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5 November 2020
Convicted Rapist and Armed Robber Arrested on Federal Charges After Assuming Another Identity for More Than 40 YearsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Douglas E. Bennett (76, Clearwater) with passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. Bennett was arrested on November 4, 2020. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, in or around July 2016, Bennett submitted a passport application using the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of an individual who had died in 1945. When applying for this passport, Bennett failed to disclose his true identity.
In 1975, Bennett was convicted by a jury in Connecticut of robbery, kidnapping, sexual contact, rape, and deviate sexual intercourse. He was sentenced to 9 - 18 years in Connecticut State Prison. Bennett, however, never turned himself in to begin his sentence. Records show, in 1977, he assumed the identity of the individual who had died in 1945 and remained a fugitive for more than 40 years.
On November 4, 2020, Bennett was arrested pursuant to both the federal and State of Connecticut warrants. A fingerprint comparison confirmed that Bennett was the same person convicted in Connecticut in 1975. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a Florida driver license bearing the false identifying information, but containing Bennett’s photograph.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and with substantial support from the Department of State National Passport Center, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Connecticut U.S. Marshals Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Favorit.
Colorado Man Admits Securities and Tax Offenses Related to $722 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Colorado man today admitted his role in a conspiracy to offer and sell unregistered securities and tax evasion in connection with a $722 million cryptocurrency mining scheme, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jobadiah Sinclair Weeks, 39, of Arvada, Colorado, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to Count Two of an indictment, charging him with conspiracy to offer and sell unregistered securities. Weeks also pleaded guilty to a separate information charging him with tax evasion for the tax years 2015 through 2018.
Weeks and four co-defendants – Matthew Brent Goettsche, Russ Albert Medlin, Catalin Balaci, and Joseph Frank Abel – were charged by indictment in December 2019 in connection with the scheme.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2014 through December 2019, the BitClub Network was a fraudulent scheme that solicited money from investors in exchange for shares of purported cryptocurrency mining pools and rewarded investors for recruiting new investors into the scheme. Weeks operated as a large-scale promoter of the BitClub Network, and sold shares despite knowing that the BitClub Network and its operators did not file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Weeks admitted taking money from investors in exchange for shares of the BitClub Network’s purported mining pools. He admitted that in order to promote shares, he created and posted videos to the internet and gave presentations and speeches about the BitClub Network throughout the United States and in numerous countries throughout the world. Weeks instructed investors in the United States to use a virtual private network, or “VPN,” to hide their U.S.-based IP addresses and evade detection and regulation by U.S. law enforcement.
Weeks also admitted not filing tax returns and failing to report at least $10 million in income, including cryptocurrency income earned from his association with the BitClub Network, for the tax years 2015 through 2018.
The conspiracy charge to which Weeks pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims. The tax charge to which Weeks pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $100,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 17, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents and task force officers of the FBI Los Angeles Division’s West Covina Resident Agency, under the direction of Assistant Director in Charge Kristi K. Johnson; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez in Newark and special agents of the IRS Los Angeles Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner, who conducted this investigation under the initiative of the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement; the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, under the supervision of Assistant Director Calvin A. Shivers, and the Financial Crimes Section, under the leadership of Section Chief Steven Merrill; and members of the Ventura Police Department with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim may visit www.justice.gov/usao-nj/bitclub or the Department of Justice’s large case website www.justice.gov/largecases. Victims can find more information about the case, including a questionnaire for victims to fill out and submit.
The government is represented by Unit Chief David W. Feder, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie L. Hoxie and Anthony P. Torntore of the Cybercrime Unit, and Unit Chief Sarah Devlin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Minish of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Church Point Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of CocaineRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Elton J. Richard, III, 44, of Church Point, Louisiana, was sentenced today. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Richard to 57 months (4 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Richard pleaded guilty on June 11, 2020.
During the early morning hours of September 22, 2018, a Lake Charles Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop of a tow truck being driven by Richard on Interstate 10. The officer’s K-9 partner conducted an open-air sniff around the tow truck and alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the tow truck. A search of the vehicle revealed a suitcase in the backseat containing 27 large bundles wrapped with electric tape. The officer also observed a loose white powdery substance on the outside of some of the bundles and suspected it to be cocaine. Richard was arrested and taken into custody. Subsequent lab tests revealed that each of the 27 bundles contained one-kilogram each of cocaine.
The DEA and Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.
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Chinese Man Sentenced for Possession of A Machine GunRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Rejjie Ni, 24, of Shanghai, China, who was convicted of possession of a machine gun, was sentenced to time served (11 months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who handled the case, stated that on March 18, 2019, the Amherst Police Department responded to the defendant’s apartment following a report that there were a large number of firearms inside the residence. During the execution of a search warrant, officers recovered 33 rifles, two shotguns, and numerous rounds of ammunition, including armor piercing bullets.
One of the rifles recovered was a semi-automatic rifle under Ni’s bed. Subsequent investigation and expert analysis determined that the defendant had converted the semi-automatic rifle into a fully automatic machinegun.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division, the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Askey, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
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Brewer Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Brewer man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of two firearms, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jamey Brigley, 33, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. Brigley pleaded guilty on March 5, 2020.
According to court records, on May 17, 2019, Brewer police officers found Brigley in possession of brass knuckles. He later physically resisted and struggled with an officer, and two additional officers had to assist in securing him. When officers searched his backpack following his arrest, they found two pistols, one of which had an obliterated, unreadable serial number. Brigley admitted that he knew he could not legally buy or own a firearm. He was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, including convictions for Unlawful Possession of Oxycodone and Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs in 2015.
The Brewer Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psn.
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Billings resident sentenced to prison for trafficking methRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted supplying methamphetamine to others in the community was sentenced today to four years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lynn Robert Kuntz, 46, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth on May 28.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The prosecution said in court documents that in June 2019, drug task force officers learned that a co-defendant, Shawna Bercier, was distributing meth from her workplace in Laurel. Agents set up two controlled purchases with Bercier. In the second purchase, another co-defendant, Patrick Cleveland, provided Bercier with the meth she sold to a confidential informant. Agents followed Cleveland to a Billings residence, which was familiar to agents from previous drug investigations. Agents knew Kuntz lived at this residence and was identified as a meth supplier. Investigators executed a search warrant on Kuntz’s residence and found meth and $7,729 in cash
Cleveland was sentenced in June to six years in prison for his conviction in the case. Bercier has pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Austin Man Faces Federal Charges for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and a Destructive DeviceRead the Press Release
In Austin today, federal authorities filed a criminal complaint against an Austin man for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
The criminal complaint charges 38-year-old Erich Michael Wittwer with one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, namely a convicted felon, and one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device. The criminal complaint alleges that while executing a search warrant in the defendant’s residence earlier today, federal agents discovered a .308 caliber semi-automatic assault rifle and a homemade destructive device.
According to the criminal complaint, Wittwer’s criminal history reveals two prior felony convictions in 2009 for Assault Family Violence in Travis County, Texas.
Each charge calls for up to ten years in federal prison upon conviction. Wittwer remains in federal custody following his arrest earlier today.
The FBI is investigating this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Cherry is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is part of 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.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Danyel Megal Black (40, Bradenton) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. The court also ordered Black to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
A federal jury had found Black guilty on November 8, 2019.
According to testimony presented at trial, on February 19, 2019, Black was serving a term of probation from a state court sentence. His probation officer had scheduled a home compliance visit for that day.
On the day of the visit, law enforcement officers arrived at Black’s apartment. Black arrived at his residence more than half an hour late and let the officers into the apartment that he shared with his girlfriend and their two small children.
During a subsequent search, pursuant to the compliance visit, the officers recovered from Black’s nightstand nearly half an ounce of cocaine in a plastic bag with a razor, and several small baggies of individually wrapped cocaine. The officers also found a loaded 9mm magazine in the bedroom linen closet. In the kitchen, officers discovered an orange pot and scale, both with cocaine residue. They also located a stolen, loaded firearm in a dresser drawer in Black’s two-year-old son’s room. Two cellphones and $1,865 was found in Black’s car.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Corrections-Sarasota Circuit Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie D. Connally and Michael Sinacore.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN) — a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety—one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
4 November 2020
Wilmington Man Sentenced for Pointing Gun at Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, James Edward Clarida, Jr., 29, was indicted in May 2019, for possession of a firearm by felon. On March 31, 2019, Clarida was the passenger in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation by officers with the Wilmington Police Department. As the car came to a stop, Clarida jumped from the car and ran from officers. An officer immediately ran after Clarida. During the foot pursuit, Clarida turned and pointed a handgun at the officer. The officer took cover behind a parked vehicle and lost sight of Clarida. Other officers responded to the area and, with the assistance of the K9 unit, tracked Clarida, who was hiding under a nearby residence. He was placed under arrest and the path of Clarida’s flight was searched. Officers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun along that path. Clarida was a convicted felon at the time of his possession of the firearm.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Wilmington Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-CR-91-M.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Wareham Man Indicted on Charge of Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Wareham man was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for possession of child pornography.
David St. Jacques, 56, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. St. Jacques was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in September 2020, and has been in custody since.
