, named in the indictment are Krystal K. Disano, 26, of Sarasota, Florida; Sorina Cruz, 43, of Cranston; Daniel J. Guerriero, 34, of North Scituate; Ronald S. Mosca, 48, of Sarasota, Florida; Irvin W. McLaughlin, Jr., 40, of Connecticut; Efrain A. Lopez, 32, of Providence; Jared J. Santiago, 28, of Providence; and Luis M. Morales, 37, of Providence.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland and Ly T. Chin.
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Thursday 21 January 2021
Youngsville Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Drugs and a FirearmRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Brandon Michael Mosing, 36, of Youngsville, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Michael J. Juneau to 120 months (10 years) in prison. After release from prison, he will be on supervised release for an additional 5 years. Mosing plead guilty on September 2, 2020 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
The charges stem from two incidents involving Mosing. The first incident occurred on June 4, 2019, when Lafayette Police Department officers executed a search warrant at a Lafayette hotel room. Officers found Mosing in the room with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and firearms. A laboratory analysis of the drugs confirmed the methamphetamine to have a net weight of 600.7 grams. He was released on bond pending state charges.
The second incident occurred a few months later on January 25, 2020 when Lafayette Police Department officers responded to a motorcycle accident and found an injured driver. Paramedics at the scene had to cut a backpack off the injured driver and law enforcement officers searched inside to find identification for him and discovered it was Mosing. Inside the backpack officers observed narcotics and a firearm. Witnesses at the scene confirmed that Mosing was wearing the backpack at the time of the crash. As the subject of a Protective Order from the 15th Judicial District Court, Mosing was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The DEA, ATF, and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon prosecuted the case.
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