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Wednesday 18 November 2020
Hooksett Man Pleads Guilty to Computer Hacking OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Wayne Kenney, 31, of Hooksett, pleaded guilty in federal court to unauthorized access to a computer and damage to protected computers, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in early 2015, Kenney was arrested by a police officer with the Auburn Police Department (hereafter referred to as “John Doe 1” to protect his identity) for possession of heroin, for which he received a suspended sentence and was required to attend drug counseling sessions at the Farnum Center, an addiction treatment center located in Manchester. Thereafter, Kenney engaged in a retributive course of action that involved hacking into various computers of the Auburn Police Department, the Town Offices of Auburn, and the Farnum Center.
From February 2015 through July 2015, Kenney hacked into Auburn Police Department and Town of Auburn computers and deployed malicious “keylogging” software that he created, and stole employees’ log-in credentials. He then hacked into, deleted files from, and defaced employees’ online accounts. In addition, Kenney deployed malicious software that caused pop up messages to appear that stated “I pray for the death of [John Doe 1].”
Also according to court documents, on or about July 1, 2015, Kenney hacked into the website for the Farnum Center and took control of the site. He disabled a link that would have provided website visitors access to information about alcohol and drug treatment assistance. He also changed their 24-hour emergency drug hotline phone number so that anyone calling for help would be re-routed to a number associated with adult entertainment services and would be unable to reach the Farnum Center’s emergency services.
Kenney is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2, 2021.
“The defendant’s vindictive scheme damaged the operations of the Town of Auburn and its Police Department and also impeded individuals from accessing emergency substance abuse treatment services,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Computer hacking schemes like this are serious offenses that have real victims and serious consequences. We will work closely with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute computer hackers whose actions target the residents of the Granite State.”
“With the stroke of a few keys, Wayne Kenney Jr. orchestrated a series of cyberattacks on the town of Auburn, New Hampshire, targeting, among others, a police officer who once arrested him. He also hacked into and defaced the website for the substance abuse center that treated him for his heroin addiction. By pleading guilty today, he has finally accepted responsibility for his vindictive crimes,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “But no matter how clever hackers like him think they are, they should know the FBI will stop at nothing to impose risks and consequences on the perpetrators behind these criminal acts.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. MacDonald of the District of New Hampshire. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold H. Huftalen previously worked on this matter.
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Harrison County man admits to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Christopher Monroe, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted today to a methamphetamine charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Monroe, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine.” Monroe admitted to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal” and “ice,” in Harrison County in December 2019.
Monroe at least 10 years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Grand jury indicts Northeast Missouri City Clerk for her role in stealing city moneyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – A federal grand jury indicted Tracey Ray, on November 5, 2020. The 48-year-old Center, Missouri resident is charged with wire fraud and federal program theft. Ray was arrested on November 17, 2020 and had her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge David D. Noce on November 18, 2020.
According to the indictment, Center is a city located in Ralls County, in northeast Missouri. Ray was the City Clerk of Center, Missouri. In her position, Ray was responsible for collecting and receipting all monies received by the city, paying the bills for the city and had full access to the city’s several bank accounts. Ray was authorized to sign checks on the city’s bank accounts. She received and reconciled the monthly bank statements on those accounts. She was also responsible for posting the city’s financial transactions to its computerized accounting system and preparing financial reports for the Board of Aldermen.
Beginning in or about January, 2015 and continuing through on or about July 3, 2019, Ray engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money from Center, Missouri in an approximate amount of $317,325.59, by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.
As part of her fraudulent scheme, on approximately 30 occasions, Ray used Center bank funds to pay for charges on her personal GM credit card. Center funds used to pay for personal charges on Ray’s GM credit card totaled approximately $206,342.53, and were for such personal expenses as retail vendor charges, entertainment, lodging and travel, hair salons, restaurants and grocery store charges. These personal credit card payments were made either by Ray’s issuance of Center bank checks, or by Ray’s wire transfer of Center bank funds. Further, through these unauthorized credit card charges and payments, Ray earned and spent an additional approximately $1,911.00 in reward funds. On approximately 39 occasions, defendant Ray issued Center bank account checks in the approximate total amount of $62,537.76 to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to pay for the premiums on a family health insurance policy, as well as on life and disability policies for her and her family members.
As a further part of her scheme, Ray issued five additional Center payroll checks to herself in the total amount of approximately $3,580.00, depositing each of those checks into her own personal bank account. On 49 occasions, Ray issued checks on one or more City bank accounts, in the total approximate amount of $35,546.85, to directly pay for the purchases of personal items and services unrelated to the legitimate business and operations of Center. Ray issued these Center checks to make personal purchases at a number of retailers, such as Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Hobby Lobby, as well as to pay for her personal residential mortgage and personal insurance policies. She also issued one or more of these Center checks to her family members, unrelated to the legitimate business and operations of Center. Further, Ray, as Center’s City Clerk, received cash payments from Center residents for various city charges, but Ray failed to deposit those cash receipts into the appropriate Center bank account. Instead, Ray used those cash proceeds, in the total amount of approximately $7,407.45, for her own personal use, unrelated to the legitimate business and operations of Center without the knowledge and authority of Center and its Board of Aldermen.
In order to conceal her scheme from Center and its Board of Aldermen, Ray falsified the cash balances of one or more Center bank accounts on financial reports she prepared for monthly Board of Aldermen meetings. Ray also prepared false and incomplete lists of bills to be paid which she submitted for monthly Board of Aldermen meetings. Further, Ray falsified internal Center financial accounting records to make it appear that the unauthorized checks and wires she issued from Center bank accounts were made to legitimate third party vendors who had purportedly provided actual services or materials to Center.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. The charge of federal program theft carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Missouri State Auditor’s Office and Ralls County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case.
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Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Wausau Man Charged with Fraud Scheme Involving Illegal Distribution of Prescription Drugs
Kenneth Zipperer, 54, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, dispensing prescription drugs without a license, and money laundering as part of a scheme involving an unlicensed pharmacy and the distribution of misbranded prescription drugs. The 26-count indictment alleges that Zipperer, who worked as an insurance broker selling Medicare supplement health insurance policies to individuals age 65 or older, imported prescription drugs from India that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States and sold them to his health insurance clients.
The indictment alleges that Zipperer was not licensed to dispense or prescribe prescription drugs, and that he used his company staff, computers, and office space to order prescription drugs from India, break down bulk shipments into quantities for individual clients, store the drug inventory, issue invoices for payment, and deposit drug customer checks into the company’s business bank account. The indictment further alleges that Zipperer requested his prescription drug customers to pay him in cash to avoid creating a paper trail of the financial transactions associated with his underground pharmacy’s operations and that he conducted financial transactions knowing they represented the proceeds of unlawful activity. Finally, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of $231,315 representing the proceeds of the alleged mail and wire fraud, and $227,116 representing the amount of money involved in the money laundering offenses.
If convicted, Zipperer faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the 5 mail fraud charges, 10 wire fraud charges, and the 9 money laundering charges. The charge of dispensing prescription drugs without a license has a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison.
The charges against Zipperer are the result of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber is handling the prosecution.
Man Charged with Interfering with Railroad Conductor
Timothy Thomas, 31, Portland, Oregon, is charged with interfering with a railroad conductor. The indictment alleges that on November 7, 2020, Thomas interfered with an Amtrak railroad conductor while the conductor was employed in dispatching, operating, controlling, and maintaining on-track equipment, and that Thomas did so with a reckless disregard for the safety of human life.
If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Amtrak Police Department, Canadian Pacific Police Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma is handling the prosecution.
La Crosse Man Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Fentanyl & Cocaine
Jesse J. Stringer, 33, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is charged with 2 counts of distributing fentanyl, 1 count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and 1 count of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that Stringer distributed fentanyl on September 23 and September 24, 2020. It further alleges that on October 13, 2020, he possessed cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution.
If convicted, Stringer faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the distribution charges and the cocaine charge. The charge alleging the possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution has a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.
The charges against Stringer are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse and Campbell Police Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Hudson Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine
Jacob A. Willox, 27, Hudson, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the methamphetamine on May 5, 2020.
If convicted, Willox faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Franklin County Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Troy Lyons, age 33, of Hogansburg, New York, was sentenced today to serve 90 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, based on his conviction for membership in a federal drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department, and Investigator C.J. Tonkin, Coordinator for the Oswego County Drug Task Force.
As part of his guilty plea, Lyons admitted to conspiring with two other individuals to transport approximately fifty (50) kilograms of cocaine from California to Canada. Lyons arranged for a courier to transport the cocaine from California to Syracuse, New York, and for another courier to transport the cocaine from Syracuse to Canada. Law enforcement officers seized the drugs on February 10, 2018, when one of the couriers was stopped in Syracuse
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Border Patrol, the Oswego County Drug Task Force, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Oswego Police Department, the Oneida Reservation Police and the Syracuse Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Commandeur.
Four Members of Los Angeles-Based Fraud Ring Indicted for COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Four individuals were charged in an indictment for their alleged participation in a scheme to submit at least 35 fraudulent loan applications seeking over $5.6 million in COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California made the announcement.
Richard Ayvazyan, 42, Marietta Terabelian, 36, Artur Ayvazyan, 40, and Tamara Dadyan, 39, all of Encino, California, were charged in an indictment filed in the Central District of California with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and six counts of wire fraud. Richard Ayvazyan was also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired together, and with others, as part of a disaster relief loan fraud ring based in and around Los Angeles, California. The defendants used fake, stolen, or synthetic identities, including “Iuliia Zhadko” and “Viktoria Kauichko,” to submit fraudulent EIDL and PPP loan applications to the SBA and federally-insured financial institutions. The defendants also submitted fraudulent EIDL and PPP loan applications in their own names, using fake or fictitious businesses. The defendants also submitted false and fictitious documents in support of some of the EIDL and PPP loan applications, including fake identity documents, tax documents and payroll records.