According to the charging documents, a search of St. Jacques’s residence on Sept. 29, 2020 resulted in seizure of a computer, three phones and one thumb drive. St Jacques had allegedly destroyed at least two other drives and attempted to destroy one of his phones when agents arrived to execute the warrant. St. Jacques admitted to exchanging child pornography with other individuals on various chatting applications, and child pornography was discovered during the on scene review of devices that were still intact.
In March 2009, St. Jacques was convicted in Plymouth County Superior Court of several counts of dissemination and possession of child pornography.
Due to the prior felony conviction, St. Jacques faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to life 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 and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Violent Fugitive from Dyersburg Charged in Federal Court with Shooting of Federal Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Bobby Joe Claybrook, Jr., 39, of Dyersburg, TN has been federally charged with discharging a firearm during an assault on a federal officer. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the filing of the federal criminal complaint today.
According to the federal complaint, on August 3, 2020, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force based in Jackson, Tennessee received warrants for Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, three counts of Aggravated Assault, and Felon in Possession of Firearm from the Dyersburg Police Department for the arrest of Bobby Joe Claybrook, Jr. The U.S. Marshals Task Force adopted the case and began searching for Claybrook, who was on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Most Wanted List.
On Monday, November 2, 2020, the USMS Task Force tracked Claybrook to a home on Morningside Drive in Jackson, Tennessee. As the Task Force approached the residence to knock and announce their presence, two Task Force officers sustained injuries as a result of multiple gunshots fired from the residence. A perimeter was established, and the Task Force called the Jackson Police Department for assistance. The Jackson Police Department’s SWAT Team and negotiators arrived, and after a lengthy standoff, Claybrook surrendered without further incident. One of the injured USMS Task Force members was a Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Agent, and the other was a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Both members of the Task Force were treated for their injuries and released from a local hospital.
During the resulting investigation of the shooting incident, the TBI executed a state search warrant on the residence and located a .9mm firearm and several .9mm shell casings inside the residence near the window where Claybrook carried out his assault on the Task Force officers.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "We take all threats against law enforcement very seriously, and we have zero tolerance for any assault on federal officers. I commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal and local law enforcement partners in quickly responding to apprehend this dangerous offender without further incident."
If convicted in federal court, Claybrook faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for the assault on a federal officer, and a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The case will be presented to a federal grand jury at a later date to consider an indictment against the defendant, where additional federal offenses may be charged. There is no parole in the federal system.
At the request of 26th Judicial District Attorney General Jody Pickens, the TBI has also charged Claybrook in state court with the offenses of one count of Criminal Attempt to Commit First Degree Murder Causing Serious Bodily Injury, four counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit First Degree Murder, five counts of Employing a Firearm in the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and one count of Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon. Claybrook has multiple prior violent felony convictions from Dyer and Obion counties, including for attempted first-degree murder, eight aggravated assault convictions, and aggravated burglary.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Jackson Police Department (JPD) Criminal Investigation Division, JPD SWAT and Gang Unit, Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Unit, Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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United States Seizes 27 Additional Domain Names Used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Further a Global, Covert Influence CampaignRead the Press Release
The United States has seized 27 domain names that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unlawfully used to further a global covert influence campaign.
As described in the seizure documents, all 27 domains were being used in violation of U.S. sanctions targeting both the Government of Iran and the IRGC. Four of the domains purported to be genuine news outlets but were actually controlled by the IRGC and targeted audiences in the United States, to covertly influence United States policy and public opinion, in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The remainder targeted audiences in other parts of the world. This seizure warrant follows an earlier seizure of 92 domains used by the IRGC for similar purposes.
“Within the last month we have announced seizures of Iran’s weapons, fuel, and covert influence infrastructure,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “As long as Iran’s leaders are trying to destabilize the world through the state-sponsorship of terrorism and the taking of hostages, we will continue to enforce U.S. sanctions and take other legal steps to counter them.”
“Today's 29 seizures are another important step against Iran's worldwide disinformation campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “This work will continue. We cannot allow Iran's attachment to fake news to overtake our commitment to the rule of law.”
“The FBI is aggressively investigating any evidence of foreign influence and the unlawful spread of disinformation by hostile nations. Today, we seized 27 additional domains that Iran’s IRGC was illegally using in attempt to manipulate public opinion in other countries, including the United States,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair. “Thanks to our ongoing collaboration with Google, Facebook, and Twitter, the FBI was able to disrupt this Iranian propaganda campaign and we will continue to pursue any attempts by foreign actors to spread disinformation in our country.”
The seizure warrant, issued on Nov. 3, 2020, describes how the 27 seized domain names were being operated in violation of federal law. Control of the domains by the IRGC violated the International Emergency and Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), which prohibit U.S. persons from providing services to the Government of Iran without a license. Further, the United States has found that the IRGC has provided material support to a number of terrorist groups, including Hizballah, Hamas, and the Taliban. As such, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added the IRGC to its list of Specially Designated Nationals, imposing additional licensing requirements. As described in the seizure documents, the 27 domains were registered with U.S.-based domain registrars and used top-level domains owned by U.S.-based registries. Neither the IRGC nor the Government of Iran obtained a license from OFAC prior to using the domain names and obtaining services from the U.S. providers.
In addition, four of the 27 domain names, “rpfront.com,” “ahtribune.com,” “awdnews.com,” and “criticalstudies.org,” were also seized pursuant to FARA. FARA establishes a registration, reporting, and disclosure regime for agents of foreign principals (including foreign governments and their agencies) so that the U.S. government and the people of the United States are informed of the source of information and the identity of persons attempting to influence U.S. public opinion, policy, and law.
FARA requires, among other things, that persons subject to its requirements submit periodic registration statements containing truthful information about their activities and the income earned from them. Disclosure of the required information allows the federal government and the American people to evaluate the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents. Here, the four domains purported to be independent news outlets, but they were actually operated by or on behalf of the IRGC to target the United States with pro-Iranian propaganda in an attempt to covertly influence the American people to change United States policy concerning Iran and the Middle East.
These domains targeted a United States audience without proper registration pursuant to FARA and without notifying the American public with a conspicuous label that the content of the domains was being published on behalf of foreign principals, the IRGC and the Government of Iran.
Visitors to the sites received the following message:
This seizure was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Special Prosecutions Section and Asset Forfeiture Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, and the Counterespionage Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, are prosecuting the seizure.
United States Seizes 27 Additional Domain Names Used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Further A Global, Covert Influence CampaignRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The United States has seized 27 domain names that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unlawfully used to further a global covert influence campaign.
As described in the seizure documents, all 27 domains were being used in violation of U.S. sanctions targeting both the Government of Iran and the IRGC. Four of the domains purported to be genuine news outlets but were actually controlled by the IRGC and targeted audiences in the United States, to covertly influence United States policy and public opinion, in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The remainder targeted audiences in other parts of the world. This seizure warrant follows an earlier seizure of 92 domains used by the IRGC for similar purposes.
“Today's 27 seizures are another important step against Iran's worldwide disinformation campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “This work will continue. We cannot allow Iran's attachment to fake news to overtake our commitment to the rule of law.”
“Within the last month we have announced seizures of Iran’s weapons, fuel, and covert influence infrastructure,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “As long as Iran’s leaders are trying to destabilize the world through the state-sponsorship of terrorism and the taking of hostages, we will continue to enforce U.S. sanctions and take other legal steps to counter them.”
“The FBI is aggressively investigating any evidence of foreign influence and the unlawful spread of disinformation by hostile nations. Today, we seized 27 additional domains that Iran’s IRGC was illegally using in attempt to manipulate public opinion in other countries, including the United States,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair. “Thanks to our ongoing collaboration with Google, Facebook, and Twitter, the FBI was able to disrupt this Iranian propaganda campaign and we will continue to pursue any attempts by foreign actors to spread disinformation in our country.”
The seizure warrant, issued on Nov. 3, 2020, describes how the 27 seized domain names were being operated in violation of federal law. Control of the domains by the IRGC violated the International Emergency and Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), which prohibit U.S. persons from providing services to the Government of Iran without a license. Further, the United States has found that the IRGC has provided material support to a number of terrorist groups, including Hizballah, Hamas, and the Taliban. As such, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added the IRGC to its list of Specially Designated Nationals, imposing additional licensing requirements. As described in the seizure documents, the 27 domains were registered with U.S.-based domain registrars and used top-level domains owned by U.S.-based registries. Neither the IRGC nor the Government of Iran obtained a license from OFAC prior to using the domain names and obtaining services from the U.S. providers.
In addition, four of the 27 domain names, “rpfront.com,” “ahtribune.com,” “awdnews.com,” and “criticalstudies.org,” were also seized pursuant to FARA. FARA establishes a registration, reporting, and disclosure regime for agents of foreign principals (including foreign governments and their agencies) so that the U.S. government and the people of the United States are informed of the source of information and the identity of persons attempting to influence U.S. public opinion, policy, and law.
FARA requires, among other things, that persons subject to its requirements submit periodic registration statements containing truthful information about their activities and the income earned from them. Disclosure of the required information allows the federal government and the American people to evaluate the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents. Here, the four domains purported to be independent news outlets, but they were actually operated by or on behalf of the IRGC to target the United States with pro-Iranian propaganda in an attempt to covertly influence the American people to change United States policy concerning Iran and the Middle East.
These domains targeted a United States audience without proper registration pursuant to FARA and without notifying the American public with a conspicuous label that the content of the domains was being published on behalf of foreign principals, the IRGC and the Government of Iran.
