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9 February 2021
United States Attorney Timothy J. Downing Announces ResignationRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, United States Attorney Timothy J. Downing announced that he has submitted his resignation to the President, to be effective at 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2021. He will announce at a later time his future plans.
United States Attorney Downing was sworn into office on June 5, 2019, after being appointed by President Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate. As the United States Attorney, Mr. Downing served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District of Oklahoma. In this capacity, he has been responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States in the district. The Western District of Oklahoma is the largest of three judicial districts in Oklahoma and includes 40 of the 77 counties.
During his tenure as United States Attorney, Downing served on multiple Attorney General’s Advisory Committee Subcommittees and Working Groups, including those related to Terrorism and National Security, Border Protection and Immigration, Domestic Violence, and Native American Issues.
As United States Attorney, Downing focused on building strong partnerships with state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement. "I wish everyone had an opportunity to witness as I did their fellow heroic Oklahomans who serve in law enforcement and protect our families and neighborhoods every single day," said Downing. "Law enforcement partnerships are stronger today than ever before, and we have seen the positive impact it has had on public safety in our communities and district."
During Downing’s tenure, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District prosecuted the most defendants in the history of the office, including the most defendants charged with violent crimes. "The men and women who serve in this office are incredible public servants who support our law enforcement, fight for victims, protect public safety, and secure the rule of law that is necessary to freedom and liberty for all," said Downing. "I will always cherish this time of service as United States Attorney, and I take joy to know the Western District continues in great hands with the amazing attorneys and support staff here."
Downing was the 25th presidentially appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma since statehood. "I am thankful to President Trump, Senator James Inhofe, Senator James Lankford, and other members of the United States Senate for the opportunity to serve the people of Oklahoma as United States Attorney," said Downing.
Prior to his appointment as United States Attorney in 2019, Downing served as Counselor to the Oklahoma Secretary of State. From 2016 to 2018, he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where he was an Assistant Majority Floor Leader, an Assistant Majority Whip, and Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee. From 2011 to 2016, Downing was an Assistant Attorney General for the State Oklahoma, where he represented the State in criminal appeals, was a member of the Opinion Conference, and was Director of Legislative Affairs.
Since 2011, Downing has served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army Reserve. In this capacity from 2013 to 2014, he served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney at Fort Hood, Texas, working with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. From 2009 to 2011, he was a Senior Law Clerk for Jay Sekulow at the American Center for Law and Justice, and in 2009 he served as a Legal Fellow for United States Senator James Inhofe. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Oral Roberts University, and Regent University School of Law. He and his wife Lan have been married for nineteen years and have four children.
After Downing’s resignation on February 28, 2021, First Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Troester will become the Acting United States Attorney by operation of law under the Vacancies Reform Act. "Bob has led this office during three prior interim periods, he did an incredible job as my First Assistant, and there is no one better for this transition," said Downing. "I will continue to give my best to this office until the last second on the job, and I commit to praying for and have every confidence in the future success of this office under the leadership of those who follow me."
To download a photo of United States Attorney Downing, click here.
US Attorney Halsey Frank Appears on WGME TV to Discuss Money MulesRead the Press Release
Halsey Frank, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, appeared on WGME TV to discuss the growing danger of money mules. The story can be seen here.
A money mule is someone who transfers illegally acquired money at the direction of another. Criminals recruit consumers as recipients of money to physically or electronically move through their own bank accounts, or to assist the movement of money in other ways.
Some of the schemes include instructions to wire the money into a third party bank account, “cash out” the money via several cashier’s checks, convert the money into a virtual currency or prepaid debit card, send the money via a money service business, or conduct a combination of these actions.
Money mules are frequently recruited through online job or dating websites, social networking sites, online classifieds, email spam, and dark web forums. A frequent tactic involves befriending people online, often even establishing online romances, with the parties never meeting one another in person.
The “money mule” scam has escalated in Maine since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 300 Maine residents have become “money mules” during the pandemic.
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores Announces Resignation Effective End of FebruaryRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced that he will resign as chief law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Oklahoma at the end of February.
“Today, I tendered to the President my resignation as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, effective February 28, 2021. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve our great nation and the citizens of northeastern Oklahoma in this capacity. After eighteen years with the United States Department of Justice, I know that my family and I can sleep well at night knowing that the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and their law enforcement partners are on the job. It is beyond rewarding to know that I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to the betterment and well-being of our community –the very same community in which I grew up as a child and where my wife and I have chosen to raise our family.
I want to thank Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford for their support and confidence in me to lead this office when they recommended me as a nominee for the position. I am grateful to Attorney General Sessions and Attorney General Barr for their trust in my abilities and for their attentions to improving public safety in Indian Country, especially to advance awareness of and provide resources to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous persons. Most of all, I am deeply appreciative of the men and women of this United States Attorney’s Office who, day in and day out, carry forth the mission of the Justice Department. This diverse and dedicated team pursues truth and justice and advances the rule of law. They do what is right even when that is not convenient or easy. Their work enables the rest of us to enjoy our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For that, they have my enduring respect and sincere appreciation.”
U.S. Attorney Transition BeginsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Continuing the practice of new administrations, President Biden and the Department of Justice have begun the transition process for the U.S. Attorneys.
“We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition. Until U.S. Attorney nominees are confirmed, the interim and acting leaders in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will make sure that the department continues to accomplish its critical law enforcement mission, vigorously defend the rule of law and pursue the fair and impartial administration of justice for all,” said Acting Attorney General Wilkinson.
Earlier this year, nearly all presidential appointees from the previous administration offered their resignations, though U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals were asked to temporarily remain in place. Prior to the beginning of this U.S. Attorney transition process, approximately one-third of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices were already led by acting or interim leadership.
President Biden will make announcements regarding his nominations to the Senate of new U.S. Attorneys as that information becomes available.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich to Depart Justice DepartmentRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada has announced his resignation, effective at 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2021.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve the District of Nevada, alongside our federal family, the committed public servants in our office, and our law enforcement partners,” said Trutanich. “The opportunity to serve here was more than I could have ever imagined, and I’ll leave knowing that the foundation is in place for our office’s continued success.”
Trutanich was sworn into office in January 2019, after unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. He had been serving as the First Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Staff at the Office of Nevada’s Attorney General. Earlier in his career, Trutanich served as the Deputy Chief of the Violent and Organized Crime Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
During Trutanich’s tenure in the District of Nevada, the U.S. Attorney’s Office strived to prioritize public safety through targeted, impactful prosecutions and to promote ethics, diversity, and crime prevention. For example, through strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, as well as close collaboration with communities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has continued to make gains in combatting human trafficking and conducting proactive narcotics and criminal enterprise investigations. And over the past two years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has placed a renewed emphasis on prosecuting crimes occurring on Indian reservations and colonies, particularly violence against Native American women.
In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office launched new initiatives last year such as Project Veronica, which focuses on prosecuting domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms. Similarly, prosecutors are holding accountable fraudsters seeking to exploit the public health crisis, including through unemployment benefits and CARES Act fraud.
In addition to overseeing the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Trutanich served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, providing advice on policy and operational issues affecting the Department of Justice. Trutanich was the first U.S. Attorney from the District of Nevada to serve on the AGAC in nearly 25 years. Trutanich also served on a working group for the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. Further, in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minnesota, Trutanich helped lead the Department of Justice’s nationwide efforts to reform Use of Force Policies, following a June 2020 Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities.
The District of Nevada, which encompasses the entire state of Nevada, is one of the largest of the 94 federal judicial districts. Trutanich recruited and onboarded more than 75 staff professionals and Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and established a new in-house training program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is now composed of over 120 team members, responsible for conducting federal criminal prosecutions in the District and protecting the interests of the United States by pursuing and defending against claims in civil litigation.
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U.S. Attorney Muldrow Announces His Resignation Effective on February 28, 2021Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – As part of the United States Attorney transition process announced by the Department of Justice, United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow has indicated that he has tendered his resignation, effective on February 28, 2021.
“I am extremely proud of the great work and dedication of the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico with whom I have had the privilege to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “While I will continue in the office in the coming weeks, serving the people of Puerto Rico as U.S. Attorney has been the highest honor and most fulfilling duty in my more than 30 years of public service.”
Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson announced earlier today that, continuing the practice of new administrations, President Biden and the Department of Justice have begun the transition process for the U.S. Attorneys.
“We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition. Until U.S. Attorney nominees are confirmed, the interim and acting leaders in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will make sure that the department continues to accomplish its critical law enforcement mission, vigorously defend the rule of law and pursue the fair and impartial administration of justice for all,” said Acting Attorney General Wilkinson.
Earlier this year, nearly all presidential appointees from the previous administration offered their resignations, though U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals were asked to temporarily remain in place. Prior to the beginning of this U.S. Attorney transition process, approximately one-third of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices were already led by acting or interim leadership.
President Biden will make announcements regarding his nominations to the Senate of new U.S. Attorneys as that information becomes available.
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U.S. Attorney DeVillers announces his resignationRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – United States Attorney David M. DeVillers announced today he will resign as chief law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Ohio effective Feb. 28, 2021.
DeVillers stated:
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation. I have been a prosecutor for my entire career, and it was my wish to remain a prosecutor until the end of my career, but that is not to be. I want to thank my family, friends and colleagues for all of the incredible support and encouragement over the years. I also want to thank Senators Portman and Brown for their trust in me. It has been the honor of my life to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. While it was my hope to continue on for a few more months to finish some of the work we have started, I am absolutely certain that the AUSAs and investigators working for the people of the Southern District of Ohio will bring this work to a successful and just closure. I am committed to support and assist whoever the President and Senate choose to permanently replace me to the best that I can. I encourage that person to be just, apolitical, aggressive and impactful.”
