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Tuesday 24 November 2020
Update on Protest-Related Arrests for Violence in the District of ColumbiaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Since May 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has charged more than 156 individuals for protest-related violence, marking the highest number of people charged in any federal district in the United States.
These cases include Brennan Sermon, who was charged with assaulting a police officer who was responding to assist officers protecting Senator Rand Paul on August 28, 2020; six people who were charged for their role in inciting violence and destroying federal monuments in Lafayette Square on June 22, 2020; and 20 people who have been charged with assaults on civilians and police officers. Additionally, an individual who defaced the Lincoln Monument on May 30, 2020, was criminally charged with Destruction of Government Property.
“Freedom of expression and the ability to openly voice dissent remains the bedrock of our democracy. As we have unfortunately witnessed in the District of Columbia over the past several months, scores of individuals have committed criminal acts upon innocent people and property under the guise of free expression. This will not be condoned,” stated Michael R. Sherwin, the Acting United Stated Attorney for the District of Columbia.
“Nevertheless, this office will only prosecute individuals or groups of individuals when enough evidence exists to both identify and criminally charge bad actors and it will never waiver in meeting that burden as the law requires.”
Investigations are on-going and robust. The Metropolitan Police Department, in conjunction with federal law enforcement partners, continue to analyze and investigate these criminal actors to ensure we understand if there is an organized architecture among suspected actors that enable such criminal behavior. Their tireless efforts on this front will not end.
Unemployment insurance task force targets fraud during COVID pandemicRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - A new state-wide, interagency task force focused on combatting unemployment insurance (UI) benefit fraud in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is supporting investigating agencies and encouraging citizens to report suspected UI fraud.
“Unemployment insurance provides a lifeline to many Americans facing economic hardships and job losses,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “This type of fraud victimizes not only the intended recipients, but also the employers who pay into the program. Through our partnerships, these criminals will be extradited and prosecuted.”
“The sole purpose for unemployment insurance is to support people suffering during this unprecedented time in our nation’s history. It is unconscionable that individuals are corrupting the unemployment insurance system by essentially stealing benefits from our neighbors who are most in need at this time,” said Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “My hope is that this task force will support law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to quickly identify scammers and bring them to justice, while protecting the integrity of the unemployment benefit system.”
“Every dime of taxpayer money diverted into the pockets of scam artists is less money available to help citizens who truly need assistance during difficult times,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We’re confident that with the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, we will identify and shut down those who would steal from these programs.”
The Georgia Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fraud Task Force’s mission is to combat fraud schemes targeting the UI benefits program, which is funded by both the federal and the state governments and is administered by the Georgia Department of Labor. In response to the devastating negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law in March 2020. Among many benefits for citizens and businesses, the CARES Act includes a provision of temporary benefits for individuals who have exhausted their entitlement to regular unemployment compensation, as well as coverage for individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, are self-employed or have limited recent work history.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudsters have been perpetrating numerous lucrative UI fraud schemes at a significant rate. State and local law enforcement agencies are at the forefront in uncovering these schemes. The Georgia UI Fraud Task Force supports these agencies by providing assistance with evidence collection, offering guidance investigating complex fraud schemes, and referring cases for federal prosecution, among other needs. Representatives from agencies including the Georgia Department of Labor, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia’s Office of the Attorney General, FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS--Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration--Office of the Inspector General and all three of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney’s Offices serve on Georgia’s UI Fraud Task Force.
“We place a huge emphasis on maintaining the integrity of the unemployment insurance program and welcome the support of law enforcement agencies across the state to assist in identifying and prosecuting those committing fraud,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “These criminals are not only harming those they are taking benefits from but are also slowing down the process for the many Georgians depending on payments to make ends meet during this pandemic.”
“At a time when many American citizens have lost their jobs, or are temporarily out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is disheartening to think that anyone would fraudulently take advantage of the government funds they deserve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will fight this criminal behavior, along with our many partners in law enforcement, to stop anyone who attempts to profit off the backs of those in need.”
“So many Georgians have suffered hardships due to unemployment since the start of the pandemic. The CARES Act was passed to provide relief; however, fraudsters have used this opportunity to steal from the government. The GBI is a proud member of this Task Force and will work diligently to ensure that those who choose to abuse these benefits are investigated and prosecuted,” said Vic Reynolds, GBI Director.
“The Secret Service is proud to partner with so many agencies who are committed to eliminating these fraud and identity theft schemes,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “This task force is particularly important during these unprecedented times when those stolen funds should have been used to help unsuspected victims when they need it most.”
“This taskforce will truly prove that crime doesn’t pay,” said Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI Atlanta and its partners are committed to hunting down these criminals that are stealing the resources and benefits that have been set aside to help people in our communities.”
Georgians are encouraged to be vigilant, as fraudsters often make use of unsuspecting victims’ bank accounts and logins to funnel illegally obtained unemployment payments. The Georgia UI Fraud Task Force advises the public to exercise caution when receiving emails promising “easy money” or unsolicited online requests to open personal bank accounts and share those account numbers online. Elders and prior victims of identity theft or email compromise are especially vulnerable targets of these schemes.
People can report UI abuse with the Georgia Department of Labor by visiting https://www.dol.state.ga.us/public/uiben/fraud/reportType. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report potential scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling 866-720-5721 or by visiting https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Unemployment Insurance Task Force Targets Fraud During COVID PandemicRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A new state-wide, interagency task force focused on combatting unemployment insurance (UI) benefit fraud in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is supporting investigating agencies and encouraging citizens to report suspected UI fraud.
The Georgia Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fraud Task Force’s mission is to combat fraud schemes targeting the UI benefits program, which is funded by both the federal and the state governments and is administered by the Georgia Department of Labor. In response to the devastating negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law in March 2020. Among many benefits for citizens and businesses, the CARES Act includes a provision of temporary benefits for individuals who have exhausted their entitlement to regular unemployment compensation, as well as coverage for individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, are self-employed or have limited recent work history.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudsters have been perpetrating numerous lucrative UI fraud schemes at a significant rate. State and local law enforcement agencies are at the forefront in uncovering these schemes. The Georgia UI Fraud Task Force supports these agencies by providing assistance with evidence collection, offering guidance investigating complex fraud schemes, and referring cases for federal prosecution, among other needs. Representatives from agencies including the Georgia Department of Labor, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia’s Office of the Attorney General, FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS--Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration--Office of the Inspector General and all three of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney’s Offices serve on Georgia’s UI Fraud Task Force.
“The sole purpose for unemployment insurance is to support people suffering during this unprecedented time in our nation’s history. It is unconscionable that individuals are corrupting the unemployment insurance system by essentially stealing benefits from our neighbors who are most in need at this time,” said Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “My hope is that this task force will support law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to quickly identify scammers and bring them to justice, while protecting the integrity of the unemployment benefit system.”
“Every dime of taxpayer money diverted into the pockets of scam artists is less money available to help citizens who truly need assistance during difficult times,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We’re confident that with the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, we will identify and shut down those who would steal from these programs.”
“Unemployment insurance provides a lifeline to many Americans facing economic hardships and job losses,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “This type of fraud victimizes not only the intended recipients, but also the employers who pay into the program. Through our partnerships, these criminals will be extradited and prosecuted.”
“We place a huge emphasis on maintaining the integrity of the unemployment insurance program and welcome the support of law enforcement agencies across the state to assist in identifying and prosecuting those committing fraud,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “These criminals are not only harming those they are taking benefits from but are also slowing down the process for the many Georgians depending on payments to make ends meet during this pandemic.”
“At a time when many American citizens have lost their jobs, or are temporarily out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is disheartening to think that anyone would fraudulently take advantage of the government funds they deserve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will fight this criminal behavior, along with our many partners in law enforcement, to stop anyone who attempts to profit off the backs of those in need.”
“So many Georgians have suffered hardships due to unemployment since the start of the pandemic. The CARES Act was passed to provide relief; however, fraudsters have used this opportunity to steal from the government. The GBI is a proud member of this Task Force and will work diligently to ensure that those who choose to abuse these benefits are investigated and prosecuted,” said Vic Reynolds, GBI Director.
“The Secret Service is proud to partner with so many agencies who are committed to eliminating these fraud and identity theft schemes,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “This task force is particularly important during these unprecedented times when those stolen funds should have been used to help unsuspected victims when they need it most.”
“This taskforce will truly prove that crime doesn’t pay,” said Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI Atlanta and its partners are committed to hunting down these criminals that are stealing the resources and benefits that have been set aside to help people in our communities.”
Georgians are encouraged to be vigilant, as fraudsters often make use of unsuspecting victims’ bank accounts and logins to funnel illegally obtained unemployment payments. The Georgia UI Fraud Task Force advises the public to exercise caution when receiving emails promising “easy money” or unsolicited online requests to open personal bank accounts and share those account numbers online. Elders and prior victims of identity theft or email compromise are especially vulnerable targets of these schemes.
People can report UI abuse with the Georgia Department of Labor by visiting https://www.dol.state.ga.us/public/uiben/fraud/reportType. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report potential scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling 866-720-5721 or by visiting https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 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.
U.S. Attorneys Brian Kuester and Trent Shores Launch Pilot Project with Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons CasesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma — Today, U.S. Attorneys Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma and Brian Kuester of the Eastern District of Oklahoma launched a pilot project to implement a Tribal Community Response Plan with Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation, in accordance with Attorney General William P. Barr’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative. Principal Chief David Hill of Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of Cherokee Nation joined the U.S. Attorneys in making the announcement.
The goal for the Tribal Community Response Plan pilot project is to establish a collaborative response from tribal governments, law enforcement agencies, and other partners by implementing culturally appropriate guidelines when investigating emergent cases of missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies developed draft guides for developing a Tribal Community Response Plan in conjunction with tribal leaders, law enforcement and tribal communities.
Each plan will be composed of guidelines addressing at least four different areas in response to MMIP cases: law enforcement, victim services, community outreach and media/public communications.
Oklahoma’s U.S. Attorneys are the first to launch the pilot project. Five other U.S. Attorneys’ offices are slated to do so at later dates. Lessons learned from the pilot project will be used to improve the draft guides for developing a Tribal Community Response Plan before they are used in states across the country.
“The first step in achieving justice for missing and murdered Native Americans was acknowledging the injustice of any historical indifference to or neglect of these tragic cases. Now, it is time for action to tackle this crisis head-on,” U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said. “I am proud to partner with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation to announce the first of its kind pilot project to develop and implement protocols and community action plans for missing and murdered indigenous people cases. The Department of Justice continues to prioritize public safety in Indian Country, especially when it comes to reducing the violent crime rates that seem to disproportionately impact Native American women and children.”
“ ‘Justice and liberty for all’ are not only the final words of our Pledge of Allegiance, they are at the heart and foundation of what the United States stands for. They create a standard that we must continually strive to achieve to preserve the critical principles they pronounce,” U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester said. “Tribal Community Response Plans will unite people, agencies, and sovereigns committed to justice and liberty for all. Together we will identify and implement the best practices for responding to and investigating cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. I look forward to building upon the strong relationships the U.S. Attorney’s Office has with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Cherokee Nation and our law enforcement partners as we move forward together.”
“We are unquestionably at our strongest when partnering with agencies and tribes working toward our shared goal, and that is enhancing public safety and protection for those who need it most,” Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill said. “Unfortunately, we know all too well the challenges we face and the trends we must reverse regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. We feel these types of collaborations, in which our input is sought and utilized to craft culturally specific guidelines, are the best path forward and we can’t wait to get started.”
“Today’s new Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Pilot Program is an important partnership with the United States Department of Justice, and will further a goal that we all share: to protect Cherokees on the reservation and bring missing Cherokees home to their families and communities,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “When one of our Cherokee citizens is hurt or missing, it’s an emergency. And now this pilot program will help pool our focus and resources on these cases with immediate, coordinated and professional response plans.”