Visitors to the sites received the following message:
This seizure was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The Special Prosecutions Section and Asset Forfeiture Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, and the Counterespionage Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, are prosecuting the seizure.
U.S. Seizes Virtual Currencies Valued at $24 Million Assisting Brazil in Major Internet Fraud InvestigationRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it has seized virtual currency worth an estimated $24 million on behalf of the Brazilian government.
The seizure order was obtained pursuant to an official request from the government of Brazil, made under the Treaty between the United States of America and the Federative Republic of Brazil on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, for assistance in connection with a large cryptocurrency fraud scheme in a Brazilian federal police investigation called “Operation Egypto.” Brazilian authorities estimate that more than $200 million was obtained through this scheme through which more than tens of thousands of Brazilians may have been defrauded.
Brazilian federal prosecutors have charged several individuals in the case. The U.S. seizures were tied to Brazilian Marcos Antonio Fagundes’ alleged role in the scheme. As the United States alleged based on information provided by Brazilian authorities, Fagundes is charged with several criminal violations of Brazilian law, including, among other offenses, the operation of a financial institution without legal authorization, fraudulent management of a financial institution, misappropriation, and money laundering, as well as securities law violations. The Brazilian court issued a seizure order directing the seizure of virtual currency in the United States owned or controlled by Fagundes.
According to documents filed in the Brazilian criminal proceeding and the Brazilian court’s findings, during August 2017 to May 2019, Fagundes and other defendants solicited funds from prospective investors over the internet, sometimes in combination with telephone and other means, and held the funds received in a manner that subjected it to regulation as a financial institution under Brazilian law, with which Fagundes and the other defendants failed to comply. Solicitations referred to as innovative investment opportunities were made over the internet and in person, offering investments in cryptocurrencies. As alleged, the defendants solicited investors to give money to corporations they controlled, in the form of Brazilian currency or cryptocurrency, which the companies would then invest in a variety of virtual currency types. The Brazilian court found, however, that only a very small amount of funds were invested in cryptocurrencies as promised, and very little was returned to the investors. To carry out the scheme, the conspirators are alleged to have made false and inconsistent promises to investors about the way the funds were invested and exaggerated the rates of return.
In execution of the Brazilian request for assistance, an application to enforce the Brazilian seizure order was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2467, seeking to seize the virtual currency belonging to or controlled by Fagundes located in the United States. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden granted the U.S. government’s application and issued seizure orders directing the seizure of the virtual currency.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) International Unit and Office of International Affairs are working in close cooperation with the Brazilian authorities, the FBI Legal Attaché in Brasilia, the FBI in Boston, the FBI’s Virtual Currency Evolving Threat Working Group, and the U.S. Marshals Service to restrain the virtual currency and preserve it for forfeiture proceedings pending in Brazil to compensate the investors victimized in this fraudulent investment scheme. The forfeiture proceedings in the United States are being handled by MLARS International Unit Trial Attorney Jennifer Wallis.
The crypto currency firm holding the accounts cooperated with law enforcement authorities in executing this seizure.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Two Members of Large Drug Trafficking Network Plead Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced the conviction of two defendants charged in Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a narcotics trafficking network in Baton Rouge. The Indictment filed in this matter charged significant offenses involving heroin, methamphetamine, and “crack” cocaine, as well as several firearms offenses.
On October 27, 2020, Travis R. James, age 30, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the leader of this drug trafficking organization, appeared before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick and pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute one or more kilograms of heroin, five or more kilograms of cocaine, and 280 grams or more of “crack” cocaine; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of not less than ten years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, over $10,000,000 in fines, and forfeiture of criminally-derived proceeds.
On October 28, 2020, Troy James, age 39, of New Roads, Louisiana, appeared before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick and pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and “crack” cocaine. He faces a maximum penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and forfeiture of criminally-derived proceeds.
An extensive investigation revealed that Travis James and Troy James conspired with each other and with others to negotiate for and purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin in Houston. Their source of supply in Houston in turn received the narcotics from Mexico. Travis James, Troy James, and others then brought the narcotics to Baton Rouge for sale and distribution. To this end, Travis James maintained local stash houses where he kept hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, stored and cut large quantities of cocaine into smaller distribution amounts, and cooked powder cocaine into “crack” cocaine.
Travis James entrusted Troy James to supervise couriers and prepare cash for transport to Houston to purchase the narcotics. On June 12, 2017, Travis James directed an associate to take approximately $200,000 in cash to Troy James who then turned the cash over to two couriers. Law enforcement interdicted the couriers on a Greyhound bus bound for Houston and seized the bundled cash wrapped in duct tape. The investigation uncovered other significant cash purchases of narcotics by the Travis James narcotics trafficking organization in Houston.
On June 13, 2017, while executing search warrants at Travis James’ stash houses in Baton Rouge, investigators seized over $300,000 in cash, narcotics paraphernalia, and six firearms, including three AK-style pistols, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines. An additional $179,000 in cash was seized in another warrant search from Travis James’ safe deposit box at a local bank. Travis James had an earlier conviction for possession of cocaine, arising in the 19th Judicial District Court, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “The convictions of two members of this drug trafficking organization was the result of a long term, extensive investigation by our federal, state, and local partners, and demonstrate that this office will shepherd these resources to disrupt the drug trade in our communities. I want to thank our prosecutors and all of our partners for their excellent work in this case.”
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with invaluable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Sheriff’s Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Piedrahita and Lyman Thornton, III.
Two East Bay Residents Charged in Connection with Sexual Extortion Scheme Targeting Minor on InstagramRead the Press Release
According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Tang, 21, of Oakland, solicited a 12-year-old minor victim to create and send sexually explicit photos and videos of herself. He then threatened to publicly post these images when the victim stopped responding to him. Sison conspired with Tang by encouraging the victim to continue communicating with Tang after the victim blocked Tang’s communications.
To date, the investigation has identified eight alleged minor victims who Tang solicited for sexually explicit photos and videos. There are an additional 13 unidentified alleged minor victims. When Tang approached them, the identified victims ranged in age from 11 to 14 years old and resided in Utah and four cities in California, including San Francisco, Concord, Livermore, and Chico.
Tang is charged with solicitation of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(3)(B). If convicted of that offense, he will face a statutory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Additionally, Tang and Sison are together charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 2261A(2)(B). If convicted of that offense, they each will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley remanded Tang into custody pending a detention hearing on November 10, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Sison was released on a $75,000 bond. His next scheduled appearance is on December 7, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., for a preliminary hearing.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Vieira is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alice Pai. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the San Francisco Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
Sturgis Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography was sentenced on November 2, 2020, by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court Judge.
Robert Bungert, age 57, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bungert also will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The conviction stemmed from an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Bungert was arrested and federally indicted following multiple text messages with a person Bungert believed to be a 14-year-old prostitute, but who was in fact an undercover agent. Bungert knowingly attempted to receive an image of child pornography from the 14-year-old undercover persona and proceeded to negotiate the time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Bungert went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor’s pimp, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest.
The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Sturgis Police Department, and the Meade County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Bungert was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Serial Armed Robber Sentenced to 24 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Terrian J. Knight (30, St. Petersburg) to 24 years in federal prison for brandishing and discharging a firearm during the course of several robberies. The court also ordered Knight to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.
Knight had pleaded guilty on June 10, 2020.
According to court documents, from January 14, 2019, to July 26, 2019, Knight committed a spree of four armed robberies of stores in the St. Petersburg area. On July 30, 2019, Knight attempted to rob the assistant manager of a St. Petersburg Family Dollar store as the manager was leaving. During the robbery, Knight produced a firearm then shot the manager as he laid on the ground, wounding him. Knight fled the scene, hiding in a retention pond area for approximately seven hours. He was later taken into custody by law enforcement and the firearm was recovered.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
San Gabriel Valley Man Admits to Role in Scheme in Which He Arranged Fraudulent ‘Green Card’ Marriages for Chinese NationalsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley man pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge and admitted that he helped orchestrate a scheme in which Chinese nationals paid up to $60,000 to enter into sham marriages with U.S. citizens in the hope of obtaining “green cards.”
Chang Yu “Andy” He, 55, of Monterey Park, the owner of Fair Price Immigration Service, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
According to his plea agreement, from January 2018 to November 2019, He recruited United States citizens to enter into marriages with Chinese nationals, who then filed immigration documents with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Specifically, He planned to arrange fraudulent marriages for three pairs of Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens to obtain green cards. The U.S. citizens in these situations were actually undercover agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). He also met with a co-defendant and two other undercover agents for the purpose of arranging the agents into sham marriages with Chinese nationals.
He admitted coaching the Chinese nationals and United States citizens on how to make their marriages appear genuine and how to pass interviews conducted by the USCIS, such as by creating a fraudulent paper trail for the couples and memorizing answers to questions immigration service officers could ask during their USCIS interviews.
According to court documents, He also instructed the “couples” to obtain joint bank accounts and joint apartment leases, keep clothes in the apartments where the couples supposedly lived together, and visit the apartment several days a week so the neighbors would see them together.