DeVillers was nominated by former President Donald Trump and began serving as United States Attorney in November 2019 following confirmation by the Senate.
DeVillers has worked as a federal prosecutor for nearly two decades, primarily prosecuting organized and violent crime.
During his tenure as United States Attorney, the office continued significant public corruption investigations, including filing charges against former Ohio Speaker of the House Larry Householder and three Cincinnati city councilmembers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio includes 67 Assistant United States Attorneys and 51 non-attorney personnel. They serve the southern 48 counties in the state, including the Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas.
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U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announces departure from U.S. Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today announced that he will leave his post as U.S. Attorney on February 28, 2021. Mr. Moran plans to return to the private practice of law.
Today the Department of Justice asked each presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney to resign by February 28, 2021. DOJ will name an interim U.S. Attorney to serve until a new presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Attorney Moran was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney and was sworn into office on January 17, 2019. Mr. Moran led the office during a particularly tumultuous two years, taking office during the longest-ever government shutdown and steering the office during an unprecedented global pandemic.
In his resignation statement, Mr. Moran said, “I want to thank Senators Murray and Cantwell for supporting my nomination during the confirmation process. It has been my experience as U.S Attorney that, regardless of how and from where we approached it, local, state, and federal officials in the Western District of Washington have and will continue to find common ground on public safety and advancing the cause of justice.
Above all, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women of the United States Attorney’s Office and the federal law enforcement community. I remain inspired by their dedication to the people they serve, and I am deeply humbled to have been their colleague.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez commended the working relationship he forged with the U.S. Attorney saying, “Brian Moran was a superb United States Attorney in the Western District of Washington who continued the great tradition we have always enjoyed of having professional, non-partisan prosecutors as our U.S. Attorneys.”
During his time as U.S. Attorney, Moran focused on strategies to reduce gun violence, stem the flow of deadly fentanyl and other opioids into Western Washington, and encouraged the prosecution of hate crimes and neo-Nazi conspirators such as “Atomwaffen.” Moran reached out to our tribal partners to work on improving community safety in our tribal communities. Mr. Moran led a team of federal investigators and Assistant United States Attorneys who are working to recover funds stolen in massive frauds on the Washington State Employment Security Department.
Ray Duda served as Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Seattle during Mr. Moran’s tenure. “The leadership and the passion for the rule of law exhibited by Brian Moran during his tenure as U.S. Attorney, and throughout his many roles in public service, are to be admired. As a citizen of the Western District of Washington, I was honored to have him as our senior law enforcement official and know that our communities are safer because of his leadership.”
U.S. Attorney Moran worked closely with attorneys focused on protecting civil rights and particularly in the area of enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the year of its 30th anniversary. Meeting with those impacted by the work of the Department of Justice was especially impactful.
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis commended U.S. Attorney Moran for steadfast leadership. “During Brian Moran’s tenure, he was extremely dedicated to enforcing the rule of law, but what really set him apart was his compassion and empathy towards those unfortunate individuals caught in the grip of addiction. He routinely met with the families who lost loved ones and championed highlighting their plight by continually pushing this important messaging to highest levels of the Department of Justice. The DEA wishes U.S. Attorney Moran the best in his next endeavors, he has been a true leader and will be greatly missed by law enforcement.”
Brian Moran previously served as Chief Deputy Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General. Prior to his selection as the Chief Deputy, Mr. Moran served as the Chief Criminal Prosecutor for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. As Chief Criminal Prosecutor, he and his staff assisted Washington’s 39 county prosecuting attorneys’ offices, pursuing criminal cases and civil commitment of sexually violent predators.
U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine reflects on success for Southern District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announces his resignation from the presidentially appointed position where he has served since Nov. 22, 2017. Christine will return to the private practice of law in the Augusta, Ga., area.
The resignation, previously announced internally, is effective Tuesday, Feb. 9.
“It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve the people of the 43 counties of the Southern District as their chief federal prosecutor and law enforcement officer,” said Christine. “I am proud to have worked alongside an unparalleled team of lawyers and staff in assisting our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer.”
Leaders in the law enforcement community offered accolades regarding Christine’s service.
“I want to thank U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine on behalf of FBI Atlanta and our resident agencies in the Southern District of Georgia for his dedication and partnership in our efforts to protect and serve the citizens of his district,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “His commitment and accomplishments are something Georgians and all Americans can be proud of. It has been an honor and privilege to work with him and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“The citizens of the Southern District of Georgia were well-served by U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine,” said Robert Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Bobby epitomizes public service. He is guided by the principles of doing what is right and making the community a safer place. Bobby worked hand in hand with law enforcement on a daily basis to make sure we were bringing to justice those who preyed on our community. I am honored to have had a chance to work alongside Bobby, but more importantly I am proud to call him a friend. I wish Bobby well in all of his future endeavors. I look forward to working with him in the future in service of this great nation.”
“U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine has done much to reduce violent crime in our Southern Georgia communities. He has served with honor and distinction because at his core, he values faith, honor, family and commitment above all else,” said Arthur D. Peralta, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “As the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia, U.S. Attorney Christine has inspired all of us to go further and do more with the resources we have. Our mission to reduce violent crime will continue unabated, due in large part to the path that U.S. Attorney Christine has put us on. I join all members of the ATF Atlanta Field Division in wishing U.S. Attorney Christine all the best.”
“I have known Bobby Christine for more than 20 years in his capacity as prosecutor/judge and consider him a great friend,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “U.S. Attorney Christine has been a consummate professional in every position that he has ever held, and I look forward to what the future has in store for him. We all know that he will continue to be a great advocate for law enforcement and the justice system. Again, I want to thank U.S. Attorney Christine for his many contributions.”
“Shortly after being appointed U.S. Attorney three years ago, Bobby Christine visited our office in Thomson to let us know that he was ready to use the resources of the federal government to help make our communities a safer place to live, work and raise a family,” said William Doupe, District Attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit. “Through Bobby’s cooperative venture program of Prosecutor to Prosecutor, we were able to send some of the most violent convicted felons who still chose to illegally possess firearms in our circuit to federal court where they received lengthy sentences without parole. Without a doubt, this program saved lives. These prosecutions also allowed our office to try the cases with victims who were anxiously awaiting resolution. Thank you, Bobby, for all you have done for the citizens of the Toombs Circuit.”
As U.S. Attorney, Christine implemented the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program, or P3, a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, state and local law enforcement, and the 11 state District Attorneys’ offices that intersect the Southern District. The U.S. Attorney’s Office under Christine generated a dramatic increase in prosecutions – including the pursuit of felony illegal firearms charges against an additional 650 defendants in three years. Coupled with invigorated efforts to combat violent crime, the last three years has witnessed the office consistently being among the most productive in the nation per lawyer in prosecution of violent crime.
Christine lauds the success of the office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Division in pursuing civil proceedings against criminal defendants in recovering nearly $160 million in taxpayers’ money lost to fraud or other misconduct. The office’s Criminal Health Care Fraud Unit rose to third-ranking status among the nation’s 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices as it prosecuted a ring of more than 30 defendants responsible for more than $1.5 billion in fraudulent health care claims. By cutting staff sections and unifying leadership, Christine created the Asset Recovery Unit, resulting in the recovery of additional tens of millions of dollars for victims and the United States.
With the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and an NSA facility located on Fort Gordon in the Southern District, Christine was honored in 2017 to be amongst the first of a small group of U.S. Attorneys to be named to help lead the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on Cyber and Intellectual Property. Christine has participated in providing essential guidance and counsel to the U.S. Department of Justice relative to cyber initiatives during his entire tenure.
A graduate of Georgia Military College (Milledgeville), the University of Georgia, Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, and the U.S. Army War College, Christine worked for a decade in the District Attorney’s Office in Augusta, where he became the first Chief of the Columbia County Division. He is one of only a few prosecutors in modern Georgia to win a conviction for murder in a case where the body of the victim has never been located.
Appointed Judge of Columbia County Magistrate Court in 2005, he held that post continuously until his appointment as U.S. Attorney, serving as Chief Magistrate from 2009-2012. From 2005 to 2017, Bobby also maintained a private practice concentrating in domestic, probate, personal injury, and criminal litigation.
Bobby has been an Army reservist since the age of 17, both as a Combat Engineer and a Judge Advocate. It is in uniformed military service where Christine first received education in cyber legal issues. A Brigadier General in the Army National Guard with duty at the Pentagon, he currently serves as the National Guard Advisor to the Judge Advocate General and Assistant to the General Counsel of the National Guard Bureau. He is a veteran of the war in Iraq.
He and his wife Sheri, an elementary school teacher for Columbia County where they make their home, have two daughters and one son.
Two Sentenced in Connection to Maryland-to-Virginia Heroin Pipeline that Resulted in Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
Harrisonburg, Va. – Two of the five defendants charged as part of a conspiracy that trafficked heroin from Maryland to Virginia leading to at least one fatal and one non-fatal overdose were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Special Agent in Charge Jarod A. Forgot of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division announced.
Yesterday in District Court, Norma Lynda Kidwell, 56, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison. Craig Allen Kidwell, 54, was sentenced Yesterday to 100 months in federal prison.