The indictment further alleges that once the SBA and federally-insured financial institutions approved the fraudulent EIDL and PPP loans, the defendants directed them to deposit the loan proceeds into bank accounts that the defendants controlled. The defendants then used the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds for their own personal benefit, including to purchase luxury homes. Among other things, the defendants used disaster relief loan funds as down payments on two residential properties purchased for $1,000,000 and $3,250,000, respectively. Use of disaster relief loan proceeds for such purposes is expressly prohibited under the PPP and EIDL program.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 29. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigation, and SBA – Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julian L. André of the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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.
Four Harrisburg Men Charged with Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Taashaun Mansfield, age 22, Johnny Quinones, age 27, Michael Windham, age 20, and Antonio Godbolt, age 34, all of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, were indicted on November 4, 2020, by a federal grand jury on firearms charges. The case was unsealed following the arrest of the defendants.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Mansfield, Quinones, Windham, and Godbolt engaged in a conspiracy between July 2020 and August 2020, where Mansfield purchased firearms by falsifying records that he was the true purchaser of such firearm. It is further alleged that after false statements were made to federally licensed firearms dealers, the guns were then transferred to convicted felons, Quinones and Godbolt, or those with charges pending, Windham.
“At this precise moment of increased gun violence in the city of Harrisburg, our strong partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement have never been more important,” said U.S. Attorney Freed. “Collectively, we will not waver from our mission of taking illegal guns off the streets and prosecuting those who involved in their purchase and trafficking.”
“ATF has a zero-tolerance policy for straw purchasers who acquire firearms from a federal firearms licensee for someone who is either ineligible to purchase a firearm or wishes to conceal his/her identity,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “ATF remains committed to removing those offenders who put these guns in the hands of criminals. We will continue to work with our partners at all levels to make our communities safer.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrisburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio 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 is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; 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.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Fort Myers Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti has sentenced Jeffrey Alan Dinkel (73, Fort Myers) to six years and six months in federal prison for possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Dinkel had pleaded guilty on May 20, 2019.
According to court documents, Dinkel had purchased a membership to several child pornography websites. During the execution of a search warrant at his residence, agents recovered his computer and floppy disks containing images and videos depicting children being sexually abused. Dinkel admitted to the agents that he had joined numerous websites that hosted images and videos of children being forced to perform sexual acts.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former felon imprisoned again for failing to report as sex offender in TexasRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE – A 60-year-old resident of Brownsville has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of failure to register as a sex offender as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Albert Frank Garza pleaded guilty Sept. 2.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Garza to serve 24 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to serve two years on supervised released following completion of his prison term, during which he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also again have to register as a sex offender.
Garza is a twice-convicted sex offender. He was convicted of first degree sexual abuse with a child under the age of 12 in 1980 and again just three years later for indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14. He received respective sentences of 48 months and 10 years in prison.
As a sex offender, he is required under SORNA to register as a sex offender every year. If he relocates, he is required to register in the new jurisdiction within three days after arrival.
Previously residing in Colorado, he had registered as a sex offender until May 30, 2014. At that time, he signed and dated an annual form acknowledging a follow-up date of June 1, 2015. However, he failed to register in 2015 as required.
In fact, he never registered as a sex offender again, and his whereabouts were unknown until 2019.
On Sep. 24, 2019, local authorities arrested Garza for failure to identify and possession of a controlled substance. At the time of his arrest, Garza used the fictitious name of Martin Infante Garcia and indicated he was homeless. A street outreach advocate at a local homeless shelter recognized his photo and identified him as someone who visited the shelter daily for breakfast from April 2019 through June 2019.
Although Garza resided in Texas from at least April 2019 until the date of his arrest in September, he failed to register within the required three days of his arrival.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikki Piquette prosecuted the case.
Former Sailor Sentenced to Prison for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former U.S. Navy Seabee was sentenced today to 109 months in prison for transporting images of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents, Martin Nieves Huizar, 37, of Arlington, was previously assigned to the U.S. Secretary of State's overseas travel communications detail. In January, upon returning from official government travel from Germany to Washington Dulles International Airport, Huizar was caught by Customs and Border Patrol Officers transporting images of child sexual abuse on his phones and tablet computer. Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations then interviewed Huizar, who confessed to knowingly downloading and transporting images of child sexual abuse internationally.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Huizar had also engaged in online grooming of a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina via the social media platform, Instagram. While overseas on official government travel, Huizar made plans to meet up with the minor girl for sex shortly after his arrival back to the United States. Due to this investigation and prosecution, that meeting did not occur. Court records also revealed that Huizar previously had targeted other minor girls.
In addition to Huizar’s prison sentence, he will also be required to pay $40,100 in fines, pay $10,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense, serve a 10-year term of supervised release, and register as a sex offender upon release from the Bureau of Prisons.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ambassador Matthew Klimow, Acting Inspector General for the Department of State; and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service assisted in the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-152.
Former Resident of Canastota Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – John Flinn, age 26, formerly of Canastota, New York, pled guilty yesterday to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York, Special Agent in Charge Kevin D. Sibley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, Florida, and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2021, at which time Flinn faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Flinn also will be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
As part of his guilty plea, Flinn admitted that he took sexually explicit images of an approximately six-year-old victim on three different occasions. Flinn also admitted that he possessed other images of child pornography, including images of toddlers, and images depicting the sadistic and masochistic sexual abuse of children.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (Syracuse, New York and Tampa, Florida), and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Former Raytheon Engineer Sentenced for Exporting Sensitive Military Related Technology to ChinaRead the Press Release
Today, Wei Sun, 49, a Chinese national and naturalized citizen of the United States, was sentenced to 38 months in prison by District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez. Sun previously pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
Sun was employed in Tucson for 10 years as an electrical engineer with Raytheon Missiles and Defense. Raytheon Missiles and Defense develops and produces missile systems for use by the United States military. During his employment with the company, Sun had access to information directly related to defense-related technology. Some of this defense technical information constituted what is defined as “defense articles,” which are controlled and prohibited from export without a license under the AECA and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (the ITAR).
From December 2018 to January 2019, Sun traveled from the United States to China on a personal trip. On that trip, Sun brought along unclassified technical information in his company-issued computer, including data associated with an advanced missile guidance system that was controlled and regulated under the AECA and the ITAR. Despite having been trained to handle these materials correctly, Sun knowingly transported the information to China without an export license in violation of the AECA and the ITAR.
“Sun was a highly skilled engineer entrusted with sensitive missile technology that he knew he could not legally transfer to hostile hands,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers. “Nevertheless, he delivered that controlled technology to China. Today’s sentence should stand as a warning to others who might be tempted similarly to put the nation’s security at risk.”
“The United States relies on private contractors to help build our unparalleled defense technology,” said United States Attorney Michael Bailey. “People who try to expose that technology to hostile foreign powers should know that prison awaits them. The close cooperation of the victim defense contractor and the dedication of the FBI made this case a success.”
“This isn’t about a laptop mistakenly taken on a trip, this was the illegal export of U.S. missile technology to China,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler, Jr. of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. “The FBI will continue to partner with companies to protect their information and our national security while bringing criminals such as Wei Sun to justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigated this matter with the assistance of Raytheon Missiles and Defense. Beverly K. Anderson and Nicole P. Savel, Assistant United States Attorneys, and William Mackie from the National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, handled the prosecution.
Former Pharmacy and Marketing Company Sales Representative Admits Role in Compounded Prescription Drug SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former pharmaceutical and marketing company sales representative today admitted his role in a conspiracy to defraud a New Jersey state health benefits program, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Joshua Darstek, 38, of Freehold, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Compounding is a practice in which a pharmacist or physician combines, mixes, or alters ingredients of a drug to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient. The Food and Drug Administration does not approve compounded drugs and thus does not verify the safety, potency, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality of compounded drugs. Generally, a physician may prescribe compounded drugs when an FDA-approved drug does not meet the health needs of a particular patient.
Between May 2014 and January 2016, Darstek worked as a sales representative on behalf of two compounding pharmacies and a marketing company – referred to in the superseding information as the “Compounding Companies.” He marketed and sold compounded drugs to physicians, including pain, scar, and wound creams and certain supplements and vitamins. The Compounding Companies paid Darstek based on a percentage of the reimbursement payments they received from health care benefit programs for each prescription that he referred to the compounding pharmacies. Darstek participated in a conspiracy that recruited patients, many of whom had prescription drug coverage under the New Jersey School Employee’s Health Benefits Program, to submit medically unnecessary prescriptions for compounded drugs to the pharmacies. Darstek caused physicians to write prescriptions for individuals with whom they did not have any interaction for purposes of determining that a prescription for a compounded drug was medically necessary.
The conspiracy to commit health care fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. As part of his plea agreement, Darstek must forfeit $148,500 in criminal proceeds and pay restitution of at least $594,639. Sentencing is scheduled for March 23.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bernard J. Cooney, Acting Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Unit.
Former Office Manager of Boston Dental Practice Sentenced for Bank Fraud, Identity Theft and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former office manager of a Boston-based dental practice was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for bank fraud and tax fraud stemming from her embezzlement of funds from her former employer.
Yuliya Vaysglus, a/k/a Julia Vaysglus, 36, formerly of Hopkinton and now residing in Campbell, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In June 2020, Vaysglus pleaded guilty to eight counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and three counts of filing false tax returns.