In October 2018, He introduced a U.S. citizen, who actually was an undercover federal agent, to co-defendant Xiaojun Han, 40, of Irvine, for the purpose of entering into a sham marriage to obtain a green card. He paid the undercover agent $10,000 to enter into the sham marriage and, in April 2019, met with the agent at the Rosemead Public Library to help with Han’s immigration paperwork, the plea agreement states. He admitted telling the agent that he would be paid $25,000 when Han received her green card, as well as $5,000 at the end of the immigration process.
United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald has scheduled a February 1, 2021 sentencing hearing, at which time He will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Co-defendants Huanzhang Wu, 29, of St. Paul, Minnesota, Zhongnan Liu, 34, of San Diego, who paid He to arrange sham their sham marriages, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Wu was sentenced to one year of probation. Liu’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 5.
Han and Xiulan “Cindy” Wang, 47, of San Gabriel, the owner of Pacific Bizhub Consulting, have a March 16, 2021 trial date scheduled in this case.
This investigation began in March 2017 based on information provided by an anonymous source. Law enforcement authorities believe the defendants’ clients learned about the service through word of mouth and from advertisements in Chinese newspapers.
This case is the result of an undercover investigation by the Los Angeles Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, which is led by HSI and includes representatives of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security unit. The San Gabriel Police Department, the West Covina Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk assisted in the investigation.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert S. Trisotto of the Riverside Branch Office and Jerry C. Yang, Chief of the Riverside Branch Office.
San Fernando Valley Medical Supply Company that Defrauded Federal Health Care Programs Pays U.S. $565,873 to Resolve Civil ClaimsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Canoga Park-based company that sells home medical equipment has paid $565,873 to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to federal health care programs for medically unnecessary medical supplies and supplies never delivered to patients.
Valley Home Medical Supply, Inc., which provides medical supplies and durable medical equipment, paid the settlement on Tuesday as part of an agreement that resolves a “whistleblower” lawsuit that alleged the company defrauded the Medicare and TRICARE programs from July 2006 until May 2013. With the payment of the settlement, United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer today dismissed the lawsuit.
Valley Home Medical Supply’s former president and chief executive officer, Kenneth Greenlinger, 75, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty in May 2017 to two counts of health care fraud and served an eight-month federal prison sentence. In the criminal case, Greenlinger was ordered to pay restitution of $1,072,618.
Kari Kitamura, a former employee of Valley Home Medical Supply, filed the civil lawsuit, United States ex rel. Kitamura v. Valley Home Medical Supply, CV12-11036 DSF(AGRx), in 2012 in United States District Court in Los Angeles. The United States elected to intervene in the lawsuit in 2017.
Ms. Kitamura filed the lawsuit under the qui tam – or whistleblower – provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States and to receive a share of any recovery. As a result of the settlement, Ms. Kitamura will receive $124,492, which equals 22 percent of the settlement proceeds. Valley Home Medical Supply will also pay Ms. Kitamura $80,000 for attorney’s fees.
This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa A. Palombo of the Civil Fraud Section, who worked closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
Rochester Man Going to Prison for Six Years Following Child Pornography ConvictionRead 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 Jordan Dunn, 26 of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced, by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, to serve 72 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force executed a search warrant on September 18, 2019, at the defendant’s home in Rochester following a cybertip from an online social media company. The tip indicated that an account holder had uploaded an image of child pornography using the company’s messaging application. The image was traced to Dunn’s Rochester apartment, which he shared with co-defendant Jeffrey Wehs. Computers belonging to Wehs and Dunn were previewed and found to contain multiple images and videos of child pornography.
Dunn and Wehs previously worked with children, including disabled children, within various organizations in the Rochester area. Wehs was previously sentenced to time-served and eight years of supervised release on August 20, 2020, after being convicted of possession of child pornography.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Robbing a Small Town Bank at Gunpoint Sends Man to Federal Prison for More Than Nine YearsRead the Press Release
A man who robbed a bank at gunpoint was sentenced on November 3, 2020, to more than nine years in federal prison.
Luis Angel Vega, age 28, from Austin, Minnesota, received the prison term after a June 18, 2020 guilty plea to bank robbery and using a firearm during a violent crime.
Information from a plea agreement and at sentencing showed that, on September 3, 2019, Vega robbed a bank in Lime Springs, Iowa. Vega walked into the bank armed with a Colt .45 caliber pistol and wearing a balaclava. Vega pointed the pistol at three bank employees and demanded that a teller fill a bag with cash in thirty seconds. He then took $6,869 in cash from the bank. Based on the description given by the bank employees and the fact that Vega drove his own truck to the robbery, law enforcement officers were able to locate and arrest Vega less than three hours after the robbery.
Vega was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Vega was sentenced to 114 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $6,869 in restitution to the bank. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Vega is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2011.
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Rehab Operator Sentenced to 10 Years for Heroin Trafficking and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years’ imprisonment on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute heroin and aiding in the preparation of false income tax returns, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on David Francis, age 69.
According to information presented to the court, Francis was the owner and operator of Next Step Recovery Housing, LLC, a purported drug rehabilitation center, located in McKees Rocks, PA. While operating Next Step Recovery Housing, the defendant also conspired to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin with suppliers from New York City, codefendants William Rosario and Jose Ortega, from November 2016 through February 2017. Francis redistributed the heroin that he obtained from Rosario and Ortega to his own customers, many of whom were current or former clients of Next Step Recovery Housing. During the same timeframe, Francis was also the owner and operator of All Personal Matters, an income tax return preparation business. Through All Personal Matters, Francis aided in the preparation and filing of fraudulent federal income tax returns on behalf of clients of All Personal Matters, resulting in a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of $1,681,607.54. Francis funded the heroin trafficking operations, in part, through the money he unlawfully obtained through the scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Conti stated that the sentence satisfied the goals of punishment, rehabilitation and deterrence.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Monroeville Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, Ingram Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Monaca Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Francis.
Rayne Man with History of Committing Sexual Crimes Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Joseph Emery Menard, 44, of Rayne, Louisiana, was sentenced today on child pornography charges, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Menard to 360 months (30 years) in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for receiving child pornography.
Evidence presented at Menard’s guilty plea hearing on May 5, 2020 and the sentencing hearing held today revealed that law enforcement officers received information that the defendant was sexually abusing two young prepubescent children. In order to obtain evidence of that crime, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Menard’s residence. During the search, they seized a computer from his residence. The computer was found to have over 600 images of child pornography, some of which were of prepubescent children. Further investigation revealed that the images were downloaded from the internet and received by Menard on November 6, 11, and 12, 2018 and he knew that the images contained child pornography.
Menard was previously prosecuted in the 15th Judicial District Court for Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. On May 15, 2000, he pled guilty to two counts of molestation of a juvenile, an offense relating to abusive sexual conduct involving a young prepubescent minor.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Owner of Tennessee Drug Screening Lab Sentenced to Probation, Home Detention, and Community Service on Federal Health Care Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Regan Dube, who along with her husband Michael Dube formerly owned and operated American Toxicology Labs, was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia to three years of probation, four months of home detention, and 400 hours of community service. Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Virginia Attorney General Mark G. Herring made the announcement today.
The Dubes, of Johnson City Tenn., previously pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Abingdon. Regan Dube pleaded guilty to one felony count of health care fraud in the Western District of Virginia. Michael Dube pleaded guilty to two felony counts of health care fraud (one filed in the Western District of Virginia and one filed in the Eastern District of Kentucky). Michael Dube is scheduled to be sentenced February 11, 2021.
“Regan and Michael Dube repeatedly defrauded the health care system for their own greed,” United States Attorney Bubar said today. “I am grateful to our state and federal partners for quickly working together to investigate this case and for their continued efforts to remove fraud from the health care system.”
“Individuals who take advantage of the health care system to line their own pockets should be held accountable and this sentencing sends a message that this will not be tolerated in Virginia,” said Attorney General Herring. “I want to thank my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for all of their hard work on this and I also want to thank our local, state, and federal partners for their continued collaboration on important cases like this one.”
According to court documents, in March 2011, Michael Dube pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Tennessee to one count of intentionally omitting information from reports as required under the Controlled Substances Act. As a result of his conviction, the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] informed Dube in a letter dated June 29, 2012, that he was excluded from participating in any federal health care program.
Nonetheless, in May 2013, Michael and Regan Dube established American Toxicology Labs [ATL] in Johnson City, Tennessee, with Regan Dube serving as the company’s registered agent, and using the couple’s home address as the principal office and mailing address. ATL then applied to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. On the applications, Regan Dube was listed as the owner of ATL, and Michael Dube’s name and participation in ATL was omitted.
ATL conducted urine screens for various entities who represented themselves to be opioid treatment facilities. Between May 1, 2014, and January 31, 2020, Medicare, Virginia Medicaid, Kentucky Medicaid and TennCare made payments to ATL that totaled approximately $8.5 million. During this time, Michael Dube made employment decisions, negotiated business arrangements with providers, and otherwise participated in the management of ATL.
In addition, Michael Dube also received kickback payments from third parties for referring individuals to those third parties for services for which payment was made (in whole or in part) by federal health care programs. These payments were deposited in Michael and Regan Dube’s personal checking account in a total amount of $441,646.
