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Friday 18 September 2020
Waterbury Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRELL CAMPBELL, also known as “Bricks,” 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury and Naugatuck Police Departments into a heroin and cocaine trafficking operation headed by Keith Jordan of Waterbury. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Jordan was receiving large quantities of heroin from various suppliers and selling to drug to other distributors, including Campbell, and street-level customers. Jordan also purchased and distributed cocaine.
On March 13, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Campbell, Jordan and 27 other individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.
Campbell and several of his codefendants were arrested on March 20, 2019. In association with the arrests, investigators seized approximately 3,000 bags of heroin, 400 grams of cocaine, 350 grams of fentanyl/heroin mixed, 400 grams of heroin, 10 grams of crack, 20 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl patches, a one-kilogram press, four handguns, approximately $120,000 in cash and four vehicles.
Investigators seized from Campbell approximately 10 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, and $6,765 in cash, when he was arrested.
Campbell’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics offenses, and he was on state probation while engaged in the criminal conduct that led to the federal charges. In October 2018, he was arrested by Waterbury Police for criminal possession of a handgun.
Campbell has been detained since March 20, 2019. On October 15, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin.
Jordan pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, Waterbury Police Department and Naugatuck Police Department, with the critical assistance of the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Nathaniel J. Gentile.
Waterbury Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOEVANNY VICENTE, 34, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a DEA Task Force investigation identified Vicente as a broker of kilogram-quantity cocaine transactions. Vicente was arrested on September 10, 2018, after he delivered two kilograms of cocaine to another individual in Waterbury.
On November 13, 2018, after an indictment was returned in this case, Vicente was released on a $100,000 bond. The appearance bond was co-signed by two individuals and secured by a residential property Vicente owned on York Street in Waterbury. Vicente subsequently fled to the Dominican Republic. He was arrested on March 5, 2019, in Puerto Rico after he traveled there to visit his son.
On February 1, 2019, Judge Underhill ordered Vicente’s appearance bond and his York Street property forfeited.
Vicente has been detained since his arrest. On December 10, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
This matter is being investigated by the DEA Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Karen Peck and Christine Sciarrino.
Warwick Man Admits to Conspire to Fraudulently Obtain COVID-19 Stimulus LoansRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man today admitted to a federal court judge that he participated in a conspiracy with a Massachusetts man to submit fraudulent bank loan applications to a Rhode Island bank in an effort to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress to assist businesses impacted by the pandemic.
David Andrew Butziger, 52, admitted that he conspired with David Adler Staveley, a/k/a Kurt David Sanborn, a/k/a David Sanborn, 53, of Andover, MA, to seek forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA, claiming to have dozens of employees earning wages at four different business, three restaurants and an electronics business, when, in fact, there were no employees working for any of the businesses.
Butziger admitted that he submitted a loan application to BankNewport under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), part of the CARES Act passed by Congress on March 29,2000, on behalf of an unincorporated entity that he called Dock Wireless. The loan application was in the amount of $105,381.50 and fraudulently represented that Dock Wireless had 7 employees and an average monthly payroll of $42,152.60. According to the government, in truth and in fact, Dock Wireless had no employees and no wages were ever paid by Dock Wireless.
Butziger admitted that he conspired with Staveley who himself allegedly submitted three fraudulent bank loan applications for SBA loans under the PPP totaling $438,577. It is alleged that Staveley claimed the loans were to be used to pay employees at three restaurants he claimed to own and to be operating, including Top of the Bay and Remington House in Warwick and On The Trax in Berlin, MA.
An investigation determined that Remington House and On The Trax were not open for business prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and at the time the loan applications were submitted, and that Staveley did not own or have any role in Top of the Bay restaurant.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, Butziger pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI’s Boston Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Joleen Simpson.
Butziger is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2020.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 2, 2020, charging Staveley with three counts of bank fraud and one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, false statements to influence the SBA, aggravated identity theft, and failure to appear in court as required.
After having been having been charged by way of a federal criminal complaint in May 2020 for his alleged role in the conspiracy to gain four fraudulent SBA PPP loans, and while on pre-trial release, Staveley allegedly faked his own death and failed to appear in court, as ordered by the court. It is alleged that from May 26, 2020, to July 23, 2020, in an effort to avoid apprehension, Staveley traveled to various States using false identities and stolen license plates. He was apprehended by the United States Marshals Service in Alpharetta, Georgia on July 23, 2020.
Staveley is now detained in federal custody while awaiting trial.
A federal indictment and a criminal complaint are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The Justice Department acknowledges and thanks the SBA Office of Inspector General and the FDIC, Office of Inspector General for their efforts investigating this mater.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Virginia Attorneys Sentenced for Attempting to Extort a Multinational Chemicals CompanyRead the Press Release
Two Virginia attorneys were sentenced today on federal extortion charges for their roles in a scheme to extort a multinational chemicals company by threatening to inflict substantial financial and reputational harm on the company if their demands for a $200 million payment disguised as a purported “consulting agreement” were not met.
Timothy Litzenburg, 38, of Charlottesville, Virginia, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon of the Western District of Virginia. Daniel Kincheloe, 41, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was separately sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release by Judge Moon. Both defendants had previously pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate communications with the intent to extort.
“These two attorneys flagrantly violated their ethical duties to their own clients as they sought to extort a company out of $200 million,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Attorneys who cross the line and abuse their status as officers of the court will be held accountable for their actions.”
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a strong notice to fraudsters that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will pursue anyone who uses the mail for illegal schemes,” said Delany De Leon-Colon, Inspector in Charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) who oversees the Criminal Investigations Group. “Whether it’s a private citizen or a major corporation, Postal Inspectors will never relent in protecting them from those who seek to use the U.S. Mail to further their dangerous scams.”
Litzenburg and Kincheloe previously admitted that in approximately October 2019, Litzenburg approached a company (Company 1) and threatened to make public statements alleging that Company 1 had significant civil liability for manufacturing a purportedly harmful chemical used in a common household product used to kill weeds. Litzenburg and Kincheloe also admitted that after describing the possibility of damaging lawsuits against Company 1, Litzenburg proposed, in sum and substance, that he and Kincheloe enter into a “consulting arrangement” with Company 1 that would create a purported conflict-of-interest that would effectively stop them from representing their clients as plaintiffs in litigation against Company 1. Thereafter, Litzenburg and Kincheloe admitted that Litzenburg, with Kincheloe’s knowledge and agreement, demanded that Company 1 pay Litzenburg, Kincheloe, and others, a total of $200 million in purported “consulting fees.”