“An effective strategy to combat violent crime on tribal lands can only be successful with a united front of our law enforcement partners working with the communities we serve,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the Oklahoma City Field Office said. “This program unites all of us in our shared goal of creating a safer community with a focus on solving crimes affecting missing and murdered indigenous people in Oklahoma.”
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
U.S. Attorney Announces Opening of Groundbreaking Recovery Program Based in Lamoille CountyRead the Press Release
Today U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan announced the opening of a groundbreaking recovery program designed to serve women with complex trauma histories, such as domestic violence, physical violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking, many of whom have also suffered from substance use disorder. The program involves the opening of a recovery house that will provide a continuum of long-term care and wraparound support services, from sober living and transitional housing, to mental health counseling and dedicated resources for educational and vocational training. A recovery program of this breadth is the first of its kind in Vermont. The recovery house will be managed under the oversight of the Board of Directors of Jenna’s Promise, a nonprofit organization established by Greg and Dawn Tatro in the wake of the tragic passing of their daughter, Jenna, from a fatal overdose.
In comments delivered today to mark the opening of this innovative program, U.S. Attorney Nolan described the critical alliance between law enforcement and prosecutors and recovery service providers that made this program possible and makes Vermont communities safer: “We share the same goal: to reduce, and hopefully to end, violence against women and drug addiction in Vermont. Recovery is the best form of crime prevention.” She noted that the new recovery house “will give survivors the comprehensive long-term set of tools they need—drug treatment, housing, mental health counseling, educational and vocational support— so they can walk through a door to a life free of crime and exploitation, one filled with new opportunities and blessings.”
The concept for this program originated in the work of the Vermont Human Trafficking Task Force—a partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as various nonprofit agencies working to combat domestic and sexual violence, and human trafficking. The Task Force identified a persistent gap in services for women recovering from addiction, violence, and trauma. U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this program represents a unique, comprehensive recovery model for these survivors. She further noted the unique partnerships that allowed this recovery program to come to fruition just months after the need was identified: “We achieved this milestone through a unique kind of partnership among law enforcement and prosecutors, recovery service providers; the Congressional Delegation; state legislators; the Governor; a coalition of generous donors; and a coalition of nonprofit organizations, including Jenna’s Promise, the North Central Vermont Recovery Center, and the Lamoille County Restorative Justice Center.” “We recognize that violence against women and the drug addiction crisis—like all challenging problems—require a holistic multidisciplinary approach,” said U.S. Attorney Nolan.
Noting his unwavering support for the Vermont Human Trafficking Task Force, U.S. Attorney Nolan extended special thanks to Senator Patrick Leahy.Senator Leahy noted the critically important impact Jenna’s Promise will have on its residents: “I want to thank the Tatros for their personal commitment to helping those who struggle every day with substance use disorder. Dawn and Greg, as well as their son Gregory, have shown us all how to find hope in the wake of personal tragedy. Jenna’s Promise will literally save lives, and I am proud not only to support this work but to hold it up as a national model. This demonstrates why, as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have led efforts to increase funding for opioid treatment, prevention, and recovery programs, and to support survivors of human trafficking.”
Governor Phil Scott added, “Thank you to U.S. Attorney Nolan, Senator Leahy, the Vermont Human Trafficking Taskforce, and everyone who helped to make this happen. I’m especially grateful to the Tatro Family, who I’ve known and respected for many years. They took a parent’s unimaginable devastation and turned it into a mission to help others and save lives, which is the ultimate act of public service and commitment to community.”
In addition to the partnering individuals and organizations noted above, U.S. Attorney Nolan also thanked Attorney General T.J. Donovan, who co-chairs the Vermont Human Trafficking Task Force, and Assistant Attorney General Cindy Maguire who participates on the Task Force; Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux for his financial support and leadership on this project; U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate Aimee Stearns and Witness Specialist Sarah Alexander for their assistance in making this project a reality, and their tireless work on the renovation of the house; the Vermont State Police for its critical contributions to the Vermont Human Trafficking Task Force and this project; and Vermont Representative Dan Noyes for his advocacy in directing grant monies to the project.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years
Two Houston men charged with attempting to fraudulently sell 50 million masksRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two Houston area men have been charged for attempting to fraudulently sell 50 million non-existent N95 facemasks to a foreign government, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Paschal Ngozi Eleanya, 46, turned himself in to authorities today and is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon at 2 p.m. Authorities took Arael Doolittle, 55, into custody Nov. 20. He made his initial appearance yesterday and is set for an arraignment and detention hearing Nov. 25 at 10 a.m.
A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment Nov. 19. Both are charged for their role in a scheme to sell 50 million 3M model 1860 N95 respirator masks to a foreign government they did not actually possess. The indictment also alleges they defrauded a foreign government out of more than $317 million - the total purchase price of the masks
According to the indictment, Doolittle, Eleanya and their brokers negotiated a sales price for the masks that was five times the public list price that 3M had set. The two expected to personally obtain up to $275 million as a result of the fraudulent scheme, according to the charges. Based on their representations, the foreign government allegedly wired the funds to complete the purchase.
Authorities disrupted the transaction before it could be completed.
If convicted, both Doolittle and Eleanya face up to five years in prison for conspiracy and up to 20 years in prison for each of the two counts of wire fraud. Each of these charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin is prosecuting the case.
Attorney General William P. Barr created the COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force which coordinates efforts between the Antitrust Division and U.S. Attorneys across the country wherever illegal activity involving protective personal equipment occurs. The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a notice designating categories of health and medical supplies that must not be hoarded or sold for exorbitant prices.
The public is asked to report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s (NCDF) National Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or visit The Department of Justice’s NCDF website.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Two Grand Jury Indictments UnsealedRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced today that two sealed indictments returned on November 18 by a federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, have been unsealed. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Madison Man Charged with Sex Trafficking & Child Pornography Crimes
Brian Lamphier, 50, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with sex trafficking a minor. The indictment alleges that from March 2020 to June 1, 2020, Lamphier solicited a person knowing the person was a minor, and that the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. The indictment also charges that Lamphier distributed child pornography on April 8, 2020. The indictment alleges that he used Facebook to send a file containing an image of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted, Lamphier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the sex trafficking a minor charge, and a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years on the child pornography charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie S. Pfluger is handling the prosecution.
Sun Prairie Man Charged with Gun Crime
Xavier Arthur, 23, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on May 25, 2020, Arthur possessed a loaded 9mm pistol and 9mm ammunition.
If convicted, Arthur faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Sun Prairie Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey C. Stephan is handling the prosecution.
Tohajiilee man pleads guilty to murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Tristian Cadman, of Tohajilee, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder and using a firearm in a crime of violence.
A grand jury indicted Cadman on Sept. 11, 2019. In his plea agreement, Cadman admitted that early in the morning of Aug. 21, 2019, he and an associate armed themselves and attempted to rob the victim and the victim’s companion. Following a scuffle, Cadman shot and killed the victim. The murder took place on the Navajo Nation. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Cadman faces 10 years to life in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle is prosecuting the case.
Sutton Man Charged with Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sutton man was arrested and charged today with possession of child pornography.
Oliver Smith, 45, a citizen of Sweden and the United States, was charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. Following an initial appearance this afternoon before Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy, Smith was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 3, 2020.
According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 15, 2020, after receiving investigative information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Swedish law enforcement authorities, and conducting its own investigation, federal agents executed a search warrant at Smith’s Sutton residence and seized several devices. A preliminary forensic review of devices seized revealed images and videos of child pornography. During an interview with federal agents, Smith admitted that he had downloaded child pornography upon his return to the U.S. from Sweden.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; David Magdycz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Sutton Police Chief Dennis J. Towle made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office and Jessica Urban of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Statewide unemployment insurance task force targets fraud during COVID-19 pandemicRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A new statewide, interagency task force focused on combatting unemployment insurance (UI) benefit fraud in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is supporting investigating agencies and encouraging citizens to report suspected UI fraud.
The Georgia Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force’s mission is to combat fraud schemes targeting the UI benefits program, which is funded by both the federal and the state governments and is administered by the Georgia Department of Labor. In response to the devastating negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law in March 2020. Among many benefits for citizens and businesses, the CARES Act includes a provision of temporary benefits for individuals who have exhausted their entitlement to regular unemployment compensation, as well as coverage for individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, are self-employed or have limited recent work history.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudsters have perpetrated numerous lucrative UI fraud schemes at a significant rate. State and local law enforcement agencies are at the forefront in uncovering these schemes. The Georgia UI Fraud Task Force supports these agencies by providing assistance with evidence collection, offering guidance investigating complex fraud schemes, and referring cases for federal prosecution, among other needs. Representatives from agencies including the Georgia Department of Labor, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia’s Office of the Attorney General, FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and all three of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney’s Offices serve on Georgia’s UI Fraud Task Force.
“Every dime of taxpayer money diverted into the pockets of scam artists is less money available to help citizens who truly need assistance during difficult times,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We’re confident that with the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, we will identify and shut down those who would steal from these programs.”
“The sole purpose for unemployment insurance is to support people suffering during this unprecedented time in our nation’s history. It is unconscionable that individuals are corrupting the unemployment insurance system by essentially stealing benefits from our neighbors who are most in need at this time,” said Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “My hope is that this task force will support law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to quickly identify scammers and bring them to justice, while protecting the integrity of the unemployment benefit system.
“Unemployment insurance provides a lifeline to many Americans facing economic hardships and job losses,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “This type of fraud victimizes not only the intended recipients, but also the employers who pay into the program. Through our partnerships, these criminals will be extradited and prosecuted.”
“We place a huge emphasis on maintaining the integrity of the unemployment insurance program and welcome the support of law enforcement agencies across the state to assist in identifying and prosecuting those committing fraud,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “These criminals are not only harming those they are taking benefits from but are also slowing down the process for the many Georgians depending on payments to make ends meet during this pandemic.”
“At a time when many American citizens have lost their jobs, or are temporarily out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is disheartening to think that anyone would fraudulently take advantage of the government funds they deserve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will fight this criminal behavior, along with our many partners in law enforcement, to stop anyone who attempts to profit off the backs of those in need.”
“So many Georgians have suffered hardships due to unemployment since the start of the pandemic. The CARES Act was passed to provide relief; however, fraudsters have used this opportunity to steal from the government. The GBI is a proud member of this Task Force and will work diligently to ensure that those who choose to abuse these benefits are investigated and prosecuted,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
“The Secret Service is proud to partner with so many agencies who are committed to eliminating these fraud and identity theft schemes,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “This task force is particularly important during these unprecedented times when those stolen funds should have been used to help unsuspected victims when they need it most.”
“This taskforce will truly prove that crime doesn’t pay,” said Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI Atlanta and its partners are committed to hunting down these criminals that are stealing the resources and benefits that have been set aside to help people in our communities.”
Georgians are encouraged to be vigilant, as fraudsters often make use of unsuspecting victims’ bank accounts and logins to funnel illegally obtained unemployment payments. The Georgia UI Fraud Task Force advises the public to exercise caution when receiving emails promising “easy money” or unsolicited online requests to open personal bank accounts and share those account numbers online. Elders and prior victims of identity theft or email compromise are especially vulnerable targets of these schemes.