As a result of their guilty pleas, Regan and Michael Dube will pay a total of $9,015,046, plus interest, to be divided between special assessments, fines, restitution, and forfeiture. They will have to repay all of the money they received from Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Virginia State Police, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case was conducted by Special Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Attorney General Janine Myatt, and Assistant United States Attorneys Krista Frith, Randy Ramseyer, and Whit Pierce of the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Western District of Virginia. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee provided valuable assistance.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operations “Trap Mansion” and “Two Birds One Stone” Delivers Strong Blow to International Drug SmugglersRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Stephen J. Cox, announced today the results of two Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operations targeting international drug and firearm trafficking between Mexico and Texas. Operations Trap Mansion and Two Birds and One Stone were a sustained state-wide effort of numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from throughout Texas spanning from October of 2018 to June of 2020.
Operations Trap Mansion and Two Birds One Stone targeted several large Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) drug trafficking cells located in the Dallas, Texas area. These cartel cells would also purchase quantities of firearms which they would smuggle back to Mexico along with bulk U.S. currency that the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG would use to conduct acts of violence, kidnappings and extortions in Mexico. Trap Mansion and Two Birds One Stone specifically aimed to interdict trailers loaded with quantities of illegal drugs imported from Mexico across the Texas/Mexico border, and the seizure of firearms smuggled to Mexico from Texas.
The agencies’ efforts resulted in the indictment of 96 defendants in federal court for charges related to drug trafficking, continuing criminal enterprise, unlawful possession of firearms, using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, money laundering and other federal criminal violations. Further, during these operations law enforcement seized 49 firearms, of which, several were AR-15 style rifles and multiple short-barreled weapons that were not registered as required by the National Firearms Act, stolen from local Texans, or otherwise illegally possessed. Law enforcement also seized approximately 511.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, 40 kilograms of cocaine, 19.3 kilograms of heroin, 67 kilograms of marijuana, 19 kilograms of controlled pharmaceuticals, 800 grams of fentanyl, and approximately $6.6 million in assets.
U.S. Attorney Cox stated: “Today’s announcement of the results of Operations Trap Mansion and Two Birds One Stone represents the pinnacle of sustained multi-agency cooperation focused on the dual threat of narcotics and firearms trafficking. We will continue to collaborate with all of our law enforcement partners to stem the flood of deadly drugs and illegal firearms, and to punish those who seek to profit from trafficking contraband.”
U.S. Attorney Cox commended the investigative efforts of, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, Flower Mound Police Department, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lewisville Police Department. Multiple local police departments and sheriff’s offices throughout the state assisted throughout the operation.
“Criminals cannot hide. While these individuals may have enjoyed a lavish lifestyle brought on the backs of those struggling with addiction, these operations send a clear message that the story only ends with confiscated drugs, assets and justice served,” said Special Agent in Charge Eduardo Chavez of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “I am especially proud of our law enforcement partners that leverage subject-matter expertise to arrest and prosecute over 90 individuals whose actions have negatively impacted so many lives. DEA Dallas will continue to do our part to make our neighborhoods throughout the Eastern District of Texas safer for all our families.”
These operations were part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. Prosecutions arising from these operations are 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 enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting firearm use and possession crimes; prioritizes prosecuting persons who make false statements when attempting to obtain firearms; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concerning persons who attempt to obtain firearms illegally; coordinates responses to persons prevented from obtaining firearms for mental health reasons; and ensures the use of modern intelligence tools and technology to focus on the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
Ohio man sentenced for drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Ryan Thomas Savage, of Wintersville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 37 months of incarceration for his role in a cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Savage, age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride, Cocaine Base, Heroin, and Fentanyl” in December 2019. Savage admitted to working with others to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in Hancock County and elsewhere from February 2018 to August 2019.Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danae DeMasi-Lemon and Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Jefferson County, Ohio, Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force; the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office; the Brooke County Sheriff’s Office; the Weirton Police Department; and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Police investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Ohio County man sentenced for methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Benjamin John Woodring, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 77 months incarceration for drug distribution, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Woodring, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location” in December 2019. Woodring admitted to selling methamphetamine near Luau Manor in Ohio County in March 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Norman Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering as Part of a Nigerian Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Norman man pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court for his role as a money launderer in a Nigerian romance scam that defrauded multiple victims, including elder Americans, of millions, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
Afeez Olajide Adebara, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering before U.S. District Court Judge Gregory K. Frizzell. Adebara’s sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 3, 2021.
“Adebara organized and led a money laundering operation from Oklahoma in order to conceal the proceeds of a Nigerian Romance Scam. He and his co-conspirators defrauded an Oklahoman and two other victims of more than $1.5 million,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Romance scams inflict the highest reported financial losses yearly, totaling about $200 million in 2019, when compared to other online scams. Con artists like Adebara have no shame. They care not if their victims are elders, veterans, or hard working Americans living paycheck to paycheck. I commend the FBI agents and federal prosecutors who took down this international money laundering operation.”
In his plea agreement, Adebara admitted that he knew the money involved in the financial transactions involved the proceeds from unlawful activity. He further stated that he knew the financial transactions were designed, in whole or in part, to conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of the unlawful activity.
From 2017 through and November 2019, Adebara knowingly concealed the proceeds of a romance scam operation by moving money between and among multiple bank accounts that were opened under various aliases using fake passports and other fraudulent identification documents to obscure the source of the funds and the identities of the co-conspirators. Court documents state that he and his co-conspirators took further steps to conceal the source of the funds, took a commission, and directed the remainder of the funds back to the online romance scammers in Nigeria, including in the form of vehicles and vehicle parts.
According to court documents, Adebara coordinated with overseas co-conspirators who had assumed false identities on online dating websites and social media platforms with the intent to defraud victims. Adebara opened multiple accounts using fraudulent identities then provided the account and routing numbers to the overseas co-conspirators. The overseas co-conspirators told victims they were U.S. residents working abroad. In fact, the investigation revealed that these overseas co-conspirators were located in Nigeria. As these online “relationships” continued, the overseas co-conspirators’ would request increasingly larger sums of money, claiming that the funds were needed to complete business projects or to return to the United States. The victims were directed by the overseas co-conspirators to send funds to Adebara and others’ bank accounts, assuring the victims that he would allocate the money as needed.
Adebara was charged on Nov. 13, 2019, along with nine co-defendants. John Oluwaseun Ogundele, 31, formerly of Norman, pleaded guilty on June 15, 2020.
The remaining defendants are Joshua Naandom Ditep, 25, Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman; Paul Usoro, 26, Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman; Chibuzo Godwin Obiefuna, Jr., 27, U.S. citizen residing in Long Beach, California; Tobiloba Kehinde, 28, Nigerian citizen residing in Norman; Jamiu Ibukun Adedeji, 24, Nigerian citizen, residing in Norman; First and last name unknown #1, who maintained an address in Brooklyn, New York; First and last name unknown #2, who maintained an address in Dallas, Texas; and First and last name unknown #3, who maintained an address in Dallas, Texas. Ditep, Usoro, Obiefuna, Kehinde, and Adedeji await trial while the three additional co-defendants remain fugitives. These remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office conducted the investigation. Trial Attorney Babasijibomi Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar of the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes often based out of Nigeria that target U.S. citizens. The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov/.
New York Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Counterfeit Check Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MEEM JANNAT, 25, of Brooklyn, New York, formerly of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to seven months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for her role in a counterfeit check bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately December 2017 and January 2019, Jannat and her co-conspirators, including Jonell Bonilla, Tania Cruz and Lilibeth Perez, obtained access to bank accounts by recruiting individuals through social media and persuading the individuals to share their account information, including debit cards and associated PIN numbers. The account holders were paid for providing access to their bank accounts. Jannat and her co-conspirators misrepresented to the account holders that U.S. Postal Service money orders or authentic checks would be deposited into their accounts. After the co-conspirators had access to the accounts, they deposited counterfeit checks into those accounts, and withdrew money from the accounts before the banks discovered the checks to be counterfeit.
The co-conspirators attempted to steal more than $500,000 through this scheme, and were successful in defrauding at least 12 banks of approximately $319,000.
Jannat has agreed that the loss attributable to her role in the scheme is $50,389.05. Judge Bryant will order restitution after additional court submissions.
Jannat was arrested on January 14, 2019. On July 1, 2020, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Jannat, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on December 16, 2020.
Bonilla, Cruz and Perez previously pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing. On September 12, 2020, Bonilla was sentenced to 46 months of imprisonment. Cruz and Perez await sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 205 Months in Federal Prison for His Role in Committing Multiple Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama— On October 30, 2020, DeGregory Deon Lee, 24, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 205 months in federal prison for his role in committing multiple armed robberies and violating federal firearms laws, announced U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell. Following his 17-year prison sentence, Lee will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $6,957.00 in restitution to the victims.
According to the July 2019 indictment, Lee’s crime spree took place from October 24, 2016 until October 31, 2016, and included the robberies of the ten Montgomery businesses listed below:
- Hyundai Market Store on Woodmere Boulevard, October 24, 2016;
- Midori Sushi Bar on Woodmere Boulevard, October 24, 2016;
- Alabama Hotel on Monticello Drive, October 25, 2016;
- King Garden Restaurant on Atlanta Highway, October 26, 2016;
- San Marcos Restaurant on North Burbank Drive, October 26, 2016;
- China King Restaurant on Zelda Road, October 30, 2016;
- Tai Ji Acupressure store on Minnie Brown Road, October 30, 2016; and
- Satsuki Japanese Restaurant on Atlanta Highway, October 30, 2016;
- New China Restaurant on Harrison Road, October 31, 2016;
- El Campesino 2 Restaurant on the North Eastern Boulevard, October 31, 2016.