Litzenburg and Kincheloe also previously admitted that after making their demand for $200 million from Company 1, they registered a Virginia corporation for the purpose of receiving monies from Company 1, and that they agreed to split the funds from Company 1 amongst themselves and their associates, and to not distribute any of the monies Company 1 paid them as purported “consulting fees” to their existing clients. Litzenburg and Kincheloe admitted that after making their demand for $200 million, Litzenburg threatened Company 1 that they and others would commence litigation that would become “an ongoing and exponentially growing problem for [Company 1], particularly when the media inevitably takes notice” and that such litigation would cost Company 1 and its publicly-traded parent company “billions, setting aside the associated drop in stock price and reputation damage.”
Litzenburg and Kincheloe also admitted pursuant to their guilty pleas that in an email written by Litzenburg, they threatened Company 1 that unless they were paid $200 million, Company 1 would have “thousands of future plaintiffs against [Company 1]” and that “in the absence of a so-called ‘global’ or final deal with me, this will certainly balloon into an existential threat to [Company 1].”
Litzenburg and Kincheloe also admitted that they met in person with attorneys representing Company 1 at a conference center in Charlottesville, Virginia, and during that meeting Litzenburg again threatened to injure the property and reputation of Company 1 and its parent company unless they were paid $200 million pursuant to purported “consulting arrangements,” and that without such a deal there was no way Company 1 “gets out of it for less” than “[a] billion. Yeah. No, I mean, nuisance value, uh, defense lawyer fees, a hit in the stock when this gets filed and served, maybe the press conference, whatever.” Later in the same meeting, Litzenburg and Kincheloe admitted that Litzenburg again stated, in sum and in part, that if they commenced litigation it would have adverse effects on Company 1’s parent’s stock price, which Litzenburg described as “a 40 percent stock loss coming off the top.”
Litzenburg also admitted that, during other communications with Company 1, he told Company 1 that if he received the $200 million in “consulting fees” he would not discuss Company 1 or its parent company with his current clients, and that he was willing to “take a dive” during a deposition of a toxicology expert to deter potential future claims related to litigation against Company 1.
The USPIS investigated the case. Principal Assistant Chief Henry P. Van Dyck and Assistant Chief L. Rush Atkinson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section plays a pivotal role in the Department of Justice’s fight against white collar crime around the country.
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.
Valdosta Couple Indicted on Child Pornography Production Charges, Law Enforcement Open Hotlines for Concerned CitizensRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Law enforcement agencies investigating a Valdosta couple criminally indicted this week for a multitude of child pornography production charges have opened two hotlines for concerned citizens to report potential crimes, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Jayson E. Wright, 34, and Kara E. Wright, 31, both of Valdosta, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Macon on Wednesday, September 16. Jayson Wright is charged with six counts of production of child pornography; Kara Wright is charged with three counts of production of child pornography. The defendants were originally arrested on state warrants from Lowndes County, Georgia, followed by a federal criminal complaint filed in the Middle District of Georgia. They are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, and were arraigned before the Honorable Jason B. Libby in the Southern District of Texas on September 17, 2020, case number 720-cr-33(WLS). The defendants waived their identity hearing and reserved their detention hearing upon their return to Georgia. The defendants remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, and it is unknown at this time when they will be transferred to Georgia. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictment alleges that the defendants enticed four minor children to engage in sexually explicit acts which were filmed or photographed. Information gathered during the investigation alleges that both defendants were possibly involved in the Valdosta-area Boy Scouts of America from August 2015 until the present time. Additional information gathered during the investigation alleges that Kara Wright was possibly an Assistant Scout Master. Parents and guardians of children involved in Scouts under the alleged leadership of the Wrights, or whose children otherwise may have come into contact with Wrights, are encouraged to contact the following hotlines to share any concerns related to this investigation:
Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Investigations Division: (229) 671-2950
“It is imperative that parents and guardians of children who may have been in contact with these individuals speak to their children, and reach out to investigators at Homeland Security or Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office with any concerns,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “We are thankful for the strong partnership we have with HSI and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office as we all work relentlessly to protect the safety of the children in the Middle District of Georgia.”
The case is being investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales is prosecuting the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
U.S. Attorney McAllister Statement on Justice GinsburgRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister made the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“Justice Ginsburg joined the Court after I was a law clerk. That said, she replaced my first Justice, Byron R. White, after he retired in 1993. She visited the KU Law School while I was Dean, and I had the pleasure of co-teaching a summer study abroad course with her in Istanbul, Turkey, a course that focused on equal protection law, her particular passion. She and her husband, Marty, were a delight in that summer program. Every one of my nine oral arguments before the Supreme Court included Justice Ginsburg, who often had pointed questions for me, but who also made a point of referring to me as “General McAllister” when I appeared for Kansas in my role as Solicitor General. She was fastidious in both her respect for advocates and her preparation for oral arguments.
“Physically tiny, the Justice was in so many ways a giant. No one who is objectively and intellectually honest can deny that claim. I firmly believe my mentor Justice Thomas would agree with my assertion, as would have her dear friend Justice Scalia.
“Irrespective of jurisprudential or philosophical views, I had the utmost respect for Justice Ginsburg as a person. I, my wife who soon will become an elected state prosecutor, and our four daughters, are profoundly grateful to RBG for forever changing for the better the legal landscape for American women and equal rights, allowing them to seek opportunities, achieve their goals, and excel on equal footing with men across the entire spectrum of American economy and its variety of professions and pursuits.”
U.S. Attorney Announces the Indictment of 17 Gun Offenders as Part of the Justice Department's “Project Guardian” InitiativeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced today the return of federal indictments against 17 individuals charged with federal firearms violations.
The indictments are the result of Project Guardian, the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by Attorney General William P. Barr 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. The initiative also improves information sharing, and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
“Gun violence remains a pervasive problem in communities across this district and our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The indictments announced today are a testament to our ongoing coordination with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and state prosecutors, and our shared commitment to reduce gun violence, remove firearms from the hands of felons, and bring to justice those who violate gun laws.”
“ATF has a long-standing commitment with our law enforcement partners to tackle gun violence and violent crimes in our communities,” said Vince Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Removing violent criminals from our neighborhoods and recovering the firearms used in their crimes is a critical step toward stronger and safer neighborhoods.”