People can report UI abuse with the Georgia Department of Labor by visiting https://www.dol.state.ga.us/public/uiben/fraud/reportType. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report potential scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling 866-720-5721 or by visiting https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
St. Paul Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of LUCAS JAY MADISON, 40, to 235 months in prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. MADISON, who pleaded guilty on July 21, 2020, was sentenced yesterday before Judge Eric C. Tostrud in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, MADISON and his co-conspirators engaged in a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation. On April 14, 2020, law enforcement stopped MADISON and his co-conspirator near Faribault, Minnesota, as they traveled back from Phoenix, Arizona. Law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered approximately 23 pounds of methamphetamine contained within a backpack. The methamphetamine was intended for delivery to MADISON’s co-conspirators in the Twin Cities. On the same day, law enforcement conducted search warrants at MADISON’s car detailing business in Bloomington, Minnesota, and his apartment in St. Paul. As a result of these searches, law enforcement agents recovered approximately 680 grams of methamphetamine, a Hi Point Model 9 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a digital scale, THC cartridges, and multiple cell phones. Afterward, law enforcement searched other conspiracy locations and seized over $100,000 in U.S. currency, two handguns, over 100 grams of methamphetamine, additional digital scales, and drug paraphernalia.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Anoka Hennepin Drug Task Force, the Cannon River Drug & Violent Offender Task Force, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, and the Edina Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
LUCAS JAY MADISON, 40
St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 235 months in prison
- Five years of supervised release
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South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON -- In San Antonio today, 34-year-old Kristopher Sean Matthews (aka Ali Jibreel) admitted to conspiring to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham/Syria (aka ISIS), announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer for the Western District of Texas, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth S. Chestney, Matthews pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge to provide material support to ISIS. By pleading guilty, Matthews admitted that since May 2019, he conspired with 22-year-old Jaylyn Christopher Molina (aka Abdur Rahim) of Cost, TX, to provide services to ISIS by administering an encrypted, members-only chat group for persons who supported ISIS ideology; by collecting, generating, and disseminating pro-ISIS propaganda; and by disseminating firearms training materials and bomb-making instructions to each other and to other members of the chat group and others.
Matthews faces up to 20 years in federal prison. He remains in federal custody pending sentencing scheduled for 10:30 am on March 4, 2021, before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia in San Antonio.
Molina and Matthews were charged by a federal grand jury indictment handed down on October 14, 2020, with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one substantive count of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Molina, who remains in federal custody, faces up to 40 years in federal prison upon conviction.
The San Antonio FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with valuable assistance from the San Antonio Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Gonzalez County Sheriff’s Office, continues to investigate this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg, William R. Harris, and Eric Fuchs and DOJ Trial Attorneys George C. Kraehe and Felice J. Viti of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Molina is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
In San Antonio today, 34-year-old Kristopher Sean Matthews (aka Ali Jibreel) admitted to conspiring to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham/Syria (aka ISIS), announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer for the Western District of Texas, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth S. Chestney, Matthews pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge to provide material support to ISIS. By pleading guilty, Matthews admitted that since May 2019, he conspired with 22-year-old Jaylyn Christopher Molina (aka Abdur Rahim) of Cost, TX, to share bomb-making information for the purposes of domestic and foreign attacks on behalf of ISIS and to radicalize and recruit other individuals to support ISIS.
Matthews faces up to 20 years in federal prison. He remains in federal custody pending sentencing scheduled for 10:30 am on March 4, 2021, before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia in San Antonio.
Molina and Matthews were charged by a federal grand jury indictment handed down on Oct. 14, 2020, with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one substantive count of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Molina, who remains in federal custody, faces up to 40 years in federal prison upon conviction.
The San Antonio FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with valuable assistance from the San Antonio Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Gonzalez County Sheriff’s Office, continues to investigate this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg, William R. Harris, and Eric Fuchs and DOJ Trial Attorneys George Kraehe and Felice J. Viti of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Molina is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sixth Former Tennessee Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Offenses Arising out of a Cover up of Staff Assault of an InmateRead the Press Release
Former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) Corporal Tommy Morris, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiring to cover up the beating of an inmate and to encouraging other officers to provide false information to investigators, the Justice Department announced today.
“The State of Tennessee entrusted this defendant with the responsibility to act lawfully as a corrections officer by supervising those in his chain of command and by treating inmates humanely and in a manner that complies with the U.S. Constitution and other laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “Instead of acting lawfully, this defendant violated the public trust, stood by and did nothing as junior officers unjustly beat an inmate, lied repeatedly about the beating, and tried to persuade other corrections officers to lie about what happened. This defendant’s criminal misconduct violates both our law and common decency, and the U.S. Department of Justice will not stand for it. The Justice Department will continue to work hard to ensure that all Americans are held accountable for breaking the law, especially those who abuse their position of authority in the law to do so.”
“Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer actively participated to conceal the use of physical force by other officers to violate the civil rights of an individual. As a result, he will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law.”
“When a correctional officer violates the civil rights of an inmate whose safety he is charged with, it undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement officers,” said Douglas M. Korneski, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI. “This plea should be a reminder that the FBI takes the allegation of civil rights violations seriously, and will vigorously investigate these kinds of cases, and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the constitution and the trust of the people.”
With his guilty plea, Morris admitted that, on Feb. 1, 2019, he and other correctional officers entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Morris stood by as a junior officer instructed another officer to cover the surveillance camera in the cell. Morris then watched as three officers punched R.T. in retaliation for R.T. spitting earlier.
After the officers left R.T.’s cell, Morris, who was the ranking officer, suggested that they should falsely claim that R.T. injured himself while he was on suicide watch. Morris and another officer then directed the others to adopt the false and misleading story. The officers agreed to cover up the unlawful use of force on inmate R.T.
Morris knew that the officers’ use of force should be reported to TDOC authorities, but he did not report the incident, fill out any paperwork, or instruct any of the other officers to take those steps. Instead, when a junior correctional officer asked Morris if he needed to fill out any paperwork, Morris falsely claimed that it would be handled and there was no need to do anything.
With today’s guilty plea, Morris admitted that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 371 when he conspired to cover up the beating of R.T. and that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b) (3) when he knowingly encouraged correctional officers to provide investigators with false and misleading information. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy offense is five years imprisonment and 20 years imprisonment for the obstruction offense.
Previously, former TDOC Correctional Officers Nathaniel Griffin, Tanner Penwell, Carl Spurlin Jr., Cadie McAlister, and Jonathan York entered guilty pleas for criminal offenses arising out of the assault of inmate R.T. Morris is the sixth and final defendant to enter a guilty plea.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the TDOC, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Sixth Former Tennessee Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Offenses Arising Out of Cover up of Staff Assault of an InmateRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) Corporal Tommy Morris, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiring to cover up the beating of an inmate and to encouraging other officers to provide false information to investigators, the Justice Department announced today.
“The State of Tennessee entrusted this defendant with the responsibility to act lawfully as a corrections officer by supervising those in his chain of command and by treating inmates humanely and in a manner that complies with the U.S. Constitution and other laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “Instead of acting lawfully, this defendant violated the public trust, stood by and did nothing as junior officers unjustly beat an inmate, lied repeatedly about the beating, and tried to persuade other corrections officers to lie about what happened. This defendant’s criminal misconduct violates both our law and common decency, and the U.S. Department of Justice will not stand for it. The Justice Department will continue to work hard to ensure that all Americans are held accountable for breaking the law, especially those who abuse their position of authority in the law to do so.”
“Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer actively participated to conceal the use of physical force by other officers to violate the civil rights of an individual. As a result, he will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law.”
“When a correctional officer violates the civil rights of an inmate whose safety he is charged with, it undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement officers,” said Douglas M. Korneski, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI. “This plea should be a reminder that the FBI takes the allegation of civil rights violations seriously, and will vigorously investigate these kinds of cases, and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the constitution and the trust of the people.”
With his guilty plea, Morris admitted that, on Feb. 1, 2019, he and other correctional officers entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Morris stood by as a junior officer instructed another officer to cover the surveillance camera in the cell. Morris then watched as three officers punched R.T. in retaliation for R.T. spitting earlier.
After the officers left R.T.’s cell, Morris, who was the ranking officer, suggested that they should falsely claim that R.T. injured himself while he was on suicide watch. Morris and another officer then directed the others to adopt the false and misleading story. The officers agreed to cover up the unlawful use of force on inmate R.T.
Morris knew that the officers’ use of force should be reported to TDOC authorities, but he did not report the incident, fill out any paperwork, or instruct any of the other officers to take those steps. Instead, when a junior correctional officer asked Morris if he needed to fill out any paperwork, Morris falsely claimed that it would be handled and there was no need to do anything.
With today’s guilty plea, Morris admitted that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 371 when he conspired to cover up the beating of R.T. and that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b) (3) when he knowingly encouraged correctional officers to provide investigators with false and misleading information. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy offense is five years imprisonment and 20 years imprisonment for the obstruction offense.
Previously, former TDOC Correctional Officers Nathaniel Griffin, Tanner Penwell, Carl Spurlin, Jr., Cadie McAlister, and Jonathan York entered guilty pleas for criminal offenses arising out of the assault of inmate R.T. Morris is the sixth and final defendant to enter a guilty plea.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
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Shiprock man pleads guilty to murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Tavor Tom, a resident of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court today to the second-degree murder of a tribal member.
In the plea agreement, Tom admitted to committing this offense on July 1, 2019, in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation. Tom repeatedly stabbed the victim in her home. After the murder, Tom stole the victim’s car and fled the scene, eventually crashing into a fence on the side of a highway. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tom faces up to life in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle is prosecuting the case.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty in Federal Court in Maryland for Robbing Nine Banks over Four MonthsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Fletcher M. Dorsett, Jr., age 52, pleaded guilty today to bank robbery, in connection with nine bank robberies and attempted robberies committed while on escape status from a halfway house and after his release, while he was on supervised release for a previous federal bank robbery conviction.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Edward Jackson of the Annapolis Police Department; Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Chief Peter Newsham of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, Dorsett was previously convicted of federal bank robbery charges and sentenced to 96 months of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In May of 2019, Dorsett was placed at a halfway house to serve the final portion of his sentence, in an effort to segue from the Bureau of Prisons to life in the community. On July 25, 2019, Dorsett did not return to the halfway house and was placed in escape status. Dorsett was subsequently arrested on a warrant relating to that escape on August 9, 2019, and held at Piedmont Regional Jail in Virginia until he was released on September 24, 2019.Dorsett admitted that he robbed a bank in Baltimore on July 29, 2019, while he was on escape status. After his arrest and release on September 24, 2019, Dorsett continued to rob banks in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Prince Georges County, and Washington, D.C., and attempted to rob two other banks. In all of these bank robberies, Dorsett used a note that threatened that he had a gun, and stole a total of more than $14,000.
Specifically, on July 29, 2019, while on escape status, Dorsett robbed a bank in the 5000 block of Sinclair Lane in Baltimore. Between September 26 and October 28, 2019, Dorsett robbed a bank in the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C.; banks on North Calvert Street and West Baltimore Street in Baltimore; a bank on Bay Bridge Road in Annapolis; and banks on Campbell Boulevard and Honeygo Boulevard in Nottingham, Maryland. On September 25 and 26, 2019, Dorsett attempted to rob a bank in the 9300 block of Lanham Severn Road in Lanham, Maryland and a bank in the 400 block of North Capitol Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C. As Dorsett left the bank on Honeygo Boulevard in Nottingham on October 28, 2019, an off-duty police officer who happened to be in the bank pursued and detained him until on-duty Baltimore County Police Officers arrived and arrested him.
Dorsett agreed to be interviewed by law enforcement and admitted to robbing the nine above-referenced banks in Maryland and Washington, DC. Dorsett also identified himself in various bank surveillance images captured during the robberies.
Dorsett and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Dorsett will be sentenced to 150 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, and the Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Annapolis, Prince George’s County and Metropolitan Police Departments for their work in the investigation and thanked the State’s Attorneys for Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and Anne Arundel County, and the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the federal case in Maryland.
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Serial Ammunition Thief Sentenced to Serve in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, MICHAEL LEE OLIVER, 33, of Lawton, was sentenced to serve nine months in federal prison for illegally possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony crime stemming from his serial theft of ammunition from local retail stores, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
On March 17, 2020, Oliver was arrested for stealing 16 boxes of ammunition, or more than 700 rounds of ammunition, from a local sporting goods store. On August 5, 2020, Oliver pled guilty to shoplifting ammunition multiple times a week from various sporting goods locations.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Robin J. Cauthron sentenced Oliver to serve nine months in federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition after a prior felony conviction. Judge Cauthron also imposed a three year term of supervised release following Oliver’s release from prison.
This case is the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Wilson D. McGarry prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for more information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Purdue Pharma L.P. Pleads Guilty to Federal Felonies Relating to the Sale and Marketing of Prescription OpioidsRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – Opioid company Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) pleaded guilty today in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, to conspiracies to defraud the United States and to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.