From 2009 until she was terminated in February 2015, Vaysglus was the office manager of a Boston-area dental practice where her duties included tracking client invoices, depositing insurance payments into the practice’s bank account, and recording those deposits for accounting purposes. Between 2009 and December 2014, Vaysglus embezzled more than $348,000 from the dental practice by diverting to herself at least 276 checks from various insurance companies for services rendered to patients. As part of the scheme, Vaysglus made the checks payable to herself, forged the signature of the dental firm’s owner on the checks, and deposited them into her bank account. Vaysglus failed to report the embezzled funds on her federal tax returns.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Boston; and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara M. Bloom and Victor A. Wild of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Oconee HR Director, Guilty of Aggravated Identity Theft in Public Corruption Scheme, is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – The former Oconee County human resources director, who admitted to stealing taxpayer money in a complicated paycheck scheme, has been sentenced to prison for her crime and will have to pay restitution, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Sherry Turner-Seila, 52, of Panama City Beach, Florida, formerly of Watkinsville, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal to 24 months in prison after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. In addition, Turner-Seila was ordered to pay $118,451.80 in restitution to Oconee County. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Turner-Selia is paying a serious penalty for abusing the public’s trust by stealing taxpayer money,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “Investigating and prosecuting public corruption is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Public officials found abusing their power will be held accountable. I want to thank the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for investigating this case.”
"Turner-Seila's choice to abuse her position of trust not only hurt taxpayers and co-workers, it eroded the public's trust in government," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Now she must pay a serious penalty, which hopefully sends a message to the public that her actions will not be tolerated or go unpunished."
“Our partnership with the FBI and federal prosecutors brought this case to a quick resolution. We are very pleased with their hard work and resolve to bring this felon to justice,” said Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry.
Turner-Seila was employed as the Human Resources Director for Oconee County. As such, she was one of the few employees with access to the County’s payroll system, which transferred funds directly from the county bank account to the bank accounts of county employees. From July 6, 2016 to July 5, 2019, Turner-Seila concocted a scheme where she would use that access to temporarily change a former employee’s direct deposit information to her own personal bank account’s direct deposit information. In all, Turner-Seila stole $118,451.80 from Oconee County taxpayers.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Leary prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Former O.C. Physician Assistant Admits to Knowingly Writing Opioid Prescriptions to Dealers Who Later Sold the Drugs on the StreetRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A former physician assistant at a Fountain Valley medical clinic pleaded guilty today to a federal charge that he conspired to issue and sell prescriptions for oxycodone, a highly addictive opioid painkiller, without a medical purpose, to drug dealers, knowing the drugs would be sold on the street.
Raif Wadie Iskander, 54, formerly of Ladera Ranch, but who now resides in Ennis, Montana, pleaded guilty via videoconference to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
According to his plea agreement, from 2018 to April 2019, Iskander, who was a licensed physician assistant in California, wrote prescriptions for “patients” he had never met or examined, including an undercover law enforcement officer. Iskander provided to drug dealers multiple paper prescriptions that he had signed, but with the patient names left blank, to be filled in by drug dealers later.
In exchange for cash, Iskander wrote fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions for co-defendants Johnny Gilbert Alvarez, 40, a.k.a. “M.J.,” of Santa Ana, and Adam Anton Roggero, 37, of Costa Mesa, who sold the prescribed drugs on the street as well as to an undercover officer, according to the plea agreement.
Iskander admitted he knew that the oxycodone filled from the prescriptions would be sold to drug customers who were not using the oxycodone for legitimate medical purposes and whom defendant had never met or examined.
United States District Judge James V. Selna has scheduled an April 26, 2021 sentencing hearing, at which time Iskander will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Roggero pleaded guilty on October 20 to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. Alvarez is scheduled to go to trial on March 9, 2021.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Costa Mesa Police Department, and the California Department of Health Care Services.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
Former Lawyer and CPA Charged with Tax Crimes in Addition to Defrauding Elderly InvestorsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of a superseding indictment charging Phillip Roy Wasserman (63, Sarasota) and Kenneth Murray Rossman (62, Bradenton) with filing false income tax returns, in addition to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and substantive counts of wire fraud and mail fraud. The superseding indictment also charges Wasserman with tax evasion. If convicted, Wasserman and Rossman each face a maximum penalty of 20 years on each of the conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud counts, and up to 3 years’ imprisonment on each count of filing a false income tax return. In addition, Wasserman faces a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment for the tax evasion count. The superseding indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking a money judgment of at least $6.3 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the
superseding indictment , Wasserman, a former lawyer and licensed insurance agent, and Rossman, a Florida certified public accountant and licensed insurance agent, made false and fraudulent misrepresentations and concealed material information in order to convince elderly victim-investors to put their money into Wasserman’s new insurance venture, “FastLife.” Some victims were persuaded to liquidate traditional investments, such as annuities, and/or to borrow funds against existing life insurance policies to generate cash to invest in the venture. These victims were not told about surrender fees and other costs associated with the liquidations, and Rossman prepared income tax returns for victim-investors in a manner designed to conceal negative personal tax consequences that resulted from the liquidations from both the victim-investors and the Internal Revenue Service. Wasserman paid Rossman a percentage of the victim-investors’ money as compensation for his role in the conspiracy. Wasserman also used the victim-investors’ funds to make payments both to earlier victim-investors in the FastLife venture and to victim-investors in his earlier hedge fund and real estate fund ventures. Wasserman spent a significant amount of the victim-investors’ money to finance a lavish lifestyle that included luxury residences, high-end vehicles, jet skis, jewelry, entertainment, gambling, retail shopping, home improvements, personal insurance, and many other expenses, for his personal benefit and the benefit of his family members.The superseding indictment also alleges that Wasserman took numerous steps to evade payment of more than $900,000 in taxes and filed false individual and corporate income tax returns. It also alleges that Rossman filed false income tax returns for himself and for victim-investors.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke and Colin P. McDonell.
Former Commonwealth Edison Executives and Consultants Charged with Conspiring to Corruptly Influence and Reward State of Illinois OfficialRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Former Commonwealth Edison executives, including the former Chief Executive Officer, conspired with outside consultants to corruptly influence and reward a high-level elected official for the State of Illinois to assist with the passage of legislation favorable to the electric utility company, according to an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The indictment charges four individuals with bribery conspiracy, bribery, and willfully falsifying ComEd books and records:
- MICHAEL McCLAIN, 73, of Quincy, Ill. McClain worked as a lobbyist and/or consultant for ComEd after serving in the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1970s and early 1980s.
- ANNE PRAMAGGIORE, 62, of Barrington, Ill. Pramaggiore was CEO of ComEd from 2012 to 2018, and later served as a senior executive at an affiliate of Exelon Corp., of which ComEd was a subsidiary.
- JOHN HOOKER, 71, of Chicago, Ill. Hooker served as ComEd’s executive vice president of legislative and external affairs from 2009 to 2012, after which he worked as an external lobbyist for ComEd.
- JAY DOHERTY, 67, of Chicago, Ill. Doherty owned Jay D. Doherty & Associates, which performed consulting services for ComEd from approximately 2011 to 2019.
Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Timothy J. Chapman, Sarah E. Streicker, Matthew L. Kutcher, and Michelle Kramer.
According to the charges, the defendants’ efforts to influence and reward the high-level elected official – identified in the indictment as “Public Official A” – began in or around 2011 and continued through in or around 2019. During that time, Public Official A controlled what measures were called for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives and exerted substantial influence over fellow lawmakers concerning legislation affecting ComEd, the indictment states. The charges allege that the defendants conspired to corruptly influence and reward Public Official A by arranging for jobs and contracts for Public Official A’s political allies and workers, even in instances where those people performed little or no work that ComEd purportedly hired them to perform. The defendants allegedly created and caused the creation of false contracts, invoices, and other books and records to disguise the true nature of some of the payments and to circumvent internal controls at ComEd.
In addition to the jobs and contracts, the indictment alleges that the defendants undertook other efforts to influence and reward Public Official A, including causing ComEd to retain a particular outside law firm favored by Public Official A and to accept into ComEd’s internship program a certain amount of students who resided in the Chicago ward associated with Public Official A. Pramaggiore and McClain also allegedly took steps to have an individual appointed to ComEd’s Board of Directors at the request of Public Official A and McClain, the indictment states.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Former Chattanooga-Area Public Claims Adjuster Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On November 10, 2020, Benjamin Reichel, 54, formerly of Ringgold, Georgia, entered a guilty plea to one count of mail fraud before United States Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Reichel admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud through his business, Loss Recovery Specialists (“LRS”), which held itself out to be a public claims adjuster licensed through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Through LRS, Reichel identified homeowners and businesses who had suffered property damage and were seeking reimbursement through their insurance policies. Reichel then solicited payments for repairs and other services, misusing his victims’ funds for personal and private gains, and improper professional expenses. Reichel agreed that the United States could present proof of losses totaling between $550,000 and $1,500,000.
The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Cleveland Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. In connection with his plea agreement, the defendant agreed to forfeit certain funds and accounts to the United States, including a home in Ringgold.
Sentencing is set for April 7, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., in United States District Court in Chattanooga. The defendant faces a term of up to 20 years in prison, potential fines of up to $250,000, and the obligation of paying restitution to his victims. Individuals and businesses who believe they may be victims of this scheme or entitled to restitution are encouraged to contact the FBI via e-mail at [email protected].
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle J. Wilson represented the United States.
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Former Big Sandy Prison Employee and Inmate Indicted for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A former Cook Supervisor at United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, Hank Williams, 56, of Weeksbury, Kentucky, was indicted on Thursday in federal court for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of money laundering, two counts of attempting to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of accepting a bribe by a public official, one count each of attempting to provide and providing contraband, and three counts of using a communication device to facilitate a felony offense.