“We see every day how gun violence can cause heartache and destroy lives. Thanks to our partner agencies, the work done here is a step in the right direction to making communities safer and holding individuals accountable for their actions,” said Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
"Catawba County is a safer place today thanks to the incredible success of our local, state and federal partnership. The collaboration and teamwork demonstrated in this operation is some of the finest I have witnessed. I'm proud to have my office associated with these law enforcement professionals," said Sheriff Don Brown, of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
“There is no doubt that these arrests will make our communities safer,” said Chief Thurman Whisnant of the Hickory Police Department. In Hickory, we very much appreciate the continued collaboration and cooperation among our local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutors who are all committed to pursuing violent offenders that put our communities at risk.”
“The Long View Police department has a solid relationship with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. We are committed to disrupting criminal activity and keeping our communities safe. I am extremely proud of the law enforcement partnership and the outcome of this operation,” said Chief T.J. Bates of the Long View Police Department.
The 17 individuals indicted for firearms violations are:
- Trevin Ali Brown, 22, of Hickory, N.C.
- Chaetez Sean Clayton, 30, of Hickory, N.C.
- Shawn Malcolm Davis, 30, of Catawba, N.C.
- Donte Rassan Gore, 28, Hickory, NC.
- Daquan Lashawn Ikard, 30, of Hickory, N.C.
- Martavious Steven Isbell, 26, of Granite Falls, N.C.
- Gevon Marquise King, 36, of Hickory, N.C.
- Line Germaine Linebarger, 33, of Hickory, N.C.
- Robbie Octavion Little, 28, of Hickory, N.C.
- Curese Devin McIlwain, 35, of Hickory, N.C.
- Stanley Earl Reed, 29, of Hickory, N.C.
- Meguel Greylen Robinson, 25, of Hickory, N.C.
- Craig Anthony Ruff, 25, of Newton, N.C.
- Nicholas Anthony Santellan, 37, of Hickory, N.C.
- Michael Dwane Williams, 23, or Hickory, N.C.
- Wilburn Johnathan Wilson, 25, of Hickory, N.C.
- Tou Yang, 38, of Hickory, N.C.
As a result of the initiative, law enforcement have recovered more than 100 firearms, some o which were stolen, unregistered, or used in the commission of other violent crimes, ammunition, and a silencer, among other items. The defendants had their first court appearance in federal court in Charlotte today. Davis, Gore, McIlwain Robinson, Santellan, Wilson and Yang are also facing drug trafficking charges.
The charges in the indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked Scott Reilly, District Attorney for Caldwell, Burke and Catawba Counties. “Our partnership and collaboration with state prosecutors is a vital factor in the success of federal crime reduction initiatives like Project Guardian. I want to thank District Attorney Reilly for his office’s continued assistance and coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and I look forward to our continued joint efforts to increase safety in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.
The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting these cases with support from the following Project Guardian partners: the ATF, the SBI, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Hickory Police Department, and the Long View Police Department. The U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the arrests.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lambert Guinn, Christopher Hess and Sanjeev Bhasker, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, are handling the prosecutions.
For more information about Project Guardian, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian
U.S Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General and Justice Department Conduct Animal Welfare Criminal Investigations TrainingRead the Press Release
On Sept. 14 to 18, criminal investigators and attorneys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and the U.S. Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) collaborated to put on a week-long training for USDA-OIG criminal investigators, as well as other federal law enforcement agencies on animal welfare criminal investigations and prosecutions.
“Animal fighting and other violations of federal animal welfare laws are serious offenses, and ending these cruel practices requires close partnerships among federal law enforcement agencies,” said ENRD Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Brightbill. “Our division is proud to be a leader in this worthy cause. Our work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate and prosecute these cases sends a strong message that those who engage in such illegal and cruel practices will be punished.”
“The USDA Office of Inspector General has consistently and successfully conducted investigations of animal fighting and welfare, and has a proven record of building strong partnerships with other law enforcement officials and nongovernmental organizations to help protect animals,” said USDA-OIG’s Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Peter P. Paradis Sr. “Partnering with the Justice Department to train our special agents ensures that we continue to attain optimal results for our efforts.”
“This in-depth training workshop is critical to the enforcement of our national animal laws,” said Professor David Favre of Michigan State University’s College of Law, and founder of its Animal Legal and Historical Center. “In this ever-evolving world of animal law enforcement, there are always lessons to be learned and experiences to share.”
During the training, special agents with USDA OIG’s Office of Investigations and nine attorneys from ENRD, including Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brightbill, joined by state law enforcement officials, experts from academia, and nongovernmental organizations, shared their expertise with attendees. Instructors provided participants with an overview of the business of dogfighting and cockfighting, horse soring, overviews of federal animal welfare and cruelty statutes, effective investigative techniques, evidence collection best practices, available resources and authorities for the seizure and post-seizure care of animals, and successful sentencing strategies. The training also included a session on biohazards and zoonotics.
The Federal Animal Welfare Act makes it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any animal, including dogs, for purposes of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture. In 2014, the Justice Department designated ENRD as having concurrent responsibility, with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, to enforce Federal animal cruelty laws.
The Department of Justice and USDA-OIG have had a number of successes in combating animal cruelty. For example, Operation Grand Champion brought 12 individuals to justice for their roles in a dog fighting ring. The operation began with a tip from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent surveilling drug crimes, and, from this tip, USDA-OIG investigators, working with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, uncovered a ring that crossed multiple states and involved hundreds of dogs. The prosecutions, conducted by ENRD and U.S. Attorney’s Offices between 2017 and 2019, resulted in convictions of 12 defendants in four federal districts, who were sentenced to 315 months in prison, combined. As a result of the investigation, 113 dogs were rescued and either surrendered or forfeited to the government.
The Justice Department has a robust and cross-cutting program to ensure effective enforcement of animal welfare law. This includes a civil forfeiture process that often results in animals being removed from accused abusers more quickly, along with the needed care, medical treatment, and the best chance for recovery and adoption. More than 1,200 dogs have been seized and rescued through this process. In addition, the Justice Department has provided extensive training for federal, state, and local law enforcement; identified and successfully advocated for policy changes that improve enforcement; and convened state and local law enforcement, animal protection organizations, and academic institutions to coordinate efforts in this area.
For more information on the department's efforts, visit our website at: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/animal-welfare.
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 Individuals Charged with Bribery Related to Iraq ContractsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Two individuals have been charged with bribery offenses in connection with Department of Defense contracts as part of the Fraud Section’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and fraud in contracting on U.S. military installations overseas.
Mark Alan Fryday, 37, and Lara Jumaah Mohammed, 30, both residing in Erbil, Iraq, were charged in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia with one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery of a public official.