“The Kidwells preyed on vulnerable victims and destroyed numerous lives, perpetuating the scourge of heroin and fentanyl in our communities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bubar said today. “My office is extremely grateful for the hard work and persistence of the DEA, the Virginia State Police, and our numerous local law-enforcement partners, who worked together to bring the Kidwells to justice.”
“The overdose crisis we are seeing is destroying families across our area. And it is the heroin and fentanyl traffickers such as these who are fueling this epidemic,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division. “This case demonstrates our commitment to find and cut off the pipeline of deadly drugs fueling this epidemic and the productive partnerships we've built with our area law enforcement partners to tackle this crisis head-on.”
The Kidwells, both of Mount Jackson, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute acetylfentanyl and fentanyl and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing heroin and acetylfentanyl which resulted in serious bodily injury and death.
According to court documents, beginning around June 2017, a Maryland-based drug-trafficking network began selling controlled substances to Virginia-based drug traffickers, who, in turn, transported those drugs to Shenandoah County for redistribution.
Defendants Craig Kidwell and his wife Norma Kidwell repeatedly traveled from their home in Shenandoah County to Maryland to obtain heroin from the Maryland-based drug-trafficking organization. At times, the heroin that Craig Kidwell and Norma Kidwell obtained from their Maryland-based source had been mixed with other drugs, such as fentanyl and acetylfentanyl.
After obtaining heroin, Craig and Norma Kidwell transported the drugs back to Shenandoah County where the drugs were redistributed to others. As a direct result of the defendants’ drug distribution activities, two overdoses occurred, one of which resulted in the death of victim J.H.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Virginia State Police, Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office, and Woodstock Police Department with the assistance of the Shenandoah County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeb Terrien and Christopher Kavanaugh are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Topeka Man Sentenced for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man was sentenced today to 150 months imprisonment for possessing multiple firearms in connection with drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Aaron Gullick, 30, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In his plea the defendant admitted to possessing a Glock handgun in September of 2018, and a Glock handgun and AR-15 style rifle in December 2018, as well as marijuana and methamphetamine. The firearms were possessed to further the distribution of marijuana and methamphetamine.
“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of ATF’s use of crime gun intelligence and highlights the importance of ATF’s National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) throughout the State of Kansas. NIBIN allowed law enforcement to connect the firearm in this case to a shooting that otherwise would have likely remained unsolved. ATF is committed to utilizing crime gun intelligence in firearms investigation to make our communities safer and to hold accountable those who chose to use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities” Frederic Winston, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kansas City Field Division said.
McAllister commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs for their work on the case.
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Three-time Columbus Bank Robber Sentenced to 90 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with a lengthy criminal history who went on a crime spree in March 2020, robbing three banks over several days, was sentenced to 90 months in prison today, said Peter D. Leary, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Jason Arnold, 50, of Columbus, who previously pleaded guilty to three counts bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land, was sentenced today to 90 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Arnold will have to pay $5,023.02 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Arnold is a career criminal who menaced the Columbus community with repeated bank robberies and who will now face the consequences for his crimes—federal prison without parole,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leary. “I want to thank the Columbus Police Department and the FBI for investigating this case and working tirelessly to bring Arnold into custody.”
“In the span of a few days, Arnold terrorized innocent citizens who were simply doing their jobs,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the help from our partners at the Columbus Police Department, we were able to expediently get him off the streets before he could terrorize anyone else, and now he will be kept off the streets for a long time.”
In March 2020, Arnold robbed banks located in Columbus. The first robbery occurred at the Synovus Bank on 10th Avenue on March 17. Arnold slipped the teller a demand note, and the teller gave Arnold cash. The second robbery occurred at the Wells Fargo Bank on Bradley Park Drive the next day, on March 18. Arnold again handed the teller a demand note and received money. The third and final robbery occurred on March 21 at the Wells Fargo Bank on Victory Drive. Arnold handed over a demand note, took money from the teller, and exited the bank. During this robbery, the teller said Arnold gave the impression that he had a gun based on the way he held his hand near his jacket. All three robberies were captured on surveillance video. Two witnesses at the third robbery recognized Arnold as the man who had robbed two banks earlier in the week. FBI agents and Columbus Police Department officers arrested Arnold on April 1. Arnold confessed to all three bank robberies. Arnold has an extensive criminal history, to include five prior felony convictions for theft, and felony convictions for robbery and escape.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Columbus Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams prosecuted 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.
Three Deer Hunters Plead Guilty to Lacey Act Violations on Fort RileyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – Three men have pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegally hunting whitetail deer on a part of Fort Riley where explosives are discharged during training exercises.
Gregory J. Frikken, James C. Nunley and Michael J. Smith admitted they trespassed on federal property and illegally harvested trophy whitetail deer from that property, all in violation of the Lacey Act. “These hunters entered an area of Fort Riley which is off limits and not open for hunting”, said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. “They entered a prohibited area of the Army base, knowing the area was off limits, for the sole purpose of illegally taking large deer as trophies. Their behavior was not only unlawful and selfish, it was potentially dangerous to themselves and thus also foolish. Trespassing on a federal military base is a serious error of judgment, and unlawfully killing trophy deer undermines hunting and hunters who abide by the rules.”
An investigator’s affidavit alleged the hunters violated the federal Lacey Act while hunting on the grounds of the Army base over the past several years. They disregarded the fact the area was off limits to hunters, entering before daylight and leaving after dark through a washout where a creek went under a perimeter fence.
Recovered during the course of the investigation was evidence including deer mounts, antlers, phone data and equipment allegedly used to harvest eight whitetail deer, three of which are considered trophy class.
Investigating agencies included the Directorate of Emergency Services at Fort Riley, the Fort Riley Game Warden, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, New York State Environmental Conservation Office-Office of Law Enforcement and U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth G. Gale sentenced the three hunters to pay approximately $11,000 in restitution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and $10,000 in fines to the Lacey Act fund. Additionally, the hunters will have no hunting privileges for three years and agree to forfeit all property seized as part of the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin A. Graham and Taylor Rafaly.
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Thief River Falls Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison, Lifetime Supervised Release for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of BENJAMIN JOSEPH ROGGENBUCK, 39, to 540 months in prison for production and attempted production of child pornography. ROGGENBUCK, who pleaded guilty on September 17, 2020, was sentenced earlier today before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S. District Court.
“The sentence handed down today ensures that this predator will no longer pose a threat or cause harm to innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald. “I commend our law enforcement partners who stand with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in our fight against child exploitation.”
“While 45 years in prison is appropriate for this case, these children are now permanent victims of a crime no person should ever experience,” said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. “The BCA will continue to pursue criminals who would exploit Minnesota’s children in this terrible way and bring them to justice.”
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, between November 2012 and February 2020, ROGGENBUCK used or attempted to use two prepubescent minor children to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. ROGGENBUCK also admitted to possessing and distributing sexually explicit images depicting prepubescent minors. As part of the plea agreement, ROGGENBUCK also pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges brought by the Pennington County Attorney’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Thief River Falls Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Miranda E. Dugi prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
BENJAMIN JOSEPH ROGGENBUCK, 39
Thief River Falls, Minn.
Convicted:
- Production and attempted production of child pornography, 2 counts
Sentenced:
- 540 months in prison
- Lifetime of supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Supervisory Paramedic Sentenced for Tampering with Drug VialsRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a supervisory paramedic for theft of fentanyl from a local ambulance service, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office.
U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Michael Greenhaw, 43, of Arab, to 51 months in prison. Greenhaw pleaded guilty to on one-count of tampering with a consumer product in October 2019.
“Greenhaw put vulnerable patients in grave danger by replacing fentanyl citrate with saline in vials that he knew were intended to be administered to critically ill or injured patients,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Greenhaw’s criminal conduct undermines the tireless efforts of first responders who work hard to make sure that patients receive the necessary emergency medical care.”
“The FDA is fully committed to the vigorous criminal prosecution of any individual who threatens the safety and security of the U.S. drug supply and compromises patient health and comfort,” said Justin C. Fielder, Special Agent in Charge, FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations’ Miami Field Office. “The sentencing in this case should send a clear signal that this kind of illicit tampering activity will not be tolerated.”
According to the plea agreement, Greenhaw tampered with approximately 129 vials of fentanyl citrate from April 2018 through August 2018, while employed as a supervisory paramedic at First Response Ambulance Service in Decatur, Alabama. Greenhaw had access to the narcotics vault where the fentanyl was stored. During his shift, Greenhaw removed fentanyl citrate from vials using a syringe and replaced the fentanyl with saline. The vials filled with saline were placed back into the narcotics safe. Greenhaw stole the fentanyl for personal use.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office investigated the case, along with the Decatur Police Department and Arab Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Stuart Burrell prosecuted the case.
South Texas woman indicted for smuggling firearms, ammunition and cash into MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A grand jury sitting in Laredo had returned an indictment charging an Austin woman for illegally smuggling defense articles and approximately $100K, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On Jan. 18, 2021, authorities apprehended Lizzette Jaimes at the Lincoln Juarez Bridge port of entry in Laredo attempting to travel into Mexico, according to the charges. The indictment alleges she appeared nervous at primary inspection. Law enforcement referred her for a more thorough inspection, at which time they allegedly searched her luggage and other items in the rear seat of the truck.
The charges allege one of the items was a black duffle bag containing women’s clothing. Authorities allegedly felt a square object in the bottom of the bag, moved the clothing and found several stacks of U.S. currency wrapped in duct tape. It totaled $95,000, according to the allegations.
Law enforcement continued to search the truck and also allegedly found 240 rounds of handgun ammunition, an additional $4,747 in cash, three GPS devices wired in difference locations and nine handguns.
