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Monday 16 November 2020
O.C. Tax Preparer Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns that Caused Almost $5 Million in Losses to IRSRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County tax preparer who cheated the IRS out of nearly $5 million by fraudulently filing income tax returns on his clients’ behalf – and without their consent – to obtain false tax refunds was sentenced today to 34 months in federal prison.
Michael Hung Lee, 70, of Garden Grove, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter, who also ordered him to pay $4,917,035 in restitution. Lee pleaded guilty on July 27 to one count of conspiracy to aid and assist in the preparation of false tax returns.
From 2014 to March 2018, Lee was a tax preparer who owned and operated the Garden Grove-based business, 1040 U.S. Tax Center Inc. Lee conspired with others at the business to fraudulently prepare and file federal individual income tax returns on behalf of their clients.
Specifically, Lee claimed Schedule D capital losses on these fraudulent tax returns. Schedule D is a form the IRS provides to help taxpayers compute their capital gains or losses from the sale of items such as stocks, bonds and real estate, and the corresponding taxes due from them.
On these tax returns, Lee claimed capital losses that he knew his clients never approved and for which they were unqualified. The false declarations of capital losses reduced his clients’ listed taxable income. As a result, the federal government incurred a tax loss of at least $4,917,035. The tax refunds went to the customers, while Lee obtained more business as a result of the scheme.
On June 15, Mylinh Thi Lee, 50, of Garden Grove, who is Michael Lee’s step-daughter and also was a tax preparer at 1040 U.S. Tax Center, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. She will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison at her sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for December 7.
The matter was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
Nashville Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – November 16, 2020 - A Nashville man convicted last year of drug distribution and firearms charges was sentenced Friday to 30 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Lorenzo Shelton, 38, was convicted in September 2019, after a four-day jury trial, of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Shelton, a high-ranking member of the Rollin’ 40s Gang, was on parole for previous drug trafficking crimes in August 2016 when parole officers made a surprise visit to his home on Tillman Lane in Nashville. A search of Shelton’s room resulted in the seizure of 165 grams of heroin and other items indicative of drug trafficking. A loaded sawed-off shotgun and another shotgun were also found in the house and $11,000 cash was recovered from the trunk of Shelton’s rental car. The investigation led officers to a second address on Chesapeake Drive in Nashville, where Shelton also lived, and there, officers recovered 90 grams of heroin, a loaded 9mm pistol, and $51,000 cash.
After being convicted of these crimes last year, Shelton was returned to state custody to await sentencing. Approximately 10 days later, agents received information that Shelton used a contraband cellular phone to call into a meeting of Rollin’ 40s Gang members to solicit the assassination of the federal prosecutor and ATF agent who brought the charges. The U.S. Marshals Service opened an investigation and requested state correctional officers conduct a search of Shelton’s prison cell for the cellular phone. When an officer attempted to retrieve the phone, Shelton assaulted the officer and destroyed the phone. When sentencing Shelton, U.S. District Court Judge Eli J. Richardson found that this conduct by Shelton obstructed justice.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Tennessee Department of Correction; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke K. Schiferle prosecuted the case. The sentencing was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunny A.M. Koshy.
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Nashua Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - David Campbell, 36, of Nashua, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for drug trafficking on Friday, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 16, 2019, three Nashua police officers were returning to the station from a patrol when they observed Campbell walking in a gas station parking lot. They paused to watch him. He seemed to be impaired as he was at times staring off into the distance and walking aimlessly in the parking area. During a consensual encounter, he was arrested after being found in possession of methamphetamine. A subsequent search revealed distributable quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Campbell waived his Miranda rights and admitted to selling methamphetamine. He also acknowledged that he was working on a deal in the parking lot before the officers confronted him.
Campbell previously pleaded guilty on July 24, 2020.
“Drug traffickers distribute illegal substances that undermine public health and safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to combat their dangerous activities, we work closely with the Nashua Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute the individuals who peddle lethal substances in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Multiple Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation That Dismantled Telephone Drug Hotline in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — More than 26 individuals have been charged with various narcotics trafficking or firearms offenses as part of a federal investigation into illegal activities on the West Side of Chicago. As part of the investigation, law enforcement shut down a telephone drug hotline, according to a criminal complaint recently unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Over a three-month period this summer, law enforcement made two dozen undercover purchases of fentanyl-laced heroin and crack cocaine from the defendants’ drug trafficking operation, according to the complaint. In addition to shutting down the phone line used by the defendants to coordinate sales, law enforcement also seized narcotics, a drug mixer, and multiple firearms during a court-authorized search of a stash house in the 800 block of South Karlov Avenue in Chicago, the charges allege.
The complaint unsealed on Nov. 10, 2020, charges 13 defendants with drug conspiracy. Twelve of those defendants were arrested and have begun making initial appearances in federal court. One defendant remains at large, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The federal investigation previously resulted in related drug or firearm charges this summer and fall against more than 13 other defendants.
The results of the investigation were announced today by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Substantial assistance in the investigation was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and IRS Criminal Investigation Division. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalia Coleman, Katie Durick, Prashant Kolluri, and Ramon Villalpando, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena Gottreich and Deborah Shutter.
The investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force (HIDTA). The task forces are comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who work together to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations.
“These arrests send a clear message that anyone who sells dangerous drugs on the streets of Chicago faces the full weight of federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Our office will continue to focus on individuals and groups who distribute fentanyl-laced drugs – a gravely potent mix – and prosecute those offenders in federal court.”
“This cooperative investigation targeted the distribution of narcotics, including heroin mixed with potentially lethal fentanyl, and violence in the East Garfield Park in Chicago,” said DEA SAC Bell. “DEA Chicago is committed with our federal, state, and local partners to combat drug trafficking and associated drug related violence across the city and region.”
“Partnerships among local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies is a force multiplier, focusing resources to stop violent crime including firearms and narcotics trafficking,” said ATF SAC deTineo. “When law enforcement works together, as illustrated in this operation, the impact is visible throughout the communities of Chicago.”
“I am extremely proud of the partnership CPD has with our state and federal colleagues,” said CPD Supt. Brown. “Working together makes Chicago a safer city. Criminal networks that plague our city will not survive. This multi-defendant, complex operation is an example of that commitment. I also wish to thank those community members that assist law enforcement with valuable information every day. This cooperative effort is how we will improve public safety in Chicago.”
According to the newly unsealed complaint, DEXSTIN BRYANT, 31, of Chicago, operated and managed the drug trafficking organization on the West Side of Chicago, with assistance from TREMAINE BRENT, 32, of Chicago. Drug dealers in Bryant’s organization used the phone line to arrange deliveries of narcotics to customers, the complaint states. Each dealer worked a shift on the phone to receive calls and organize the sales, the charges allege. The complaint charges eleven alleged dealers, all of whom reside in Chicago: TEVIN ALVERIO, 26; JARVIS BLAIR, 36; ENRIQUE HOLLINS, 23, who remains at large; SHARONDA HOSEY, 20; JUSTIN JOHNSON, 19; TYJUAN MCDOWELL, 32; RIKITA MITCHELL, 34; ALLEN WASHINGTON, 27; PAUL WILKINS, 64; DOROTHY WILLIAMS, 54; and INA WILLIAMS, 38.
The previously charged cases include Chicago residents KENDRICK PEPPER, 29, and LAMONT HAGGARD, who allegedly distributed large quantities of heroin and crack cocaine in Chicago; CARLTON HARRIS, 28, who allegedly illegally possessed a handgun on May 8, 2020, in Chicago; LACJON LINK, 30, KELVIN ROSS, 39, and WILLIE ROSS, 60, who allegedly distributed more than 400 grams of fentanyl-laced heroin in Chicago; ERNEST RUSSELL, 35, DEVON LEE, 22, WONSHON DONAHUE, 21, DEMARLON CARROLL, 34, ERNEST ROSS, 62, SHAUNTRELL HARRIS, 31, and OSHAY KELLEY, 26, who allegedly distributed heroin, fentanyl, or crack cocaine in Chicago; and the alleged owner of the drug stash house, JOHNNIE GRANT, 32.
The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are 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 sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Montreal Man Sentenced for Importing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mihale Leventis, a/k/a “Rookie,” a/k/a “Big Mike,” age 44, of Montreal, Canada, was sentenced today to time served (nearly 8 years in prison) for importing marijuana into the United States.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division.
As part of his guilty plea on September 29, 2020, Leventis admitted that he worked with a drug trafficking organization in Quebec to import marijuana into the United States through the Northern District of New York and elsewhere. Leventis transported marijuana from locations in Quebec to the border, where his coconspirators smuggled it into the United States. Leventis served most of his prison sentence in Canada while awaiting extradition to the United States.
This case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Kopita. Leventis was extradited to the United States in September 2020 with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
Mission Man Sentenced for Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on November 12, 2020, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Patrick Red Bird, age 36, was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25.
Red Bird was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 11, 2020. He pled guilty on October 22, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on December 27, 2019, in Mission. On that date, Red Bird was arrested for disorderly conduct. After being placed in handcuffs, Red Bird lunged at the arresting officer and grabbed him.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Red Bird was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Admits Trafficking Fentanyl into New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Mexican national today admitted transporting approximately two kilograms of fentanyl into New Jersey for distribution, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Adrian Vargas Arroyo, 31, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an indictment charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In October 2019, Vargas Arroyo drove a tractor trailer into New Jersey with a bag containing four half-kilogram packages of fentanyl, weighing a total of approximately two kilograms. Vargas Arroyo arranged to distribute the narcotics at a location in Middlesex County, New Jersey, where he was arrested.