“This alleged bribery and kickback scheme sought to undermine the efforts of the Department of Defense to lawfully contract overseas,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt. “Corruption undermines our military’s readiness and affects the wellbeing of our servicemembers, and the Department of Justice will continue to work to protect our men and women in uniform from corrupt and fraudulent conduct around the world.”
“This office is committed to protecting the integrity of government contracting and in particular stamping out corruption that threatens the U.S. military and its installations abroad,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin of the District of Columbia. “This indictment, and our partnership with the Fraud Section on this case, is part of that effort.”
“Contractors who do business with the Department of Defense should take notice of these investigations. This type of egregious conduct will not be tolerated” said Stanley Newell, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office. “DCIS and its law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to defend the integrity of the Department of Defense contracting process by rooting out fraud and deceit of this sort, and ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.”
“We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the procurement process,” said Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Criminal Investigation Command’s (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “This indictment sends an unmistakable message to other companies around the world – that we will be relentless in rooting out corruption at any level.”
The indictment alleges that Fryday and Mohammed offered bribes to a U.S. Army official at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. Fryday and Mohammed allegedly owned companies based in Erbil that sought contracts to supply goods and services to U.S. military forces there. In early 2020, Fryday and Mohammed allegedly offered to pay an Army contracting official a kickback equivalent to 20 percent of the value of any contract that he awarded to their companies. Fryday and Mohammed also allegedly offered an upfront cash payment in exchange for the award of a contract to supply equipment that was due to be awarded in late March 2020.
As part of the Fraud Section’s on-going efforts to combat corruption and fraud in contracting on U.S. military installations overseas, two additional individuals have been previously charged. Roy George Varkey, 56, of Kuwait City, Kuwait, was charged with two counts of bribery in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia on Dec. 19, 2019, for his role in offering bribes to an employee of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Camp Arifjan, a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, in late 2019. Xavier Fernando Monroy, the former Director of Operations of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command Office in Busan, Republic of Korea, was charged by complaint on May 20, 2020 in the District of Columbia for allegedly participating in a bribery conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.
An indictment or complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is the nation’s leading prosecuting authority for complex procurement fraud and corruption cases.
The investigation is being conducted by DCIS and the CID’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. Trial Attorney Michael P. McCarthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Nguyen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
Two Individuals Charged with Bribery Related to Iraq ContractsRead the Press Release
Two individuals have been charged with bribery offenses in connection with Department of Defense contracts as part of the Fraud Section’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and fraud in contracting on U.S. military installations overseas.
Mark Alan Fryday, 37, and Lara Jumaah Mohammed, 30, both residing in Erbil, Iraq, were charged in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia with one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery of a public official.
“This alleged bribery and kickback scheme sought to undermine the efforts of the Department of Defense to lawfully contract overseas,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt. “Corruption undermines our military’s readiness and affects the wellbeing of our servicemembers, and the Department of Justice will continue to work to protect our men and women in uniform from corrupt and fraudulent conduct around the world.”
“My office is committed to protecting the integrity of government contracting and in particular stamping out corruption that threatens the U.S. military and its installations abroad,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin of the District of Columbia. “This indictment, and our partnership with the Fraud Section on this case, is part of that effort.”
“Contractors who do business with the Department of Defense should take notice of these investigations. This type of egregious conduct will not be tolerated” said Stanley Newell, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office. “DCIS and its law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to defend the integrity of the Department of Defense contracting process by rooting out fraud and deceit of this sort, and ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.”
“We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the procurement process,” said Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Criminal Investigation Command’s (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “This indictment sends an unmistakable message to other companies around the world – that we will be relentless in rooting out corruption at any level.”
The indictment alleges that Fryday and Mohammed offered bribes to a U.S. Army official at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. Fryday and Mohammed allegedly owned companies based in Erbil that sought contracts to supply goods and services to U.S. military forces there. In early 2020, Fryday and Mohammed allegedly offered to pay an Army contracting official a kickback equivalent to 20 percent of the value of any contract that he awarded to their companies. Fryday and Mohammed also allegedly offered an upfront cash payment in exchange for the award of a contract to supply equipment that was due to be awarded in late March 2020.
As part of the Fraud Section’s on-going efforts to combat corruption and fraud in contracting on U.S. military installations overseas, two additional individuals have been previously charged. Roy George Varkey, 56, of Kuwait City, Kuwait, was charged with two counts of bribery in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia on Dec. 19, 2019, for his role in offering bribes to an employee of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Camp Arifjan, a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, in late 2019. Xavier Fernando Monroy, the former Director of Operations of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command Office in Busan, Republic of Korea, was charged by complaint on May 20, 2020 in the District of Columbia for allegedly participating in a bribery conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.
An indictment or complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is the nation’s leading prosecuting authority for complex procurement fraud and corruption cases.
The investigation is being conducted by DCIS and the CID’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. Trial Attorney Michael P. McCarthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Nguyen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Twin Brothers Accused of Kidnapping and Assaulting Victim Charged in Miami Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Miami, Fl. – Federal prosecutors have charged 23-year-old twin brothers Devon Cooke and Donavan Cooke, of Miami Gardens, with carjacking and kidnapping after they allegedly abducted and assaulted a man in an attempt to collect ransom money.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
According to the criminal complaint affidavit unsealed today, the Cooke brothers’ victim drove to the twins’ home in Miami Gardens on September 15, 2020, to collect money. When the victim arrived, the Cooke brothers -- already on house arrest for murder and attempted murder charges -- are alleged to have assaulted the victim, snatched his car keys, and dragged him out of the car and into their house. According to the complaint, the brothers bound the victim to a chair, wrapping his arms and legs with duct tape. The complaint states that the brothers beat the victim, used a knife to cut his face and toes, and wrapped a dog leash around the victim’s neck, choking him to the point of unconsciousness.
The complaint also alleges that the Cooke brothers threatened to kill the victim if he did not come up with ransom money and that a witness heard the victim plead for his life. With one of the brothers alleged to have been holding a gun to the victim’s head, the victim made a phone call. He instructed the person who answered to collect cash, a Rolex, and other jewelry from the victim’s room, place it in a bag, and drive to a location the Cooke brothers selected. While that person did as the victim asked, an armed accomplice of the Cooke brothers arrived at the defendants’ home, loaded the victim into his car, and transported the victim to the exchange spot, according to the complaint. Once there, the victim fled the car and the Cooke brothers’ accomplice drove off with the ransom.
An investigation led law enforcement officers to the Cooke twins. Inside their home, FBI agents found duct tape, a dog collar, ammunition, and other items.