United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Christina Nolan, stated: “I am proud of my office’s contribution to this investigation, leading to Purdue’s guilty plea in New Jersey to Count Three of the Information, charging Purdue with conspiring with an electronic medical records company to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. As today’s felony guilty pleas demonstrate, Purdue put opioid profits ahead of people and corrupted the sacred doctor-patient relationship. We hope the company’s guilty plea sends a message that the Justice Department will not allow big pharma and big tech to engage in illegal profit-generating schemes that interfere with sound medicine. We hope, also, that this guilty plea will bring some sense of justice to those who have suffered from opioid addictions involving oxycodone and some vindication for families and loved ones of those who did not survive such addiction.”
Purdue pleaded guilty to an Information charging it with three felony offenses: one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo will schedule sentencing at a later date.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont led the investigation of Purdue’s unlawful conduct underlying Count Three of the Information, a charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. The Vermont investigation revealed that, from April 2016 through December 2016, Purdue made nearly $1 million in payments to Practice Fusion, Inc., an electronic health records company, in exchange for Practice Fusion installing a prompt in its software intending to cause doctors to refer, recommend, and arrange for the ordering of Purdue’s extended release opioid products – OxyContin, Butrans, and Hysingla. The Chairman of Purdue’s Board of Directors, Robert S. Miller, admitted today in federal court that one purpose of the software prompt was to increase Purdue’s extended release opioid sales and that it knew it was unlawful to provide remuneration in exchange for arranging for, or recommending, such prescriptions. Purdue Chairman Miller further admitted Purdue was in fact guilty of conspiring with Practice Fusion to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. At the conclusion of today’s change of plea hearing, Judge Arleo adjudged Purdue guilty of all three felonies charged by the Department of Justice in an Information filed this week. U.S. Attorney Nolan commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Drescher and Owen Foster and healthcare fraud investigator George Thabault for their hard and groundbreaking work to secure this historic conviction and to hold accountable a big pharma company that contributed to the opioid addiction crisis in the United States through its unlawful marketing. Purdue’s guilty plea marks the first time in history that a pharmaceutical company has been found guilty in connection with a relationship with an electronic health records company.
As part of today’s guilty plea, Purdue also admitted to conduct underlying Counts One and Two, which were investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch. That investigation revealed that, from May 2007 through at least March 2017, Purdue conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful function of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Purdue represented to the DEA that it maintained an effective anti-diversion program when, in fact, Purdue continued to market its opioid products to more than 100 health care providers whom the company had good reason to believe were diverting opioids and by reporting misleading information to the DEA to boost Purdue’s manufacturing quotas. The misleading information comprised prescription data that included prescriptions written by doctors that Purdue had good reason to believe were engaged in diversion. The conspiracy also involved aiding and abetting violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by facilitating the dispensing of its opioid products, including OxyContin, without a legitimate medical purpose, and thus without lawful prescriptions. Purdue also admitted it conspired to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, between June 2009 and March 2017, by making payments to two doctors through Purdue’s physician speaker program to induce those doctors to write more prescriptions for Purdue’s opioid products.
Under terms of the plea agreement, Purdue agreed to the imposition of the largest penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, including a criminal fine of $3.544 billion and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. For the $2 billion forfeiture, the company will pay $225 million following the entry of a judgment of conviction in accordance with the Plea Agreement. Purdue has also agreed to a civil settlement that provides the United States with an allowed, unsubordinated, general unsecured bankruptcy claim for recovery of $2.8 billion to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act.
The criminal and civil resolutions, which were announced on October 21, 2020, do not include the criminal release of any individuals, including members of the Sackler family, nor are any of the company’s executives or employees receiving civil releases.
On November 17, 2020, the bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York approved the financial terms of the global resolution with the company. The resolution includes the condition that the company cease to operate in its current form and instead emerge from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the American public. The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs.
The global resolution does not resolve claims that states may have against Purdue or members of the Sackler family, nor does it impede the debtors’ or other third parties’ ability to recover any fraudulent transfers.
The criminal investigations leading to Purdue’s guilty plea were conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Vermont and New Jersey, the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and the FBI’s Washington, D.C., and Newark Field Offices, with assistance by DEA.
Appearing on behalf of the United States at today’s hearing in federal District Court in New Jersey were Assistant United States Attorneys J. Stephen Ferketic and Sean Sherman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Assistant United States Attorney Owen C.J. Foster of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, and Trial Attorney Gabriel Scannapieco, of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch. Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher investigated and prosecuted Count Three of the Information together with AUSA Foster.
Prince George’s County Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for 2019 Oxon Hill Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland -- U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Saleem Abdul Muhammad, age 55, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bank robbery.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to Muhammad’s guilty plea and court documents, on July 15, 2019, Muhammad entered a bank in Oxon Hill, Maryland, approached the teller’s window, and stated “Give me my money.” The victim teller advised Muhammad that he needed to provide his identification and debit card to withdraw money. Muhammad became agitated and stated, “Give me the money, this is a robbery, I will shoot everyone out here.” Fearing for her safety, the victim complied and provided Muhammad with $202 in cash with a GPS tracking device hidden inside. Muhammad fled on foot. The GPS tracker led officers to a fast food restaurant located in the same shopping center as the bank. The officers apprehended Muhammad and, after a review of surveillance footage showing Muhammad throwing something in the trash, recovered the GPS tracking device from the trash can. The $202 in cash was found on Muhammad’s person.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in these investigations. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Morgan and Burden Walker, who are prosecuting the case.
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Peabody Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Peabody man pleaded guilty today in connection with over a dozen armed robberies throughout greater Boston.
Luis Cintron, 41, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. He also pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2021. In March 2018, Cintron was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.
Cintron was involved in the robbery of 15 convenience stores in the greater Boston area between Dec. 28, 2017 and Feb. 15, 2018. During each of the robberies, which occurred in East Boston, Chelsea, Lynn, Winthrop, Peabody, and Everett, two robbers entered the store wearing masks and wielding a firearm. During a Jan. 8, 2018, robbery in Lynn, one of the robbers fired a gun at a clerk who had followed the robbers out of the store.
Each charge of interfering with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of 28 grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $8 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty; Peabody Police Chief Thomas M. Griffin; and Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Richardson of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Owner of Connecticut Meat Supplier Who Fabricated E. Coli Test Results is SentencedRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MEMET BEQIRI, also known as Matt Beqiri, 33, of Tolland, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to two years of probation for fabricating E. coli test results at his meat processing business. Judge Thompson also ordered Beqiri to pay a $15,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Beqiri is the owner and general manager of New England Meat Packing, LLC, located in Stafford Springs, a federally inspected business engaged in the slaughtering, processing, selling and transporting of meat and meat food products for human consumption. Pursuant to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan developed and implemented by New England Meat Packing to comply with regulatory requirements, the company is required to perform one generic E. coli carcass swab for every 300 animals slaughtered and to periodically collect ground beef samples for E. coli testing.
Between November 3, 2016 and September 9, 2017, Beqiri authorized the preparation and submission in the company’s Lab Sample Report binder, which the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reviews, a total of 36 documents relating to 52 separate carcass swabs and ground beef samples on behalf of New England Meat Packing. The 36 documents were each on the letterhead of a certified laboratory that tests food product samples to ensure safety and wholesomeness and signed by the laboratory director. The documents stated that the required E. coli testing of samples submitted by New England Meat Packing had been conducted and completed, and that all 52 samples tested negative for E. coli. In fact, none of the 52 carcass swabs and samples had been submitted or tested by the identified laboratory, or any other laboratory, and the 36 documents were fraudulently prepared using laboratory letterhead obtained from previous testing that New England Meat Packing had conducted with that laboratory.
During the investigation of this matter, Beqiri admitted to an investigator with USDA’s FSIS that the documents were fraudulent, and that his business did not collect and submit the samples to the certified laboratory because he did not correlate the potential impact on food safety with his sampling program and wanted to create the appearance he was compliant with all USDA HACCP testing requirements.
There have been no known instances of illnesses reported by anyone who consumed the meat in any of the states where the meat was distributed.
On August 20, 2019, Beqiri pleaded guilty to one count of making and using a false document and aiding and abetting.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Investigations, Enforcement and Audit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.
Outside Facilitator in Prison Corruption Scheme Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Former Correctional Officers and Inmates at Jessup Correctional InstitutionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Trinesse Butts, age 37, of Parkville, Maryland, to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy at the Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI). The conspiracy included former correctional officers, inmates, and outside “facilitators,” like Butts, who paid bribes to correctional officers to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, and cell phones into the prison. The sentence was imposed on November 23, 2020.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert Green, of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
JCI was a maximum-security prison that housed approximately 1,800 male inmates, with approximately 423 Correctional Officers (COs).
According to her plea agreement, from at least 2017 until her arrest earlier this year, Trinesse Butts was romantically involved with a JCI inmate. While her boyfriend was an inmate, Butts conspired with JCI COs, inmates, and other outside facilitators to smuggle contraband into JCI, including narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, and cell phones, in order to enrich themselves and protect and expand their criminal operation. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, COs accepted or agreed to accept payments from facilitators and/or inmates or engaged in sexual relations with inmates in exchange for smuggling contraband into JCI. Inmates acted as both wholesalers and retailers of contraband and in the process made profits that far exceeded the profits that could be made by selling similar drugs on the street. For example, conspirator inmates could purchase Suboxone strips for approximately $3 each and sell them inside JCI for approximately $50 each, or for a profit of more than 1,000 percent.
As detailed in her plea agreement, Butts conspired with a JCI CO, her inmate boyfriend, and others to smuggle controlled substances, including Suboxone and K2, into JCI, then distribute the contraband to other inmates. As part of the conspiracy, Butts made bribe payments to the CO and others. In addition, Butts managed financial accounts used to collect the profits from the smuggling operation. For example, Butts’ inmate boyfriend would routinely provide her with his customers’ reloadable prepaid debit card account numbers and instruct Butts to load their payments into accounts that Butts managed.
Three other co-defendants have pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Eleven co-defendants are still facing charges.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the JCI investigation and have been full partners in this investigation.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Burden H. Walker and Lauren E. Perry, who are prosecuting the case.
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Opioid Manufacturer Purdue Pharma Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Kickback ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) pleaded guilty today in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, to conspiracies to defraud the United States and violate the anti-kickback statute.
Purdue pleaded guilty to an information charging it with three felony offenses: one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
“The abuse and diversion of prescription opioids has contributed to a national tragedy of addiction and deaths, in addition to those caused by illicit street opioids,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Today’s guilty pleas to three felony charges send a strong message to the pharmaceutical industry that illegal behavior will have serious consequences. Further, today’s convictions underscore the department’s commitment to its multi-pronged strategy for defeating the opioid crisis.”
“Purdue admitted that it marketed and sold its dangerous opioid products to healthcare providers, even though it had reason to believe those providers were diverting them to abusers,” said Rachael A. Honig, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. “The company lied to the Drug Enforcement Administration about steps it had taken to prevent such diversion, fraudulently increasing the amount of its products it was permitted to sell. Purdue also paid kickbacks to providers to encourage them to prescribe even more of its products.”
“As today's plea to felony charges shows, Purdue put opioid profits ahead of people and corrupted the sacred doctor-patient relationship,” said Christina Nolan, U.S Attorney for the District of Vermont. “We hope the company's guilty plea sends a message that the Justice Department will not allow big pharma and big tech to engage in illegal profit-generating schemes that interfere with sound medicine. We hope, also, that this guilty plea will bring some sense of justice to those who have suffered from opioid addictions involving oxycodone and some vindication for families and loved ones of those who did not survive such addiction."
"This case makes clear that no company, including Purdue Pharma, whose actions harm the health and safety of the American public, is beyond the reach of law enforcement,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. “The opioid epidemic continues to spread across the United States impacting countless Americans and harming communities. Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI is committed to investigating and holding criminals accountable for the roles they play in fueling this crisis.”