The distribution and possession with intent to distribute charge to which Vargas Arroyo pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit.
Medicare Advantage Provider to Pay $6.3 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, formerly known as Group Health Cooperative (GHC), agreed to pay $6,375,000 to resolve allegations that it submitted invalid diagnoses to Medicare for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and received inflated payments from Medicare as a result, the Justice Department announced today. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan is headquartered in Oakland, California.
“The United States relies on Medicare Advantage Organizations to submit accurate diagnosis data to Medicare to ensure that the compensation they receive is appropriate,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and the data it relies upon.”
“When insurance providers take advantage of Medicare and falsely claim that they are entitled to repayment for unsupported diagnoses, American taxpayers suffer in the form of higher costs,” stated U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Jr. of the Western District of New York. “We will continue to work to ensure that these programs are not defrauded and that monies are not paid for unwarranted claims.”
Under the Medicare Advantage program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt to obtain health care coverage through private insurance plans that are owned and operated by private insurers known as Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). Medicare pays MAOs a fixed, monthly amount to provide health care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in their plans. Medicare adjusts these monthly payments to reflect the health status of each beneficiary. In general, Medicare pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries and less for healthier ones.
MAOs report beneficiary diagnoses and other information to Medicare on an annual basis and Medicare uses this information to adjust the payments that the MAO receives from Medicare. The settlement resolves allegations that GHC knowingly submitted diagnoses that were not supported by the beneficiaries’ medical records to inflate the payments that it received from Medicare.
The settlement resolves allegations originally brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by Teresa Ross, a former employee of Group Health. The act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. Ms. Ross will receive approximately $1,500,000.
The government’s intervention in this matter illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This matter was handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The case is docketed as United States ex rel. Teresa Ross v. Group Health Cooperative, Independent Health Association, Independent Health Corporation, DxID LLC, Elizabeth Gaffney, and John Haughton, M.D., No. 12-CV-0299S (W.D.N.Y.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Medicare Advantage Provider to Pay $6.3 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY - Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, formerly known as Group Health Cooperative (GHC), agreed to pay $6,375,000 to resolve allegations that it submitted invalid diagnoses to Medicare for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and received inflated payments from Medicare as a result, the Justice Department announced today. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan is headquartered in Oakland, California.
“The United States relies on Medicare Advantage Organizations to submit accurate diagnosis data to Medicare to ensure that the compensation they receive is appropriate,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and the data it relies upon.”
“When insurance providers take advantage of Medicare and falsely claim that they are entitled to repayment for unsupported diagnoses, American taxpayers suffer in the form of higher costs,” stated U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “We will continue to work to ensure that these programs are not defrauded and that monies are not paid for unwarranted claims.”
Under the Medicare Advantage program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt to obtain health care coverage through private insurance plans that are owned and operated by private insurers known as Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). Medicare pays MAOs a fixed, monthly amount to provide health care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in their plans. Medicare adjusts these monthly payments to reflect the health status of each beneficiary. In general, Medicare pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries and less for healthier ones.
MAOs report beneficiary diagnoses and other information to Medicare on an annual basis and Medicare uses this information to adjust the payments that the MAO receives from Medicare. The settlement resolves allegations that GHC knowingly submitted diagnoses that were not supported by the beneficiaries’ medical records to inflate the payments that it received from Medicare.
The settlement resolves allegations originally brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by Teresa Ross, a former employee of Group Health. The act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. Ms. Ross will receive approximately $1,500,000.
The government’s intervention in this matter illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This matter was handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The case is docketed as United States ex rel. Teresa Ross v. Group Health Cooperative, Independent Health Association, Independent Health Corporation, DxID LLC, Elizabeth Gaffney, and John Haughton, M.D., No. 12-CV-0299S (W.D.N.Y.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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Maple Grove Man Charged with Defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging ADITYA RAJ SHARMA, 47, with wire fraud. SHARMA, who was arrested on November 13, 2020, made his initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the allegations in the indictment, SHARMA was the founder, CEO, and president of Crosscode Inc., a cloud-based software development company headquartered in Foster City, California. In November 2019, SHARMA was removed as an officer and terminated from the company by Crosscode’s board of directors. In May 2020, SHARMA created a cloud-computing technology company called Kloudgaze Inc. On April 26, 2020, SHARMA submitted a false and fraudulent loan application in the name of “Crosscode dba Kloudgaze” seeking approximately $562,500 through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). On the application SHARMA falsely stated that “Crosscode dba Kloudgaze” was in operation on February 15, 2020, even though SHARMA did not create Kloudgaze until May 2020. In addition, SHARMA falsely stated that he was the 100% owner and CEO of Crosscode, that Crosscode did business under the name of Kloudgaze, and that “Crosscode dba Kloudgaze” had approximately 29 employees on its payroll even though records from the State of Minnesota show SHARMA paid no wages to a single Kloudgaze employee. In support of the application, SHARMA included fraudulent supporting documentation, including fabricated bank account statements.
According to the allegations in the indictment, on April 29, 2020, as a result of SHARMA’s material falsehoods and omissions, the application was approved, and SHARMA received $562,500 in PPP funds. However, instead of using the PPP funds for permissible small business expenses, such as payroll for employees, SHARMA sought to enrich himself personally and transferred approximately $500,000 to a personal bank account, made a $5,000 down payment toward the installation of a $64,300 pool at his personal residence, and transferred approximately $14,000 to a financial account in India.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
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. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
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.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert and Jordan L. Sing are prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Information:
ADITYA RAJ SHARMA, 47
Maple Grove, Minn.
Charges:
- Wire fraud, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Mandeville Man Charged with Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that BRUCE D. COX, age 62, of Mandeville, was charged on November 12, 2020 with theft of government funds in connection a false application for disaster assistance.
According to the Bill of Information, COX is charged with submitting a falsified application to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (“FEMA”) for disaster assistance. The application sought disaster assistance for a rental property in Robert, Louisiana that COX managed, following the August 2016 storms and flooding in Tangipahoa Parish. In the application, COX falsely stated that property in Robert was the owner’s primary residence, when in fact COX rented out the property to a tenant and knew that the property’s owner had never lived there. As a result of false statements in the application, FEMA paid disaster benefits to the property’s owner, despite the property owner not qualifying for those benefits.
If convicted, COX faces up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, and up to one year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.
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Local man indicted in connection with armed robbery of mail carriersRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 20-year-old Houstonian is set to appear in federal court on charges of aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Xzavier Ivar Shephard Nov. 5. He is expected to make his initial appearance via video before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison at 2 p.m. today.
Originally charged by criminal complaint, Shephard was believed to be involved in at least four armed robberies of postal letter carriers since June.
The charges allege a young male would approach letter carriers while engaged in the performance of their duties. He would allegedly display a gun and/or threaten force and make demands for certain items.
The charges allege robbers would retreat to a black Buick automobile with paper plates and flee the scene. The vehicle was registered to Shephard, according to the charges.
If convicted, Shephard faces up to 25 years in federal prison as well as a mandatory minimum of seven years that must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.
Justice Department Settles with the Commissioner of the Revenue for Caroline County, Virginia to Resolve Disability Discrimination ComplaintRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it reached an agreement with the Commissioner of the Revenue for Caroline County, Virginia, in his official capacity (the “Commissioner”) to resolve the department’s lawsuit alleging disability discrimination in violation of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The department’s complaint alleges that a former Caroline County Commissioner of the Revenue terminated an employee with a respiratory impairment on the basis of her disability, after almost 24 years of service. According to the complaint, after a period of medical leave, the employee requested to return to work with reasonable accommodations for her speaking and walking restrictions. The complaint alleges that the Commissioner denied the employee’s request and required her to return to work in full-duty capacity; it then fired her when she could not do so.
Title I of the ADA prohibits covered employers from discriminating against qualified individuals on the basis of disability in employment. Discrimination includes failing to provide reasonable accommodations if the accommodations do not pose an undue hardship to the employer. An informal, interactive process may be needed to identify appropriate reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations include acquiring equipment or devices, among other things.
“Reasonable accommodations enable many people with disabilities to work and, as a result, achieve economic self-sufficiency and full participation in the workforce,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to become and remain employed, so that they can pursue their goals, contribute to their communities, and earn a living.”
Under the agreement, the Commissioner, among other things, will pay $75,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to the former employee. The Commissioner and the Caroline County Human Resources Manager also will attend a presentation on Title I of the ADA.
This matter was based on a referral from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Norfolk Local Office.
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the ADA. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. Please visit the department’s ADA Anniversary webpage to learn more about the ADA’s history and impact.
To read the settlement agreement, please click here, and to read the complaint, please click here. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
Justice Department Settles with School Board to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement with the School Board of Palm Beach County, Florida (the District). The settlement resolves claims that the District discriminated against work-authorized non-U.S. citizen employees by asking them to provide specific and unnecessary documentation showing their legal right to work, because of their immigration status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
“Employers must not discriminate against work-authorized non-U.S. citizens due to mistaken assumptions about their immigration status,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We applaud the School District of Palm Beach County for working with the Department of Justice to ensure proper implementation of its non-discrimination policy.”