The Cooke brothers are in federal custody. They made their initial appearance today in Miami federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Becerra, who detained them for a future hearing. Each brother faces up to 15 years in federal prison on the carjacking charge, and life in prison on the kidnapping charge.
FBI Miami and its FBI Miami Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case, in collaboration with the Miami Gardens Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dayron Silverio and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gilfarb.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 20-mj-03653.
Twenty-Eight Now Charged in Federal Probe into the Staging of Automobile AccidentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today the indictment of nine additional defendants bringing the total to twenty-eight charged for intentionally staging automobile accidents. Today’s indictment charges CORNELIUS GARRISON (“GARRISON”), age 54, of New Orleans, Louisiana; DONIESHA GIBSON (“GIBSON”), age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana; CHANDRIKA BROWN (“BROWN”), age 29, of Slidell, Louisiana; ISHAIS PRICE (“PRICE”), age 49, of New Orleans, Louisiana; AISHA THOMPSON (“THOMPSON”), age 42, of New Orleans, Louisiana; DEWAYNE COLEMAN (“COLEMAN”), age 21, of Marrero, Louisiana; DONISESHA LEE, age 30, of Harvey, Louisiana; DONREION LEE, age 22, of Harvey, Louisiana; and ERICA LEE THOMPSON (“ERICA LEE”), age 46, of Harvey, Louisiana. These nine defendants were charged in a seven-count federal indictment with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 and six (6) counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. The indictment alleges that the defendants intentionally used vehicles to cause staged motor vehicle accidents with commercial carriers in order to defraud these carriers and their insurance companies. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five (5) years for Count 1 and twenty (20) years as to Counts 2-7. Upon their release from prison, each defendant can be placed on a term of supervised release for up to five (5) years and fined up to $250,000.00 per count or twice the gross gain to the defendant of twice the gross loss to the victim.
According to today’s indictment and previous indictments, there were five (5) “slammers,” that is individuals who intentionally caused motor vehicle accidents to defraud commercial vehicles and insurance companies, operating in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Two alleged slammers, Damian Labeaud and Roderick Hickman, are charged in previous indictments, and, two additional alleged slammers have since died. Today’s indictment alleges that GARRISON was a slammer.
GARRISON is charged with staging over 50 accidents and was paid over $150,000 by an unnamed Co-Conspirator (“Co-Conspirator A”). Co-Conspirator A instructed GARRISON as to the number of passengers to use in the staged accidents and to avoid areas patrolled by the Louisiana State Police and instead stage the accidents under the jurisdiction of the New Orleans Police Department. The indictment alleges that Co-Conspirator A referred the staged accident cases to an attorney referenced as Attorney B. GARRISON staged accidents mostly on Interstate 10 from Slidell to Baton Rouge and usually at night to avoid eyewitnesses. GARRISON targeted commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, that were changing lanes and would cause the accident by striking the commercial vehicle or tractor-trailer in their blind spot, using the slammer vehicle. After the accident, GARRISION would usually exit the vehicle from the passenger side in order to avoid being seen by the driver of the target vehicle. GARRISON instructed the passengers to call 911 to report that they had been hit by a vehicle. A passenger in the vehicle would falsely claim to have been the driver at the time of the staged accident.
The instant indictment charges GARRISON with staging two accidents. The first occurred on October 15, 2015, and involved a Hotard bus. GARRISON intentionally drove a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned by GIBSON into a Hotard bus while traveling on the I-10 near the flyover of the I-510. Also in the vehicle were defendants BROWN and PRICE. Total settlement for the Hotard bus accident was approximately $677,500.
The second staged accident charged in this indictment occurred on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 near the Almonaster exit when GARRISON crashed defendant ERICA LEE’s 2015 RAV4 into a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Express. The passengers in this vehicle were COLEMAN, DONISEHA LEE, DONREION LEE, and an unknown female passenger who gave the name Aisha Thompson to the police after the staged accident. Total settlement for the Averitt accident was $30,000.
In total, the victim trucking, bus, and insurance companies paid out approximately $707,500.00 for these two fraudulent claims.
An arrest warrant was issued for COLEMAN. The remaining defendants will be required to appear, at a later date, before a United States Magistrate Judge for an initial appearance and arraignment on this indictment.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.
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Thief River Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of BENJAMIN JOSEPH ROGGENBUCK, 38, to two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography. ROGGENBUCK, who was indicted on August 10, 2020, entered his plea on September 17, 2020, before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. ROGGENBUCK will be sentenced at a later date.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, between November 2012 and February 2020, ROGGENBUCK used or attempted to use two prepubescent minor children to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. ROGGENBUCK also admitted to possessing and distributing pornography depicting prepubescent minors. As part of the plea agreement, ROGGENBUCK also pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges brought by the Pennington County Attorney’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Thief River Falls Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Miranda E. Dugi are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
BENJAMIN JOSEPH ROGGENBUCK, 38
Thief River Falls, Minn.
Convicted:
- Production and attempted production of child pornography, 2 counts
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Texas Woman Sentenced to over Nine Years in Prison for Trafficking over 3 Kilograms of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Courtney Lynell Johnson, 29, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 115 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Judge Ozerden also ordered Johnson to pay a $5,000 fine.
On October 21, 2019, a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Johnson near the 45 mile marker of I-10 east bound. Upon questioning, Johnson stated that she was driving from Houston, Texas to pick up her sister in Gautier, Mississippi. A number of other incidents and factors made law enforcement suspicious, and the deputy subsequently asked Johnson for permission to search the vehicle. Johnson agreed and gave consent. A duffle bag, which Johnson claimed ownership of, was located in the trunk. A subsequent search of the bag’s contents revealed 100% pure methamphetamine (ICE) weighing 3,001.6 grams.
Johnson was arrested, advised of her Miranda rights, and agreed to answer questions. DEA agents learned that Johnson was transporting the methamphetamine from the Houston, Texas area to Gautier, Mississippi.
Johnson was charged in a federal criminal indictment and pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on February 28, 2020.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shundral H. Cole.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography Involving Arkansas MinorRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A Tennessee man was sentenced late Thursday on one count of production of child pornography. United States District Court Judge James M. Moody sentenced Craig Gillum, 55, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, to 280 months in federal prison. Cody Hiland, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Diane Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office, announced the sentencing.
In January 2018, the parents of a 16-year-old female reported to authorities that she was missing from her home in Trumann, Arkansas. Officers identified the minor’s email and searched the account, which revealed sexually explicit messages from Gillum. In some of the emails, Gillum sent explicit photos of himself to the minor, and he requested and received images of child pornography from the “little girl,” as he referred to her in the messages.