If convicted, Jaimes faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
South Korean National Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Federal Prison for Smuggling Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Sold as Herbal ProductsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Fullerton man was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for illegally importing bulk quantities of erectile dysfunction drugs that he marketed as herbal male sexual enhancement products in a scheme that earned him millions of dollars.
Nam Hyun Lee, 62, a.k.a. “Daniel Lee,” a South Korean national illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced this morning by United States District Judge James V. Selna.
Lee pleaded guilty in September to one count of smuggling misbranded drugs, in this case Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Lee specifically admitted that in late 2016, he caused 21.4 kilograms of the drug to be imported into the United States from China. In his plea agreement, Lee admitted smuggling both Sildenafil and Tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, that were illegally brought into the U.S. under descriptions such as “Acrylic Paint” and “Glass Bottles.”
Lee used the Sildenafil and Tadalafil to manufacture pills he sold to distributors, who then sold the products to liquor, gas and convenience stores across the United States, according to court documents. Even though his products contained drugs that required a prescription, the labels on Lee’s products either stated that no prescription was necessary or failed to state one was needed – meaning the products were mislabeled.
Over the course of about 2½ years – until his businesses were shut down by federal authorities in October 2018 – Lee sold at least $3.5 million worth of pills under numerous names, including “Rhino” and variations of that name.
Lee “organized the importation of bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients into the United States from China under false pretenses,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “He then used this bulk powder to sell counterfeit prescription drugs across the United States totaling millions in sales. At least one of the consumers of [Lee’s] drugs, Victim S.S., suffered a serious medical condition after taking [Lee’s] counterfeit pills.”
Lee has been in federal custody since his arrest in this case on October 31, 2018.
Lee has agreed to forfeit his $1.2 million residence in Fullerton, nearly $458,000 seized from eight bank accounts, $346,324 in U.S. currency, and a 2018 Cadillac Escalade.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Nare of the Santa Ana Branch Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Katie Schonbachler and Victor A. Rodgers of the Asset Forfeiture Section handled the forfeiture aspect of the case.
Shasta County Resident Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Deborah Gwen Orrey, 51, of Anderson, pleaded guilty today to making and subscribing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Orrey was the owner and operator of Affordable Tax, Bankruptcy, and Bookkeeping. From 2014 to 2017, Orrey submitted falsified tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service for her own tax returns and also the tax returns that she filed on her clients’ behalf. Orrey owed to the IRS an additional $112,083. She split the refunds due to her clients without her clients’ knowledge, causing a portion of the clients’ refunds to be deposited to her own bank account. Eight of her clients suffered an actual loss of a total of $3,729.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya B. Syed is prosecuting the case.
Orrey is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on May 18. Orrey faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
San Antonio Heroin and Cocaine Supplier Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced 35-year-old Joe Anthony Ramirez to 15 years of imprisonment for supplying heroin for distribution throughout San Antonio, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered Ramirez to be placed on supervised release for a period of 10 years after completing his prison term.
On August 13, 2019, Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. By pleading guilty, Ramirez admitted that he supplied heroin to two separate drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) – his own (Ramirez DTO) and the Sanchez DTO led by Andrew Sanchez, aka “Freight” and “Hakeem.”
From May 2018 to March 2019, the Sanchez DTO was responsible for the distribution of heroin on the east side of San Antonio. The Sanchez DTO operated daily from about 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. as a full-scale delivery service for heroin to the street-level user. The organization members worked shifts in the various roles. Ramirez’s own DTO, which included his dad and brother, distributed heroin and cocaine throughout the entire San Antonio area.
In November 2019, Judge Biery sentenced Sanchez to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. To date, 12 individuals associated with the organizations Ramirez supplied have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 41 months to 180 months.
The DEA and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Seguin Police Department, Terrell Hills Police Department and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs and Fidel Esparza III prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
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Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nude Photographs of Dozens of WomenRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nicholas Faber, age 25, of Rochester, New York, pled guilty yesterday to computer fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his hacking of online social media accounts and theft of nude images of dozens of female victims.
The announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid; Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and State University of New York-Plattsburgh Police Chief Patrick Rascoe.
Faber pled guilty to one count of computer intrusion causing damage and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Faber obtained his undergraduate degree from SUNY-Plattsburgh, graduating in 2017.
As part of his guilty plea, Faber admitted that from about 2017 to 2019, he worked with co-conspirator Michael Fish to access the school email accounts of dozens of female college students and then used information from those school email accounts to gain access to the victims’ social media accounts. Faber then stole, and traded online with others, private nude photographs and movies stored in the victims’ social media accounts. Also, as a result of Faber’s crimes, the university had to allocate money and staff to identifying compromised accounts, reviewing computer and server access logs, resetting passwords, and notifying students and parents.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino is scheduled to sentence Faber on June 9, 2021. He faces at least 2 years and up to 12 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. 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. Faber has also agreed to pay $35,430 in restitution to SUNY-Plattsburgh.
Fish pled guilty to computer hacking, aggravated identity theft and child pornography offenses, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI with substantial assistance from the SUNY-Plattsburgh Police Department. Deputy Chief Michael Stawasz, from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Joshua R. Rosenthal, are prosecuting the case.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced a Pinson man today for distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger.
United States District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Chadwick Rice, 48, to 188 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In March 2020, Rice pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. Rice was previously convicted of three (3) counts of possession of child pornography in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2016. This conviction required him to register as a sex offender.
“There is zero tolerance for those who continue to break the law to engage in the sexual exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Law enforcement will continue to vigilantly monitor the internet using every method available to us in order to uncover evidence of child exploitation and abuse so that we can protect children from such offenders.”
“This case not only exemplifies the great work of my agents and our partners, but also the importance of citizens saying something when they see something of concern,” said FBI SAC Sharp. "Thanks in part to information provided by a citizen tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTip Line, law enforcement was able to stop Rice from victimizing any other children."
“The community can rest a little easier knowing that this serial offender is no longer free to spread the filth that victimizes our most vulnerable population, said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners remain committed to find, arrest and prosecute those who seek to steal the innocence of our youth.”
According to the plea agreement, during an authorized Peer-to-Peer ("P2P") operation in December 2017, an agent downloaded images of suspected child pornography from a specific IP address. In February 2018, the agent received Cyber-Tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ("NCMEC") that images of child pornography had been uploaded from the same IP address. Further investigation revealed that the IP address was registered to Rice. In March 2018, a search warrant was executed at Rice’s home in Pinson, where child pornography was located on Rice’s Samsung Galaxy cell phone. During a forensic review of Rice’s cell phone, 771 images of children being sexually exploited were identified. Rice admitted he had various apps on his cell phone that he used to trade videos of child pornography with other individuals.
The FBI investigated the case, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Pottsville Man Charged with Cyberstalking and Making Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Aaron VanDaley, age 43, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 3, 2021, for cyberstalking and making interstate threats.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges VanDaley with cyberstalking and making interstate threats to kidnap and injure the minor child of his former intimate partner’s current boyfriend. The indictment further alleges that VanDaley, with the intent to harass his former intimate partner, made numerous false police reports against his former intimate partner’s friends and family.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Fort Stewart, Georgia, and the Pottsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney James Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is ten years imprisonment and a term of supervised release following imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Pittsburgh Woman Gets Jail Time for Conspiring to Distribute K-2 Synthetic Cannabinoids into PrisonsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Sandra Wilson was sentenced to eight months in prison for conspiring to distribute K2 controlled substances (Schedule I synthetic cannabinoids) in 2018, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Wilson, age 29, of Pittsburgh, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan also directed that Wilson serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
Wilson distributed K2 controlled substances into prisons. She did so for at least several months in 2018. She acquired the K2 controlled substances from other dealers and at one point manufactured some of the K2 controlled substances.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Operation Second Wave Update: Three Men Appear in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that three defendants charged in Operation Second Wave made appearances in federal court. Gregory Eugene Woods, 43, of Dunbar, was sentenced to a total of 184 months in federal prison. He was sentenced as a career offender to 160 months for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, followed by a consecutive term of 24 months based upon his supervised release violation. Jason Michael Terrell, 37, of Mt. Carbon, and Jimmy Lee Coleman, 35, of Falls View, pled guilty conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Woods, Terrell, and Coleman are three of the 14 defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave,” which dismantled a poly-drug network operating in Kanawha and Fayette counties.
“Operation Second Wave shut down a significant poly-drug network. Kanawha and Fayette counties are no doubt safer as a result,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “I commend all of the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that worked on this case. It is through their relentless, collaborative efforts that we can hold drug dealers accountable for their crimes.”
Woods previously pled guilty and admitted that on April 21, 2020, the Charleston Police Department stopped him when he was on his way to deliver cocaine to Terrell. A search of Woods’ vehicle resulted in the seizure of over two ounces of cocaine. He was on federal supervised release at the time of the stop based upon being convicted in 2015 in the Southern District of West Virginia of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking. Woods had additional previous felony convictions including three convictions for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, one conviction for possession with intent to deliver Ecstasy, and another conviction for unlawful wounding.
Terrell admitted distributing multiple pounds of methamphetamine along with quantities of heroin and cocaine in and around Montgomery between July 2019 and August 26, 2020. He further admitted traveling with two co-defendants to Columbus, Ohio where they purchased approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and brought it back to West Virginia to sell. Coleman admitted to selling more than a pound of methamphetamine between January and August 2020.
Coleman faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 26, 2021. Terrell faces at least ten years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on May 17, 2021.