As part of today’s guilty plea, Purdue admitted that from May 2007 through at least March 2017, it conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful function of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Purdue represented to the DEA that it maintained an effective anti-diversion program when, in fact, Purdue continued to market its opioid products to more than 100 health care providers whom the company had good reason to believe were diverting opioids. Purdue also reported misleading information to the DEA to boost Purdue’s manufacturing quotas. The misleading information comprised prescription data that included prescriptions written by doctors that Purdue had good reason to believe were engaged in diversion. The conspiracy also involved aiding and abetting violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by facilitating the dispensing of its opioid products, including OxyContin, without a legitimate medical purpose, and thus without lawful prescriptions.
Purdue also admitted it conspired to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Between June 2009 and March 2017, Purdue made payments to two doctors through Purdue’s doctor speaker program to induce those doctors to write more prescriptions of Purdue’s opioid products. Also, from April 2016 through December 2016, Purdue made payments to Practice Fusion Inc., an electronic health records company, in exchange for referring, recommending, and arranging for the ordering of Purdue’s extended release opioid products – OxyContin, Butrans, and Hysingla.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Purdue agreed to the imposition of the largest penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, including a criminal fine of $3.544 billion and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. For the $2 billion forfeiture, the company will pay $225 million within three business days following the entry of a judgment of conviction in accordance with the Plea Agreement. The department is willing to credit the value conferred by the company to state and local governments under the department’s anti-piling on and coordination policy if certain conditions are met.
Purdue has also agreed to a civil settlement that provides the United States with an allowed, unsubordinated, general unsecured bankruptcy claim for recovery of $2.8 billion to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act. Separately, the Sackler family has agreed to pay $225 million in damages to resolve its civil False Claims Act liability.
The criminal and civil resolutions, which were announced on Oct. 21, 2020, do not include the criminal release of any individuals, including members of the Sackler family, nor are any of the company’s executives or employees receiving civil releases.
On Nov. 17, 2020, the bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York approved the financial terms of the global resolution with the company. The resolution includes the condition that the company cease to operate in its current form and instead emerge from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the American public. The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs. Based on the value that would be conferred to state and local governments through the PBC, the department is willing to credit up to $1.775 billion against the agreed $2 billion forfeiture amount. The department looks forward to working with the creditor groups in the bankruptcy in charting the path forward for this PBC to best accomplish public health goals.
The global resolution does not resolve claims that states may have against Purdue or members of the Sackler family, nor does it impede the debtors’ or other third parties’ ability to recover any fraudulent transfers.
Except to the extent of Purdue’s admissions as part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability in the civil matters.
Opioid Manufacturer Purdue Pharma Admits Guilt in Fraud and Kickback ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) today admitted its guilt in conspiracies to defraud the United States, violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Department of Justice announced.
Purdue pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging it with one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
“Purdue admitted that it marketed and sold its dangerous opioid products to healthcare providers, even though it had reason to believe those providers were diverting them to abusers,” Attorney for the United States Rachael A. Honig, District of New Jersey, said. “The company lied to the Drug Enforcement Administration about steps it had taken to prevent such diversion, fraudulently increasing the amount of its products it was permitted to sell. Purdue also paid kickbacks to providers to encourage them to prescribe even more of its products.”
“The abuse and diversion of prescription opioids has contributed to a national tragedy of addiction and deaths, in addition to those caused by illicit street opioids,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Today’s guilty pleas to three felony charges send a strong message to the pharmaceutical industry that illegal behavior will have serious consequences. Further, today’s convictions underscore the Department’s commitment to its multi-pronged strategy for defeating the opioid crisis.”
“As today's plea to felony charges shows, Purdue put opioid profits ahead of people and corrupted the sacred doctor-patient relationship,” Christina Nolan, U.S Attorney for the District of Vermont, said. “We hope the company's guilty plea sends a message that the Justice Department will not allow big pharma and big tech to engage in illegal profit-generating schemes that interfere with sound medicine. We hope, also, that this guilty plea will bring some sense of justice to those who have suffered from opioid addictions involving oxycodone and some vindication for families and loved ones of those who did not survive such addiction."
“This case makes clear that no company, including Purdue Pharma, whose actions harm the health and safety of the American public, is beyond the reach of law enforcement,” Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division said. “The opioid epidemic continues to spread across the United States impacting countless Americans and harming communities. Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI is committed to investigating and holding criminals accountable for the roles they play in fueling this crisis.”
As part of today’s guilty plea, Purdue admitted that from May 2007 through at least March 2017, it conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful function of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Purdue represented to the DEA that it maintained an effective anti-diversion program when, in fact, Purdue continued to market its opioid products to more than 100 health care providers whom the company had good reason to believe were diverting opioids. Purdue also reported misleading information to the DEA to boost Purdue’s manufacturing quotas. The misleading information comprised prescription data that included prescriptions written by doctors that Purdue had good reason to believe were engaged in diversion. The conspiracy also involved aiding and abetting violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by facilitating the dispensing of its opioid products, including OxyContin, without a legitimate medical purpose, and thus without lawful prescriptions.
Purdue also admitted it conspired to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Between June 2009 and March 2017, Purdue made payments to two doctors through Purdue’s doctor speaker program to induce those doctors to write more prescriptions of Purdue’s opioid products. Also, from April 2016 through December 2016, Purdue made payments to Practice Fusion Inc., an electronic health records company, in exchange for referring, recommending, and arranging for the ordering of Purdue’s extended release opioid products – OxyContin, Butrans, and Hysingla.
Under terms of the plea agreement, Purdue agreed to the imposition of the largest penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, including a criminal fine of $3.544 billion and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. For the $2 billion forfeiture, the company will pay $225 million within three business days following the entry of a judgment of conviction in accordance with the Plea Agreement. The Department is willing to credit the value conferred by the company to state and local governments under the Department’s anti-piling on and coordination policy if certain conditions are met.
Purdue has also agreed to a civil settlement that provides the United States with an allowed, unsubordinated, general unsecured bankruptcy claim for recovery of $2.8 billion to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act. Separately, the Sackler family will pay $225 million in damages to resolve its civil False Claims Act liability.
The criminal and civil resolutions, which were announced on Oct. 21, 2020, do not include the criminal release of any individuals, including members of the Sackler family, nor are any of the company’s executives or employees receiving civil releases.
On Nov. 17, 2020, the bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York approved the financial terms of the global resolution with the company. The resolution includes the condition that the company cease to operate in its current form and instead emerge from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the public. The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs. Based on the value that would be conferred to state and local governments through the PBC, the Department is willing to credit up to $1.775 billion against the agreed $2 billion forfeiture amount. The Department looks forward to working with the creditor groups in the bankruptcy in charting the path forward for this PBC to best accomplish public health goals.
The global resolution does not resolve claims that states may have against Purdue or members of the Sackler family, nor does it impede the debtors’ or other third parties’ ability to recover any fraudulent transfers.
Today’s announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Honig; Deputy Attorney General Rosen; Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division Clark; and U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont Nolan. The criminal investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of New Jersey and Vermont, the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and the FBI’s Washington, D.C., and Newark Field Offices, with assistance by DEA. The civil settlements were handled by the Fraud Section of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of New Jersey and Vermont, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of General Counsel and Office of Counsel to the Inspector General; the Defense Health Agency; and the Office of Personnel Management. The Purdue bankruptcy matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Corporate/Finance Section.
The government is represented in the District of New Jersey by Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Nicholas Grippo, Chief of the Opioids Unit Melissa Wangenheim, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit Lee M. Cortes Jr., and Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Stephen Ferketic, Sean Sherman, Marihug P. Cedeño and Nicole Mastropieri.
Except to the extent of Purdue’s admissions as part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability in the civil matters.
North Carolina Sport Supplement Company and Its Owner Plead Guilty to Unlawful Distribution of Steroid-like DrugsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Virginia – A North Carolina resident, and his sport supplement company, pleaded guilty today to a felony charge relating to the introduction of unapproved new drugs into interstate commerce, Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar announced.
Brian Michael Parks, 47, of Apex, North Carolina, and MedFitRX, Inc, now known as MedFit Sarmacuticals Inc., a sport supplement company based in Cary, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia to one count of distributing unapproved new drugs with the intent to mislead and defraud the FDA and consumers.
Parks admitted that from approximately June 2017 to September 2019 he and his company unlawfully distributed Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (“SARMs”) and other substances that the FDA has not approved, including Ostarine (MK-2866), Ligandrol (LGD-4033), and Testolone (RAD-140). SARMs are synthetic chemicals designed to mimic the effects of testosterone and other anabolic steroids. The FDA has long warned against the use of SARMs like those found in MedFit products, including stating in a 2017 warning letter to another firm that SARMs have been linked to life-threatening reactions including liver toxicity, and have the potential to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In connection with his plea, Parks agreed to forfeit $1.2 million, reflecting the amount of MedFitRX products he sold across the United States through retail outlets and over the internet.
“Parks and his company put his customers’ health at risk when he unlawfully distributed drugs without their being FDA approved,” said Acting United States Attorney Bubar. “FDA regulations are integral to safeguarding consumers, and I am proud of our federal team that took on this investigation to ensure the process and the public are protected.”
“FDA enforces laws that are designed to protect the public health by ensuring, among other things, that drugs are safe and effective for their intended uses. Drugs disguised as supplements, of unknown origin and possibly toxic ingredients, that are manufactured and distributed outside the FDA’s oversight, endanger consumers,” said Assistant Commissioner for Criminal Investigations Catherine A. Hermsen. “We remain committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who mislead the public and attempt to subvert the regulatory functions of the FDA by distributing unapproved and potentially dangerous products.”
In pleading guilty, Parks also admitted that he intended to mislead and defraud the FDA and consumers by omitting ingredients on MedFitRX product labels, falsely claiming MedFitRX was licensed and registered to sell these new drugs, importing raw drug ingredients with the intent to avoid regulatory scrutiny, and misrepresenting MedFitRX products as “dietary supplements” or “sports supplements” to create the impression that they were safe and legal to use.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February 16, 2020 at 2:30pm.
Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Speare Hodges of the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. This matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
North Attleboro Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A North Attleboro man pleaded guilty today to child pornography offenses.
Nicholas Robillard, 39, pleaded guilty to one count each of distribution and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2021. Robillard was indicted in October 2019.
Robillard distributed and possessed child pornography on various dates between Oct. 16, 2018 and Feb. 14, 2019.
Based on his prior record, Robillard faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison on the charge of distribution of child pornography, and a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison on the charge of possession of child pornography. Both offenses provide for a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; David Magdycz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Nashville Woman Pleads Guilty in Heroin & Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – November 24, 2020 – A Nashville woman pleaded guilty yesterday to her involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy that pumped enormous amounts of illegal and deadly drugs into the Nashville area, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Jennifer Montejo, 32, was charged in a criminal complaint on December 12, 2019, with possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, after being arrested at a Nashville bus station a week earlier as she returned from California, after travelling to Los Angeles, days earlier. At the time of her arrest, four kilograms of a fentanyl, and a kilogram of heroin were discovered in Montejo’s luggage. Montejo, at the time, was on bond for state drug charges in Dickson County, Tennessee, which resulted from an incident in July 2019, where the Tennessee Highway Patrol stopped Montejo on Interstate 40, as part of the on-going investigation as she was travelling from California, and subsequently found approximately ¾ of a kilogram of pills containing fentanyl, about one kilogram of heroin, and three firearms.
In addition to the conspiracy, Montejo pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug crime; and money laundering.
The elaborate scheme involved several co-conspirators, including the leader of the conspiracy who orchestrated the operation from his prison cell at a state prison facility in Nashville. The scheme resulted in dozens of kilograms of illicit drugs and thousands of pills, including heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana shipped or brought into the mid-state and was carried out by the use of contraband cell phones which were unlawfully smuggled into the prison. The conspirators used WhatsApp, an encrypted communication service, to communicate about drugs, drug proceeds, firearms and violence. The incarcerated leader even offered significant monetary incentives to others to apply for employment with state or privately run prisons to aid in the illegal smuggling of contraband into the prisons. Montejo herself applied for employment as a guard with the prison in June 2019.