Based on its investigation, the department concluded that the School District requested unnecessary and specific documents from non-U.S. citizens, such as requesting some work-authorized workers to show specific documents in violation of the INA. This included requests for certain individuals to show their Permanent Resident Cards (sometimes known as “green cards”) or Employment Authorization Documents, even though those workers had already shown other documents that proved their work authorization, such as an ID and unrestricted Social Security card.
The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from requesting more or different documents than necessary to prove work authorization based on employees’ citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Instead, in the INA, Congress determined that all work-authorized individuals, regardless of citizenship status, may choose which valid, legally acceptable documents to present to demonstrate their ability to work in the United States. The INA does, however, permit employers to reject non-genuine looking documents.
Under the terms of the settlement, the District will pay to the United States a civil penalty of $90,000, pay up to $100,000 in back pay to people who lost work due to the unlawful document requests, and train district employees on their legal obligations.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment, or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, can file a charge. The public also can contact IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688; call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
The Civil Rights Division wants to hear about civil rights violations. Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations through the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; or discrimination in the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin; or retaliation can file a charge or contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.
The Civil Rights Division’s Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, started in 2017 in IER, targets, investigates, and (where appropriate) brings enforcement actions against employers that intentionally discriminate against U.S. workers due to citizenship-status discrimination based on a preference for temporary visa workers. IER has reached numerous settlements under the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, and employers have distributed or agreed to pay a combined total of more than $1.2 million in back pay to affected U.S. workers and civil penalties to the United States. These settlements involve employers that discriminated in their use of the H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa programs.
Judge sentences man for armed robberies and firearm offensesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – United States District Judge Ronnie L. White sentenced Deandre Wings to 168 months in prison today. The 32-year-old St. Louis, Missouri resident pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of armed robbery and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Wings conspired with others from July 2018 through September 2018 to commit armed robberies at commercial establishments. On September 3, 2018, Deandre Wings served as the get-away driver; while his co-defendant (who Wings knew was armed) went into the store, showed a handgun, jumped over the counter and demanded employees open the safe. Wings’ co-defendant, who knocked over an elderly woman while jumping the counter, took off with $269.
On September 9, 2018, Deandre Wings, along with co-defendants, robbed a Metro PCS store on DaBaliviere Avenue. Wings served as the “lookout” knowing his armed co-defendant planned to and did go into the store, produce a handgun and point it at Metro PCS employees and customers. The co-defendant demanded money, produced a bag and the employee complied by putting money in the bag.
Again on September 9, 2018, Deandre Wings along with co-defendants, robbed another Metro PCS, this one on Page Avenue. Deandre Wings, who was waiting in one of the getaway cars, drove off after the robbery with the other defendants. During the robbery, Wings’ co-defendant entered the store, pointed a handgun at an employee, and ordered the employee to remove the cash from the register. The employee complied and provided $150 in U.S. currency from the register.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is handling the case.
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Joint law enforcement operation results in major eradication in northwest New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies last week teamed together in the Shiprock, New Mexico, area to conduct a marijuana eradication operation that yielded tremendous results.
From Nov. 9 to Nov. 11, the FBI led hundreds of officers in a large-scale, multi-agency law enforcement operation that took place at 21 farms and two residences on the Navajo Nation near Shiprock. The marijuana was housed in 1,107 grow houses, though dozens more were under construction.
During the court-authorized operation, agents eradicated approximately 260,000 live plants and processed an estimated 60,000 pounds (30 tons) of evidence. Additionally, agents found 19 trash bags filled with fully processed marijuana - 1,000 pounds - in baggies, ready for distribution, hidden under a tarp in a grow house.
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate all the agencies involved in this operation, and especially those agents on the scene,” said John C. Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “The numbers are astounding, and that could not have been achieved without a high level of interagency cooperation and coordination. I am consistently impressed by the professionalism displayed by law enforcement agents in the District of New Mexico. What they accomplished over the past week is remarkable. We are proud stand with the Navajo Nation in upholding and enforcing tribal and federal law.”
“I'm not sure what is more amazing: the amount of high-grade marijuana we kept off America's streets, or all the federal, state, local, and tribal agencies who tirelessly worked together to overcome numerous challenges and get the job done,” said James Langenberg, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division. “One thing I know for certain: We made a huge difference not only on the Navajo Nation, but in countless other communities. The FBI is extremely proud to have been a part of this significant operation and thanks the many partners who contributed to its success.”
“The top priority is the safety and well-being of our Navajo citizens and law enforcement officers,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. “We appreciate everyone’s patience throughout this process as the Navajo Nation, federal, state, and counties worked together. It took a lot of time, coordination, and resources to execute this operation over the last few days. On behalf of the Navajo Nation, I thank the Navajo Police Department, Department of Justice, FBI, U.S. Attorneys, and many others who dedicated their time to help our communities eradicate these illegal activities.”
"The coordinated efforts and tireless work of all involved has brought the much-needed resolution to the marijuana operations and has given the Navajo Nation citizens, as well as the surrounding communities, peace of mind,” said Chief of Police Philip Francisco of the Navajo Police Department. “This operation is a testament to the professionalism of law enforcement, who have worked diligently to ensure the safety of our communities."
“Tackling the scourge of illicit drugs in tribal communities has been a top priority for the Trump Administration with Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs helping lead the way,” said Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt. “I want to thank our federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their tremendous efforts in taking down this major operation and making these communities safer.”
“Through the cooperative efforts of federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners, we have put a stop to a massive marijuana grow operation, which was being carried out under the guise of hemp farming,” said Kyle W. Williamson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “The persons running this marijuana operation were doing so in disregard of tribal law, the health and well-being of tribal members, and the natural resources of the Navajo Nation. We thank community members for saying something when they saw something.”
“Large-scale growing operations, such as this one, can pose a serious risk to human health and the environment,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Brooks of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in New Mexico “Today’s action sends a clear signal that EPA and its law enforcement partners are committed to enforcing environmental laws that protect our communities.”
“I am proud of the hard work and dedication contributed to this operation by my officers and agents.” said Robert Thornton, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. “The result of this unprecedented effort serves to strengthen the cooperation between our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners”
“This case had many jurisdictional hurdles. Thanks to the longstanding partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement, we came together to stop a significant criminal enterprise in our community,” said San Juan County Sheriff R. Shane Ferrari. “San Juan County is truly blessed to have these dedicated professionals to keep our communities safe.”
Federal agencies involved in the effort were the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribal, state and local agencies included the Navajo Police Department, the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, the New Mexico State Police, the Region II Narcotics Task Force, the New Mexico Army National Guard, the San Juan County Sheriff's Office, the Farmington Police Department, the Aztec Police Department, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Anyone who has additional information they wish to report relating to this eradication effort may do so by contacting the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
Irondequoit Man Going to Prison for Two Years for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Theodore Loria, 53, of Irondequoit, NY, who was convicted of cyberstalking, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to serve 24 months in federal prison to be followed by six months home confinement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between June 2017 and August 2019, the defendant stalked an individual (Victim) causing substantial emotional distress. In 2017, Loria sent the Victim threatening text messages via cellular telephone. The defendant also sent a series of text messages, pretending to be a member of a local police department, stating that the Victim was an “enemy” of law enforcement and that he knew where all of Victim’s family members lived. Loria texted the Victim the correct addresses of the Victim’s family members. In December 2018, the defendant texted the Victim anonymously stating he knew where the Victim lived and everything about the Victim’s minor child, even providing details about the child’s school location, appearance, and the location of the child’s bedroom in the home. Defendant also conducted physical surveillance of the Victim’s residence and business and followed the Victim in his vehicle.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan.
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Iraqi Man Sentenced for Willfully Violating Order of SupervisionRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Iraqi national was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for willfully failing to comply with the terms of release under supervision, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison sentenced Mustafa Hatem Abdulkadhim Al-Shuwaili, 28, to 12 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty on December 17, 2019.
According to court records, Al-Shuwaili entered the U.S. in 2012. An immigration judge ordered him removed to Iraq in December 2015. In October 2018, pending his removal from the U.S., he signed an Order of Supervision with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The order prohibited him from committing any crimes while on release, among other conditions. On June 11, 2019, he was convicted in Penobscot County of felony Domestic Violence Assault, with Priors.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case.
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Iowa Woman Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin to VirginiaRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – An Iowa woman was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for her role as the out-of-state heroin and fentanyl supplier for convicted Hampton Roads trafficker Michelle Best.
“Selling fentanyl from a daycare where young children are present is not just extremely reckless and illegal, it is dangerous,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case and this sentence should be a wake-up call to anyone trafficking dangerous drugs into Virginia: Our investigative partners follow the narcotics and the money wherever they lead, and our prosecutions reflect that. This district will bring the full force of the law against traffickers who endanger the lives of Virginians, wherever they are.”