A former Big Sandy inmate, Librado Navarette, 34, was also charged with one count of bribery of a public official and one count of possession of contraband.
The indictment alleges that, beginning in March 2016 and continuing through September 27, 2019, Williams conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspired with others to money launder. The indictment further alleges that Williams, a public official, accepted a bribe from Navarette. Williams was also indicted for aiding and abetting the use of the U.S. mail to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted jointly by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, FBI, the United States Postal Service, and the Georgetown Police Department.
William’s appearance before the United States District Court has not been scheduled. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes governing the imposition of sentences.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
— END —
Former Army Green Beret Pleads Guilty to Russian Espionage ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A former Army Green Beret pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Russian intelligence operatives to provide them with United States national defense information.
According to court documents, from December 1996 to January 2011, Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, 45, of Gainesville, a former member of the U.S. Army, conspired with agents of a Russian intelligence service. During that time, Debbins periodically visited Russia and met with Russian intelligence agents. In 1997, Debbins was assigned a code name by Russian intelligence agents and signed a statement attesting that he wanted to serve Russia.
“Debbins today acknowledged that he violated this country’s highest trust by passing sensitive national security information to the Russians,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “Debbins betrayed his oath, his country, and his Special Forces team members with the intent to harm the United States and help Russia. Debbins’s guilty plea represents another success in the Department’s continuing effort to counter the national security threat posed by our nation’s adversaries, including Russia.”
“Our country entrusted Debbins with the responsibility and training to protect it from its adversaries,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Debbins betrayed that trust and betrayed his fellow service members by conspiring to provide national defense information to Russian intelligence operatives. I would like to commend our investigative partners for their steadfast and dogged dedication to bringing Debbins to justice and holding him accountable for his crimes.”
From 1998 to 2005, Debbins served on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Army, serving in chemical units before being selected for the U.S. Army Special Forces. The Russian intelligence agents encouraged him to join and pursue a career in the Special Forces, which he did, where he served at the rank of Captain.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Debbins provided the Russian intelligence agents with information that he obtained as a member of the U.S. Army, including information about his chemical and Special Forces units. In 2008, after leaving active duty service, Debbins disclosed to the Russian intelligence agents classified information about his previous activities while deployed with the Special Forces. Debbins also provided the Russian intelligence agents with the names of, and information about, a number of his former Special Forces team members so that the agents could evaluate whether to approach the team members to see if they would cooperate with the Russian intelligence service.
“Debbins betrayed this nation and his fellow serviceman, putting Americans and our national security at risk by providing national defense information to Russia’s Intelligence Service,” said Steven M. D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Despite being entrusted to protect his colleagues and U.S. national security, he chose to abuse this trust by knowingly providing classified information to one of our most aggressive adversaries. Today’s plea is an example of the zealous pursuit of justice that the FBI and our partners stand for and work tirelessly to achieve every day.”
“President Kennedy called the Green Berets ‘a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction.’ Mr. Debbins’ actions were a symbol of betrayal, a badge of cowardice, and a mark of treachery,” said Alan E. Kohler, Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. “He pledged his allegiance to Russia, and in doing so, sold-out his country and fellow Green Berets. This case should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its investigative partners will stop at nothing to hold an individual accountable for their actions.”
Debbins is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26, 2021. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas W. Traxler and James L. Trump, and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Terwilliger and Assistant Attorney General Demers greatly appreciate the assistance of Army Counterintelligence, the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Service, and MI5.
Former Army Green Beret Pleads Guilty to Russian Espionage ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Army Green Beret pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Russian intelligence operatives to provide them with United States national defense information.
According to court documents, from December 1996 to January 2011, Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, 45, of Gainesville, a former member of the U.S. Army, conspired with agents of a Russian intelligence service. During that time, Debbins periodically visited Russia and met with Russian intelligence agents. In 1997, Debbins was assigned a code name by Russian intelligence agents and signed a statement attesting that he wanted to serve Russia.
“Our country entrusted Debbins with the responsibility and training to protect it from its adversaries,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Debbins betrayed that trust and betrayed his fellow service members by conspiring to provide national defense information to Russian intelligence operatives. I would like to commend our investigative partners for their steadfast and dogged dedication to bringing Debbins to justice and holding him accountable for his crimes.”
From 1998 to 2005, Debbins served on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Army, serving in chemical units before being selected for the U.S. Army Special Forces. The Russian intelligence agents encouraged him to join and pursue a career in the Special Forces, which he did, where he served at the rank of Captain.
“Debbins today acknowledged that he violated this country’s highest trust by passing sensitive national security information to the Russians,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “Debbins betrayed his oath, his country, and his Special Forces team members with the intent to harm the United States and help Russia. Debbins’s guilty plea represents another success in the Department’s continuing effort to counter the national security threat posed by our nation’s adversaries, including Russia.”
Over the course of the conspiracy, Debbins provided the Russian intelligence agents with information that he obtained as a member of the U.S. Army, including information about his chemical and Special Forces units. In 2008, after leaving active duty service, Debbins disclosed to the Russian intelligence agents classified information about his previous activities while deployed with the Special Forces. Debbins also provided the Russian intelligence agents with the names of, and information about, a number of his former Special Forces team members so that the agents could evaluate whether to approach the team members to see if they would cooperate with the Russian intelligence service.
“Debbins betrayed this nation and his fellow serviceman, putting Americans and our national security at risk by providing national defense information to Russia’s Intelligence Service,” said Steven M. D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Despite being entrusted to protect his colleagues and U.S. national security, he chose to abuse this trust by knowingly providing classified information to one of our most aggressive adversaries. Today’s plea is an example of the zealous pursuit of justice that the FBI and our partners stand for and work tirelessly to achieve every day.”
“President Kennedy called the Green Berets ‘a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction.’ Mr. Debbins’ actions were a symbol of betrayal, a badge of cowardice, and a mark of treachery,” said Alan E. Kohler, Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. “He pledged his allegiance to Russia, and in doing so, sold-out his country and fellow Green Berets. This case should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its investigative partners will stop at nothing to hold an individual accountable for their actions.”
Debbins is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26, 2021. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas W. Traxler and James L. Trump, and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Terwilliger and Assistant Attorney General Demers greatly appreciate the assistance of Army Counterintelligence, the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Service, and MI5.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-193.
Felon Convicted of Possessing Firearm and Ammunition Used in a Shooting in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today in the first federal criminal trial in the Eastern District of New York since the COVID-19 pandemic, a federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict against Alonzo Shipp for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in connection with a 2018 shooting in South Jamaica, Queens. The verdict followed a six-day trial before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner. When sentenced, Shipp faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.
“A convicted felon armed with a gun is a fraught combination that oftentimes results in someone getting shot and that is precisely what happened in this case,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “Today’s verdict is yet another reminder as to why this Office remains focused on prosecuting violent armed offenders who seem to think that they can shoot victims on our streets with impunity.”
“ATF’s message to violent criminals has always been and remains clear to this day. If you terrorize our communities, we will stop you, and you will serve time in federal prison. ATF is committed to working with our partners to ensure that all New Yorkers can safely walk their streets,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge DeVito.
The evidence at trial established that in the early morning hours of July 20, 2018, Shipp, also known as “Pump,” shot the victim in the abdomen. The victim collapsed two blocks away and called 911. Shipp followed the victim and stood over him, holding his gun as the victim begged for his life. While on the line with the 911 operator, the victim spoke directly to Shipp, stating: ‘I don't want to die, Pump. Please, I don't want to die, Pump.” Shipp’s gun jammed, and he fled tossing the gun in a dumpster. Later that morning, a civilian found the gun and contacted the NYPD. Police officers recovered the gun, and NYPD ballistics examiners determined that a shell casing found where the victim was shot was consistent with being fired from the gun found in the dumpster. A search of Shipp’s Facebook account and revealed a message in which he admitted to a friend that he was on the run because of the shooting at the location where the victim was found. The victim survived the shooting.
This case was brought as 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. Attorneys’ 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.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Philip Pilmar and Michael W. Gibaldi.
The Defendant:
ALONZO SHIPP
Age: 33
Richmond, VA.E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-029 (RPK)
Federal Search Warrants ExecutedRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa -- On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, federal search warrants were executed at the following locations in the Des Moines metropolitan area:
- 2000 block of Lay Street, Des Moines
- 1100 block of 21st Street, Des Moines
- 3000 block of Woodland Avenue, Des Moines
- 2400 block of Prospect Road, Des Moines
- 2200 block of Forest Avenue, Des Moines
- 1800 block of Glenbrook Drive, Des Moines
- 900 block of East Ovid Avenue, Des Moines
- 2300 block of East 39th Street, Des Moines
- 1100 block of 19th Street, Des Moines
- 100 block of Loomis Avenue, Des Moines
- 800 block of Payton Avenue, Des Moines
- 1600 block of Des Moines Street, Des Moines
- 1600 block of Hull Avenue, Des Moines
- 900 block of East Lacona Avenue, Des Moines
- 2100 block of East 13th Street, Des Moines
- 1500 block of University Avenue, Des Moines
- 2800 block of Fleur Drive, Des Moines
- 2200 block of 68th Street, Windsor Heights
- 500 block of Grandview Avenue, Des Moines
- 700 block of 13th Street, West Des Moines
- 1900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, Des Moines
- 2900 block of East 36th Street, Des Moines
- 4600 block of Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines
- 6500 block of Chaffee Road, Des Moines
- 2600 block of Northwest 165th Lane, Clive
- 500 block of Pleasant View Drive, Des Moines
- 2600 block of East Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines
- 2000 block of 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
- 1500 block of 20th Place, Des Moines
- 700 block of 27th Street, Des Moines
- 3000 block of Southeast 19th Street, Des Moines
- 6200 block of Southeast 5th Street, Des Moines
- 1500 block of 13th Street, Des Moines
- 1400 block of Merle Hay Road, Des Moines
- 3200 block of Cornell Street, Des Moines
- 1100 block of Clark Street, Des Moines
- 1000 block of 13th Street, Des Moines
- 2400 block of Hickman Road, Des Moines
- 1900 block of King Avenue, Des Moines
- 1400 block of Richmond Avenue, Des Moines
- 200 block of East Edison Avenue, Des Moines
- 600 block of 2nd Street, Waukee
- 1500 block of Greene Street, Adel
The searches at these locations were an official law enforcement action involving officers, agents, and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Des Moines Police Department (DMPD); Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE); Iowa State Patrol (ISP); Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE); Tri-County Task Force; Central Iowa Drug Task Force (CIDTF); Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force (MIDTF); Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); Homeland Security Investigations (HIS); Altoona Police Department; West Des Moines Police Department; Urbandale Police Department; Marshalltown Police Department; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; and Iowa State Fire Marshal.