The scheme also involved the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico and horrific violence towards co-conspirators who failed at their mission. For instance, on November 3, 2019, a woman was found near a Nashville park whose hand had been severed because she lost $50,000 in drug proceeds which she was transporting by bus. In another instance, the leader of the conspiracy ordered another co-conspirator to cut off his own pinky finger to prove his loyalty.
In furtherance of their drug conspiracy, Montejo and others regularly carried firearms between Nashville and California and continued to distribute counterfeit roxycodone pills, even after learning that people who ingested them ended up in hospital emergency rooms.
This investigation is continuing and to date has resulted in eighteen people being charged with federal drug distribution and other offenses. Montejo will be sentenced on March 26, 2021 and the other cases are pending disposition.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations; Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; The FBI; the Tennessee Highway Patrol; the Tennessee Department of Corrections – Office of Investigations; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sunny A.M. Koshy and Brooke K. Schiferle.
Other defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Social Security Fraud, Identity Theft and Involvement in Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Jose Martin Sanchez, a/k/a Jorge Sanchez (49, Winter Garden), a Mexican national, to a total of eight years in federal prison for using a telephone to facilitate a drug felony, false representation of a Social Security number (SSN), and aggravated identity theft. After completing his sentence, he is expected to be removed to Mexico.
Sanchez had pleaded guilty to the charges on September 4, 2020.
According to his plea agreement, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies encountered Sanchez at about 2:30 a.m. on October 8, 2019, while they were conducting surveillance on a residence that was related to an ongoing methamphetamine trafficking investigation. Drug Enforcement Administration agents later questioned Sanchez about his identity and the events of those early morning hours, and Sanchez admitted that he had agreed, over the telephone, to pick up approximately seven ounces of “crystal” methamphetamine at a gas station and deliver an ounce to the residence in Rockledge. Sanchez also admitted that he had been using his brother’s name for years and said that he was a citizen of Mexico and did not have a SSN. Agents from the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General later confirmed that Sanchez had used his brother’s identity to obtain a Florida drivers license as early as 2008 and used his brother’s valid SSN to renew that license on March 6, 2017. Agents also found that Sanchez had been convicted of drug trafficking in California and Washington, had served prison sentences related to those convictions, and had served a term of supervised release in Florida, all in his brother’s name.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Social Security Administration – Office of Investigations of the Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr.
Metro East Couple Charged with $2M Extortion & Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
O’Fallon, Ill. – An O’Fallon, Illinois couple is facing a slew of federal charges tonight. Emmitt
T. Tiner and Matissia S. Holt are named in a wide-ranging, 54-count indictment that accuses the
pair of an elaborate extortion scheme, defrauding the Illinois Home Services Program, and money
laundering. Tiner is also charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, using a
false social security number, and sending threatening communications. The 53-year old Tiner was
arraigned on Monday at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis and pleaded not guilty on all
counts. Holt, 41, is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 3, 2020, at 11:30 a.m.United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The indictment describes a complex crime spree
that persisted for nearly ten years. The charges accuse Tiner of various frauds, along with an
audacious extortion scheme where he demanded payment after convincing victims that they would be
implicated in fabricated crimes.” Weinhoeft continued, “The federal, state, and local investigators
did an outstanding job collecting evidence to support such a wide array of charges, especially
during the ongoing pandemic.”According to the indictment, Tiner devised and engaged in a five-year scheme to defraud people and
businesses, particularly owners of small businesses in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and
fraudulently obtain as much money as possible from them. After receiving some money from his
victims, Tiner allegedly tried to convince them that he had engaged in some sort of criminal
activity on their behalf, such as arranging an illegal drug deal, so that he could acquire the
necessary funds to repay them. Tiner would then attempt to convince the victims that they were
accomplices to his crimes and threaten to falsely implicate them to law enforcement if they did not
give him more money. The indictment alleges that Tiner also extorted his victims by threatening to
kill or injure them and their families. From December 2015 to November 2020, Tiner allegedly
obtained more than $2,000,000 by these means.“Since the inception of the FBI, we have worked tirelessly to counter threats such as those posed
by the defendant in this investigation,” said FBI Springfield’s Special Agent in Charge, Sean
M. Cox. “Extortion of those in our communities and fraud against our citizens for the purpose of
illicit gain will not be tolerated. Mr. Tiner’s alleged crimes adversely affect our communities by
destabilizing our financial institutions, eroding public trust and causing undue financial
hardships to the people we serve. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our federal, state,
and local law enforcement partners for their many contributions to this complex investigation.”
In addition to the fraud and extortion offenses, the indictment charges both Tiner and Holt with
money laundering and conducting financial transactions with criminal proceeds. Specifically, the
indictment alleges that Tiner and Holt hid funds that Tiner obtained from his victims by depositing
those funds into bank accounts in Holt’s name. Tiner and Holt then used those funds to purchase
expensive assets, including buying a home on Knollhaven Trail in O’Fallon, purchasing a lot and
building a house on Pausch Road in O’Fallon, and buying a 2019 Cadillac Escalade and a 2020 Ford
F350 crew cab pickup truck. The United States is seeking to forfeit and sell these assets to help
make restitution to the victims.“These charges against Mr. Tiner and Ms. Holt show that with both law enforcement and financial
investigation expertise, individuals that illegally target victims and execute wide-ranging schemes
for personal financial gain, along with others who assist them, could face criminal prosecution and
lengthy prison sentences,” said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal
Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation, federal and
state law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office remain committed to protect the
integrity of the tax system and innocent victims that suffer a monetary loss.”The indictment also charges Tiner with aggravated identity theft and related federal charges for
using a social security number that belonged to another person. Tiner’s use of the other person’s
social security number allegedly caused a pawn shop in Collinsville to file a currency transaction
report that contained false information, resulting in another federal charge against Tiner.“Mr. Tiner is accused of misusing social security numbers to further his fraud scheme, undermining
the integrity of our financial system for personal gain,” said Jennifer Walker, Assistant Inspector
General for Investigations, Social Security Administration OIG. “My office will continue to work
with our federal and state law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue this type of fraud. I
want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support of this investigation and its efforts that
have led to these charges.”The 36-page indictment further charges Tiner and Holt with conducting a health care fraud scheme.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (“IDHS”) operates a program known as the Personal
Assistant program, which pays people to work as personal assistants for disabled persons. The
program, which utilizes federal Medicaid funds, has certain asset restrictions and will only pay
for work performed while the disabled individuals are present in their homes. From April 2016
through December 2019, Holt was listed as Tiner’s personal assistant. The indictment alleges that
Tiner and Holt repeatedly lied to IDHS, including falsely representing that Tiner was wheelchair
bound, failing to disclose large asset transfers, and certifying that Holt had performed work for
Tiner on several dates when Tiner was out of town at a Chicago-area casino. While Tiner was
enrolled in the program, his personal assistants, including Holt, were paid more than $150,000.“It is reprehensible when individuals cheat Medicaid by faking medical conditions and claiming
unnecessary services and equipment, especially since so many Americans with disabilities truly need
care through this program,” said Special Agent in Charge Curt L. Muller of
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Kansas City Regional
Office. “Such repulsive scams will not be tolerated. Our hardworking investigators and law
enforcement partners will work hard to ensure fraudsters are held accountable for their callous
behavior.”An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendants are
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.Each count of extortion, threatening communications, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering
carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. There is a 10-year maximum prison term for health
care fraud and conducting monetary transactions using criminal proceeds. The aggravated identity
theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison term, which must run consecutively to any other
sentence imposed. The other charges in the indictment are all punishable by up to five years in
prison. All 54 felony counts also come with a fine of up to $250,000.The investigation was conducted by agents from the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the United
States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, the Social
Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, and the Illinois State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.Massachusetts Man Charged with Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
A Sutton, Massachusetts, man was arrested and charged today with possession of child pornography.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling for the District of Massachusetts, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Magdycz of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and Sutton Police Chief Dennis J. Towle made the announcement.
Oliver Smith, 45, a citizen of Sweden and the United States, was charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. Following an initial appearance this afternoon before Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy, Smith was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 3, 2020.
According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 15, 2020, after receiving investigative information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Swedish law enforcement authorities, and conducting its own investigation, federal agents executed a search warrant at Smith’s Sutton residence and seized several devices. A preliminary forensic review of the seized devices revealed images and videos of child pornography. During an interview with federal agents, Smith admitted that he had downloaded child pornography upon his return to the United States from Sweden.
Jessica Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the District of Massachusetts' Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and the Sutton Police Department.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Robert Severance, 61, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to distributing and possessing child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 15, 2019, the Manchester Police Department (“MPD”) received a tip previously submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by the social media website Instagram. The tip reported that on June 6, 2019 a file uploaded to Instagram was identified as a Child Sexual Abuse Image. MPD investigators later determined that the Instagram account was associated with Severance, who was a registered sex offender in Manchester, New Hampshire.
MPD investigators spoke with Severance at his residence in Manchester on July 22, 2019. He voluntarily went to the MPD and consented to an interview. Severance admitted to creating the Instagram account and explained that he portrayed himself as a 15-year-old female in order to talk with other young females. He stated that he had a laptop at home and admitted to receiving thousands of pictures and/or videos of child pornography via email.
A search warrant executed at Severance’s home the following day resulted in the seizure of numerous electronic devices and other media items. Forensic review of all items seized from the defendant revealed thousands of images and over one hundred videos of child pornography.
Severance is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2021.
“Few missions of law enforcement are more important than protecting our children,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute all of those who are involved in the exploitation of children. In order to keep Granite State children safe, we will not hesitate to bring federal criminal charges against those who distribute child pornography.”
“The NH ICAC continues to remain committed in the fight against child sexual exploitation on the internet,” said Lieutenant John Peracchi, Commander of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“NH ICAC”), “The NH ICAC would like to remind parents to remain vigilant, especially during these unprecedented times with COVID-19 where the NH ICAC continues to see a rise in the number of cases reported.”
“Mr. Severance’s blatant disregard for the wellbeing of some of our most vulnerable citizens, is extremely concerning,” said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “His actions are disturbing and intolerable. Manchester police detectives dedicated a great deal of effort into this investigation and for that they should be commended. As a result of their efforts this matter has been resolved and should serve as a deterrent to others who choose to engage in such criminal behavior.”
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the NH Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Madison Felon Sentenced to 43 Months for Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Francesco Anglin, 23, Madison, Wisconsin pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 43 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
On July 17, 2019, Anglin was convicted in state court for possessing a firearm as a felon. Although he was sentenced to a year in prison, the prison sentence was stayed for three years of probation and 30 days in jail. Anglin’s probation was revoked based on this federal offense.
On November 12, 2019, Anglin was in a gun store in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, with Lydia Molina, who was attempting to purchase a Glock 43 9mm handgun for Anglin. While in the store, Anglin handled and possessed a semiautomatic rifle. Anglin also purchased an extended magazine for the Glock 43 9mm and gave Molina $20 to pay for the Glock. When Molina’s background check was delayed, Anglin returned the magazine for a cash refund.
The investigation revealed that Molina was purchasing handguns for Anglin, who would then sell them to others. Two of the handguns that Molina purchased were recovered when two felons were arrested in unrelated cases. Molina pleaded guilty to attempting to make a straw purchase and was sentenced to 2 years of probation.
In sentencing Anglin, Judge Peterson found that Anglin was providing illegal firearms to others which presented a significant danger to the community. Judge Peterson found that the facts of the case warranted a sentence greater than that recommended in the sentencing guidelines. The 43-month sentence is to run consecutively to the year in prison that Anglin served on his state revocation.
The charge against Anglin was the result of an investigation conducted by the Sun Prairie Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.