According to court documents, in September 2017, Latosha L. Prather, 37, of Des Moines, sold two kilograms of heroin and fentanyl for $125,000 to Best from Prather’s home-based day care service in Des Moines. Agents and analysts traced approximately $100,000 in cash deposits from Best to Prather. In January 2018, Prather travelled from Des Moines to Virginia Beach, where she met with Best in a Wal-Mart parking lot to distribute another kilogram of heroin and fentanyl for $49,000. In March 2018, a Virginia SWAT team working with the DEA executed a search warrant at Best’s Croatan house and recovered nearly $42,000 in cash, approximately 352 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, significant quantities of other narcotics, a commercial money counter, and a number of firearms.
Best was sentenced in March 2019 to 30 years in prison.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of the Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Andrew C. Bosse prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-138. The case of United States v. Michelle Best, et al. can be found by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-147.
Huntington Woman Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that Elizabeth Leighton Mullins, 46, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
“This meth dealer and user is going to federal prison for almost five years,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Federal law prohibits unlawful drug users from possessing firearms.”
Mullins previously pled guilty and admitted that on February 13, 2019, in a residence at 1352 Charleston Ave. in Huntington, she possessed plastic baggies containing approximately 69 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol, and a loaded Ruger LCP II .380 caliber pistol. Mullins later admitted that the methamphetamine was hers and that she intended to sell it. Mullins also admitted that she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine which prohibited her from possessing the firearms.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe handled the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00203.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Hot Springs Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Hot Springs, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced today that Lessie Gallo, age 39, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was sentenced to a total of 300 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance that Contained Methamphetamine. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
In the summer of 2019, Detectives with the 18th East Judicial District Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration launched an investigation into Gallo for drug trafficking in the Western District of Arkansas. The investigation determined that Gallo was the head of an extensive drug distribution network that operated primarily in the Western District of Arkansas. In July and August of 2019, detectives conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Gallo.
Gallo was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2019, and entered a guilty plea in February of 2020.
This case was investigated by, the 18th East Judicial District Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations Little Rock, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the 18th East Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Achorn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the Western District of Arkansas.
Hartshorne Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal FundsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Meredith Dawn Dunkin, age 47, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Information alleged that from on or about May 23, 2013, and continuing through August 6, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, Meredith Dawn Dunkin, being an agent of the City of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, said organization received benefits in excess of $10,000 under a Federal Program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal Assistance for the calendar years of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, obtained by fraud, embezzlement, and otherwise without authority, property worth at least $5,000 owned by the City of Hartshorne.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “The defendant, as an agent of the City of Hartshorne, had been entrusted to safeguard funds and use them as intended for the benefit of those who call Hartshorne home. By enriching herself with those funds she betrayed that trust and violated federal law. She will be held accountable for her actions.”
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Doug Horn represented the United States.
Harrison County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Mark Allen Riffle, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Riffle, 32, pled guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Riffle, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior conviction, had a .380 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, a .22 caliber rifle, a .410-gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun in May 2019 in Harrison County.
Riffle faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative investigated.
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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Glendale Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Credit Card ‘Bust Out’ Scams Used to Buy Liquor and Cemetery PlotsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale man was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for running a series of “bust out” scams that defrauded more than 20 banks out of nearly $5 million by, among other things, using fraudulently obtained credit cards to buy millions of dollars in liquor and cemetery plots that were later sold for a profit.
Mikayel Hmayakyan, 43, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered him to pay $4,906,534 in restitution. Hmayakyan pleaded guilty on June 29 to two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
A “bust out” scam is a form of fraud in which a person applies for a credit card, often using a stolen identity, with the intention of “maxing out” the card with no intention of paying off the debt.
Hmayakyan and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained credit cards – sometimes using their real names, but also with synthetic identities created with a combination of real and fictitious information. After the cards were run up to the credit limit, members of the scheme “paid down” the cards by submitting payments from accounts with insufficient funds or through other fake accounts to restore the credit line, which allowed them to make additional fraudulent purchases.
For example, from 2014 through 2017, Hmayakyan – with no intention to pay any credit card bills – charged and directed others to charge over $3 million to buy things such as liquor, Rolex watches and Forest Lawn cemetery plots.
The liquor was purchased on behalf of the now-closed Liquor Spot in Glendale, where co-defendant Vahan Aloyan, 45, of Glendale, was a manager. During the execution of a search warrant in 2016, law enforcement seized more than 37,000 bottles of alcoholic beverages, worth approximately $300,000, from the Liquor Spot. They also seized nearly $13,000 in cash from the store, as well as nearly $13,000 in cash and 37 watches and other jewelry items from Aloyan’s residence, according to court documents.
In another set of scams, from 2010 through 2011 and again from 2015 through 2016, Hmayakyan applied for a number of loans in the name of real and fictitious people. He used the loan proceeds to finance the purchase of vehicles, but would not make the payments. Hmayakyan caused losses of more than $400,000 to the banks who gave those loans.
The total actual loss to which the financial institutions were exposed was $4,906,534.
Gayane Hakobyan, 70, of Hollywood Hills, admitted in June that she participated in the “bust-out” scheme by allowing others to open credit card accounts in her name. On October 8, Judge Wu sentenced her to two years’ probation and ordered her to pay $223,235 in restitution.
Mikayel Hovhannisyan, 38, of North Hollywood, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to one count of bank fraud, served a nine-month federal prison sentence and was ordered to pay $412,413 in restitution.
Aloyan, the case’s sole remaining defendant, is scheduled to go on trial in this matter on March 15, 2021.
The United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the Glendale Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section and Victor A. Rodgers of the Asset Forfeiture Section prosecuted this case.
Fresno Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Assaulting a Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Pablo G. Rivera, 36, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to two years and six months in prison for assault on federal officer or employee, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 19, 2019, Rivera forcibly assaulted a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in his mail truck while the mail carrier was delivering mail. That day, the defendant attempted to enter several occupied vehicles on Shaw Avenue in Fresno, CA. When he was unsuccessful, he forced his way into a mail truck by shoving the mail carrier. The mail carrier escaped, but Rivera absconded with the mail truck. He was apprehended after he crashed into a telephone pole and fled on foot. Rivera was charged in both state and federal court. He pleaded guilty to the federal charge on Aug. 21.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted 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. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
Former officer charged with sexually assaulting two women while on dutyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Authorities are seeking other potential victims following the return of an indictment against a 25-year-old Arcola man on federal civil rights violations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Hector Aaron Ruiz is a former officer with the Arcola Police Department but is no longer employed there.
Law enforcement took him into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison at 2 p.m. today.
The Houston federal grand jury indicted Ruiz Nov. 10. The charges allege he committed aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping while serving in his official capacity as a law enforcement officer.
He is charged with two counts of depriving two separate victims of their right to bodily integrity. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
He also faces charges of two counts of carrying and using a firearm in a crime of violence as well as falsifying dashboard camera and body microphone recordings with the intent to obstruct the federal investigation. The latter charge carries a maximum 20-year-prisons sentence. If convicted of the firearms charges, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years that must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
The FBI and Texas Rangers are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad S. Khandelwal and Sebastian Edwards are prosecuting the case.
Authorities believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information about potential additional victims is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Tucson Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Tuesday, Van Raymond Brollini, 71, a former resident of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 33 months in prison for evading payment of approximately $310,000 in federal tax owed to the government. Brollini was also ordered to pay $510,937.68 in restitution and approximately $6,000 in prosecution costs. Brollini was remanded into federal custody immediately after his sentence.
A federal jury had previously found Brollini guilty of tax evasion, corrupt interference with tax administration, and failure to file a tax return. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Brollini, a former engineer at National Semiconductor Corporation, evaded payment of taxes assessed by the Internal Revenue Service from 2002 through 2004, and failed to file a return as required by law for tax years 2006 through 2009.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The Financial Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-00574-CKJ-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-100_Brollini# # #
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.Former Police Officer and Gangster Disciples Member Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A former DeKalb County, Georgia, police officer and member of the Gangster Disciples was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for racketeering conspiracy involving murder, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak of the Northern District of Georgia.
Vancito Gumbs, 28, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, claimed to be a “hitman” for the Gangster Disciples while at the same time serving as a police officer. Evidence showed that Gumbs relayed sensitive law enforcement information to the gang and provided a firearm to a fellow gang member.
According to the charges and other information presented in court, the Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago dating back to the 1970s. The gang is highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership positions known as “Positions of Authority” or “POAs.” The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which is “Silence and Secrecy” – a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. Violations of the rule are punishable by death.
Evidence at trial showed that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for 24 shootings from 2011 through 2015, including 12 murders. Gumbs, who had been photographed flashing a hand sign used by the Gangster Disciples, was a self-professed “hitman” for the gang while serving as a police officer. While he was employed as a DeKalb County police officer, federal agents captured Gumbs on recorded phone calls with the “Chief Enforcer” for the Georgia Gangster Disciples. Evidence showed that during these calls, Gumbs relayed law enforcement information to the gang and provided a firearm to a fellow gang member. On later calls, the Chief Enforcer noted that he had Gangster Disciples police officers at his disposal.
Among other criminal activity, the Gangster Disciples engaged in the commission of murders. The jury found that Gumbs joined or remained in the racketeering conspiracy while knowing and agreeing that the gang engaged in murder.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Atlanta Police Department, and DeKalb County Police Department.