On February 1, 2018, investigating agents learned the minor was located at a motel room in Nebraska with Gillum. Agents found the minor, whose hair had been cut and colored. The minor told investigators Gillum had picked her up in Trumann and driven her to Nebraska.
“This defendant manipulated a child into sending explicit images and then transported her out of the state to continue his depravity,” said U.S. Attorney Hiland. “Fortunately, he will spend the next 23 years in prison, where he cannot harm another child. We will seek the same lengthy sentence for anyone who seeks to take advantage of children in our communities.”
“Mr. Gillum’s despicable crimes separated an underage girl from her family and placed her in a repugnant situation,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Diane Upchurch. “Our agents work every day to counter evil in our state, which is why I’m so pleased they were able to apprehend Mr. Gillum and rescue his young victim. We urge anyone with information about child sexual abuse to contact the FBI immediately!”
On December 4, 2018, Gillum was charged in a three-count indictment with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on August 1, 2019.
In addition to the prison term, Gillum was sentenced to ten years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Tennessee Doctors Sentenced in $65 Million TRICARE FraudRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Mark W. Pletcher (619) 546-9714
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 18, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Two doctors, Susan Vergot and Carl Lindblad, were sentenced in federal court today for participating in a health care fraud scheme that bilked TRICARE – the health care program that covers United States service members – out of tens of millions of dollars by prescribing thousands of exorbitantly expensive compounded drugs to patients they never saw or examined.
Dr. Vergot and Dr. Lindblad were sentenced to 24 and 28 months in custody, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino. The custodial portion of each defendant’s sentence will be split between prison and home confinement. Each was also sentenced to pay a $15,000 fine.
"This conspiracy inflicted nearly $65 million in actual losses to TRICARE, the health care benefits program relied upon by millions of our military members and their families," said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. "It is hard to imagine a more outrageous example of selfish doctors stealing from the U.S. health care system believing they were exempt from providing necessary care."
"Today’s sentencings demonstrate our resolve to hold those accountable who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers," said Michael Mentavlos, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southwest Field Office. "TRICARE is a critical DoD program providing care for our service members, retirees, and their families. Together with our partners, we will continue to use all means available to root out fraud in this invaluable program."
Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient requires a particular dosage or application or is allergic to a dye or other ingredient.
According to the sentencing memorandum, as part of this conspiracy a team of individuals worked to recruit and pay Marines, primarily from the San Diego area, and their dependents – all TRICARE beneficiaries – to obtain compounded medications that would be paid for by TRICARE. This information was sent to Choice MD, the Tennessee medical clinic that employed Dr. Vergot and Dr. Lindblad. Dr. Vergot and Dr. Lindblad then wrote prescriptions for the TRICARE beneficiaries, despite never examining the patients. Once signed by the doctors, these prescriptions were not given to the straw beneficiaries, but sent directly to particular pharmacies controlled by co-conspirators, most often a small pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe in Bountiful, Utah, which filled the prescriptions and mailed the drugs to the patients in California.
Between November 2014 and June 2015, Drs. Vergot and Lindblad authorized 6,694 prescriptions, for which their co-conspirators billed TRICARE a staggering $89,725,000. Of this amount, over $65 million was for prescriptions written for straw TRICARE beneficiaries in the Southern District of California.
Defendants Vergot and Lindblad are the second and third defendants sentenced in this matter. CFK, Inc., the corporate owner of The Medicine Shoppe, was sentenced previously. A nurse practitioner, Candace Craven, previously pleaded guilty, as have the patient recruiters, including Joshua Morgan, Kyle Adams, Daniel Castro, Jeremy Syto, and Bradely White. All await sentencing. Jimmy and Ashley Collins, the owners of Choice MD, were charged by Superseding Indictment in June 2020. Their case remains pending. .
DEFENDANTS Case Numbers: 18-CR-1850-JLS, 18-CR-1855-JLS
Carl Lindblad Age: 77 Chattanooga, TN
Susan Vergot Age: 65 Chattanooga, TN
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C § 1349
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine or double loss amount, whichever is greater
AGENCY
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
IRS Criminal Investigation Division, Gulfport, MS
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Jackson, MS Field Office
Sureno Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Raymond Zack Guerrero-Garcia, age 29, of Toppenish, Washington, a Sureno Gang Member, and an enrolled member of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty on July 7, 2020, to Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Senior United States District Judge Lonny Suko sentenced Guerrero-Garcia to a 10-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, in January 2017, the victim stole drugs from Guerrero-Garcia and damaged his vehicle. In May 2017, the victim learned that Guerrero-Garcia’s mother had passed away. The victim traveled to Guerrero-Garcia’s residence, located within the external boundaries of the Yakama Nation, to offer condolences. Guerrero-Garcia approached the victim, pulled out a firearm, and shot the victim. Guerrero-Garcia then entered the victim’s vehicle and stole property including a stereo.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington commends the law enforcement officers with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, the Toppenish Police Department, the Yakama Nation Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives who investigated this case. Their seamless partnership resulted in the successful outcome of this matter. The sentence imposed by the court removes a violent gang member from our streets and sends a clear message to others who may choose to engage in such criminal activity.”
This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for violent crime in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, the Toppenish Police Department, the Yakama Nation Police Department, and the Yakima Resident Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Tom Hanlon, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr has released the following statement:
“On behalf of the Department of Justice, I extend my deepest sympathy on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg led one of the great lives in the history of American law. She was a brilliant and successful litigator, an admired court of appeals judge, and a profoundly influential Supreme Court Justice. For all her achievements in those roles, she will perhaps be remembered most for inspiring women in the legal profession and beyond. She and I did not agree on every issue, but her legal ability, personal integrity, and determination were beyond doubt. She leaves a towering legacy, and all who seek justice mourn her loss.”
Statement by Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey B. Wall on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgRead the Press Release
Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey B. Wall has released the following statement:
“On behalf of the Office of the Solicitor General, we mourn the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was rightly renowned among people of all backgrounds, but she has a special significance to Supreme Court lawyers. She was herself a pathmarking advocate before the Court in landmark equal-protection cases in the 1970s. And during her 40 years on the Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit, she was equally formidable from the other side of the lectern. She was an incisive questioner, a clear and careful writer, and a model of dignity and civility. In the process, Justice Ginsburg served as an inspiration to this office, the Supreme Court bar, and far beyond. I extend our deepest condolences to her family, her colleagues on the Court, her former law clerks, and all who knew and admired her.”