Other defendants, including Larry Terrence Martin, Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., and Sammy Joe Fragale II, have also pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Carol Lynn Belton, Steven Matthew Bumpus, Roger Jarea Drake, Rashawn Akmed Miller, Craig Redman, Tonya Simerly, and Ronald Lee Thomas III are scheduled for trial on April 27, 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force (CWVDTF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who led the investigation of Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., and Sammy Joe Fragale II, who were also prosecuted as part of the Second Wave investigation. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks 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 Nos. 2:20-cr-00153 (Woods) and 2:20-cr-00154 (Terrell et al).
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New Jersey Woman Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for $2 Million Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for an elaborate bank frank scheme resulting in losses of more than $2 million, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig announced.
Alexis Taylor, 32, of Hackensack, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court to one count of an indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Judge Vazquez imposed the sentence by videoconference today.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 2017 to June 2018, Taylor agreed with others to execute a scheme to defraud various financial institutions located in New Jersey, New York, and elsewhere. She purchased a significant amount of stolen personal identifying information via the dark web, including bank account information and online security question answers. Taylor then used the information to access victim accounts at various banks and other financial institutions.
Taylor, and others acting at her direction, would travel to banks and impersonate victim account holders to withdraw funds from accounts held by the victims at those institutions. Taylor would also communicate with the banks by phone and request that wire transfers be made from victim accounts and into accounts held by Taylor. Finally, it was part of the scheme that Taylor would travel to victims’ homes and intercept debit cards and other financial documents from the mail to facilitate the fraud.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Taylor to four years of supervised release. A hearing on restitution is scheduled for May 10, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. She also thanked members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Closter Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Torntore of the U.S. Attorney’s Cybercrimes Unit in Newark.
Monmouth County Man Sentenced to 18 Months Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Keyport man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for illegally possessing an assault rifle, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Ahmed A-Hady, 36, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence by videoconference today.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 10, 2019, there was a mass shooting in Jersey City in which a Jersey City Police Officer and three civilians were shot and killed by a male (Individual 1) and a female (Individual 2). After the shooting, law enforcement recovered a handwritten note from Individual 1’s right rear pants pocket that contained a telephone number ending in 4115 and a Keyport, New Jersey, address. Law enforcement also recovered several weapons possessed by Individuals 1 and 2, including an AR-15 rifle.
FBI agents determined that the phone number ending in 4115 contained on the note belonged to A-Hady. Law enforcement also determined that the Keyport address listed on the note was a storefront for a pawn shop. On the evening of Dec. 13, 2019, law enforcement officers traveled to the pawnshop and interviewed A-Hady and two of his relatives.
Law enforcement officers lawfully searched both the pawnshop and A-Hady’s private residence and recovered multiple rifles, handguns, and one shotgun. During the searches of the pawnshop and A-Hady’s private residence, law enforcement also recovered over 400 rounds of ammunition, including a large number of hollow point bullets.
One of the weapons recovered from the pawnshop was a Sig Sauer .22 caliber rifle capable of accepting a large capacity magazine. Records showed that A-Hady purchased this rifle in Florida on Oct. 23, 2012, approximately five months after A-Hady was convicted in New Jersey Superior Court of a crime that was punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced A-Hady to three years of supervised release. A-Hady forfeited his interest, if any, in the firearms recovered during the search of the pawnshop.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark; the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, under the direction of Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. Acting U.S. Attorney Honig also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Ronnell Wilson, Chief of the National Security Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dean C. Sovolos and Thomas S. Kearney, of the National Security Unit.
Mid-State Psychologist Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – February 9, 2021 – A mid-state psychologist was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 41 months in federal prison for operating a healthcare fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Donald McCoy, 54, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson and ordered to pay $1,217,848.51 in restitution. McCoy was charged in December 2018 and in January 2020 he pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud, mail fraud and money laundering.
During the scheme, McCoy was a licensed psychologist by the State of Tennessee and was an authorized TennCare provider who provides individual psychotherapy and family psychotherapy services to patients—usually minors—in the care of the Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”). Between January 2014 and December 2018, McCoy billed for more hours of services than can physically be provided in any given day and received over $2.16 million from TennCare based on those claims.
An investigative analysis conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation determined that on multiple occasions, McCoy submitted claims for psychotherapy services that totaled more than 24 hours per day, some even exceeding 48 hours and 72 hours per day. The analysis also determined that McCoy billed for services purportedly rendered on more than 200 weekends and major holidays, including New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas, among others. On numerous occasions, McCoy billed for family psychotherapy sessions involving patients in DCS custody, which never occurred.
The investigation determined that of the more than $2.16 million in claims submitted to TennCare by McCoy, at least $1.2 million which he received payment for was based on fraudulent claims.
This case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Booth and Sarah Bogni are prosecuting the case.
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Mexican Man Sentenced for Violent Kidnapping of Omaha WomanRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Luis Maria-Aguado, 33, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for kidnapping. Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Maria-Aguado to 125 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Maria-Aguado is a citizen of Mexico and will be deported at the completion of his prison term.
On the evening of April 12, 2019, Omaha Police Department (OPD) officers were dispatched to an Omaha address in response to a reported disturbance. Upon arrival, officers made contact with an Omaha woman (the victim) and her 17-year-old daughter. The victim and her daughter reported threats of violence from the victim’s estranged boyfriend, Maria-Aguado. The victim reported that she had ended her relationship with Maria-Aguado and he recently had moved out of her residence. The victim further reported that two days prior, on April 10, 2019, Maria-Aguado became upset with the victim during an argument at the home, grabbed her hair, and threatened to kill her. The victim provided investigators with threatening text messages from Maria-Aguado to her which included photos of mutilated men and bloodied torsos. On April 12, Maria-Aguado showed up at the victim’s residence and made entry through the basement after the victim locked the front door. The victim locked herself in a bathroom and called police when Maria-Aguado began to kick the bathroom door. Maria-Aguado left when she told him the police were coming to arrest him.
A few weeks later, on May 7, 2019, the victim’s employer contacted OPD seeking a well-being check of the victim since she had not appeared for work that day. OPD made contact with the victim’s daughter, who reported that she had not seen her mother since the prior night.
Investigators quickly located the victim’s car at the Planet Fitness parking lot and observed that her wallet and purse were still inside. They were able to obtain video surveillance footage from the Planet Fitness which showed the victim arrived and parked late on May 6. The surveillance footage showed the victim pulling into the lot in her car followed by a black Dodge Avenger. After several minutes elapsed, the victim got out of her car and got into the Avenger, which then exited the parking lot.
Detectives assigned to the OPD Missing Person’s Unit began gathering data from the victim’s and Maria-Aguado’s cell phones. Information obtained included a failed 911 call made on May 7, 2019, at 12:30 a.m. from the victim’s phone while located in the area of Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her phone was shut off thereafter. OPD detectives requested and obtained an emergency order for the collection of location data for Maria-Aguado’s cellular telephone. The location data showed that on May 7, 2019, the phone was located at the Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas of south Omaha, Nebraska, with continued movement south on Highway 75 near Bellevue, Nebraska, eventually traveling into Kansas.
OPD investigators obtained an arrest warrant for terroristic threats for Maria-Aguado based on the report made by the victim on April 12, 2019. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Omaha Division and the OPD notified the FBI Kansas City Division Violent Crime Task Force of the kidnapping of the victim by Maria-Aguado, and provided the FBI Kansas City Division with the most recent cell phone location data. Based on the information provided, on May 7, 2019, at approximately 8:45 p.m., the FBI Kansas City Violent Crimes Task Force was able to locate the victim and Maria-Aguado outside of a Walmart store in Roeland Park, Kansas. Maria-Aguado was apprehended.
Investigators later determined that Maria-Aguado followed the victim to the Planet Fitness on the night of May 6, 2019. Maria-Aguado told her he would hurt her if she didn’t get into his car, so the victim complied. After she got into Maria-Aguado’s car, he drove her to a secluded area in Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he threatened to kill her. He choked her when she screamed for help, and when she tried to run away Maria-Aguado pushed her to the ground and choked her with his hands. Maria-Aguado forced the victim back in his vehicle and told her to pray while threatening to kill her. The victim stated that Maria-Aguado attempted to strangle her with his belt while they were in his car. The victim later told investigators that Maria-Aguado’s plan was to take her to Mexico with him.
This case was investigated by Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha Division, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas City Division Violent Crime Task Force.
Metairie Man Sentenced for Embezzling over $7 Million and for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DEEPAK “JACK” JAGTIANI, age 61, a resident of Metairie, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 63 months in prison for embezzling over $7 million from his employer and for defrauding the government of over $1 million in income taxes. JAGTIANI previously pleaded guilty to both counts of the indictment, which charged him with wire fraud and making false statements on a federal income tax return.
According to the court documents, from 2007 to 2019, JAGTIANI served as the comptroller of Dan-Gulf Shipping, Inc., a Metairie-based freight forwarding company. In that capacity, JAGTIANI had the authority to manage the payroll and other accounts for Dan-Gulf. JAGTIANI admitted that he used his authority to pay himself excessive salaries and benefits from 2009 through early 2019. In total, JAGTIANI defrauded Dan-Gulf and its business partner of over $7,000,000.00.
JAGTIANI also admitted to filing false personal tax returns. According to court documents, for tax years 2014 to 2017, JAGTIANI claimed business losses through a fake catering business. In total, he claimed enough business losses to offset most of his income for which he would be required to pay federal income tax. In truth and in fact, neither JAGTIANI nor his spouse operated any catering business. In total, JAGTIANI avoided paying $1,232,267.00 in federal income taxes.