Principal Deputy Chief Kim S. Dammers of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS), Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan K. Buchanan, Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime and National Security Section, Erin N. Spritzer of the Northern District of Georgia, and Trial Attorney Conor Mulroe of OCGS prosecuted the case.
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.
Former Harvard Fencing Coach and Maryland Businessman Charged with BriberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former fencing coach at Harvard College and a Maryland businessman were arrested today and charged with conspiring to secure the admission of the businessman’s two sons to Harvard in exchange for bribes totaling more than $1.5 million.
Peter Brand, 67, of Cambridge, Mass., and Jie “Jack” Zhao, 61, of Potomac, Md., were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. Brand will make an initial appearance at 2:00 pm in federal court in Boston. Zhao will make initial appearance today in federal court in Greenbelt, Md.
“This case is part of our long-standing effort to expose and deter corruption in college admissions,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Millions of teenagers strive for college admission every year. We will do our part to make that playing field as level as we possibly can.”
“Today’s arrests show how Peter Brand’s and Jie Zhao’s plan to circumvent the college admissions process ended up backfiring on both of them. Now they are accused of exchanging more than $1.5 million in bribes for their own personal benefit,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work hard to identify others like them who are cheating the millions of kids laser-focused on getting into schools the right way.”
“As alleged, Peter Brand and Jie Zhao conspired in a scheme to secure the admission of Zhao’s two sons to Harvard College by recruiting them to join the men’s fencing team. The actions of both Brand and Zhao created an unfair playing field,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Joleen Simpson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. “I hope that the announcement of today’s charges against Brand and Zhao demonstrates to others that cheating to gain an unfair advantage will not be tolerated.”
According to the charging documents, Brand, the former head coach of men’s and women’s fencing at Harvard, conspired with Zhao, the chief executive of a telecommunications company, to facilitate the admission of Zhao’s sons to Harvard by recruiting them to join the men’s fencing team in exchange for money.
It is alleged that in or about May 2012, Brand told a co-conspirator, “Jack doesn’t need to take me anywhere and his boys don’t have to be great fencers. All I need is a good incentive to recruit them[.] You can tell him that[.]” In February 2013, as part of the alleged scheme, Zhao made a purported donation of $1 million to a fencing charity operated by a co-conspirator. Zhao’s older son was admitted to Harvard as a fencing recruit in December 2013, and matriculated in the fall of 2014. Shortly thereafter, the charity passed $100,000 on to the Peter Brand Foundation, a charitable entity established by Brand and his spouse. Thereafter, Zhao began making payments to, or for the benefit of, Brand.
In total, Zhao made $1.5 million in payments to Brand, or for Brand’s personal benefit, even as Brand recruited Zhao’s younger son to the Harvard fencing team. Zhao allegedly paid for Brand’s car, made college tuition payments for Brand’s son, paid the mortgage on Brand’s Needham residence, and later purchased the residence for well above its market value, thus allowing Brand to purchase a more expensive residence in Cambridge that Zhao then paid to renovate. Zhao’s younger son matriculated to Harvard in 2017. The complaint alleges that Brand did not disclose the payments to Harvard when recruiting Zhao’s sons.
The charge of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S Attorney Lelling, FBI SAC Bonavolonta, and IRS-CI Acting SAC Simpson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former DeKalb County police officer and Gangster Disciples member sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Vancito Gumbs, a former DeKalb County police officer and member of the Gangster Disciples, has been sentenced for racketeering conspiracy involving murder.
“Vancito Gumbs moonlighted as a member of the Gangster Disciples while serving as a DeKalb County Police Officer,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “His brazen disregard for his sworn duty as a police officer, betrayal of the public’s trust, and disregard for human life warrants the significant sentence he received in this case.”
“It is reprehensible for a law enforcement officer sworn to serve and protect the public to instead serve a ruthless gang that has preyed upon, and threatened the well-being of the good people in his community,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Because of the efforts of the FBI's Safe Streets Gang Task Force and its state and local partners, our community is safer and Gumbs is no longer a part of it.”
“No one is above the law and this sentencing demonstrates that everyone is held accountable for their actions even if they wear a badge,” said DeKalb Police Chief Mirtha V. Ramos.
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago dating back to the 1970s. The gang is highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as “Positions of Authority” or “POAs.” The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which is “Silence and Secrecy” – a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. Violations of the rule are punishable by death. Evidence at trial showed that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for twenty-four shootings from 2011 through 2015, including twelve murders.
Gumbs, who had been photographed flashing a hand sign used by the Gangster Disciples, was a self-professed “hitman” for the gang while serving as a police officer. While he was employed as a DeKalb County Police Officer, federal agents captured Gumbs on recorded phone calls with the “Chief Enforcer” for the Georgia Gangster Disciples. Evidence showed that during these calls, Gumbs relayed law enforcement information to the gang and provided a firearm to a fellow gang member. On later calls, the Chief Enforcer noted that he had Gangster Disciples police officers at his disposal.
Vancito Gumbs, 28, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Gumbs was convicted on May 16, 2019, of the offense of RICO conspiracy following a jury trial.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Police Department, and DeKalb County Police Department.
Kim S. Dammers, Principal Deputy Chief of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan K. Buchanan, Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime and National Security Section, and Erin N. Spritzer of the Northern District of Georgia, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Conor Mulroe of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Corrections Officer and Federal Detainee Indicted for Bribery Conspiracy Involving Contraband Cellphones Smuggled into the Indiana County JailRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Home, Pennsylvania, and a federal detainee housed at the Indiana County Jail (ICJ) have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges related to a bribery conspiracy involving smuggled contraband cellphones, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The five-count Indictment, returned on November 13 and unsealed today, charges Alex Lewis, 25, and Rashon Richardson, 30, with conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery of a public official, and use of a facility in interstate commerce in aid of bribery. Lewis is also charged with extortion under color of official right.
According to the Indictment, between June and August 2019, Lewis accepted multiple bribes from Rashon Richardson, while Lewis was employed as a corrections officer and Richardson was a federal detainee housed at ICJ pursuant to a contract with the United States Marshals Service. As part of the conspiracy, the Indictment alleges Richardson used an intermediary outside ICJ to meet with Lewis and pay bribes in the form of cash and, on one occasion, via a $400 payment to Lewis’s Cash App account. In return for the bribe payments, Lewis allegedly smuggled multiple contraband cellphones into ICJ for use by Richardson and other federal detainees housed at the facility.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, 15 years for the bribery charges, 20 years for the extortion under color of official right charge, and five years for the use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of bribery charge. The maximum fine per count in this case is $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. The Pennsylvania State Police and Indiana County Jail also provided assistance during the course of the investigation.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former CEO of Crown Bank Sentenced to Prison for Fraud and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of PETER EARL DAHL, 54, to a year and a day in prison for wire fraud and filing a false income tax return. DAHL, who pleaded guilty on July 20, 2020, was sentenced on November 16, 2020 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, while President and CEO of Minneapolis-based Crown Bank (“Crown”) from 2015 to 2017, DAHL engaged in a scheme to defraud the bank and several individuals. DAHL conducted transactions involving funds and credits of Crown for his own purposes and without permission of the bank’s board or shareholders and without notice to or approval of state and federal regulatory agencies. DAHL used various Crown accounts to cover his personal debts and expenditures and repeatedly kited obligations within accounts of Crown and between accounts at Crown and other banks. In connection with many such transactions, DAHL understood that records would be created at Crown. On many occasions DAHL made and caused to be made false entries in Crown’s records, either because records were created in accounts that did not legitimately belong to DAHL, or because a false entry had to be made in a record to cause funds to be released for the benefit of DAHL.
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, DAHL also defrauded prospective investors in Crown Bank’s holding company, Crown Bankshares. To entice investors to buy shares, DAHL made misrepresentations of material fact and concealed material facts from investors. For example, in March 2017 and later, DAHL represented to prospective investors that a merger with or acquisition by another bank was “imminent,” and that he was negotiating for the other bank to purchase Crown. DAHL specified a per-share premium of 25 percent to be received by investors and that he would remain with the surviving entity in a controlling management capacity. In reality, no merger was likely.
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, during this same period, DAHL knew that he was under scrutiny by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). DAHL did not disclose this material information when telling investors that he would remain in his position within the new entity. Prospective investors paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase bank stock based on the misrepresentations.
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, another aspect of the fraud involved DAHL arranging loans from individuals which were falsely described as loans to third parties, but with the funds actually going to DAHL. DAHL forged the signatures of at least two bank customers to obtain such loans for his personal use. DAHL also failed to disclose on his 2016 federal tax return the income obtained from the transactions, resulting in a loss to the IRS of more than $250,000.
As part of the case, DAHL was ordered to pay restitution and to forfeit $40,000 he had paid to the United States Marshals Service ostensibly to purchase Crown Bankshares stock that had been seized in the prosecution of Tom Petters.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigation, the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lewis.
Defendant Information:
PETER EARL DAHL, 54
Edina, Minn.
Convicted:
- Wire fraud, 1 count
- False income tax return, 1 count
Sentenced:
- A year and a day in prison
- Two years of supervised release
- Restitution of at least $468,799
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Feds Charge Third Officer from Explorer ProgramRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville Metro Police Department Officer involved with the Explorer Program has been charged with deprivation of rights under the color of law, announced U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. The grand jury charged Schuhmann, while acting under color of law, with willfully depriving Jane Doe, a minor, of a right secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States; that is, the right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right not to have her bodily integrity violated by a person acting under color of law. This offense involved sexual abuse in the first degree under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.110(d).