Southington Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling $370K from EmployerRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LYDIA CABRERA, 37, of Southington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling $370,000 from her employer.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately August 2016 to August 2018, Cabrera was employed by A2Z Home Medical Supplies (“A2Z”) as a bookkeeper. As part of her job responsibilities, Cabrera was given access to A2Z’s online merchant payment system. Approximately 10 days after being hired by A2Z, Cabrera began to use A2Z’s online merchant payment system to steal from the company by falsely representing that customers of A2Z had sought a return of their funds. On approximately 272 occasions, Cabrera input her personal debit card information as the card to which the funds should be returned. Through this scheme, Cabrera embezzled approximately $370,000.
Judge Meyer ordered Cabrera to make full restitution to A2Z.
Prior to working for A2Z, Cabrera worked as a bookkeeper for a home health care aid company. Between April 2015 and July 2016, Cabrera stole approximately $68,000 from the company. This fraud scheme was prosecuted in state court. In advance of her sentencing in this matter, Cabrera submitted to the state court fictitious character letters from A2Z colleagues in an attempt to obtain leniency at sentencing.
Cabrera was arrested on March 1, 2019. On October 23, 2019, she pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
Cabrera, who has been released on bond since the date of her guilty plea, is required to report to prison on January 5, 2021.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Southbridge Man Indicted for Cocaine PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for cocaine possession.
Revel Pedro Rivera, 42, was indicted on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Rivera was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 7, 2020.
According to charging documents, in early July 2020, federal agents intercepted a package containing a kilogram of cocaine that was shipped to Rivera’s residence. Agents removed the cocaine and replaced it with a counterfeit substance. On July 6, 2020, Rivera accepted delivery of the package and was arrested as he left the property with the package that he believed contained cocaine.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joseph W. Cronin, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Six indicted in connection with multi-million dollar scheme to bribe Amazon employees and contractorsRead the Press Release
Seattle - Six people have been indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Washington with conspiring to pay over $100,000 in commercial bribes to Amazon employees and contractors, in exchange for an unfair competitive advantage on the Amazon Marketplace, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. EPHRAIM ROSENBERG, 45, of Brooklyn, New York; JOSEPH NILSEN, 31, and KRISTEN LECCESE, 32, of New York, New York; HADIS NUHANOVIC, 30, of Acworth, Georgia; ROHIT KADIMISETTY, 27, of Northridge, California; and NISHAD KUNJU, 31, of Hyderabad, India, are charged with conspiracy to use a communication facility to commit commercial bribery, conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. The defendants will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle on October 15, 2020.
“As the world moves increasingly to online commerce, we must ensure that the marketplace is not corrupted with unfair advantages obtained by bribes and kick‑backs,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “The ultimate victim from this criminal conduct is the buying public who get inferior or even dangerous goods that should have been removed from the marketplace. I commend the investigators and cybersecurity experts who have worked to identify and indict those engaged in these illegal schemes.”
“Realizing they could not compete on a level playing field, the subjects turned to bribery and fraud in order to gain the upper hand. What's equally concerning, not only did they attempt to increase sales of their own products, but sought to damage and discredit their competitors,” said Raymond Duda, Special agent in charge, FBI Seattle. “This indictment should send a message that the FBI will not sit on the sidelines while criminals try to cheat their way to the top.”
According to the Indictment, since at least 2017, the defendants have used bribery and fraud to benefit merchant accounts on the Amazon Marketplace, resulting in more than $100 million of competitive benefits to those accounts, harm to competitors, and harm to consumers. More specifically, the Indictment alleges that the defendants served as consultants to so-called third-party (“3P”) sellers on the Amazon Marketplace. Those 3P sellers consisted of individuals and entities who sold a wide range of goods, including household goods, consumer electronics, and dietary supplements on Amazon’s multi-billion-dollar electronic commerce platform. In addition to providing consulting services to these 3P sellers, some of the defendants, including NILSEN, LECCESE, and NUHANOVIC, made their own sales on the Amazon Marketplace through 3P accounts they operated.
In the course of the conspiracy described in the Indictment, the defendants paid bribes to at least ten different Amazon employees and contractors, including KUNJU, who accepted bribes as a seller-support associate in Hyderabad, India, before becoming an outside consultant who recruited and paid bribes to his former colleagues. In exchange for those bribes, the corrupted employees and contractors took the following illicit steps:
- Reinstating suspended merchant accounts and product listings on the Amazon Marketplace: The corrupted employees and contractors helped reinstate products and merchant accounts that Amazon had suspended or blocked entirely from doing business on the Amazon Marketplace. The fraudulently reinstated products included dietary supplements that had been suspended because of customer-safety complaints, household electronics that had been flagged as flammable, consumer goods that had been flagged for intellectual-property violations, and other goods. The fraudulently reinstated accounts included accounts that Amazon had suspended for manipulating product reviews to deceive consumers, making improper contact with consumers, and other violations of Amazon’s seller policies and codes of conduct. The Indictment describes a variety of ways in which corrupted employees and contractors misused their positions to reinstate these accounts, including by manually reinstating product listings, and approving baseless and fraudulent merchant appeals that they themselves helped draft. In total, after their fraudulent reinstatement, the products and merchants earned in excess of $100 million in sales revenue.
- Facilitating attacks against competitors: The corrupted employees and contractors facilitated attacks against competitors’ 3P accounts and product listings, by (a) sharing competitive intelligence about competitors’ revenues, customers, advertising campaigns, and suppliers; (b) using their inside access to Amazon’s network to suspend competitors’ 3P accounts; and (c) providing consultants with information about Amazon’s internal algorithms, which allowed the consultants to flood competitors’ product listings with fictitious negative product reviews.
- Misappropriating Amazon’s highly confidential business information: The corrupted employees and contractors also provided consultants and 3P sellers with unauthorized access to Amazon’s highly confidential standard operating procedures and algorithms. These materials provided an obvious, unfair, competitive benefit to 3P sellers, by giving them coveted insight into the systems that power Amazon’s search engine, Amazon’s product reviews, and Amazon’s enforcement processes. The misappropriated data also included the contact information for Amazon employees and consumers, which the members of the conspiracy misused and shared widely.
- Circumventing Amazon’s internal limits on 3P accounts: The corrupted employees and contractors conveyed exclusive benefits that circumvented Amazon’s rules and regulations. In exchange for bribes, they increased 3P sellers’ storage limits in Amazon’s warehouses, facilitated 3P sellers’ otherwise meritless requests to sell products in restricted categories, and provided 3P sellers with inside knowledge about the most successful advertising campaigns and most profitable product listings.