As to Count 1, wire fraud, Judge Zainey sentenced JAGTIANI to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, filing false tax returns, Judge Zainey sentenced JAGTIANI to 36 months in prison and one year of supervised release. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently. JAGTIANI was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment as to each count.
Judge Zainey further ordered JAGTIANI to pay $7,077,137.36 in restitution to Dan-Gulf and Caytrans BBC, LLC, a partner of Dan-Gulf. JAGTIANI must also pay $1,232,267.00 in restitution to the IRS for unpaid income taxes.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the agencies that contributed to this indictment, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Strasser also extended his thanks to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter. This case is an example of the coordinated effort of the federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, Covington Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, Slidell Police Department, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. State Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Payne is in charge of the prosecution.
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Man Sentenced for Health Care Fraud in Excess of $175,000Read the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Bethesda, Maryland man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for health care fraud. In addition to the prison term imposed, he was also ordered to pay $173,870.12 to the North Carolina Medicaid Fund as restitution.
According to court documents, Christian Anthony Ekberg, 34, was an officer and minority shareholder of an out-of-state company that entered into an agreement with a North Carolina dentist. Under the agreement, the out-of-state company would provide professional management services to the dentist, including submitting Medicaid claims, and the dentist would provide dental services to patients living in skilled nursing facilities throughout North Carolina.
From September 2, 2015 through April 21, 2017, Ekberg, and others, knowingly submitted fraudulent dental claims to Medicaid. For example, although the dental records showed that only approximately 107 prophylaxes and 24 debridements had been performed for Medicaid recipients living at the skilled nursing facilities, claims were submitted falsely representing that 771 prophylaxes and 611 debridements were performed for these recipients. In total, the health care fraud resulted in Medicaid paying approximately $173,870.12 for services that had not been rendered. These funds were deposited into an account to which Ekberg had access. During the relevant time period, Ekberg signed all the checks from this account. The checks written to Ekberg, to cash, and to the out-of-state company, totaled approximately $177,034.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The North Carolina Department of Justice’s Medicaid Investigations Division (MID) investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Heavner prosecuted the case.
The MID investigates and prosecutes health care providers that defraud the Medicaid program, patient abuse of Medicaid recipients, patient abuse of any patient in facilities that receive Medicaid funding, and misappropriation of any patients’ private funds in nursing homes that receive Medicaid funding. To report Medicaid fraud or patient abuse in North Carolina, call the MID at 919-881-2320.
The MID receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $6,160,252 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,053,414 for FY 2020, is funded by the State of North Carolina.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00434-M-1.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nude Photos of Dozens of VictimsRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty Monday to computer fraud and aggravated identity theft related to his hacking of online social media accounts and theft of nude images of dozens of female victims.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting U.S. Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon of the Northern District of New York, Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Relford of the FBI’s Albany Field Office and State University of New York (SUNY)-Plattsburgh Police Chief Patrick Rascoe made the announcement.
Nicholas Faber, 25, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to one count of computer intrusion causing damage and one count of aggravated identity theft.
As part of his guilty plea, Faber admitted that from about 2017 to 2019, he worked with co-conspirator Michael Fish to access the school email accounts of dozens of female college students and then used information from those school email accounts to gain access to the victims’ social media accounts. Faber then stole, and traded online with others, private nude photographs and movies stored in the victims’ social media accounts. Also, as a result of Faber’s crimes, the university had to allocate money and staff to identifying compromised accounts, reviewing computer and server access logs, resetting passwords, and notifying students and parents.
Faber obtained his undergraduate degree from SUNY-Plattsburgh, graduating in 2017.
Faber has also agreed to pay $35,430 in restitution to SUNY-Plattsburgh and is scheduled to be sentenced June 9. Fish pleaded guilty to computer hacking, aggravated identity theft and child pornography offenses, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19.
This case was investigated by the FBI with substantial assistance from the SUNY-Plattsburgh Police Department. Deputy Chief Michael Stawasz from the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.
Malden Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Social Security Benefits and Bank EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden woman pleaded guilty today to stealing Social Security benefits and embezzling over $27,000 from a bank.
Materesa Jose, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds and one count of bank embezzlement. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2021. Jose was indicted in August 2020.
While an employee of Eastern Bank, Jose stole approximately $27,605 from the bank, some of which consisted of Social Security benefits, from September 2017 through July 2018. The account from which she stole the money belonged to an individual who had died in 2015.
The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of bank embezzlement provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Tonya Perkins, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
MS-13 member sentenced to 40 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A local man was sentenced in federal court in Columbus today to serve 480 months in prison for participating in a racketeering conspiracy on behalf of the transnational criminal organization MS-13.
Pedro Alfonso Osorio-Flores, 41, of Columbus, took part in the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, the November 2015 murder of 17-year-old high school student Wilson Villeda, and the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz.
“Osorio-Flores was one of the most active, loyal, and violent MS-13 members in Columbus, and he was engaged in nearly every aspect of the gang’s criminal activity in this district,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “For this defendant, 40 years could very well be a life sentence. His appalling conduct deserves nothing less.”
Court documents detail a letter the defendant wrote and sent to one of his co-defendants in February 2020 as one example of Osorio-Flores’ loyalty to MS-13. In the letter, the defendant freely admits to being a member of MS-13 since age 13; threatens to bury a former lover alive if he ever finds her; makes threats against ‘snitches’, the police, and the government; and reaffirms his belief that MS-13 does, and will continue to ‘control the entire world.’ In the same letter, the defendant composed two different songs as an homage to MS-13 and a slight to the victims of his offenses, whom he brags about ‘butchering’ and ‘dragging [] to the hole.’
The defendant, also known as “Smokey,” is one of 23 members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus charged in a February 2018 second superseding indictment.
The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.
According to court documents, in summer 2015, Osorio-Flores and other conspirators beat and stabbed Serrano-Ramos to death before placing his body in a shallow grave in the woods in Innis Park.
In the murder of Wilson Villeda, Osorio-Flores and others attacked and killed the victim with a machete and buried his body in a shallow grave near Serrano-Ramos’s remains in Innis Park.
In December 2016, Osorio-Flores surveilled murder victim Martinez-Diaz at the Resolute Athletic Complex before following him home. He provided location updates to fellow MS-13 members so that they could shoot and kill the victim upon his arrival home.
Osorio-Flores pleaded guilty in September 2020 to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; and Columbus Interim Police Chief Michael Woods announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.
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Lake Station Man Sentenced to 36 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Lajuan Fitzpatrick, 29, of Lake Station, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 36 years in prison following his conviction at trial in November 2019 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and discharging a firearm causing death during this drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Gary T. Bell.
The evidence at trial showed that on December 2, 2013, in Gary, Indiana, Fitzpatrick and his co-conspirators attempted to rob individuals they believed were marijuana dealers. The co-conspirators intended to resell the marijuana. Fitzpatrick fired his gun as gunfire broke out during the course of the attempted robbery. Ronaldo Correa, Jr., 22, who was coming to the aid of his victim neighbors, was shot to death.
“This investigation is an excellent example of the importance of partnership among law enforcement in holding dangerous criminals accountable,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division. “ATF is committed to working alongside our partners to keep our communities safe.”
“Dealing drugs and violence go hand-in-hand and this sentence means this individual will no longer be able to bring more harm to our Hoosier communities,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “Working in collaboration with our partners we will continue to work to identify the worst of the worst and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
This prosecution was 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 case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, East Chicago Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gary Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Caitlin M. Padula.
Knox County Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — A Corbin, Ky., man, John Helton, was sentenced to 264 months or 22 years in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, after previously being convicted of armed methamphetamine trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The evidence at trial established that, on June 9, 2019, deputies with the Knox and Laurel County Sheriff’s Offices searched the residence that Helton shared with his wife, Anita, seizing over 300 grams of crystal methamphetamine and four firearms, including three that were loaded. Helton then directed his wife to go to his mother’s residence, to get money to bond him out of jail. When law enforcement searched that residence, they found over $8,000 secreted in a closet. A search of a child’s playhouse on the property also revealed over 800 grams of additional crystal methamphetamine, and another firearm. The Kentucky State Police had made a controlled purchase of methamphetamine that was arranged with Helton, but delivered by his wife.
Anita Helton pled guilty to conspiring with Helton to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of that offense. Anita Helton was sentenced to 38 months, followed by five years of supervised release.
Under federal law, Helton must serve 85 percent of his sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Lt. Phillip Burnett, Acting Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Department; and Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.
This case was 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 Eastern District of Kentucky, the United States Attorney coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
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Killeen Man Indicted for Discharging a Firearm on Fort HoodRead the Press Release
In Waco today, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against 28-year-old former U.S. Army soldier Ricardo Manuele Davila-DeJesus for discharging a firearm while on Fort Hood over the weekend, stated U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
The indictment charges Davila-DeJesus with aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon. According to court documents, on February 6, 2021, the defendant became intoxicated and got into an argument with several individuals inside the barracks. The argument continued outside when the defendant pulled out a .45 caliber pistol and discharged his firearm in the direction of a soldier who, fearing for his life, had retreated back into the barracks. Other individuals who were at the scene managed to subdue and disarm the defendant.
Upon conviction, Davila-DeJesus faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on February 11, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey C. Manske in Waco.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is part of Operation Undaunted representing federal, state and local law enforcement’s commitment to combat violence and restore peace to central and west Texas communities. The FBI together with Ft. Hood Military Police Investigations investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Major Aaron J. Salter is prosecuting this case.