“Justice delayed in the still-ongoing Explorers investigation, by a pandemic, civil unrest, and other hurdles, does not mean justice denied. While I regret the time it has taken us to get to this point, I am proud of the dogged work of career prosecutors, the Louisville Public Corruption & Civil Rights Task Force, and our partners in the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “In stark contrast to those predators with a badge that our office has successfully prosecuted, this city is blessed by some of the finest law enforcement professionals in the nation; federal, state, and local.”
Brad Lee Schuhmann, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky, resigned from LMPD on November 4, 2020. He pled guilty to the Indictment on November 16, 2020.
According to a Plea Agreement, from May 2002 until April 2009, Schuhmann participated in the Louisville Metro Police Department Explorer Program as an Explorer. In April 2009, he applied for an LMPD sworn officer position. Several people associated with the Explorer Program, including the director of the program and other advisors, wrote letters of recommendation for Schuhmann. LMPD hired Schuhmann as a police officer. Upon completion of the training academy, he was sworn in and took the oath of office on January 29, 2010. Schuhmann remained involved in the Explorer Program during his training period and took on a more formal advisor role after being sworn in as a police officer with LMPD.
While working with the Explorer Program as an advisor, Schuhmann met Jane Doe, a minor participating in the program as an Explorer. The two communicated by cellular telephone, including texting. Schuhmann met Jane Doe outside of Explorer Program activities, including at her home and other locations in Louisville. During these meetings and communications, Schuhmann was in a position of authority or special trust, due to his role as an advisor with the Explorer Program. He came into contact with Jane Doe as a result of that position. When the two met at her home and other locations, Schuhmann subjected Jane Doe to sexual contact.
The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law is a federal misdemeanor. The defendant faces no more than one year in prison, a $100,000.00 fine, or both prison and a fine. He also faces one year of federal Supervised Release. Under the terms of his Plea Agreement, Schuhmann will register as a sex offender.
The United States Attorney’s Office previously prosecuted two other LPMD officers associated with the Explorer Program, Brandon Wood and Kenneth Betts. Wood was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release for attempted enticement. Betts was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty in December of 2018 to enticement, attempted enticement, possession of child pornography, transfer of obscene materials to a minor, and distribution of child pornography.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the cases. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit as part of the Louisville Public Corruption and Civil Rights Task Force. Federal prosecution of Mr. Schumann, like that of the two previous Explorers-related convictions, was achieved through close coordination with the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
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El Departamento de Justicia Llega a un Acuerdo con una Junta Escolar que Resuelve Acusaciones de Discriminación Relacionada con la InmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con la Junta Escolar del Condado de Palm Beach, Florida (el Distrito). El acuerdo resuelve acusaciones de que el Distrito había discriminado a empleados no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. que tenían autorización para trabajar en los EE. UU. al pedir que presentasen documentos específicos e innecesarios para demostrar su derecho legal a trabajar, debido a su estatus migratorio, en contra de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés).
«Los empleadores no deben discriminar a personas no ciudadanas de los EE. UU. que cuentan con autorización para trabajar a causa de sus supuestos erróneos acerca del estatus migratorio de tales personas», afirmó Eric Dreiband, el Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles. «Felicitamos a la Junta Escolar del Condado de Palm Beach por su colaboración con el Departamento de Justicia para garantizar la buena implementación de su política antidiscriminatoria».
Con base en su investigación, el Departamento concluyó que la Junta Escolar había solicitado documentos esepcíficos e innecesarios a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU., como, por ejemplo, pedir a trabajadores con autorización para trabajar que presentasen documentos específicos, en contra de la INA. Esto incluye pedir que ciertos individuos presentasen sus Tarjetas de Residencia Permanente (a veces conocidas como «tarjetas verdes» o «micas») o Documentos de Autorización para Trabajar, aunque esos trabajadores ya habían presentado otros documentos que demostraron su autorización para trabajar, tales como carnéts de identidad y tarjetas de seguro social sin restricciones.
La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA prohíbe que los empleadores pidan documentos adicionales o diferentes a los que sean necesarios para demostrar la autorización para trabajar con base en el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía del empleado o bien por su nacionalidad de origen. A su vez, en la INA, el Congreso determinó que todo individuo con autorización para trabajar, independientemente de su estatus de ciudadanía, puede elegir los documentos válidos y legalmente aceptables que desea presentar para demostrar su elegibilidad para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. No obstante, la INA sí permite que los empleadores rechacen documentos que no parecen ser genuinos.
Conforme los términos del acuerdo, el Distrito pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos que asciende a 90.000 $, pagará hasta 100.000 $ por concepto de pagos retroactivos a las personas que perdieron trabajo a causa de las solicitudes ilícitas de documentos y capacitará a los empleados del Distrito en cuanto a sus deberes legales.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; prácticas documentales injustas; y represalias o la intimidación.
Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía, o bien por su nacionalidad de origen, en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (p. ej. el Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sometidos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688; llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar la página web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
La División de Derechos Civiles quiere enterarse de más vulneraciones de derechos civiles. Miembros del público pueden informarnos de posibles vulneraciones de derechos civiles mediante el portal de declaraciones de la División de Derechos Civiles.
Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido sometidos a: discriminación por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; discriminación en el proceso de la verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) con base en su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen; o represalias pueden presentar una denuncia o llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores para pedir ayuda.
La Iniciativa para la Protección de Trabajadores en Este País, de la División de Derechos Civiles, se lanzó en el 2017 en la IER y señala,investiga y (donde proceda) aplica medidas de cumplimiento a empleadores que intencionalmente discriminen a trabajadores en este país por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía para dar preferencia a trabajadores temporales de visa. La IER ha llegado a numerosos acuerdos bajo la Iniciativa para la Protección de Trabajadores en Este País y empleadores han distribuido o acordado distribuir un total combinado de más de 1,2 millónes de dólares por concepto de pagos retroactivos a trabajadores afectadso en este país y sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos. Estos acuerdos implican empleadores que fueron discriminatorios en su uso de los programas de visa de H-1B, H-2A y H-2B.
Dayton business owner pleads guilty to COVID relief fraudRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Nadine Consuelo Jackson, 32, of Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman today to wire fraud related to two coronavirus relief Paycheck Protection Program loans. She also pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a bank within the jurisdiction of a federal agency related to financial assistance for businesses who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court records, Consuelo Jackson fraudulently sought forgivable loans in the amount of $1.3 million and $1.2 million from the Small Business Administration by claiming to have 73 employees earning wages at a Dayton-based private investigation and security services business, Extract LLC. In actuality, there were few to no other employees working at Extract LLC. Consuelo Jackson also allegedly submitted false tax documents in support of her fraud.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 27, 2020 designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with an interest rate of one percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by the business on certain permissible expenses like payroll costs. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be entirely forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time and uses a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. The amount of PPP funds a business may receive is determined by multiplying its average monthly payroll costs incurred during a specified period.
In Ohio, licensed Class A private investigation and security services businesses must register any employees of their business with the state. The only employee listed for Extract LLC is Nadine Jackson, named as an “Investigator/Caregiver.”
According to court documents, on two occasions Consuelo Jackson listed 73 Extract LLC employees with payroll wages totaling approximately $500,000 on loan application reports. Loans totaling more than $1 million were initially wired to Consuelo Jackson’s accounts and then flagged. The bank recalled one loan and the Government seized the other.
Court documents say Consuelo Jackson also applied for and received more than $46,000 in Economic Injury Disaster loan funding. It is alleged in her loan application, Consuelo Jackson stated Extract LLC had 8 employees. She then wired the funds in five transactions to another account. A seizure warrant was obtained to seize that money as well.
According to court documents, four “employees” named on Consuelo Jackson’s applications were interviewed by agents and stated they did not work for the company. Three of the individuals interviewed stated they had never heard of Extract LLC.
Consuelo Jackson has agreed to forfeit $1,290,817.00 to the U.S. Government as a result of her crimes.
Wire fraud is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Making a false statement within the jurisdiction of a federal agency carries a potential maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Donald Abram, Special Agent in Charge, Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General (SBA-OIG), and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth R. Rabe and Peter K. Glenn-Applegate are representing the United States in this case.
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Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to Prison for String of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Jonathan Dujan Gardin, 36, of Charlotte, to 220 months in prison and three years of supervised release, for committing a string of armed robberies of businesses in the Charlotte area, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Joining U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s is Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to filed documents and statements made in court, on February 16, 2019, Gardin and his co-conspirator, Mandale Roger Huntley, robbed the Family Dollar store located at 542 Valleydale Road, in Charlotte. According to court records, Huntley drove Gardin to the Family Dollar store, where Gardin entered the store, approached the cashier, pointed a firearm in cashier’s face and at other customers inside the store, and demanded money. Gardin obtained $195 from the cashier, and fled the scene on foot. Law enforcement apprehended Gardin and Huntley shortly thereafter.