Lee pleaded guilty in November 2019 to taking part in the string of armed robberies that occurred with co-defendant, Diamond Markayla Mathis, 24, also from Montgomery. However, evidence indicates that Mathis only participated in six of those crimes, with Lee committing the other four without her. Mathis was sentenced in February 2020 to eleven years in prison for her participation in the robberies.
A firearm was used during each of the robberies and the judge noted the extremely violent nature of the crimes, which included Lee pointing a gun at his victims and Mathis spraying one victim with pepper spray and striking another.
“Our communities continue to be plagued by violent crime,” stated U.S. Attorney Franklin. “The victims of these robberies were simply carrying out their daily activities and working to provide for their families when Lee and his co-defendant injected fear and terror into their lives. Everyone has a right to feel safe, whether at home or at work. This sentence was justified because of Lee’s disregard for the safety and wellbeing of his victims and I hope that it sends a clear message that violence has serious consequences.”
“This type of reckless behavior cannot be tolerated in our communities,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jewell. “The harshness of the court imposed sentence should sound the warning to those who are considering putting the lives of citizens in danger to further their criminal lifestyle.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Russ Duraski prosecuted the case.
Minnesota Man Indicted for Unlawful Taking of Golden EagleRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Wheaton, Minnesota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Unlawful Taking of Golden Eagle.
Richard Michael Grohs, age 68, was indicted on October 14, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on November 2, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and $25 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between April and May of 2018, Grohs, without being permitted to do so, did knowingly and with wanton disregard for the consequences of his actions, take a golden eagle in Roberts County, South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Grohs is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Grohs was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mid-State Tax Preparer Headed to Federal Prison AgainRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – November 4, 2020 – A Collinwood, Tennessee tax preparer was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in federal prison for preparing false tax returns for clients, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Steve Lewis Newell, 73, was charged in September 2019 with three counts of preparing false tax returns. He pleaded guilty to all counts in November 2019. U.S. District Court Judge Eli J. Richardson also ordered Newell to pay $230,066in restitution to te IRS.
According to court documents, Newell ed and controlled Tax Masters and Accounting in Collinwood and assisted in the preparation of individual tax returns on behalf of his clients. Between 2014 and 2018, Newell prepared and filed more than 7,700 federal income tax returns, several of which contained inflated or fictitious deductions in Schedule A, including state and local taxes, charitable contributions, and employee business expenses. Newell also falsified other items on his clients’ tax returns, such as the filing status of the taxpayer. Each of these fraudulent misrepresentations served to lower the tax liability for his clients.
The scheme resulted in clients obtaining refunds, which they were not entitled to and caused a tax loss to the IRS of at least $230,000.
Court documents also reveal that Newell’s fraudulent tax schemes date back to the 1990’s when he was caught aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns—the same crime for which he was sentenced in this case. He eventually pleaded guilty to these charges and was to report to federal prison in February 2002. Newell however, sent false medical records to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and to the Court, claiming that he was terminally ill. Newell also submitted a forged affidavit from a physician, which stated that he only had three months to live. This resulted in numerous continuances by the Court to delay Newell’s report date to prison. IRS agents later discovered that Newell had fraudulently obtained the records of a patient who had died from colon cancer and altered the records to reflect that he was terminally ill. Newell had submitted a medical release form to the patient’s physician claiming to need the records for IRS purposes. Agents also discovered that during this period, Newell had continued to perform tax work, despite the Court’s order not to engage in tax work as a condition of his delay in reporting to prison. Newell subsequently pleaded guilty in 2004 to charges arising from that conduct. Also in 2004, Newell pleaded guilty to additional crimes of making false statements to the IRS when he prepared and filed false tax forms for a company for which he was the tax return preparer. For all these crimes he was sentenced to 43 months in prison.
This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Booth prosecuted the case.
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Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Armed Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Joshua Beason, 26, has pleaded guilty to three (3) counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and three (3) counts of brandishing a firearm during those crimes of violence. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court, on June 28, 2019, Beason, along with two co-defendants, robbed the Mapco Express on Raleigh Millington Road, and Murphy's Express and Exxon, both on Summer Avenue. Beason and one of the co-defendants entered the businesses brandishing firearms at the employees and/or customers and left after taking money from the cash registers. The other co-defendant acted as the getaway driver.
Shortly after committing the last robbery, Beason and co-defendants committed a home invasion and Beason’s two co-defendants were shot during the home invasion. Beason took his wounded co-defendants to Methodist Hospital North. While there, law enforcement identified Beason and his co-defendants from the businesses' surveillance video system. At the hospital, Beason was wearing a unique jeans brand and a red hoodie worn during each of the three business robberies.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2021, before U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr, where Beason faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each the 3 Hobbs Act Robbery offenses, as well as a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 7 years on each of the 3 brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence offenses. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury by the simple squeeze of a trigger. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and interstate commerce, which victimizes the entire community. Within one day, this violent offender’s selfish and impulsive greed terrorized multiple victims. For that, his own future is now destroyed because he will spend decades in a federal prison."
The FBI’s Safe Street Task Force investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Whitmore is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering charges.
Taliyah Barboza, a/k/a “Queen Taliyah,” 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Nov. 4, 2021. Barboza was charged in December 2019, at which time she was a member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf. As discussed during the plea hearing, Barboza drove gang members to a robbery and shooting in September 2019, and participated in the drug distribution activities of the gang.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Barboza is the seventeenth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard, Mark Grady and Lauren Graber of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Threatening Messages to Female VictimRead the Press Release
A Tulsa man admitted today in federal court that he violated a protective order by sending harassing and threatening emails to a female victim.
Parris Deshaunte Evitt, 30, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Cyber Stalking. From Oct. 20, 2018 to Sept. 3, 2020, Evitt used email, Facebook messaging, text messages and phone calls to harass, intimidate and threaten the victim, thus violating a protective order issued against the him on July 5, 2017. During his plea hearing, Evitt admitted to using different aliases to harass the victim. In several messages, he threatened to publicly share personal information about the victim.
“This is the second cyberstalking guilty plea in our district in recent weeks. Obviously, it is a crime to which we are paying attention and about which people should be aware. Cyberstalking impacts the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of victims. In this case, Parris Evitt used threats and intimidation via Facebook, phone calls, text messages, and email to harass, scare, and violate the victim,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The Parris Evitts of the world will not be allowed to violate protective orders and threaten their victims from behind a keyboard. If they do, they’ll find themselves in a courtroom answering for their crimes.”
Chief U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell will make the final sentencing determination at a hearing set for Feb. 4, 2021.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and a maximum of three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. Ms.Dial is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.
Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Fatal Fentanyl OverdoseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Reston man pleaded guilty today to selling fentanyl to an individual who later overdosed on the drug and died.
According to court documents, Peter Andrew Romm, 35, regularly traveled to Baltimore to buy heroin and fentanyl that he then sold to customers in Northern Virginia. Romm sold the drugs in two forms: enclosed in small plastic capsules, and folded in small slips of paper. Romm’s customers included an individual identified in court documents as Individual 1. On October 7, 2019, Romm sold fentanyl to Individual 1 through a middle-man. Individual 1 later consumed the fentanyl and fatally overdosed; he was found dead in his home the next morning. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the cause of Individual 1’s death was acute fentanyl poisoning.
As recently as February of this year, Romm was still traveling to Baltimore regularly to buy fentanyl. On February 11, Romm was arrested on his way back from Baltimore in possession of approximately 75 capsules of fentanyl. Only eight days later, on February 19, he was arrested again on his way back from Baltimore with another 72 capsules of fentanyl in his vehicle.
Romm pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of distribution of fentanyl. As part of his plea agreement, he admitted that the fentanyl he distributed caused Individual 1’s death.
Romm is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2021, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karolina Klyuchnikova 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. 1:20-cr-176.
Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm and Destructive DeviceRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Henrico man with various charges including possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a destructive device, and receipt of images of child sexual abuse.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about March 8, Ryan J. Millican, 22, knowingly aided and abetted the making of a false and fictitious written statement to Green Top Sporting Goods in connection with the acquisition of a Bravo Company Manufacturing Inc., Model BCM4, .556 caliber rifle.
According to allegations in the indictment, from on or about March 8 through April 25, Millican possessed a Bravo Company Manufacturing Inc., Model BCM4, .556 caliber rifle and accompanying ammunition. Millican was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about April 18, Millican knowingly made and possessed a Molotov Cocktail, which is a destructive device as defined by Title 26, United States Code.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about June 14, Millican knowingly received child pornography.
Millican is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm; possession of a destructive device; and receipt of child pornography. If convicted, Millican faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years on the child pornography charge, and a maximum penalty of forty-five years in prison on all charges. 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.
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. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by FBI Richmond’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Henrico County Police Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey is 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-122.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
MS-13 Associate Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering and is Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced MS-13 associate Luis Cruz Rodriguez, age 23, of Frederick, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after Cruz Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. The guilty plea was entered on November 3, 2020, and Chief Judge Bredar imposed the sentence immediately following the plea.