Federal Grand Jury in San Antonio Indicts Self-Proclaimed Boogaloo Bois Member for Illegally Possessing a Firearm after Previously Being Committed to a Mental InstitutionRead the Press Release
In San Antonio today, a federal grand jury indicted 21-year-old Cameron Emerson Casey Rankin, a self-proclaimed Boogaloo Bois member residing in San Antonio, on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm after previously being judicially committed to a mental institution, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
On October 28, 2020, FBI agents arrested Rankin at his residence where they recovered a black semi-automatic rifle during the execution of a search warrant. He remains in federal custody at this time.
“Firearms in the hands of prohibited persons present a real danger to the law abiding residents of our community. When illegal firearms possession is combined with mental illness and violent, extremist ideologies, we have a prescription for disaster,” stated U.S. Attorney Sofer.
“Today’s indictment sends a message to those who would seek to bring violent chaos and mayhem to our communities, regardless of the ideology that motivates them,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Combs. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the public from all violent criminals.”
According to court records, Rankin illegally possessed a firearm with the capability and means to affect violence in furtherance of his beliefs. Rankin has also expressed a desire to overthrow the government, specifically, the “three letter agencies” such as ATF, FBI and IRS. Rankin attempted to purchase two long guns from a San Antonio retail outlet on March 23, 2018, but was denied the firearms transactions under the “Prohibited Category” for previously being judicially committed to a mental institution.
Court records also allege that after being warned by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that he was a prohibited person, Rankin posted pictures of himself with a firearm on social media. On May 30, 2020, Rankin and others, carrying long guns and pistols, appeared at the Alamo in downtown San Antonio to attend a protest in reaction to the death of George Floyd. The next day, Rankin posted on his Facebook account photos of himself and others carrying firearms at the protest as well as comments about his disdain for police including, “…hope they burn the precinct down” and “I’m BOOGALOO we hate police.”
Court records also reflect that on August 4, 2020, Rankin posted a “selfie” photo on his Facebook timeline showing him holding a black, semi-automatic rifle in a vertical position against his shoulder with his finger on the trigger. Rankin posted other photos which included a quote, stating, “Diligently Plotting to Take Over the World in order to Leave You Alone.”
Furthermore, on August 11, 2020, ATF agents served Rankin written notice at the Manchester, NH airport that he was prohibited from possessing firearms. The agents also provided him with copies of his mental health records. On that same day, agents seized a handgun and ammunition from inside Rankin’s luggage. Rankin threw the notice letter and mental health records in the trash before leaving the airport terminal.
Upon conviction, Rankin faces up to ten years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Sofer commended the San Antonio FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the ATF for bringing Rankin to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. Harris and Mark Roomberg are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This case falls within the purview of the Attorney General’s Task Force to Combat Violent Anti-Government Extremism. Launched in June 2020, the Task Force is dedicated to supporting the investigation and prosecution of any person or group who commits violence in the name of an anti-government ideology.
This case is also a part of Project Guardian, which is 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 ATF when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and, ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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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.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Gordonsville Man in Series of Summertime Armed Robberies of Local BusinessesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - A federal grand jury sitting in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville has indicted a Gordonsville man and charged him with federal Hobbs Act robbery charges in connection to a series of armed robberies that took place at commercial businesses in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and Stafford County in the summer of 2020. Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar, ATF Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict, Chief Ron L. Lantz of the Albemarle County Police, and RaShall M. Brackney, Police Chief for the City of Charlottesville made the announcement today.
The grand jury has charged Dominique Dejone Thurston, 22, of Gordonsville, with seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery, seven counts of using a firearm in commission of a Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that between June 2020 and September 2020, Thurston committed a series of armed, Hobbs Act robberies at commercial business in Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville and Stafford County. These robberies included the Oak Hill Market in Albemarle County, 7-Eleven on Ivy Road in the City of Charlottesville, a BP gas station convenience store in the City of Charlottesville, 7-Eleven on Greenbrier Drive in Albemarle County, Kangaroo Gas in Albemarle County, 7-Day Junior Store in the City of Charlottesville, and 7-Eleven on Boulderview Road in Albemarle County.
During each robbery, the indictment alleges Thurston brandished a firearm, pointed it at a store employee and demanded cash.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, and the Stafford County Police Department. Managing Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nina-Alice Antony are prosecuting the case for the United States
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Eustis Man Sentenced to Probation for Lacey Act ViolationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Kevan Hueftle, age 35, of Eustis, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, by United States Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson for violating the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act prohibits the trafficking in interstate commerce "tainted" (i.e., taken in violation of a law or regulation) wildlife, fish, or indigenous plants. Hueftle was convicted of one count of the illegal taking of wildlife in interstate commerce and sentenced to three years’ probation. Magistrate Judge Nelson ordered Hueftle to pay $10,000 in restitution and a $5,000 fine. As part of his probation terms, Hueftle shall not hunt, trap, guide, outfit, or otherwise assist or be present in the field with anyone engaging in those activities.
An investigation determined that Hueftle, a Hidden Hills Outfitters (HHO) employee, provided guiding and outfitting services to a New York resident upon property located west of Eustis in Frontier County, Nebraska. Hueftle previously identified a particular target white-tailed deer named “Holyfield” with the aid of electronic game cameras over-watching various bait sites upon the property. Throughout the first several days of the hunt, Hueftle placed and assisted the client hunt “Holyfield” from locations Hueftle and the client knew were within baited areas. Nebraska law prohibits hunting or taking deer within a baited area, defined as within 200 yards of any location where bait is placed for the purpose of hunting or that may serve as an attractant for big game.
The client observed “Holyfield” on several occasions during the hunt, but outside of archery shooting range. On November 11, 2016, the final day of the hunt, Hueftle provided the client with a Remington 700 .243 caliber rifle, placed the client in an elevated tree stand, and authorized the client to shoot a deer with the rifle. The client later killed the target deer with the rifle, both knowing Nebraska law prohibited hunting deer with a rifle under the authority of an archery permit. Hueftle assisted the client transporting the deer from the field, arranging to have the trophy parts converted into a taxidermy mount from a local taxidermist, and coordinating for the finished mount to be later shipped to the client’s New York residence.
The sentencing hearing today is part of the ongoing prosecution of numerous defendants related to violations committed by owners, guides, and clients of Hidden Hills Outfitters. To date, 34 defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced and ordered to pay a total of $595,202 in fines and restitution for underlying violations related to deer taken within baited areas; deer, pronghorn, and wild turkeys taken with weapons or firearms prohibited during their respective hunting seasons; deer taken during closed season hours, from the road, or without a valid permit; and mule deer taken within the Mule Deer Conservation Area.
The operation was a joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.
Eastern District of California Receives Funding to Hire Dedicated Prosecutor to Combat Cares Act Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Eastern District of California has been allocated funding to hire an Assistant U.S. Attorney for a one-year term, who will focus on prosecuting cases involving schemes to unlawfully obtain unemployment insurance benefits and related offenses through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today.
The CARES Act allocated $270 billion for supplemental federal unemployment insurance benefits. Additionally, President Donald J. Trump directed that $44 billion in federal disaster relief funds be used to provide supplemental unemployment insurance benefits to eligible claimants. The substantial increase in funding for unemployment insurance benefits unfortunately spurred a dramatic spike in unemployment insurance fraud across the country, resulting in the theft of federal funds intended to help those struggling with unemployment during the current pandemic and economic crisis.
“Initial indications are that the level of fraud in California will involve thousands of thieves and hundreds of millions of dollars of stolen taxpayer money,” U.S. Attorney Scott said. “These funds are intended to help workers struggling in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, but the fraud schemes deplete the fund and cheat the very workers the funds are intended to protect. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and stop fraud schemes like this that harm California workers.”
The U.S. Department of Justice, in close coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies, created the U.S. Department of Justice National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force. This task force is charged with investigating numerous CARES Act fraud schemes targeting the unemployment insurance programs of state workforce agencies and will work closely with United States Attorneys’ Offices to prosecute those individuals who have fraudulently diverted these funds from those struggling with unemployment.
Dominican National Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution, Firearm Possession and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Haverhill was sentenced today for fentanyl distribution and illegal firearm possession, among other charges.
Domingo Garcia Suero, 55, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 262 months in prison, eight years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,923. In May 2020, Garcia Suero pleaded guilty to five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, two counts of Social Security fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Garcia Suero was arrested and charged in December 2017.