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Jury Convicts Jacksonville Man of Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Yesterday a federal jury convicted a Jacksonville man on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With the Intent to Distribute One (1) Kilogram or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Heroin, a Quantity of Marijuana, and Five (5) Kilograms or More of Cocaine; Distribution of a Quantity of Heroin, and Aiding and Abetting; Possess With the Intent to Distribute One Hundred (100) Grams or more of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Heroin, a Quantity of Marijuana and a Quantity of Cocaine; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Austin Kyle Lee, also known as Justin, 30, of Jacksonville sold heroin to dealers in Jacksonville on multiple occasions, beginning in 2016. Through further investigation, it was determined that Lee, who was on parole for a felony drug conviction out of New York, was maintaining a house next door to his probation-official residence.
Officers searched Lee’s stash house on Ridge View Drive and found over $210,000.00 in cash, 354.4 grams of cocaine, 159.72 grams of heroin, and 118.95 grams of marijuana. Additionally, a loaded Glock 19 9mm pistol, Kel-Tec 9mm pistol, and Jiminez Arms .22 pistol with obliterated serial number were located in the house. Over the course of approximately two years, Lee distributed around 5 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of cocaine, and 1.75 pounds of marijuana.
Lee faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment when sentenced in July 2021.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Brown and Robert Dodson are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:18-cr-00153-FL-1.
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Indian Cancer Drug Manufacturer Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $50 Million for Concealing and Destroying Records in Advance of FDA InspectionRead the Press Release
Indian drug manufacturer Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited (FKOL) has agreed to plead guilty to concealing and destroying records prior to a 2013 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plant inspection and pay $50 million in fines and forfeiture, the Department of Justice announced today.
In a criminal information filed in federal court in the District of Nevada and unsealed today, the United States charged FKOL with violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by failing to provide certain records to FDA investigators. As part of a criminal resolution, FKOL agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor offense, pay a criminal fine of $30 million, and forfeit an additional $20 million. FKOL also agreed to implement a compliance and ethics program designed to prevent, detect, and correct violations of U.S. law relating to FKOL’s manufacture of cancer drugs intended for terminally ill patients.
“By hiding and deleting manufacturing records, FKOL sought to obstruct the FDA’s regulatory authority and prevent the FDA from doing its job of ensuring the purity and potency of drugs intended for U.S. consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “FKOL’s conduct put vulnerable patients at risk. The Department of Justice will continue to work with FDA to prosecute drug manufacturers who obstruct these inspections.”
“Pharmaceutical companies that obstruct FDA inspections jeopardize patient safety,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Maintaining the integrity of records and data is a critical part of drug manufacturing, and our office will continue prosecuting those that obstruct FDA inspections by destroying records or other means.”
“FDA inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities help ensure the strength, quality and purity of our medicines. Any attempt to obstruct or interfere with these inspections threatens the public health,” said Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs of the FDA. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and present any such obstruction for prosecution.”
According to court documents, FKOL owned and operated a manufacturing plant in Kalyani, West Bengal, India, that manufactured active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in various cancer drug products distributed to the United States. The government alleges that prior to a January 2013 FDA inspection of the Kalyani facility, FKOL plant management directed employees to remove certain records from the premises and delete other records from computers that would have revealed FKOL was manufacturing drug ingredients in contravention of FDA requirements. Kalyani plant employees removed computers, hardcopy documents, and other materials from the premises and deleted spreadsheets that contained evidence of the plant’s violative practices.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Director Clint Narver and Trial Attorney Natalie Sanders of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Dickinson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office, investigated the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation in India provided invaluable assistance to U.S. authorities in the investigation of this matter.
Indian Cancer Drug Manufacturer Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $50 Million for Concealing and Destroying Records in Advance of FDA InspectionRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Indian drug manufacturer Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited (FKOL) has agreed to plead guilty to concealing and destroying records prior to a 2013 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plant inspection and pay $50 million in fines and forfeiture, the Department of Justice announced today.
In a criminal information filed in federal court in the District of Nevada and unsealed today, the United States charged FKOL with violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by failing to provide certain records to FDA investigators. As part of a criminal resolution, FKOL agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor offense, pay a criminal fine of $30 million, and forfeit an additional $20 million. FKOL also agreed to implement a compliance and ethics program designed to prevent, detect, and correct violations of U.S. law relating to FKOL’s manufacture of cancer drugs intended for terminally ill patients.
“By hiding and deleting manufacturing records, FKOL sought to obstruct the FDA’s regulatory authority and prevent the FDA from doing its job of ensuring the purity and potency of drugs intended for U.S. consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “FKOL’s conduct put vulnerable patients at risk. The Department of Justice will continue to work with FDA to prosecute drug manufacturers who obstruct these inspections.”
“Pharmaceutical companies that obstruct FDA inspections jeopardize patient safety,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Maintaining the integrity of records and data is a critical part of drug manufacturing, and our office will continue prosecuting those that obstruct FDA inspections by destroying records or other means.”
“FDA inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities help ensure the strength, quality and purity of our medicines. Any attempt to obstruct or interfere with these inspections threatens the public health,” said Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs of the FDA. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and present any such obstruction for prosecution.”
According to court documents, FKOL owned and operated a manufacturing plant in Kalyani, West Bengal, India, that manufactured active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in various cancer drug products distributed to the United States. The government alleges that prior to a January 2013 FDA inspection of the Kalyani facility, FKOL plant management directed employees to remove certain records from the premises and delete other records from computers that would have revealed FKOL was manufacturing drug ingredients in contravention of FDA requirements. Kalyani plant employees removed computers, hardcopy documents, and other materials from the premises and deleted spreadsheets that contained evidence of the plant’s violative practices.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Director Clint Narver and Trial Attorney Natalie Sanders of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Dickinson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office, investigated the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation in India provided invaluable assistance to U.S. authorities in the investigation of this matter.
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Houston man indicted in Laredo for smuggling 119 illegal aliensRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old man has been charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Originally charged by criminal complaint, a Laredo grand jury returned an indictment today against Brodrick Keith Rhodes. He will appear before U.S. a magistrate judge in the near future.
The charges allege that on Jan. 12, authorities stopped Rhodes after he approached the Freer Border Patrol checkpoint driving a semi-truck and refrigerated trailer. He had claimed he was hauling lettuce and produced a bill of lading, according to the complaint.
However, law enforcement allegedly noticed discrepancies and that Rhodes appeared nervous. Further, the refrigerated trailer was set to 30 degrees but the internal temperature was at 68, according to the charges.
After a K-9 alerted to possible presence of contraband in the cargo area of the trailer and a subsequent inspection, authorities ultimately discovered 119 illegal aliens, according to the complaint.
Rhodes allegedly claimed he worked for a business in La Porte, but the bill of lading indicated he was transporting lettuce from a Laredo produce company to a location in Sugar Land. The business indicated Rhodes had never been employed with them nor do they transport outside the Houston area, according to the charges. Further, the complaint alleges the other two companies confirmed they had no record of the shipment.
According to the charges, some of the transported aliens said they had been taken to and told to get in the truck. It left soon after and did not stop until it reached the checkpoint, according to the allegations.
If convicted, Rhodes faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum possible $250,000 fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
Honduran National Sentenced to More Than Twenty Months’ Imprisonment for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Angel Roberto Lopez (35, Honduras) to 21 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Roberto Lopez had pleaded guilty on November 16, 2020.
According to court documents, Roberto Lopez had previously been deported from the United States to Honduras on five occasions. On September 4, 2015, Roberto Lopez was convicted of felony battery with great bodily harm after deportation, a felony offense. Following his conviction, Roberto Lopez illegally reentered the United States.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos.
Homestead Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – Dorianne Harris pled guilty to conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine between 2017 and 2019, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Harris, age 27, formerly of Homestead, PA, pled guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing to occur on June 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Harris was on federal supervised release for a prior heroin-trafficking conviction when he committed the cocaine-trafficking crime to which he pled guilty.
The law provides for a sentence of at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession and Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that GLADSTONE BENJAMIN, JR., 29, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Hartford Police made two controlled purchases of marijuana from Benjamin at his Collins Street residence. On April 23, 2019, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Gladstone’s residence and found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with an extended clip; two loaded Taurus .45 caliber handguns; a loaded semiautomatic handgun that did not contain a make, model or serial number stamp; a Remington Arms 12 gauge shotgun with an unreadable serial number; more than 1,000 rounds of loose and boxed ammunition, and distribution quantities of heroin and marijuana.
Benjamin’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm and drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Benjamin pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2021.
Benjamin is released on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.
This prosecution has been brought through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Gang Member Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Anthony Esposito, also known as “Mafia,” 52, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Ricardo Reyes, also known as “Rick the Ruler,” a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street in Hartford. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from Reyes. Court-authorized wiretaps confirmed that Reyes was distributing narcotics to numerous customers, and identified individuals who supplied drugs to Reyes and associates who sold drugs on his behalf. Intercepted communications also revealed Reyes was acquiring and trafficking firearms.
The investigation revealed that Reyes supplied Esposito, also a member of Los Solidos, with fentanyl that Esposito sold to his own customers in the New Haven area.
Esposito was arrested on June 17, 2019.
On June 27, 2019, a grand jury Hartford returned a 32-count indictment charging Reyes, Esposito and 13 associates with various narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
Esposito has been detained since his arrest. On August 6, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl.
Esposito’s criminal history spans 30 years and includes convictions for firearm, drug and violent crime offenses, including a 1998 federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and a 2003 state conviction for first degree sexual assault.
Reyes has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. 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.