The charge against Anglin was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
MS-13 members charged with murderRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Five local members of the violent Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international street gang are set to appear in court following charges of conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 24, Jimmy Villalobos-Gomez, 23, Angel Miguel Aguilar-Ochoa, 35, Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, 23, and Marlon Miranda-Moran, 21, will appear for their arraignments and detention hearings via video before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon at 10 a.m. All are El Salvadorian nationals who illegally resided in Houston. Also charged is Franklin Trejo-Chavarria, 23, who is currently in custody in El Salvador.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment Nov. 12. All are charged with conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering.
The indictment alleges they committed a 2018 murder in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise. The victim was allegedly beaten to death with machetes in order for the defendants to further their positions in the enterprise.
If convicted, they face a potential death sentence.
The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britni Cooper and John Michael Lewis are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Julie A. Finocchiaro, Gerald Collins and Matthew Hoff from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Louisiana Woman Indicted in $4.8M Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas -- A 44-year-old Shreveport, Louisiana woman has been indicted for her role in an elder fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox.
Monica Ruiz was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, which charged her with wire fraud.
According to the indictment, Ruiz enlisted a variety of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises in a scheme to defraud an elderly victim from Bullard, Texas. Among the various misrepresentations Ruiz made in order to obtain money from the victim were the following:
- That Ruiz had been in a coma;
- That Ruiz had brain surgery;
- That Ruiz was falsely arrested and imprisoned;
- That Ruiz had bribed a judge and prosecutor;
- That Ruiz’s son died in a car accident in Pennsylvania;
- That Ruiz was in a car accident;
- That Ruiz had a kidney transplant;
- That Ruiz’s daughter was committed to a mental institution;
- That Ruiz was incarcerated; and
- That Ruiz’s grandmother died.
At times, Ruiz impersonated other people in communications with the victim. At other times, she created and used false personas in communications with the victim. Over the course of her scheme, Ruiz obtained more than $4.850 million from the victim.
If convicted, Ruiz faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In October 2017, President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law. The EAPPA’s purpose is to increase the federal government’s focus on preventing elder abuse and exploitation. Subsequently, the Department of Justice launched the Elder Justice Initiative (EJI). Through the EJI, the Department has participated in hundreds of criminal and civil enforcement actions involving misconduct that targeted vulnerable seniors. This past March, the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country. The EJI website contains useful information, including educational resources about prevalent financial scams so you can guard against them.
In August, the Eastern District of Texas announced plans to develop a new initiative, in partnership with law enforcement, to increase enforcement efforts to combat transnational elder fraud schemes and their extensive networks of associates and money mules who launder the stolen funds.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with the assistance of the Tyler Police Department and the Louisiana State Police - Gaming Enforcement Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Multistate Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Montrecus Jaworski Campbell, 40, of Ville Platte, Louisiana, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).
According to the investigation, Campbell received shipments of methamphetamine at his home in Louisiana before providing the methamphetamine to co-conspirators to distribute throughout the Southern District of Mississippi. Agents intercepted one package that contained nearly 3 kilograms of 99% pure methamphetamine.
Campbell was indicted on August 11, 2020. He will be sentenced on March 2, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. At sentencing, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life.
This case was investigated by the DEA with assistance from the Louisiana State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 47 Years for Trafficking MinorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Devin L. Ashford, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today after being found guilty by a jury of Sex Trafficking of a Minor; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion; Production of Child Pornography; and Interstate Transportation for Prostitution. Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Ashford to 564 months (47 years) in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Ashford will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
When pronouncing sentence, Chief Judge Gerrard noted that he was particularly concerned with deterrence in this case, both specific deterrence to Ashford and general deterrence, stating, “For those thinking that pimping is a lifestyle, there will be a cost for doing business.” Here that cost was forty-seven years in federal prison. Chief Judge Gerrard also specifically recognized the powerful testimony of the victims at trial, which he found to be “compelling” and “horrendous” accounts of their experiences as sex trafficking victims.
Numerous victims testified at trial that Ashford beat, starved, and pushed cocaine on them to get them to provide sexual services. Ashford recruited minors to engage in commercial sex acts so that he could get the financial proceeds from those acts. The evidence at trial showed that at least three of the minors were children who had either run away from home or were in the foster care system when Ashford targeted them for his trafficking operation. Ashford was also convicted of producing child pornography when he enticed one of his victims to send sexually explicit photos of herself.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lincoln Police Department.
Lackawanna County Man Charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on November 17, 2020, Robert Jackson, age 42, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug distribution resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Jackson knowingly and intentionally distributed a controlled substance, fentanyl, within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of a person.
The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute for drug distribution resulting in death is life imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature 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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Kenner Man Indicted on a Second Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that, on November 20, 2020, CURTIS EMILIEN, age 25 of Kenner, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count superseding indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922 and 924.
According to court documents, EMILIEN was already under federal indictment for one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm which occurred in April of 2019. This superseding indictment alleges, in addition to that offense, EMILIEN was in possession of an assault rifle in August of 2020. If convicted of the firearms offenses, EMILIEN faces a maximum term on each count of ten years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is 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. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partners: U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/project-guardian.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department, Kenner Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.
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Justice Department Files Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Village of Hinsdale, Illinois Under Fair Housing ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the Village of Hinsdale, Illinois, alleging disability discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Hinsdale has discriminated and continues to discriminate by prohibiting group homes for persons with disabilities from operating in single-family residential districts, and by failing to provide reasonable accommodations to its zoning code for such homes. The case arose when Hinsdale prohibited a group home for persons with disabilities in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction to operate and refused to consider the home’s request for an accommodation.
“Denying people access to housing because of their disabilities is not just wrong. It’s illegal,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Fair Housing Act prohibits local governments from applying their zoning laws in a manner that discriminates against persons with disabilities. The Fair Housing Act also prohibits this kind of ‘not in my backyard’ attitude towards individuals with disabilities. The Civil Rights Division will continue to enforce the Fair Housing Act vigorously so that municipalities do not erect illegal barriers that preclude group homes for residents with disabilities from operating in single-family neighborhoods.”
“Access to housing free from discrimination is a right afforded to all Americans under the Fair Housing Act,” said U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois. “This lawsuit is an example of the Department’s continuing effort to enforce anti-discrimination laws that protect those rights.”
The department’s lawsuit seeks a court order prohibiting Hinsdale from discriminating against the home at issue in this case or other group homes for persons with disabilities. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages for persons harmed by Hinsdale’s actions, as well as payment of a civil penalty.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination may call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice Department at [email protected], or submit a report online at civilrights.justice.gov.
The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct. The allegations in the complaint must be proven in court.
Home Health Agency and Former Owners to Pay $5.8 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Doctor’s Choice Home Care, Inc. and its former executives, Timothy Beach and Stuart Christensen, have agreed to pay $5.15 million to resolve allegations that the home health agency provided improper financial inducements to referring physicians through sham medical director agreements and bonuses to physicians’ spouses who were Doctor’s Choice employees, the Department of Justice announced today. Doctor’s Choice will pay $3,856,000 to settle these allegations and Beach and Christensen will each pay $647,000. Doctor’s Choice will pay an additional $675,000 to resolve separate allegations that employees pressured clinical personnel to increase the number of home visits for Medicare patients to avoid the Medicare Low Utilization Payment Adjustment that would have decreased the reimbursement Doctor’s Choice received from Medicare in the absence of these unnecessary services.
Doctor’s Choice is a home health agency based in Sarasota, Florida, with branches throughout the state. Timothy Beach and Stuart Christensen founded Doctor’s Choice and formerly served as its top executives.
“The Department of Justice will continue to hold companies and individuals accountable for the payment of illegal remuneration in any form,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Improper inducements have no place in our federal healthcare system, which relies on healthcare providers making decisions based on the healthcare needs of their patients rather than their personal financial interests.”
“Here in the Middle District of Florida we are committed to ensuring that financial motivations do not corrupt medical decision making, whether in home health care or other areas of medicine,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “Through enforcement of statutes prohibiting illegal kickbacks or improper financial arrangements with referring physicians, this Office will continue to ensure that medical decisions are not compromised.”
“Operating an illegal referral scheme and providing medically unnecessary services places patients at risk and jeopardizes millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael McPherson. “This settlement highlights the FBI’s commitment to protect the integrity of the federally funded healthcare system.”
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the offering or payment of remuneration to induce or reward referrals for services paid for by federal healthcare programs. The Stark Law forbids certain medical providers, including home health agencies, from submitting claims to Medicare for services provided to patients who were referred by a physician with whom the provider has a prohibited financial relationship, unless that relationship falls within an applicable exception.
This settlement resolves allegations that Doctor’s Choice, Beach, and Christensen violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law by entering into sham medical director agreements with physicians as a means of providing remuneration for referrals, and also violated the Stark Law by providing bonuses to employees based on referrals to Doctor’s Choice by the employees’ physician spouses. In addition, the agreement resolves allegations that Doctor’s Choice provided unnecessary services to Medicare patients in order to increase the number of skilled service visits provided during a home health episode to avoid the Low Utilization Payment Adjustment which otherwise would have decreased Doctor’s Choice Medicare reimbursement. This adjustment is triggered when a home health patient has a treatment episode consisting of less than five skilled service visits and results in the provider receiving a standardized per visit payment rather than the higher payment for a full home health episode.
The allegations resolved in this settlement were originally brought in two lawsuits filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act; one case was filed by Corina Herbold and the second case was filed by Sara Billings, Misty Sykes, and Marina Eschoyez-Quiroga, all of whom are former employees of Doctor’s Choice. The Act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. Ms. Billings, Ms. Sykes, and Ms. Eschoyez-Quiroga will jointly receive a share of approximately $145,000 arising from the Government’s recovery for the Low Utilization Payment Adjustment allegations. Ms. Herbold’s share has not yet been determined.
The government’s intervention in these matters illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Harden in the Middle District of Florida.
The cases are captioned United States ex rel. Herbold v. Doctor’s Choice Home Care Inc., et al., No. 8:15- cv-01044 (M.D. Fla.) and United States ex rel. Billings, Sykes, and Eschoyez-Quiroga v. Doctor’s Choice Home Care Inc., No. 8:16-cv-3112 (M.D. Fla.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Hartford Felon Admits Possessing Loaded Handgun While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAKEEM GRANT, 32, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and while he was on supervised release following a prior federal conviction for the same offense.
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 2017, Grant was convicted in state court of possession of a pistol without a permit. On April 23, 2018, Hartford Police arrested Grant after he was found in possession of a loaded .40 caliber handgun outside of nightclub that has been a hotspot for shootings and violence on Main Street in Hartford. He subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and, on March 28, 2019, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, with credit for time served, and three years of supervised release. Grant was released from federal prison approximately one month later.
On August 28, 2020, Hartford Police arrested Grant after they found him in possession of a loaded Taurus G2S .40 caliber handgun. He has been detained since his arrest.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for February 16, 2021, at which time Grant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 140 Months’ Imprisonment for Sex Trafficking by ForceRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on November 23, 2020, Terrance Hawkins, age 28, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 140 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo for sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Hawkins was a principal in a sex trafficking operation that exploited over 20 victims, including juveniles. Judge Rambo noted the seriousness of the criminal conduct when imposing his sentence. Four co-defendants in the conspiracy were previously convicted of engaging in the same conspiracy that began in Harrisburg in the fall of 2015 and continued until it was dismantled in August 2016:
- Miguel Arnold, age 33, of Harrisburg, was the leader of the group and was convicted of conspiracy to commit and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute heroin, and was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. The judge noted Arnold’s leadership and the violence he used in the scheme as reasons for the sentence;
- Tevin Bynoe, age 27, of Harrisburg, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment;
- Joshua Guity-Nunez, age 31, of Harrisburg, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment; and
- Emonie Murphy, age 23, of Harrisburg, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.