Garcia Suero filed applications with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to renew his driver’s license and with MassHealth to receive benefits. In both applications, Garcia Suero provided a name and Social Security number belonging to a United States citizen from Puerto Rico.
On five occasions in 2017, Garcia Suero sold and possessed fentanyl for sale. During a search of Garcia Suero’s apartment following his arrest, law enforcement recovered a Colt, model Police Positive .38 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number and six rounds of .38 caliber ammunition. Garcia Suero has two prior drug trafficking convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; David Magdycz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Brian Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Tonya Perkins, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Office; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Hemani of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Participation in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Frailin Manuel Gomez-Gil, 29, a citizen of the Dominican Republic most recently residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gomez-Gil participated in a drug trafficking organization that was led by Sergio Martinez. Martinez employed numerous individuals to sell fentanyl to customers from various New England states, including New Hampshire. Gomez-Gil assisted Martinez with testing, diluting, and packaging the drugs for sale.
Gomez-Gil is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2021.
“Interstate fentanyl traffickers seek to profit by selling a deadly drug to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The successful investigation and prosecution of the Martinez organization was made possible by close cooperation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DEA, and many other law enforcement partners in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Working together, we were able to disrupt and dismantle a major drug trafficking organization that endangered the health and safety of thousands of Granite Staters.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald and Seth R. Aframe.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Department of Justice to Fund Rhode Island CARES Act Unemployment Fraud ProsecutorRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been allocated funding to hire an Assistant United States Attorney, for a one-year term, who will focus on prosecuting cases involving fraudulent schemes to unlawfully obtain unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and related offenses through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.
The CARES Act allocated $270 billion for supplemental federal UI benefits. Additionally, President Trump directed that $44 billion in federal Disaster Relief Funds be used to provide supplemental UI benefits to eligible claimants. The substantial increase in funding for UI benefits, spurred a dramatic spike in UI fraud across the country, resulting in the theft of federal funds intended to help those struggling with unemployment during the current pandemic and economic crisis.
“CARES Act unemployment benefits are a lifeline for tens of thousands of hard-working Rhode Islanders sidelined because of the pandemic,” noted United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman. “The federal government, with its many dedicated components, and with the invaluable assistance of our state and local law enforcement partners, is committed to and will spare no effort in ensuring that unemployment insurance funds not be fraudulently misdirected by scammers. The addition of a federal prosecutor to bolster our team of federal and state attorneys focused on CARES Act fraud is yet another indication of the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding accountable those who would use fraudulent means to obtain the unemployment insurance benefits intended for Rhode Islanders sidelined by the pandemic.”
In October, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island charged five individuals in a wide-ranging, ongoing joint federal and state investigation into a significant number of fraudulent unemployment insurance claims submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training ,and elsewhere, for benefits funded in part by the CARES Act.
In May, two businessmen were charged in the District of Rhode Island with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than a half-million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under CARES Act.
The U.S. Department of Justice, in close coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies, created the U.S. Department of Justice National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force. This task force is charged with investigating numerous CARES Act fraud schemes targeting the unemployment insurance programs of state workforce agencies and will work closely with United States Attorneys’ Offices to prosecute those individuals who have fraudulently diverted these funds from those struggling with unemployment.
The Department encourages the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline by phone at (1-866-720-5721) or via an online reporting form available at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster- complaint-form.
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
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Convicted Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Kevin Fuqua was sentenced to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of children, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Homeland Security Investigations (NorCal) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable James Donato, U.S. District Judge.
In pleading guilty, Fuqua, 33, of Oakland, admitted that between August 8, 2018, and January 1, 2019, he caused a minor to engage in sex in exchange for money.
“No girl’s teenage years should be spent on the streets of Oakland turning tricks to satisfy her pimp,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “Fuqua’s case demonstrates how important it is for us all to be on the lookout for child sex trafficking. Sadly, this case demonstrates that there will always be those in our community who will take advantage of minors to profit from the commercial sex trade.”
“Human trafficking, especially of minors, is a reprehensible crime and the facts of this case are truly alarming,” said Special Agent in Charge King. “Homeland Security Investigations and our dedicated law enforcement partners, including the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, will never stop our determined pursuit of anyone who thinks they can abuse and force a child into prostitution here in America or in any corner of the world. Justice was brought to bear through the vigorous prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Northern District of California Office, which led to this important sentencing. Now the victim can begin the process of recovery.”
Fuqua admitted that he prostituted the minor victim by driving her to an area in Oakland known for prostitution and dropping her off. Fuqua then monitored the minor’s location by requiring her to share cell phone location data with him. Fuqua admitted that he required the minor victim to earn $500 a night before allowing her to come in. Fuqua admitted that he knew that the victim was under 18 at the time. The government submitted documents in connection with Fuqua’s sentencing that described how Fuqua and his minor victim exchanged text messages describing his physical abuse of her. For example, the messages describe how Fuqua justified hitting and choking her to demonstrate he had control of her.
Fuqua was charged by Information on August 27, 2020, with one count of sex trafficking of children, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a)(1) and (b)(2). Fuqua pleaded guilty to the charge.
At the time of the offense, Fuqua was on supervised release for a 2014 conviction for illegally possessing a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
In addition to the prison term, Judge Donato also ordered Fuqua to a 5-year term of supervised release. A hearing to determine the amount of restitution owed to the minor victim is set for February 17, 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maya Karwande is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Ralph Banchstubbs. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the HSI and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years in Federal Prison for his Role in Lexington Home InvasionRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today that Brandon Thompson, 33, of Columbia, was sentenced to nearly 22 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the early morning hours of December 30, 2017, deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call referencing a home invasion on Maple View Drive. Upon approaching the residence, deputies noticed the door open, entered the home, and found two armed men, Brandon Thompson and his co-defendant Quintrell Morris. After detaining both Thompson and Morris, deputies located a female, who had been tied up, and her children, one of whom had called 911. The female advised that they had forced her to open a safe and give them the money from it. Deputies seized a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun from Thompson and a loaded Bushmaster AR-15 .223 caliber assault rifle from Morris. A ballistic vest was also seized from Thompson’s vehicle, which was located nearby. The investigation revealed that Thompson and Morris went to this home in an effort to rob the homeowners of proceeds from various businesses they operated.
Thompson was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon prior state convictions for armed robbery, assault with intent to kill, and carjacking. At the time of the federal offense, Thompson had just been released from state prison nine months earlier after serving a 14-year sentence.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Thompson to 262 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Co-defendant Morris previously plead guilty to his role and was sentenced to 272 months imprisonment with a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the prosecution.
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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.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Theft of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today that Joshua Aaron Spencer, 34, of Columbia, was sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee.
Evidence presented to the court showed that during the early morning hours of August 18, 2018, Spencer broke into Decker Jewelry and Pawn on Decker Boulevard in Columbia and stole 16 firearms. Evidence recovered at the scene, including DNA evidence, implicated Spencer in the crime. Three of the stolen firearms have since been recovered, one in Washington, D.C., and the other two in Richland County.
Under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Spencer faced a guidelines range of 46 to 57 months imprisonment. United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Spencer to 48 months in federal prison to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision, and $9,600 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the prosecution.
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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.
Colorado Man Convicted of Production, Transportation, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
In Pecos today, a federal jury convicted an Englewood, Colorado, resident after a three-day jury trial on six child exploitation offenses, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer of the Western District of Texas.
Alvaro Castillo Jr, 64, a retired telecommunications network engineer, was found guilty of three counts of production of child pornography; one count of attempted production of child pornography; one count of transportation of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to trial evidence, in May 2018, Castillo traveled to his native country of Guatemala, and video-recorded himself sexually abusing a 13-year-old victim who was sleeping. Evidence from that video identified Castillo as the abuser. Further evidence also revealed that Castillo possessed and transported additional images of child pornography. Law enforcement agents discovered the child pornography evidence during an October 2019 search of a recreational vehicle he was driving at the U.S. – Mexico border.
Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro of the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
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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.
Colorado Man Convicted of Production, Transportation, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
An Englewood, Colorado, resident was convicted today after a three-day jury trial on six child exploitation offenses, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer of the Western District of Texas.
Alvaro Castillo Jr, 64, a retired telecommunications network engineer, was found guilty of three counts of production of child pornography; one count of attempted production of child pornography; one count of transportation of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to trial evidence, in May 2018, Castillo traveled to his native country of Guatemala and video-recorded himself sexually abusing a 13-year-old victim who was sleeping. Evidence from that video identified Castillo as the abuser. Further evidence also revealed that Castillo possessed and transported additional images of child pornography. Law enforcement agents discovered the child pornography evidence during an October 2019 search of a recreational vehicle he was driving at the U.S.–Mexico border.
Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro of the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
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.
Clarksville Man Sentenced to Prison for PerjuryRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – November 18, 2020 – A Clarksville, Tennessee man was sentenced to federal prison today for giving false testimony during the trial of local Gangster Disciple members, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Midle District of Tennessee.
Ronald Marion Daniels II, 35, was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Daniels was indicted on two counts of perjury in August 2019, following the conclusion of the trial in April 2019 of several members of the Gangster Disciples, including Marcus Darden and Maurice Burks. Darden and Burks were both charged with criminal offenses related to the assault and murder in aid of racketeering of Malcolm Wright, a member of the rival Bloods gang, inside C-Ray’s nightclub in Clarksville, Tennessee on November 3, 2012.
“Witnesses before the Court and grand jury are sworn to provide the truth during their testimony,” said U.S. Attorney Cochran. “Testimony that deviates from the truth undermines the justice process and can have dire consequences on the integrity of the justice system. Those who lie during these proceedings should expect that we will always hold them accountable.”