The guilty plea and sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Office; Acting Chief Dwight Sommers of the Frederick City Police Department; Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith, III; Chief William Lowry of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess; Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Cruz Rodriguez admitted that from at least January 2017, he was an associate of the Fulton clique of MS-13 and agreed with members of MS-13 to conduct and participate in the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, including conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, and drug distribution.
At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.”
MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increase the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to a promotion to a leadership position. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible.
According to his plea agreement, in April 2017, Cruz Rodriguez conspired with MS-13 gang members to murder Victim 14. According to court documents, the MS-13 members believed Victim 14 was a member of a rival gang. Cruz Rodriguez was present when gang members were talking about how to kill Victim 14, and who would participate in the murder. On the day of the murder, Cruz Rodriguez drove other gang members to a secluded area of Frederick, Maryland, where the MS-13 members were going to kill Victim 14. Cruz Rodriguez was aware that he was transporting gang members so that they could participate in a murder. At the spot in Frederick, MS-13 gang members murdered Victim 14, dismembered him, and buried his body. After the murder, Cruz Rodriguez (who was not present during the murder) traveled back to the site of the murder and picked up gang members who had participated in the murder.
In July 2017, investigators recovered Victim 14’s body from a clandestine grave in Frederick, Maryland. The body had suffered from sharp force traumas and had been severed into seven pieces and decapitated.
The murder of Victim 14 was intended to maintain and increase the status of MS-13 and to allow Cruz Rodriguez and other MS-13 members and associates to maintain or increase their status within the gang.
A total of 30 defendants have been charged in this case with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and/or other crimes related to their association with MS-13. A total of 20 defendants, including Cruz Rodriguez, have pleaded guilty to crimes related to their participation in MS-13 gang activities.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick City Police Department; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and recognized the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Catherine K. Dick, and Matthew DellaBetta, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Local man pleads guilty to firearms crime, sold machine guns to undercover officerRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Jordan D. Carpenter, 30, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, in July 2019, Carpenter met an undercover officer at a parking lot in Lebanon, Ohio, to sell the officer a 5.56mm rifle that functions as a machine gun. Carpenter sold the firearm for $2,500.
Carpenter described other types of firearms he could sell the undercover, and offered the officer a discount if he bought guns in bulk from Carpenter.
In August 2019, the two met again at a parking lot in Lebanon, Ohio, and Carpenter sold two more firearms for $3,200, one of which was a machine gun as well.
Carpenter was previously convicted of felonious assault in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, which prohibits him from possessing firearms. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Warren County Drug Task Force announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Hunt is representing the United States in this case.
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Lengthy Investigation Related to Drug Trafficking Results in Indictment of Nineteen DefendantsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that nineteen defendants have been indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere. Drug Conspiracy is punishable by not less than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $10,000,000 fine or both. Two of the nineteen defendants indicted are also charged with firearm offenses carrying punishment of not more than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine or both. A coordinated law enforcement operation to arrest the defendants charged in the indictment began this morning and is ongoing. A copy of the full indictment can be found online at go.usa.gov/x7kAM.
The indictment alleges the defendants conspired to acquire and distribute methamphetamine in Eastern Oklahoma as well as other locations. All nineteen defendants were indicted for Drug Conspiracy with some indicted for other charges related to the conspiracy such as Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The indictment alleges the conspiracy began in June 2019.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”), the United States Marshals Service, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (“OBNDD”), the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, the District 18 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County District Attorney's Office, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections - Office of the Inspector General, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Tahlequah Police Department, the Muskogee Police Department, the Tulsa Police Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Miami Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Norman Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department. The investigation was part of and included members of the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”) Task Force, which includes several of the above mentioned agencies. The United States Marshals Service for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the Fort Gibson Police Department also played important roles in today’s operation to bring the defendants into custody.
“Every year hundreds of Oklahomans die as a result of methamphetamine overdose. Each fatal dose travels great distances as they move from producers to high level distributors to street dealers to users. Drug trafficking organizations are only concerned with pushing product and making profits. Death does not concern them. Justice is the only thing that will put an end to this deadly business,” said United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester. “For 18 months a dedicated team of law enforcement professionals led by the DEA have worked tirelessly to identify and investigate this drug trafficking organization alleged to have been a major supplier of methamphetamine to Muskogee, Cherokee, and Wagoner Counties as well as other parts of Eastern Oklahoma. Last week a grand jury determined there was probable cause to believe these defendants played a role in this drug conspiracy.”
“Through the cooperation of countless law enforcement partners in Oklahoma, DEA Tulsa’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force was able to dismantle one of the most significant and reliable methamphetamine distribution organizations operating in Eastern Oklahoma.” stated Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA operations in Oklahoma. “Annually, this distribution organization was responsible for hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine plaguing our streets. The DTO was sourced from Transnational Criminal Organizations based in Mexico and distributed throughout Northeastern Oklahoma, and parts of Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. This investigation has had a devastating effect on this particular organization’s ability to make money though the distribution of illegal drugs and has undoubtedly made a positive impact on Northeastern Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Director Donnie Anderson said, “Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most destructive drugs on the streets of Oklahoma. And today we aggressively targeted and removed nearly two-dozen defendants, including prison gang members, who were operating a pipeline of methamphetamine into eastern Oklahoma. My agency is committed to working with our local, state and federal partners to dismantle these drug distribution networks that threaten the safety of our citizens.”
Defendants indicted are Eric Ysidro Castillo, age 45, of Cushing, Oklahoma; Blanche Elizabeth Dyer a/k/a Blanche Elizabeth Jackson, age 35, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mark Lewis Crowell a/k/a Carl Crowell, age 24, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Anita Lorene Cooper, age 47, of Wagoner, Oklahoma; Angela Marie McDaniel a/k/a Angela Marie Williams, age 47, of Joplin, Missouri; Michael Otis Hunsaker Jr., age 38, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Jason Don Rowan, age 37, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Clint England Cooper, age 34, of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; Scott James Lively, age 50, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Richard Dean Mealer, age 66, of Okay, Oklahoma; Jessica Lynn Baker, age 40, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Bobbi Dawn Benefield, age 38, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Mark Robert Pierce, age 54, of Braggs, Oklahoma; Mark Wayne Stubblefield, age 35, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Cara Dawn Nicole O’ Laughlin a/k/a Cara Dawn Nicole Martin, age 33, of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; Jarrod Lee Shanks, age 41, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma; Amanda Joyce King, age 36, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Joseph Michael Phillips, age 40, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Everett Wayne Hood Jr. a/k/a E.J. Hood, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illicit drug supply.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lancaster man pleads guilty to attempting to sexually coerce a minorRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A prior sex offender currently on parole supervision pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to a child exploitation crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Larry Richard Dickerson, 56, attempted to coerce a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
According to court documents, in May 2020, officers with the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force were conducting undercover online chats to identify individuals who were attempting to solicit and engage in illegal sexual activity with minors.
An officer posing as a juvenile on a social media application received a message from Dickerson and the two became in regular contact. Dickerson requested nude photos of the purported teenager. In one instance, he asked her to send a shirtless picture with the name “Rick” written across her chest so that he could be sure she was not a “cop.”
In a phone call with the undercover officer, Dickerson asked numerous questions about the supposed 15-year-old’s sexual history and preferences. The defendant asked the undercover officer to describe what her pubic region looked like. The two made a plan to meet to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Dickerson and the officer decided to meet first in public before going somewhere private to engage in sex. Law enforcement observed Dickerson arrive at the designated meeting place and he was subsequently arrested.
Dickerson has two prior child sex offense convictions. In 2002, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison in the District of South Carolina on a child pornography charge. In 2018, he was convicted in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas with three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, based on his communications with a 13-year-old girl via MeetMe, and his subsequent meeting with a sexual abuse of the child.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Franklin County ICAC partnering agencies announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Heather A. Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Roger Dinh are representing the United States in this case.
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Justice Department Honors Two Fayetteville Arkansas Police Officers in the Fourth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in PolicingRead the Press Release
Fort Smith, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, United States Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership announced today that two Fayetteville, Arkansas Police Officers are recipients of the Fourth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. This year, the department received 214 nominations recognizing a total of 355 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. There were 39 states represented in the nomination pool, covering state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
“We are so proud and thankful to work with tremendous law enforcement officers throughout the Western District of Arkansas,” said First Assistant United States Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. “Officer Eucce and Corporal Floyd both exemplify what we see in officers throughout Arkansas: dedication, bravery, and excellence in policing. The bravery and sound tactics that Officer Eucce and Corporal Floyd showed in the face of terrible danger and tragedy is remarkable. They are both certainly very deserving of this recognition. We are fortunate to have such courageous, selfless, and well-trained officers keeping our communities safe.”
“There is no career nobler than that of a police officer, and the 23 officers we honor this year demonstrate that clearly,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “These individuals are distinguished in their service for field operations and criminal investigations – from investigating homicides to drug trafficking to sexual exploitation and assault – to making positive change in their communities through innovative outreach to local residents. Their actions are a testament to what law enforcement officers contribute to our nation each day, keeping us safe from violent crime and building more trusting communities, and they are deserving of our collective thanks. I am pleased to honor these 23 officers for their distinguished service in policing.”