As a part of their scheme, they rented hotel rooms and posted “escort” advertisements and photographs on backpage.com, a website that the FBI has since seized and is no longer operational. The traffickers would frequently solicit women to engage in prostitution by lying to them about the services that they would be expected to perform. They would also target victims who were vulnerable by virtue of their age, financial insecurity, or drug addiction. At least three victims of the conspiracy were minors, one as young as 14 years old. They would take the majority of the money made during the course of the prostitution business, and distribute drugs to the women, including heroin. They coerced the sex trafficking victims through fraud, physical abuse, deprivation of heroin to addicted victims, and threats of violence.
The FBI coordinated the investigation and was aided by law enforcement agencies in the Harrisburg area. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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Greensburg Man Charged with Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Tommy Lee Horner, 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from around December 2019 to around January 2020, Horner conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
For Horner’s offense, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney David Lew is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Kiskiminetas Township Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Freeport Resident Sentenced for Accessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Freeport man was sentenced today in federal court for accessing the internet with intent to view child pornography, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante sentenced George Royle V, 46, to 32 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Royle was convicted in January 2020 following a three-day jury trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, in July 2015, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Royle’s Portland home. Agents seized a laptop computer under the warrant. A forensic analysis of the laptop showed that Royle had been accessing internet websites containing child pornography images with the intent to view them. He also had been using peer-to-peer file-sharing software to seek out child pornography.
HSI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case.
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Former Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Employee and Local Woman Charged in a Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that SONJA DYSON EVANS, 58, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and SHAWANDA DOVE, 51, of Amite, Louisiana were charged on November 23, 2020, in a bill of information with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 1952(a)(3) and 2, use of an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity.
According to the bill of information, at the time of the offense, EVANS was employed by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office as a Criminal Records Division Supervisor. From January 2016 through January 2017, both EVANS and DOVE used cell phones to carry out a bribery scheme. EVANS solicited and accepted bribe money from DOVE in exchange for fraudulent bonds used for the release of incarcerated persons. If convicted, both women face a maximum penalty of five (5) years incarceration, a $250,000 fine, a three (3) year term of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00.
An information is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Knight is in charge of the prosecution.
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Former D.C. Government Employee Sentenced to 12 Months and a Day in Prison for Fraud Scheme that Cost Government More Than $880,000Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eugenia Rapp, 51, of Woodbridge, Virginia, a former D.C. government employee, was sentenced today to serve one year and a day in prison for defrauding the District of Columbia’s Department of Disability Services out of more than $880,000.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin; James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office, Criminal Division; Aaron R. Jordan, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Department of Education; and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
In June 2019, Rapp pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.
From approximately 2008 through December 2016, Rapp worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the District of Columbia’s Department of Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (“DCRSA”). The DCRSA Vocational Rehabilitation program provides vocational rehabilitation benefits, like college tuition, to qualified individuals with disabilities to help them prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Individuals must be D.C. residents to be eligible for the benefits.
From 2012 through 2016, Rapp conspired with others to defraud the D.C. government by having benefits awarded to individuals who weren’t eligible to receive them. In her role as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, Rapp was responsible for determining whether an individual was eligible to receive the benefits. Notwithstanding D.C. government policy regarding conflicts of interest, Rapp served as the vocational rehabilitation counselor for more than 20 individuals whom she described as being related to her. She knew these individuals were not eligible to receive benefits, but ensured that she was assigned to be their vocational rehabilitation counselor, so she could process and approve their applications. She also altered lease agreements and instructed individuals to get D.C. identification cards to show proof of D.C. residency even though they did not live in the District. As a result, the D.C. government awarded vocational rehabilitation benefits totaling approximately $834,536 to Rapp’s family members and friends.
Rapp also fraudulently awarded vocational rehabilitation benefits to an additional five individuals with whom she had no relationship. Those five individuals attended a nursing school in Florida whose president was Cleophat Tanis. In December 2019, Tanis, 53, of Naples, Florida, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, for his role in Rapp’s scheme.
Towards the end of 2013, after one of Rapp’s family members wanted to attend the Florida nursing school, Rapp worked with Tanis to get the school added as an approved vendor with the D.C. government. During that process, Tanis told Rapp that his school was struggling financially and asked her to use her position to help pay tuition for students at his school. Tanis knew that students had to be D.C. residents in order to be eligible to receive benefits, but worked with Rapp to get $47,895 in benefits awarded to five students at his school who were not D.C. residents and who had no familial relationship to Rapp. In exchange, Tanis provided one of Rapp’s relatives with a full scholarship to attend his school. Rapp also asked Tanis to provide money to that relative, which he did.
In March 2020, the Honorable Trevor N. McFadden sentenced Tanis to one month of imprisonment and seven months of home detention for his role in the scheme. He also ordered Tanis to pay $47,895 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
Today, Judge McFadden sentenced Rapp to one year and one day of imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release. He also ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $882,491.
In announcing today’s sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Sherwin, Special Agent in Charge Dawson, Assistant Inspector General Jordan, and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia’s Office of Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Mariela Andrade; former Paralegal Specialists Brittany Phillips and Jessica Mundi; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman, who prosecuted the case.
Former Cincinnati City Council president sentenced to prison for honest services wire fraud through briberyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Former Cincinnati City Council president pro tem Tamaya Dennard, 41, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 18 months in prison for accepting $15,000 in bribe money she sought and accepted as payment in exchange for her vote on a proposal before council.
“Dennard chose to enrich herself at the expense of the public,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers said. “In doing so, she violated the public’s trust in her and also undermined our democratic values and institutions. She also earned herself time in federal prison.”
Dennard pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of honest services wire fraud.
According to court documents, in August 2019, Dennard contacted someone she knew who had business before the Cincinnati City Council and sought money, including by sending the individual a text message saying, “If you are willing to meet with me, I’m sure that I will be able to help you.” Dennard received $10,000 on September 9, 2019 and $5,000 in cash about two weeks later in exchange for promising to provide and providing favorable official action.
Her sentence includes a $15,000 money judgment against her and three years of supervised release following imprisonment. Dennard was ordered to report to prison in March 2021.
“When public officials engage in corruption, trust in government is eroded and the entire community suffers,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman. “The FBI will continue to root out corruption and hold public officials accountable for their unlawful actions.”
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Singer are representing the United States in this case.
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Five MS-13 Members Charged with MurderRead the Press Release
Five local members of the violent Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international street gang are set to appear in court following charges of conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas.
Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 24; Jimmy Villalobos-Gomez, 23; Angel Miguel Aguilar-Ochoa, 35; Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, 23; and Marlon Miranda-Moran, 21, appeared for their arraignments and detention hearings via video before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon. All are El Salvadorian nationals who illegally resided in Houston, Texas. Also charged is Franklin Trejo-Chavarria, 23, who is currently in custody serving a sentence in El Salvador for charges there.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment Nov. 12. All are charged with conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering.
The indictment alleges the defendants committed a 2018 murder in furtherance of the MS-13 enterprise.
The FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Julie A. Finocchiaro, Gerald Collins and Matthew Hoff from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britni Cooper and John Michael Lewis are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Five Defendants Plead Guilty in $300 Million Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty pleas of five additional defendants for their roles in a $300 million telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and other vulnerable victims. STACEY LEIGH PERSONS, 34, PATRECIA NICHOLE SHINN, 33, LEEANN GARCIA, 26, PETRA JINETTE LABOY, 42, and ANGEL WILSON, 49, were indicted on October 27, 2020, and pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in U.S. District Court earlier today.
STACEY LEIGH PERSONS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud before Senior Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to her guilty plea and documents filed with the court, from January 2010 through February 2020, PERSONS owned and operated General Subscription Services (“GSS”) and Amerimag Services LLC (“Amerimag”), two Minnesota-based companies involved in fraudulent magazine sales. PERSONS and her companies ran a telemarketing call center in Fridley, Minnesota. As part of the scheme, PERSONS obtained lists of consumers who had active magazine subscriptions through other companies. PERSONS and her co-conspirators knew that many of the consumers on these lists were elderly or otherwise susceptible to fraudulent and deceptive sales tactics. At PERSONS’ direction, her sales employees called the people on these lists and, through lies and misrepresentations, signed them up for expensive magazine subscriptions or falsely claimed to renew victim-consumer’s existing magazine subscription at a reduced cost. In reality, GSS and Amerimag often had no existing relationship with the victim-consumers and the telemarketers were not calling about an existing magazine subscription. Instead, the telemarketers were calling to defraud the victim-consumers by tricking them into unwittingly signing up for entirely new magazine subscriptions. PERSONS, GSS, and Amerimag defrauded thousands of victims and amassed approximately $6,894,439 from victims as a result of this fraudulent scheme. As part of her guilty plea, PERSONS agreed to pay $6,894,439.00 in restitution to all identified victims in this and related cases.
PATRECIA NICHOLE SHINN and LEEANN GARCIA pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud before Senior Judge Paul A. Magnuson in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. SHINN and GARCIA worked as telemarketers for GSS and Amerimag. At PERSONS’ direction, SHINN and GARCIA made calls to victim-consumers using fraudulent scripts. SHINN and GARCIA knew that many of the consumers on these lists were elderly or otherwise susceptible to fraudulent and deceptive sales tactics. SHINN and GARCIA, using a series of knowing and deliberate lies and misrepresentations, signed the victim-consumers up for expensive magazine subscriptions or falsely claimed to be calling with an offer to renew the victim-consumer’s existing magazine subscription, often at a reduced cost. As part of their guilty pleas, SHINN and GARCIA agreed to pay $50,000 and $15,000, respectively, in restitution to all identified victims in this and related cases.
PETRA JINETTE LABOY pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud before Senior Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to LABOY’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, from January 2011 to February 2020, LABOY worked as a sales manager and telemarketer for several fraudulent magazine companies in south Florida, including MO Management LLC, Preferred Media Source Inc., Preferred Media Solutions, American Readers Service, Atlantic Media Source, North American Direct Service, Inc., and North America’s Readers Choice (the “fraudulent companies”). These fraudulent companies were owned by MICHAEL OELRICH, who pleaded guilty to mail fraud on July 2, 2020, and were operated on behalf of co-defendant RUSSELL RAHM. In her role, LABOY worked out of an office in Cape Coral, Florida, and used fraudulent sales scripts to defraud elderly victim-consumers out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. LABOY was eventually promoted to sales manager. As a sales manager, LABOY would oversee and train other telemarketers to commit the fraud, using the fraudulent scripts. The companies fraudulently obtained more than $72 million from victims over the period in which LABOY worked for the companies. As part of her guilty plea, LABOY agreed to pay $50,000 in restitution to all identified victims in this and related cases.
ANGEL WILSON pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud before Senior Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From 2007 through 2010 and 2017 and 2020, WILSON worked as a telemarketer for Online Reading Club Inc., a Mississippi company that also conducted business under the names Readers Pros and Online Reading Pros. (collectively, “Readers Pros”). The companies were owned by co-defendant DANIEL MATHIAS. The companies ran a telemarketing call center in Oxford, Mississippi. Readers Pros employed a similar fraud scheme that also targeted victim-consumers who were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. Using scripts provided by MATHIAS, WILSON called the vulnerable victim-consumers on the lists and, through a series of knowing and deliberate lies and misrepresentations, defrauded them. WILSON falsely claimed that the victim-consumers owed a large outstanding balance for existing magazine subscriptions and fraudulently offered to pay off that balance in exchange for a one-time payment of $507. In reality, the victim-consumers did not have any existing subscriptions with Readers Pros, did not owe Readers Pros any outstanding balance, and Readers Pros did not have the ability to cancel the victim-consumers ongoing magazine subscriptions. Readers Pros fraudulently obtained more than $1.6 million from victim-consumers during the period in which WILSON worked for the company. As part of her guilty plea, WILSON agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution to all identified victims in this and related cases.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additional assistance was provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, and Melinda A. Williams are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
STACEY LEIGH PERSONS, 34
Andover, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 1 count
PATRECIA NICHOLE SHINN, 33
Cambridge, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 1 count
LEEANN GARCIA, 26
Cambridge, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 1 count
PETRA JINETTE LABOY, 42
Cape Coral, Fl.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 1 count
ANGEL WILSON, 42
Oxford, Miss.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600