Former St. Thomas Student Sentenced to Prison for Hoax Bomb ThreatsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of RAY GHANSHAM PERSAUD, 22, to one year and one day in prison for calling in a bomb threat to the University of St. Thomas on September 17, 2019. PERSAUD, who pleaded guilty on September 22, 2020, was sentenced earlier today by Judge Eric C. Tostrud in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, on three separate occasions – April 17, 2019; August 20, 2019; and September 17, 2019 – PERSAUD, who was at the time an undergraduate student at the University of St. Thomas, called in to the University’s main switchboard and falsely stated that there was a bomb on the St. Paul campus. The bomb threats caused substantial fear and disruption to the University, including the evacuation of campus buildings and a childcare center, re-routing of traffic on nearby streets, and a full response by the University’s Public Safety personnel. PERSAUD admitted that on the dates he called in the bomb threats he had failed to complete his homework and was unprepared for class.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.
This case was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Docherty.
Defendant Information:
RAY GHANSHAM PERSAUD, 22
Blaine, Minn.
Convicted:
- Using an instrumentality of interstate commerce to maliciously make a threat to damage and destroy any building, by means of explosives, 1 count
Sentenced:
- One year and one day in prison
- Two years supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Former Ku Medical Center Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $500,000Read the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Michael Tae Kim Ahlers, 49, of Lenexa, Kansas, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return related to a scheme to embezzle money from the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC).
“Michael Ahlers abused his position as the Administrative Officer for an academic and research medical center, stealing more than $500,000 to enrich himself,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard. “His guilty plea should send a message that, no matter your position, you cannot profit illegally or violate the trust of the company who hires you.”
“During this investigation, state and federal partners worked extremely well together to make certain these criminal acts did not go unpunished,” said KBI Director Kirk Thompson.
“For six years, Mr. Ahlers embezzled more than half a million dollars for his personal benefit, while taking steps to circumvent the University’s Finance and Administration Department,” said David Talcott, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “This type of financial fraud is a felony offense that carries severe consequences and we are committed to protect the integrity of the tax system and innocent victims that suffer a monetary loss.”
“Today’s plea is a reminder that the United States Secret Service is committed to aggressively investigating and pursuing financial crimes,” said Brandon C. Bridgeforth, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Kansas City Field Office. “This defendant abused his position for his own personal benefit by taking advantage of his position of trust and the University of Kansas Medical Center. This investigation is a testament to the strong partnership between the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Slinkard, the charges, and other information presented in court: Ahlers was the Administrative Officer for the Occupational Therapy (OT) Education Department at the KUMC in Kansas City. As the Administrative Officer, Ahlers was responsible for all administrative tasks and financial transactions for the OT Education Department, including budget management, purchasing, billing of external entities, and grant management. From at least 2009 and continuing to 2015, Ahlers used that position to steal more than $500,000 to pay for his personal expenses.
To conceal the fraud, instead of forwarding certain KUMC funds to the Institutional Finance and Administration Department, Ahlers deposited the funds into a KUMC Credit Union account. Using the KUMC Credit Union account allowed Ahlers to avoid oversight that would have happened in the normal course, by which funds are deposited into a state-controlled bank account, revenue recorded in the university financial system, and funds allocated to department accounts that are reconciled on a monthly basis. Ahlers also created invoices outside of the normal system, which prevented others within KUMC from learning about the KUMC Credit Union account and Ahlers’ use of it for his personal gain.
Ahlers failed to include embezzled funds on his federal tax returns, resulting in a tax loss for the years 2009 through 2015 of $104,246.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, 2021 at 1:30, before U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree.
This case is being investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka is prosecuting the case.
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Former Attorney Sentenced to 1 ½ Years for Stealing Retainer Fees from Clients Seeking Child Adoption ServicesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Steven G. Dubin, 66, of Holland, PA, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $74,800 restitution by United States District Court Judge Gene E.K. Pratter for fraud stemming from a scheme to steal his clients’ retainer fees and use them for other expenses.
In June 2018, the defendant pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Dubin was an attorney licensed to practice in Pennsylvania who offered services to prospective adoptive parents. From December 2010 to February 2013, Dubin stole clients’ retainer fees which he falsely represented would be held in an escrow account, to be spent on those clients’ future expenses in the adoption process. In addition, Dubin began operating his own “Ponzi scheme,” using retainer fees from new clients to pay himself for legal fees or expenses related to other clients. Even after he was disbarred in 2012, Dubin continued to accept new retainer fees from clients. In some cases, he still represented himself to be an attorney licensed to practice law.
“The process of adopting a child can be long, complicated, and emotionally draining, and prospective parents often rely on professionals like adoption attorneys to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles,” said Acting U.S. Attorneys Williams. “Here, Steven Dubin took advantage of this position of trust to steal money from unsuspecting clients who thought he was going to help them adopt a child, even after being disbarred. His behavior is a despicable violation of professional ethics.”
“Steven Dubin had no compunction about lying to his clients, doing so deliberately and repeatedly,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “These people were depending on him to shepherd them through the adoption process and hopefully bring a child into their lives. Instead, he spent their money as his own and hid his eventual disbarment, abandoning all pretense of professional ethics and personal morality. Finally, he’s being held accountable for those years of clear-cut fraud.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vineet Gauri.
Engineer Pleads Guilty to More Than $10 Million of COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A Texas engineer pleaded guilty today for filing fraudulent bank loan applications seeking more than $10 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Eastern District of Texas, Inspector General Laura S. Wertheimer of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Inspector General Jay N. Lerner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – OIG, Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the SBA-OIG and Inspector in Charge Delany De Leon-Colón of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
Shashank Rai, 30, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to a bank. He was charged on May 13, 2020, with violations of wire fraud, bank fraud, false statements to a financial institution, and false statements to the SBA.
As part of his guilty plea, Rai admitted that he sought millions of dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA from two different banks by claiming to have 250 employees earning wages when, in fact, no employees worked for his purported business. Rai made two fraudulent claims to two different lenders for loans guaranteed by the SBA for COVID-19 relief through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In the application submitted to the first lender, Rai sought $10 million in PPP loan proceeds by fraudulently claiming to have 250 employees with an average monthly payroll of $4 million. In the second application, Rai sought approximately $3 million in PPP loan proceeds by fraudulently claiming to have 250 employees with an average monthly payroll of approximately $1.2 million.
According to court documents, the Texas Workforce Commission provided information to investigators of having no records of employee wages having been paid in 2020 by Rai or his purported business, Rai Family LLC. In addition, the Texas Comptroller’s Office of Public Accounts reported to investigators that Rai Family LLC reported no revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020.
According to court documents, materials recovered from the trash outside of Rai’s residence included handwritten notes that appear to reflect an investment strategy for the $3 million, which is the amount of money that Rai allegedly sought from the second lender.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding, and in December 2020, Congress authorized another $284 billion in additional funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
This case was investigated by the FHFA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, SBA-OIG, and USPIS. Assistant Chief L. Rush Atkinson and Trial Attorney Lou Manzo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Coan and Nathaniel Kummerfeld for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. In the months since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $60 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Elizabeth City Man Sentenced for Firearm Offense After Running from PoliceRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Khyree Banks of Elizabeth City was sentenced today to 40 months in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Banks’ 5 prior state felony convictions and 20 prior misdemeanor convictions include multiple instances of breaking and entering, larceny, and felony possession of cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 27, 2018, officers of the Elizabeth City Police Department were on patrol just before 2 p.m., when they initiated a traffic stop on a dark 2002 Mercedes Benz for illegal window tint at the intersection of S Road St. and Shepard St.
As the car came to a slow roll, the rear passenger, Khyree Banks, jumped out of the car with a silver pistol in his hand and turned toward the officers. Banks lost his balance after stepping out of the car but caught himself by placing his firearm hand on the ground. He then turned and ran behind a building, and both officers chased him with their firearms drawn.
Banks looped around the building to the road, where he eventually followed commands to slow down and was detained. During the foot chase, the Mercedes had driven away. In the place where Banks had stumbled out of the car, officers found a firearm magazine with 10 .22 caliber bullets.
Officers asked Banks where the gun had gone, and he admitted that he had dropped it behind the building. In a grassy area by Banks’ flight path, officers found a Ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun. It contained a second magazine loaded with 10 rounds.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017, the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Elizabeth City Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-00011-BO.
El Salvadoran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Six TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported six times was sentenced today to one year in federal prison.
Rafael Gutierrez-Mancia, age 31, a citizen of El Salvador illegally present in the United States and residing in Storm Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea on October 15, 2020, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
At the guilty plea, Gutierrez-Mancia admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Gutierrez-Mancia was first deported in September 2009 following a conviction in the Iowa District Court for Buena Vista County for identity theft, an aggravated felony, where Gutierrez-Mancia worked using someone else’s name. In July 2011, Gutierrez-Mancia was convicted in Texas of illegally reentering the United States, a felony, and was deported a second time in January 2012. He was deported a third time in April 2013. In August 2013, Gutierrez-Mancia was convicted in Texas of illegally entering the United States, a misdemeanor, and deported a fourth time in October 2013. He was deported a fifth time in July 2014. In November 2014, Gutierrez-Mancia was convicted in Texas of illegally entering the United States, a misdemeanor, and deported a sixth time in January 2015. In July 2020, Gutierrez-Mancia came to the attention of immigration agents following his arrest under an alias on traffic charges in Franklin County, Iowa.
Gutierrez-Mancia was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gutierrez-Mancia was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Gutierrez-Mancia is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-57.