Court records show that, over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined Gardin was responsible for multiple armed robberies of local area businesses, including the January 3, 2018, robbery of the Sam’s Mart, located at 4200 Glenwood Drive, in Charlotte. During that incident, court records show that Gardin entered the Sam’s Mart, approached employees behind the cashier’s desk, pointed his firearm at multiple employees, and demanded the store’s money. During the robbery, a store customer released his dog toward Gardin. Gardin fired his gun at the dog, injuring the canine, before fleeing scene with approximately $250 of the store’s cash.
On January 26, 2020, Gardin pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce or “Hobbs Act” robbery, carrying and brandishing a firearm, and discharging a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Huntley has pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and is currently awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was handled by the FBI and CMPD, with assistance from the Lancaster, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjeev Bhasker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, are prosecuting the case.
Burlington Man Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Thursday, November 12, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Allen Julian Fields Jr., age 33, of Burlington, to 121 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Manufacture or Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term, Fields was ordered to serve four years of supervised release as well as pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
In October of 2019, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Fields’ vehicle, and Fields drove away at a high rate of speed - in excess of 50 miles per hour on city streets. Fields wove in and out of traffic and drove directly at officers. Fields’ vehicle was eventually disabled and Fields and a passenger ran away. After both individuals were caught, officers located a bag containing 446.4 grams of methamphetamine. A search warrant was executed on Fields’ cell phone, which revealed text messages consistent with drug trafficking.
This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force (SEINT); Burlington Police Department; Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office; Henry County Sheriff’s Office; West Burlington Police Department; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations; and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Brazilian National Charged with Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national who previously resided in Chelsea was charged with the April 21, 2020 armed robbery of Lanzilli’s Grocery in Boston.
Diego Evangelista DaSilva, 33, was charged on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 with one count of armed robbery.
According to the charging documents, on April 21, 2020 at 8:20 p.m., an armed robbery occurred at Lanzilli’s Grocery in Boston. The robber was observed wearing a gray knit cap, a flesh colored mask, and a gray hooded sweatshirt with a red garment/jacket underneath. During the robbery, the robber passed a demand note to the clerk, made verbal demands for money and displayed what appeared to be a firearm tucked into the waistline of his pants. Following the robbery, law enforcement obtained surveillance photographs of the robber approaching Lanzillis, exiting the area, and at one point going between two buildings and later emerging wearing a red jacket and bulky clothing underneath. The robber then entered a store and used the store’s Wi-Fi to order a cab, which dropped off the robber near Washington Park in East Boston.
On April 26, 2020, law enforcement surveilled the area of Washington Park and observed an individual, who fit the physical description of the robber getting into and then driving away in a car. Law enforcement conducted a vehicle stop, determined that the driver, Da Silva, did not possess a driver’s license and detained him. During a later search of the car, a black semi-automatic BB gun was recovered under the vehicle’s seat, along with a gray knit cap.
A search of DaSilva’s home led to the seizure of a red jacket and other items consistent with the clothing worn by the robber. DaSilva was later interviewed and admitted to robbing Lanzilli’s and to his involvement in 11 other armed robberies between Jan. 4, 2020 and April 20, 2020 in Greater Boston.
The charge of Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 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 Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Everett Police Chief Steven Mazzie; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Box Elder Woman Sentenced for Meth Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Box Elder, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on November 12, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol.
Katera Ellen Greaves, a/k/a Tara, age 32, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Greaves was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) by a federal grand jury on March 3, 2020. She pled guilty on August 18, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until approximately February 2020.
On August 8, 2019, a vehicle Greaves was driving in, for the purposes of transporting methamphetamine, was stopped and searched by law enforcement. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement located over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Nash prosecuted the case.
Greaves was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Boston Man Indicted on Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man, who is currently on supervised release for a 2010 bank robbery conviction, was indicted in connection with bank robbery.
Dennis C. Taylor, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 12, 2020 on one count of bank robbery. He was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Nov. 4, 2020.
According to charging documents, on April 29, 2020, Taylor, dressed in a dark hooded jacket, blue latex gloves and a facemask entered a branch of the Santander Bank on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, approached a teller and demanded the money. The teller handed Taylor cash, which he placed in a white plastic bag and exited the bank. Included within the cash was a red dye pack. Surveillance cameras on Massachusetts Avenue captured video of Taylor exiting the area and running towards a local parking garage as the red dye pack exploded into a plume of red smoke. During a subsequent search of the parking garage, law enforcement recovered a white plastic bag containing red dye stained money and a pair of blue latex gloves, which were found to match Taylor’s DNA profile.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 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 Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Hacel Alfredo Alvarez, 36, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. In addition, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd ordered the forfeiture of Alvarez’s residence, which was used to facilitate his drug trafficking activities.
Alvarez pleaded guilty on Jan. 27. According to court documents, during the execution of a search warrant, officers found 21 pounds of methamphetamine and over 1 pound of heroin at his residence in Bakersfield. The officers also found over $10,000 in cash, which was previously forfeited. Alvarez admitted that he had been distributing methamphetamine for over one and a half years.
At sentencing, Judge Drozd stated that the sheer quantities of drugs involved are too significant to cast aside. Alvarez’s conduct was “serious” and his “ongoing criminal behavior” justified a lengthy sentence.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Southern Tri-County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force, which consists of agents from Homeland Security Investigations and Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen A. Escobar and Kevin Khasigian prosecuted the case.
Atlanta woman charged with unemployment insurance benefit fraud and identity theftRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Kadeidra Ra'Shawon White has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment benefits have provided a lifeline to many Americans facing economic hardships and job losses,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “This defendant lined her pockets with this money and drained critical resources when they were most needed to combat the financial impact of the pandemic.”
“An important mission of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance benefit programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement and state workforce agency partners to pursue individuals who seek to undermine the integrity of the unemployment insurance program,” said Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“In a time of vulnerability in our country, Postal Inspectors are ever vigilant in bringing to justice individuals who exploit the Covid-19 crisis for their own financial gain,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “An important mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to protect the integrity of the U.S. Mail system and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold criminals accountable for their illegal activities.”
“This investigation and subsequent indictment demonstrates the commitment the Secret Service and our law enforcement partners have in aggressively pursuing those who commit access device fraud and identity theft,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “These charges prove our continuing resolve to eliminate corruption, particularly when the funds should have been used to help our neediest families.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act created a temporary federal program that provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits and also instituted a temporary additional unemployment benefit of $600 per week.
From at least June 2020, through October 8, 2020, White is alleged to have filed fraudulent online applications for unemployment benefits with the States of Arizona, Ohio, and Nevada. The online applications were filed in victims’ names without their permission and included the victims’ dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and other personally identifiable information.
As a result of the online applications, unemployment benefits were issued in the victims’ names and transferred onto debit cards. The debit cards were then mailed to addresses within the Atlanta area that were associated with or accessible to the defendant. It is further alleged that on or about October 8, 2020, the defendant possessed at least fifteen unauthorized access devices, including Social Security numbers and debit cards.
Kadeidra Ra'Shawon White, 27, of Clarkston, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman, charged with seven counts of wire fraud, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices. White was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 28, 2020. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly K. Connors is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Saturday 14 November 2020
Pueblo Woman Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute OxycodoneRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Connie Gill, of Pueblo, was sentenced to serve 66 months (over 5 years) in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone. Gill appeared remotely while in custody. She was remanded at the conclusion of the hearing. The DEA joined in this announcement.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, between February 8, 2019 and February 27, 2019, Gill possessed with intent to distribute Oxycodone. During this time period, she created dozens of fake prescriptions for Oxycodone, using the names of at least three medical practitioners without their knowledge or permission. She obtained the necessary supplies from local office supply stores and used a publicly available application on her cell phone to design the prescriptions.
Gill directed other individuals to fill or attempt to fill the fraudulent prescriptions at pharmacies in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. After obtaining the Oxycodone from the pharmacy, Gill and others would divide the pills. In some cases, Gill paid the other individuals in cash upon receiving the pills.
On February 27, 2019, a confidential informant arranged to purchase methamphetamine from Gill at her hotel room in Pueblo. The informant purchased 3.06 grams of methamphetamine from her. That same day, Pueblo Police officers executed a search warrant for Gill’s hotel room. Inside, officers found prescription bottles, printed fake prescriptions, blue prescription paper, a printer filled with prescription paper, a paper cutter, and multiple scales.
In all, based on the fake prescriptions that were filled and those which Gill created but were not yet filled, she either possessed with the intent to distribute or intended to possess with the intent to distribute at least 16.8 grams of Oxycodone.
“Opioids are killing people, and my office is doing everything possible to stop the illegal distribution of drugs like Oxycodone,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “Thanks to the hard work of the DEA and the Pueblo Police Department, a drug dealer is behind bars.”
“I’d like to highlight the work that the Pueblo Police Department put into this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter of the DEA Denver Field Division. “It’s partnerships like this, with local and state agencies, that get these dangerous drugs off the street and out of our neighborhoods.”
Gill was sentenced on November 13, 2020 by U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez. She was first indicted by a federal grand jury on November 21, 2019 and then later charged by information and pleaded guilty on June 23, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Denver Division of the DEA and the Pueblo Police Department. Gill was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajiv Mohan and Jena Rose Neuscheler.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-485.
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.