The Department of Justice works closely with local law enforcement and strives to be a ready resource for them. The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing is just one more way the department can show its continued commitment to the profession and honor the men and women who so bravely serve it.
Attorney General Awards for Distinguished Service in Policing 2020
Officer Natalie Eucce and Corporal Seay-Peter Floyd, Fayetteville Police Department (Arkansas)
In December 2019, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, an individual determined to assassinate law enforcement officers, and armed with 100 rounds of ammunition, approached a police car and fired 10 times, killing Officer Stephen Carr. Hearing the shots and seeing the suspect, Corporal Seay-Peter Floyd – with no regard for his personal safety – pursued the suspect and fired. Officer Natalie Eucce (Officer Carr’s partner) and Sergeant James Jennings joined Corporal Floyd in pursuing the suspect and fired as well. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. It is very likely more officers would have lost their lives that night, if it were not for the bravery of Corporal Floyd and Officer Eucce.
Twenty-two other law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country also received awards from the Attorney General.
Justice Department Announces Two Million Dollar Settlement of Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against Baltimore County, MarylandRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement, through a court-supervised settlement agreement, with Baltimore County, Maryland, resolving the United States’ claims that the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) discriminated against African American applicants for employment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
“This country’s communities are better protected and better served when police departments, like the one in Baltimore County, recruit and select qualified officers using job-related criteria,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “When police departments fail to do so, and instead disproportionately screen out members of protected classes, they violate federal law. This settlement agreement requires the Baltimore County Police Department to develop and implement hiring criteria that do not discriminate on the basis of race and further reflects the Civil Rights Division’s continued commitment to the eradication of race discrimination in hiring through the vigorous enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, subject to court approval, Baltimore County will pay $2,000,000 in back pay to eligible African Americans who were previously denied employment because of the employment tests challenged by the United States. The BCPD also must hire up to twenty of these previous applicants as entry-level police officers or cadets after the applicants demonstrate that they meet BCPD’s current qualifications for hire and successfully complete the county’s other selection requirements. In addition to back pay and priority hiring, the settlement agreement requires the county to develop a new hiring examination that is lawful under Title VII.
In a joint filing today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the Justice Department and Baltimore County moved for a court order provisionally approving the terms of the settlement agreement. The motion also asks the court to schedule a fairness hearing to provide an opportunity for individuals potentially affected by the proposed agreement to provide comments on the terms of the settlement.
The proposed settlement, once approved by the District Court, will resolve the United States’ complaint filed on Aug. 27, 2019. The suit alleged that the county, through the Baltimore County Police Department, violated Title VII since Jan. 1, 2013, by making hiring decisions for entry-level police officer and cadet positions based on the results of hiring examinations that were not job-related and that disproportionately excluded African American applicants.
The case was brought by Trial Attorneys Kathleen Lawrence and Ejaz Baluch Jr. of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section. The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the jurisdiction of the Employment Litigation Section is available on its websites at www.justice.gov/crt/ and https://www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
Judge sentences armed bank robber who caused car crash while fleeing from policeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry sentenced Darvell Wharton to 144 months (12 years) in prison for his role in an armed bank robbery. The 39 year old is a resident of St. Louis, Missouri.
On December 28, 2018, Wharton robbed the U.S. Bank located in the 3800 block of Gravois and brandished a firearm in a crime of violence.
Wharton pointed a loaded .45 caliber pistol at multiple bank employees and demanded money. Wharton succeeded in taking more than $2,000 in cash during the robbery.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to an all-points bulletin and pursued Wharton as he drove at speeds of more than 80 miles per hour, disregarded traffic signals and caused a three-car crash. Officers arrested Wharton, recovered a loaded Colt 1911 .45 caliber pistol, a loaded .380 caliber pistol, cash taken in the bank robbery and clothing worn during the bank robbery.
Wharton caused damage to a bystander’s vehicle during the pursuit.
“Wharton deserves every day of this sentence. He terrorized bank employees by pointing a large firearm at them,” said United States Attorney Jeff Jensen. “He recklessly endangered innocent members of the community and law enforcement officers when he fled.”
U.S. Attorney Jensen commended the quick and effective response by SLMPD officers resulting in the arrest of Wharton and the recovery of evidence. U.S. Attorney Jensen further commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their support of the investigation and prosecution.
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Jefferson County man sentenced for role in drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA –Victor Lamont Carr, of Ranson, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day of incarceration for his role in a drug distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Carr, age 61, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Cocaine Hydrochloride” in October 2019. Carr admitted to selling cocaine hydrochloride for $40 in July 2018 in Jefferson County.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep. This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S Attorney Timothy D. Helman, prosecued the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Martinsburg Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Ranson Police Department investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms While Selling DrugsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Omar Vera-Velazquez, 23, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that in September 2019, the defendant sold and distributed heroin in the Jamestown area. During this time period, Vera-Velazquez possessed various firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking in order to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds.
On September 19, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Bowen Street residence. Law enforcement officers seized four firearms; ammunition; two pistol magazines; approximately 60 grams of a heroin and fentanyl substance; two scales; several empty plastic baggies; and packaging materials.The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Timothy Jackson.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2021, before Judge Vilardo.
# # # #Indictment: Convicted Sex Offender Sexually Exploited MinorRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A convicted sex offender who lives in Wichita was indicted today on federal charges of sexually exploiting a minor, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Bryan Anthony Hale, 35, Wichita, is charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of committing a crime involving a minor while registered as a sex offender, one count of providing child pornography to a minor and one count of possessing child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during September and October 2020 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
In 2016, Hale was convicted in Sedgwick County District Court of a sex act involving a 6-year-old victim. He is registered on the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website at https://www.nsopw.gov/ .
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following potential penalties:
Producing child pornography: Not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Crime involving a minor: Up to 10 years (consecutive).
Providing child pornography to a minor: Not less than five years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Possession: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Clinton Wade McElroy, 49, Ellis, Kan., is charged with one count of producing child pornography and one count of committing a crime involving a minor child while registered as a sex offender. The crimes are alleged to have occurred May 27 through June 23, 2020 in Ellis, Kan.
In 2017, he was convicted in Ellis County District Court of sexually exploiting a 14-year-old victim. He is registered on the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website at https://www.nsopw.gov/ .
If convicted, he could face a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the production charge, and up to 10 years (consecutive) on the other count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
Jorge Aaron Valdez-Torres, 27, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of failure to register as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The crime is alleged to have occurred from May 2018 to July 2020 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
Christina Cook, 32, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 28, 2020, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting.
Anthony Garcia, 58, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of obstructing justice. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 27, 2020, in Wichita, Kan.
The indictment alleges Garcia retaliated against a family member of a witness in an official proceeding.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Idaho Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Solicit Sexual Abuse Images of A 9-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Aaron Kirk Woolman (58, Hagerman, Idaho) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 9-year-old child to engage in sexual activity and produce pornographic images of herself. Woolman was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. He had pleaded guilty on June 16, 2020.
According to court documents, on August 7, 2019, an undercover FBI agent from Jacksonville, posing as a parent of a 9-year-old child, made online contact with Woolman in an online chat application. During several online chat sessions, Woolman solicited the “parent” to send him pornographic images of the purported child. Woolman also engaged in conversations via text messaging with an undercover FBI agent posing as the 9-year-old child. During these conversations, Woolman solicited the “child” to engage in sexual activity, produce explicit images of herself, and send these images to Woolman. Woolman tried to convince the “child” to comply with his requests by sending the “child” explicit images of himself and adult pornography.
On December 13, 2019, FBI agents and other law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant at Woolman’s home in Hagerman, Idaho, where he was arrested. Woolman admitted that he had sent the “girl” a picture of his penis and acknowledged that he had asked the “girl” for a picture of her in the shower and for other explicit pictures of her.
A search of Woolman’s online cloud storage account revealed that it contained several images and videos depicting young children engaged in sexual activity with adults. One of the videos depicted a 3 to 4-year-old child being forced to perform oral sex on an adult male. Woolman’s smart phone also contained child sex abuse images as well as images and videos depicting Woolman’s genitals.
“This defendant was not only willing to commit heinous crimes against a child, he was caught with horrific images that victimized others,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “This case is a great example of the work that can be done when law enforcement agencies collaborate across state lines, and do everything in our power to stop additional children from being exploited in the future.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Boise, Idaho, as well as the Gooding County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office and the Twin Falls (Idaho) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Honduran National Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national was charged in federal court in Worcester with illegally reentering the United States.
Milton Javier Cardona-Guevara, 34, was charged with one count of illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation. Cardona-Guevara was detained following an initial appearance yesterday.
According to charging documents, on Aug. 13, 2006, Cardona-Guevara illegally entered the United States and was convicted of improper entry by an alien in August 2006. On Sept. 5, 2006, he was removed from the U.S. In 2008 and 2011, Cardona-Guevara was apprehended after illegally entering the United States, and was deported. It is alleged that on Oct. 2, 2018, Cardona-Guevara was arrested in Worcester County for assault with a dangerous weapon. Cardona-Guevara admitted to immigration authorities that he had been deported three times previously. On Jan. 25, 2019, he was removed from the U.S. On Oct. 13, 2020, Cardona-Guevara was arrested in Worcester on an outstanding warrant for criminal charges, and has been custody on state criminal charges until he was charged in this case.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $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 and Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office 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.