During the trial, Daniels provided testimony that he did not know the identity of Brandon Hardison, aka, “Creep,” another defendant in the case. Daniels’s testimony was inconsistent with prior statements to law enforcement and sworn grand jury testimony in which Daniels had identified a photograph of Hardison, described Hardison’s appearance, and described statements Hardison had made in the parking lot of C-Ray’s nightclub prior to Wright’s murder.
In other testimony during the trial, Daniels testified under oath that he had never seen Elance Justin Lucas, aka “Mac Luke,” another trial defendant, cook powder cocaine into crack cocaine. Daniels had previously provided sworn testimony to a grand jury during which he stated that he had in fact seen Lucas cook powder cocaine on two occasions.
Darden, Burks, Lucas and others were convicted at trial. Brandon Hardison is scheduled for trial in February 2022.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Clarksville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Schrader is prosecuting this case.
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Chandler Man Sentenced to 16 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, John Michael Gregg, 36, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 16 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
On September 1, 2019, at a location within the Gila River Indian Community, Gregg shot the victim multiple times, resulting in the victim’s death. Gregg is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Gregg had previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder on September 1, 2020.
The Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-01299-PHX-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-104_Gregg###
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Camden County Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of WeaponRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man was indicted today for illegally possessing a handgun, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Maurice Isler, 36, of Lindenwold, New Jersey, was charged by indictment with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
According to the indictment:
On April 10, 2020, a witness told a police officer that Isler was in possession of a firearm. When confronted by police, Isler ran, and was caught by two police officers. They arrested Isler and found a loaded handgun in his pocket. The handgun had previously been reported stolen. As a previously convicted felon, Isler is not permitted to possess a handgun under federal law.
The count of being a felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. U.S. Attorney Carpenito also thanked the Camden County Police Department – Metro Division, under the direction of Chief Joseph D. Wysocki, for its assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden.
The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Business Owner Who Orchestrated $13 Million Fraud Upon North Carolina Medicaid Program from Las Vegas Pleads Guilty, Forfeits Private JetRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Las Vegas, Nevada resident pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft, and further agreed to forfeit the proceeds of her crimes. These proceeds included up to $13,396,921.64, a British Aerospace Bae 125-800A Aircraft, a 2017 Aston Martin DB 11 sports car; a 2016 Ford F-150 Super-Crew pickup truck; real property held in the name of Assured Healthcare Systems in Hertford County, North Carolina; real property located in Charles County, Maryland; as well as various other items of designer jewelry and luxury items seized from the defendant’s penthouse condominium in Las Vegas.
According to court documents, Latisha Harron, also known as Latisha Reese Holt, 44, originally from Eastern North Carolina, admitted to conspiring with her husband to carry out a massive fraud upon the North Carolina Medicaid Program (“NC Medicaid”) by billing the government for fictitious home health services. Harron admitted to then working with her husband to launder the proceeds of the fraud into, among other things, a private jet, luxury jewelry and clothing, and properties in Ahoskie and Rich Square, North Carolina.
According to the charges, Harron created, and was operating, Agape Healthcare Systems, Inc. (“Agape”) an alleged Medicaid home health provider, in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. As charged, to enroll Agape as a Medicaid provider, Harron fraudulently concealed her prior felony conviction for Identity Theft. In 2012, Harron moved out of North Carolina to Maryland. Despite that move, Harron continued to bill NC Medicaid as though Agape was providing home health services to North Carolina recipients.
As charged, in May of 2017, Latisha Harron moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to live with codefendant Timothy Mark Harron, and that the two were married in 2018. The indictment alleges that Timothy Harron was also a previously convicted felon, and that this fact was concealed from the NC Medicaid on enrollment documents. Harron pleaded guilty to allegations that Harron and her husband then worked together to expand the Agape fraud upon NC Medicaid, by fraudulently billing the program for more than $10 Million, just in the period between 2017 and 2019.
As charged, Harron admitted that she and her husband carried out the fraud by exploiting an eligibility tool that was entrusted only to NC Medicaid providers. Specifically, Harron and her husband searched publicly available sources, such as obituary postings on the internet by North Carolina funeral homes, to locate recently deceased North Carolinians. Harron admitted that the two would then extract from the obituary postings certain personal information for the deceased, including their name, date of birth, and date of death. Then, utilizing the extracted information, the defendants would then query the NC Medicaid eligibility tool to determine whether the deceased individual had a Medicaid Identification Number. If the deceased North Carolinian had a valid Medicaid Identification Number and was otherwise eligible for Medicaid coverage during their life, the defendants would use that individual’s identity to “back-bill” NC Medicaid, through Agape, for up to one year of fictitious home health services that were allegedly rendered prior to the death of the individual. NC Medicaid then disbursed millions to Agape, all of which flowed into accounts controlled by the Harron and her husband.
Harron admitted that she and her husband carried out the fraud via the internet from locations around the globe, including their corporate office building in Las Vegas, their penthouse condominium in Las Vegas, a corporate office in North Carolina, and from various hotels and luxury resorts in and outside of the United States.
Harron further pled guilty to laundering the proceeds of the Agape fraud into various luxury items. These expenses included a $900,000 wire for the purchase of a British Aerospace Bae 125-800A private jet, hundreds of thousands of dollars in Tiffany & Co. and Brioni clothing and jewelry, thousands of dollars on Eastern North Carolina business properties, and thousands of dollars in gym equipment.
Latisha Harron pleaded guilty to (1) Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, which carries a maximum punishment of up to 20 years in prison, (2) one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A, each of which carry a maximum punishment of not less than, nor more than, 2 years in prison consecutive to other sentences, and (5) Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h), which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Investigations Division, are all investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore is the prosecutor on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Harris represents the United States with respect to forfeiture aspects of the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00005-M.
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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.
Building Border Security Capacity in Southeast Asia:Read the Press Release
In cooperation with the U.S. Department of State, INTERPOL Washington, the United States National Central Bureau (USNCB), has implemented a new web-based platform designed to promote awareness of, and participation in, Project TERMINUS among law enforcement and border security authorities in the Southeast Asian Region.
Developed by the USNCB and funded by the State Department, Project TERMINUS makes expert technical assistance available to countries seeking to integrate access to INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents Database (SLTD) into their national border security information sharing systems to help screen against the illicit international travel of transnational criminals and terrorists.
Originally to have been presented by the USNCB during the 2020 Southeast Asian Workshop on Border Security and Law Enforcement Cooperation – which was cancelled due to the global pandemic – the U.S. content has instead been made available to participating border security authorities via a controlled access website comprised of a series of videos that provide technical and programmatic information about the TERMINUS initiative. Each video is supported by a written transcript of the speakers’ remarks, to assist partner countries in translating the content.
Featured speakers include USNCB Director Uttam Dhillon and Mr. Sam Pineda, Director of Programs in the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism. “INTERPOL Washington is pleased to continue this important collaboration with our State Department partners. This whole-of-government approach to providing assistance to Southeast Asian and African nations will contribute to the overall U.S. effort to thwart the international travel of transnational criminals,” said Dhillon.
Since 2017, U.S. capacity building efforts in the Southeast Asian region conducted under Project TERMINUS and its predecessor programs have resulted in:
- More than 70 million international passengers being screened against INTERPOL data.
- More than 680,000 identity and travel documents being automatically uploaded into INTERPOL’s SLTD database, using a computer application developed by the USNCB, and
- More than 50 air, land, and sea-port facilities now actively screening all inbound and outbound international passengers against INTERPOL’s databases.
The TERMINUS web site also provides information regarding the USNCB’s recent collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in which the USNCB-developed WISDM Uploader was installed remotely by the USNCB, enabling NIS to automatically upload more than 147,000 records of stolen and lost Nigerian travel and identity documents into the SLTD system in less than two hours.
The Project TERMINUS overview video is available here. The transcript of the video is here: project_terminus_opening_video_transcript.pdf
A component of the U.S. Department of Justice, INTERPOL Washington, the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB), is the designated United States representative to INTERPOL on behalf of the Attorney General. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Broome County Man Arrested, Charged with Traveling to Wyoming County to Attempt to Have Sex with A 13 Year-OldRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Lettieri, 33, of Harpursville, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal with enticement of a minor, and traveling to engage in illicit sexual contact. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on October 15, 2020, an investigator with the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the parent of a 13-year-old girl (Victim) who stated that on October 10, 2020, the Victim met a 33-year-old man at a park near their home with the intent of having sexual intercourse; however, sexual contact did not occur.
With permission from the parent, the investigator searched the Victim's cell phone and determined that the Victim blocked both a Facebook account and a phone number belonging to Lettieri. The investigator did not recover any messages between the Victim and the defendant, however others family members reported that the Victim deleted messages and blocked the number. The investigator recovered a call history between the two, including a call on October 10, 2020, the day the Victim met Lettieri in a park near her home. Photos of the Victim and the defendant’s face were also found on the phone. The investigator also searched Lettieri’s Facebook account and recovered conversations between the defendant, the Victim, and the Victim’s sister, which were sexual in nature. The Victim’s age was also revealed during the conversations.
If anyone has any information regarding this defendant, please call the FBI at 716-856-7800.
Lettieri made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gregory J. Rudolph, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #Brockton Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was arrested today and charged with illegally possessing a Smith & Wesson, .40 caliber pistol and ammunition.
David Dardy, 31, was indicted on one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon. Dardy will make an appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to charging documents, on or about Sept. 19, 2020, Dardy possessed a Smith & Wesson, .40 caliber pistol. The firearm was loaded with five rounds of .40 caliber “Federal 40 S&W” ammunition, five rounds of .40 caliber “Perfecta 40 S.W.” ammunition, two rounds of .40 caliber “PPU 40 S&W” ammunition and one round of .40 caliber “FC NR 40 S&W” ammunition.
The charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bridgeport Felon Admits Illegally Possessing Handgun in New HavenRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALLEN LUSMAT, 30, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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, on April 10, 2019, Tyrell Cox-Henderson entered a convenience store in New Haven and placed a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver behind some merchandise on a shelf. Approximately one hour later, Lusmat entered the store and retrieved the firearm from the shelf. Later that day, after New Haven police officers had reviewed the convenience store’s surveillance video, officers stopped a car in which Lusmat was a passenger. As officers approached the vehicle, Lusmat threw a black plastic bag out of the window. A search of bag revealed the firearm that Lusmat retrieved from the store. Lusmat was arrested at that time.
Prior to April 2019, Lusmat was convicted in state court of firearm, assault and burglary offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for February 10, 2021, at which time Lusmat faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Lusmat has been detained since his arrest.
Cox-Henderson pleaded guilty to the same charge on September 14, 2020, and awaits sentencing. He also has been detained since April 10, 2019.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
This prosecution 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.
Battle Ground Man Sentenced to One Year in Federal Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Thomas A. Rennie, Age 58, of Battle Ground, Washington, and formerly of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced today to one year in prison, supervised release of three years, and restitution to the IRS of $1.5 million for evading payment of employment taxes and personal income taxes.
According to court documents, Rennie operated a car detailing business in Portland for 28 years, and a dog training business in Washington since 2015. Rennie knowingly and intentionally evaded payment of nearly $1.5 million in taxes for the years 2005 through 2017. These unpaid taxes were comprised of employment taxes for his businesses, personal income taxes, and corporate taxes. Rennie’s efforts to evade the payment of his taxes included his failure to maintain proper business books and records; using business bank accounts and a non-profit entity’s bank account to pay personal expenses; concealing ownership of personal assets by placing title to these assets in the names of nominee entities; concealing the income from the sale of one of his companies by placing the proceeds in bank accounts held in the names of nominees; and making false statements to an IRS Revenue Officer.
Rennie previously pleaded guilty to one count of Tax Evasion on December 16, 2019.
The Internal Revenue Service investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Claire M. Fay, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Bangladeshi Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers announced that Shahidul Gaffar, 40, and Nabila Khan, 35, both residents of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. United States District Court Judge Joshua D. Wolson presided over the proceeding.
According to court documents unsealed today, in 2015, Gaffar and Khan, a married couple originally from Bangladesh, provided and attempted to provide financial support to two of Khan’s brothers who traveled to Syria to join ISIS fighters. Gaffar and Khan discussed the brothers’ travel plans in detail with each other, as well as with the brothers and other family members, as early as September 2014. In January 2015, Khan asked her sister living in Bangladesh to sell some of Khan’s gold and provide the money to their oldest brother, J.K., in order to assist him in travelling to Syria. Khan then flew to Bangladesh to wish J.K. farewell before his departure in February 2015. Gaffar, who remained in Pennsylvania, sent supportive messages to Khan’s mother stating: “Be [p]roud mother for the noble cause and for the sake of Allah!!!”
Further, according to the criminal Information, Khan’s second brother, I.K., had come to the United States on a student visa and resided with Khan and Gaffar in Pennsylvania from June 2014 until February 2015, when he returned to Bangladesh. Over the next few months, Khan, who was still in Bangladesh, observed I.K. watching terrorist propaganda videos featuring Anwar al-Awlaki, a designated global terrorist and key leader of ISIS. Around the same time, Gaffar began sending international money transfers to I.K. in Bangladesh. These funds had multiple purposes, but one was to support I.K.’s travel to Syria to join ISIS. In June 2015, Gaffar sent a message to Khan, stating: “Let [I.K.] know that I will manage and send 3000 dollars if Allah wills. Let's help him, my love, for the good cause who knows that might be enough to get forgiveness from Allah and accept[ance] [in]to heaven.” In July 2015, Gaffar continued to communicate with Kahn regarding the conspiracy, saying in part: “I feel bad for mom and dad, at the same time, I feel very proud. [W]hat a lucky mom and dad.”
In early July 2015, I.K. traveled to Syria to join ISIS. The next day, Gaffar and Khan discussed via electronic messages how Khan had tried to give I.K. more money right before he left, and days later, Kahn exchanged multiple electronic messages with a family member discussing I.K.’s arrival in Syria and reunion there with J.K. Gaffar sent reassuring messages to Khan, stating that it was “cool” that she had been able to observe I.K.’s radical Islamist “changes” from “beginning to end.”
According to court documents, in May 2016, Khan received an electronic message that I.K. had been wounded in the fighting in Syria, and in August 2016, Khan’s mother sent a message to Kahn with photographs of I.K.’s wounds sustained while in Syria. In September 2016, I.K. changed his online social media account profile picture to an image depicting himself, his brother and another male sitting in front of the black ISIS flag with firearms on a table in front of them, overtly identifying himself and his brother as members of ISIS. I.K. was ultimately killed in the fighting in Syria in March 2019.
“Protecting our country from terror attacks is the first priority of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The defendants encouraged and supported Nabila Kahn’s brothers joining the murderous terrorist group ISIS, which is a direct threat to the safety and security of the United States. The public can rest assured that my Office – together with our partners from the FBI and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice – is working tirelessly every day to protect America and her residents from terrorism.”
“With their pleas today, Gaffar and Khan admit to providing material support to ISIS terrorists from American soil,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “As this case shows, extremists need not take up arms themselves to threaten lives and do real harm. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will never stop working to identify those aiding terrorist groups that consider our country their sworn enemy.”
The defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Wolfe and Robert Livermore.
Ballantine meth traffickers sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A man and woman who admitted possessing methamphetamine to sell after law enforcement officers found the drug hidden under carpeting in their Ballantine residence were sentenced today to prison terms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
William Curtis Hill, Jr, 39, of Bozeman, and Christine Jean Reiling, 43, of Park City, each pleaded guilty on June 25 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Hill was sentenced to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Reiling was sentenced to three years in prison and four years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The prosecution said in court documents that on Feb. 22, 2019, law enforcement received permission to search Hill and Reiling’s residence for a fugitive. During the search, officers pulled back loose carpeting in the master bedroom and found a clear bag containing 28.1 grams of meth. Officers also found a smaller bag of meth in a spare bedroom. In a subsequent search, officers found another small bag of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Hill and Reiling both told officers the meth found in the master bedroom had been given to them to sell by two of Reiling’s friends. Hill said he hid the meth under the carpet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Albuquerque man sentenced to 10 years in prison for downloading child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge on Nov. 16 sentenced Alexander Balding, 25, of Albuquerque, to 10 years in prison for accessing and downloading child pornography. In addition to his prison sentence, Balding also will be subject to 20 years of supervised release.
Balding pleaded guilty on Aug. 5. In his plea agreement, Balding admitted to using uTorrent computer software to download more than 300 images of child pornography in March and April of 2019.
The FBI and the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva M. Fontanez prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man charged with aggravated sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thomas Wabnum, 70, of Albuquerque, and a member of the Potawatomi Tribe (Kansas), made his initial appearance today in federal court on an indictment of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.
According to the indictment, on July 6, 2019, Wabnum allegedly engaged in a sexual act with the victim, who was incapacitated at the time, by using force. The alleged incident occurred on the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Wabnum faces up to life in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison C. Jaros is prosecuting the case.
4 San Fernando Valley Residents Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $5 Million in COVID-Relief Loans for Fake BusinessesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two brothers and their wives have been charged in a federal grand jury indictment alleging a scheme to submit at least 35 fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $5.6 million in COVID-19 relief loans authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Richard Ayvazyan, 42; Richard’s wife, Marietta Terabelian, 36; Richard’s brother, Artur Ayvazyan, 40; and Artur’s wife, Tamara Dadyan, 39, all of Encino, were charged in 12-count indictment returned late Tuesday by a federal grand jury. The indictment charges all four defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and six counts of wire fraud. Richard Ayvazyan was also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, the defendants used fake, stolen or synthetic identities – including the created identities of “Iuliia Zhadko” and “Viktoria Kauichko” – to submit fraudulent applications for loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Relief Program (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the CARES Act. The defendants also allegedly submitted fraudulent EIDL and PPP loan applications in their own names, using fake or fictitious businesses. In support of the fraudulent loan applications, the defendants often submitted false and fictitious documents to lenders and the SBA, including fake identity documents, tax documents and payroll records, according to the indictment.
Once financial institutions and the SBA approved the fraudulent EIDL and PPP loans, the defendants used the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds for their own personal benefit, including to purchase luxury homes. Among other things, the defendants used disaster relief loans as down payments on a $3.25 million residence in Tarzana and a $1 million home in Glendale. Use of disaster relief loan proceeds for such purposes is expressly prohibited under the PPP and EIDL programs.
The indictment alleges that the four defendants received at least $4.6 million as a result of the fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications.
Enacted in March, the CARES Act is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Artur Ayvazyan and Dadyan were arrested on November 5 pursuant to a criminal complaint previously filed in this case. They were released on bond and are scheduled to be arraigned on December 3 and 4, respectively.
Richard Ayvazyan and Terabelian were arrested in Miami on October 20 as they returned from a vacation in Turks and Caicos. They were released on bond and returned to Los Angeles, but a court hearing in Los Angeles has not yet been scheduled.
The conspiracy and bank fraud charges alleged in the indictment each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. The wire fraud counts each a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence.
T his case is part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julian L. André of the Major Frauds Section and DOJ Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.