Friday 13 November 2020
Warsaw, Indiana Woman ChargedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Heather Bentley, age 35, of Warsaw, Indiana was charged in a criminal Complaint with making false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in this case, Heather Bentley purchased three firearms on November 4, 2020. When she purchased the firearms, she certified that she was the actual buyer of the firearms. However, it is alleged that other individuals had given her over $1,500 to purchase the firearms. Bentley indicated during a later interview that two individuals who she knew to be felons had asked her to buy guns because they were fleeing from the police. Bentley allegedly provided all three firearms to those individuals. Two days later, on November 6, 2020, two police officers in Delafield, Wisconsin responded to a call for service. Those officers encountered these same two individuals, one of whom shot both of the police officers. Both individuals were arrested in Wisconsin.
"The charges in this case allege the defendant made a straw purchase, which is when a person acquires a firearm from a federal firearms licensee for someone else, who is either ineligible to purchase the firearm or wishes to conceal their identity,” commented ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division. “ATF will continue to investigate these serious violations, which put not only the community at risk, but, as illustrated in this complaint, law enforcement as well.”
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the Judge after a consideration of federal statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Delafield, Wisconsin Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly Donnelly.
VA Meth Trafficker, Purchasing Drugs in GA, Sentenced to 12+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Virginia man, tied to the purchase of approximately three kilos of methamphetamine in Georgia, has been sentenced to serve more than 12 years in a federal prison, said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Joseph Williams, aka Lex Willie, 38, of Staunton, Virginia was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on Tuesday, November 10 to 151 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
Williams admitted to agents that between October 7, 2018 and October 9, 2018, he directed an individual to pick up two kilograms of methamphetamine in middle Georgia. After that person was arrested with $15,800 that was to be used to purchase the two kilograms of methamphetamine, Williams himself traveled to Georgia to pick up one kilogram of methamphetamine. Investigating agents then conducted a surveillance of Williams purchasing approximately one kilo of methamphetamine from a supplier at a Byron, Georgia hotel parking lot on October 9, 2018.
“The penalty is steep for those caught trafficking methamphetamine—federal prison without parole,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank the many law enforcement agencies involved in shutting down this methamphetamine supply chain.”
The case was investigated by the Byron Police Department, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard 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.
Two New York Men Charged with Passing Altered Postal Money OrdersRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ANTOINE MERCHANT, age 32, and ANTHONY SMALLS, age 32, both of New York, New York, were charged today in a four-count indictment by the Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana with conspiracy to pass altered U.S. Postal money orders, passing altered U.S. Postal money orders and possessing stolen U.S. government property.
According to court records, MERCHANT and SMALLS travelled from New York to Louisiana in October of 2019 to cash stolen U.S. Postal money orders that had been altered to show amounts worth hundreds of dollars. MERCHANT and SMALLS cashed two such postal money orders, each with an altered face value of $850.00, in Kenner and Metairie, LA. When arrested, the defendants also possessed 58 U.S. Postal money orders that they had stolen from an Ascension Parish U.S. Post Office the day before.
MERCHANT and SMALLS face a sentence of up to ten years in prison on the possession charge and up to five years in prison for the Postal money order charges, up to $250,000 in fines, up to three years of supervised release and a special assessment of $100 for each count per each defendant.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with assistance from the Louisiana State Police - Criminal Investigations Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.
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Tribal Law Enforcement expert hired to coordinate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Program in WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle - U.S. Attorneys Brian T. Moran and William D. Hyslop are pleased to announce the selection of David J. Rogers to serve as the program coordinator of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person program for the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Washington State. David Rogers has an extensive career in law enforcement as a Police Chief, consultant, trainer, lecturer, and educator.
“I am so pleased to have David fill this important role, moving our state forward in investigations of missing persons cases involving our tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “As an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe, with deep experience and contacts in Pacific Northwest tribal communities, he is ideally qualified to work with our tribal partners to increase safety and security in Indian Country.”
“The problem of missing persons and murders occurring within our tribal nations in Washington State and in other parts of the Country is real,” said U.S. Attorney Hyslop. “David Rogers has broad experience in Tribal law enforcement. He will be working exclusively on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous persons. I expect him to have frequent contact with Tribal leaders, law enforcement officers, and victim/witnesses within Indian Country in the State of Washington as we all work together to address this problem.”
For the past four years, David Rogers has run his own consulting firm, Tribal Public Safety Innovations LLC, involved in the training of tribal police and probation officers across the country. From 2013 to 2016, Chief Rogers served as Chief of Police for the Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai, Idaho. As Tribal Police Chief, he was responsible for a 24-person department covering a 1,200 square-mile-area of jurisdiction. From 2003-2013, Chief Rogers was the Tribal Public Safety Manager at the Criminal Justice Center for Innovation at the National Criminal Justice Training Center in Wisconsin. In that role he developed and implemented training for law enforcement officers in tribal police forces across the country and served as Director of the National Indian Youth Police Academy introducing Native American youth to careers in the Criminal Justice field.
Prior to his position with the Criminal Justice Center for Innovation, Chief Rogers served as a program manager at the Western Community Policing Institute at Western Oregon University. While there, he was a key trainer on U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing programs for more than 200 tribal communities across the country. Early in his law enforcement career, Chief Rogers served on police forces in Clark County, Washington; Multnomah County, Oregon; Latah County, Idaho; and Columbia River Inter-Tribal Enforcement, Hood River, Oregon.
U.S. Attorney William Barr announced the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Person Initiative in November 2019, and the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington joined forces to hire a coordinator who could lead the initiative in all 29 tribal communities in Washington. As the MMIP coordinator, Chief Rogers will work closely with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies to develop common protocols and procedure for responding to reports of missing or murdered indigenous people. Chief Rogers will work closely with the Tribal Liaisons in both the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, as well as state and local partners, working on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous persons.
Texarkana Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Connection with Hope Area Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Texarkana, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that on November 12, 2020, James Earl Bradford, 61, of Texarkana, Arkansas, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing, in the United States District Court’s Texarkana Division.
According to court records, Agents with the 8th North Drug Task Force (“DTF”) began investigating Bradford after receiving information that he was distributing narcotics in Hope, Arkansas. On April 11, 2019, Agents located and made contact with Bradford in Hope. Knowing that Bradford was on state parole, and had an active search wavier on file, the agents searched Bradford’s person and vehicle. Inside Bradford’s vehicle, Agents found multiple bags of suspected cocaine base, or “crack,” several baggies of marijuana, items drug paraphernalia and several thousand dollars in cash. Bradford later admitted, following Miranda warnings, that he had been selling crack in Hope for some time.
The bags of suspected cocaine base were taken to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis. The crime laboratory later determined that they contained over 29 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base.
Bradford was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2019, and entered a guilty plea in November of 2019.
This case was investigated by the 8th North Drug Task Force, Hempstead County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case for the Western District of Arkansas.
Syracuse Resident Sentenced to Nine Years for Drug Conspiracy and DistributionRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Isidro De Los Santos, age 33, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve nine years (108 months) in federal prison for his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division, and Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department.
As part of his previous guilty plea, De Los Santos admitted that he conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and cocaine from a location on Syracuse’s west side. In pleading guilty, De Los Santos admitted that on six (6) occasions between December 2018, and January 2019, he and co-conspirator Anthony Moreno sold drugs during an undercover operation conducted by ATF, DEA, and the Syracuse Police Department. On January 31, 2019, ATF Agents assisted by DEA and the Syracuse Police Department Special Investigations Division, executed a federal search warrant at Isidro De Los Santos’s residence and recovered over twenty-one ounces (608 grams) of heroin mixed with fentanyl in two packages. A federal search warrant executed at the adjacent apartment of Anthony Moreno on the same day resulted in the seizure of over 18 ounces (521grams) of cocaine. Anthony Moreno pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Isidro De Los Santos was also sentenced to serve a five (5) year term of supervised release after he is released from prison and ordered to forfeit $15,740.00. He faces separate civil proceedings in Immigration Court concerning his removal from the United States to the Dominican Republic.
This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick.
Six Indicted for Bribery Scheme at Federal Prison in PetersburgRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging six individuals with conspiracy to bribe staff members and receive bribes as staff members at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Petersburg to introduce drugs, cigarettes, and cellular telephones into the federal prison and to allow the running of an inmate gambling operation in violation of Bureau of Prison regulations.
According to the indictment, Stephen Taylor, 48, and Shanice Bullock, 28, who were employed at the prison in Petersburg, sought and received tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the conspiracy from inmate Dontay Cox, 37, and associates of Cox, including his mother, Kim Williams, 56, and girlfriend, Rameesha Smith, 36, to facilitate the introduction of the controlled substances, cigarettes, and cellular telephones.
According to the indictment, Cox worked alongside other inmates at FCI Petersburg, including fellow FCI Petersburg inmate Travian Taylor, 29, to run his contraband scheme inside the prison. FCI Petersburg inmates and their associates would then pay Williams, Smith, and another co-conspirator using a variety of methods. Stephen Taylor and Bullock were paid thousands of dollars via wire transfers from Walmart-2-Walmart.
All six defendants are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Additionally, Stephen Taylor, Bullock, Williams, and Cox are charged with multiple counts of offering bribes to and receiving bribes by public officials. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison per count. Cox is also charged with possessing marijuana in the prison. If convicted, Cox faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Simon, Jr. and Michael C. Moore are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-125.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.