Conspiracy to use a communication facility in furtherance of commercial bribery, and to gain unauthorized access to a protected computer is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud, are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Siddharth Velamoor and Steven Masada.
20cr151_1_reduced-print-color.pdfSioux Falls Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm While Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm While Under Indictment.
Judah Conrad Wainscoat, age 29, was indicted on September 1, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 17, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about April 27, 2020, Wainscoat, while subject to an indictment filed in state court in South Dakota that charged a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, received a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charge is merely an accusation and Wainscoat is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Wainscoat was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for November 24, 2020.
Simsbury Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Embezzling More Than $580KRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAMELA HILL, 55, of Simsbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffery A. Meyer in New Haven to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling approximately $584,000.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2013 and 2018, Hill embezzled more than $500,000 from a company where she was employed as a controller. Hill wrote company checks to herself, applied signature stamps with the owner’s signature to the checks, and deposited the checks into her own bank account. She also issued electronic payments to her bank account and disguised the payments to make them appear to payments to vendors. When the company’s CFO questioned Hill about a vendor payment in December 2018, Hill provided the CFO with an altered bank statement that falsely reflected the payment had been credited back to the company’s account.
The investigation also revealed that Hill defrauded a separate individual for whom she provided bookkeeping services.
Judge Meyer ordered Hill to pay restitution of $518,161.45 to the victim company and the victim company’s insurer, and $66,076.96 to the victim individual.
On November 26, 2019, Hill pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Hill was previously convicted in federal court of conspiracy to defraud the United States for assisting a former employer commit income tax fraud. In December 2003, she was sentenced to two years of probation for that offense.
Hill, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 23, 2020.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.
San Gabriel Woman Linked to Spate of Drug Overdoses in Pasadena Charged with Federal Narcotics Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Prosecutors today filed a criminal complaint against a San Gabriel woman who allegedly sold narcotics to several individuals in Pasadena who suffered overdoses on September 11.
Marisol Bolanos Hernandez, 35, was charged today with one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury.
Bolanos allegedly sold narcotics to a man who, along with a friend, was found unresponsive at a Pasadena location on the evening of September 11. The two victims were transported to local hospitals, where one recovered, but another died two days later. Pasadena Police officers seized white powder residue from the location of the overdoses, but that material has yet to be tested, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint.
At the hospital, the surviving victim, identified as A.C., responded to Narcan, indicating there were opioids present, and his urine samples were positive for cocaine. A.C. was released from the hospital the following day and told Pasadena Police that he purchased cocaine from “Mari,” shared some of the drugs with the deceased victim, and lost consciousness after taking the purported cocaine, according to the affidavit. Investigators have determined that Mari is Bolanos through evidence that includes A.C. identifying her out of a six-photo lineup, the affidavit states.
The narcotics distribution charge in the complaint relates to the drugs allegedly sold to A.C.
The affidavit also alleges that Bolanos sold purported cocaine to two other overdose victims on September 11. Both of these victims required hospitalization and survived. Phone records link Bolaros to another fatal overdose on September 11, according to the affidavit.
Pasadena Police detained Bolanos on September 16. During an interview she admitting selling what she believed to be cocaine to three of the overdose victims, including A.C., on September 11, according to the affidavit.
Bolanos was taken into federal custody on Thursday by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charge of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The case against Bolanos is the result of an ongoing investigation by the DEA and the Pasadena Police Department.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittney M. Harris of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section.
Rosebud Man Charged with Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Adam Moran, a/k/a Cante Moran, age 26, was indicted on September 9, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 16, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 19, 2020, in Todd County, South Dakota, Moran did forcibly assault, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with multiple law enforcement officers who were employed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
The charges are merely accusations and Moran is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Moran was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for November 17, 2020.
Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial of Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that William Johnson, 34, of Philadelphia, PA was convicted today at trial of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, arising from an incident in which Philadelphia police officers recovered a weapon that Johnson had tried to discard while attempting to evade capture.
In September 2019, Philadelphia Police Department Highway Patrol Officers responded to reports of a person with a gun at 15th Street and West Allegheny Avenue in North Philadelphia. Upon arrival, the officers observed the defendant walking with a person that matched the description in the report. When the officers got out of their car to investigate, Johnson took off in a full sprint while holding onto his waistband. He then cut through an empty lot and climbed a fence in an attempt to flee. An officer drove around to where Johnson would be expected to emerge on the other side of the lot. When Johnson climbed the fence that led away from the lot, he spotted yet another police officer. Johnson then jumped down from the fence and the officers observed him toss a firearm a few feet away. The officers then took Johnson into custody and secured the firearm.
“Everybody knows what is happening in Philadelphia today with the staggering violent crime rates, and everybody also knows the reason for it – a lack of enforcement at the local level. One of the ways that my Office is working to combat this chaos is by stepping in to aggressively prosecute cases in which convicted felons illegally possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “This was not an easy case, and in fact resulted in a hung jury the first time we tried it back in January. But now justice has been done, thanks to the determination of the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners in this case, the FBI, the ATF, and the Philadelphia Police Department. This is the kind of commitment that is needed to keep our community safe.”
“The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of convicted felons and off the streets,” said, Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “In order to reduce violent crime, we must stay vigilant and keep firearms away from those not permitted to possess them.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Eckert.
Operation Shutdown Corner Update: Michigan Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Michigan man was sentenced to federal prison for participating in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Raleigh County, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Clifford Howell, 31, of Eastpointe, Michigan, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
Howell is one of 17 defendants charged in federal court as a result of a long-term investigation known as Operation Shutdown Corner.
“Great work by the more than 200 law enforcement agents from more than five states who were involved in Operation Shutdown Corner,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “The operation took down a major drug trafficking organization and 17 people have been charged as a result. It stands as a significant achievement in our goal to rid our district of out-of-state drug dealers.”
Howell admitted at his plea hearing in June 2020 that between June 2018 and September 17, 2019, he worked with other members of a DTO operating in Raleigh County to distribute heroin. During this time period, Howell admitted to traveling to Michigan to obtain heroin, and then returning to the Southern District of West Virginia to supply other members of the DTO with the heroin. Howell admitted that during this time period he supplied other members of the DTO with more than 100 grams of heroin, knowing it was the plan and purpose of the other members to redistribute the drugs within the Southern District of West Virginia.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, the Beckley Police Department and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00227.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Operation Legend: Case of the DayRead the Press Release
Each weekday, the Department of Justice will highlight a case that has resulted from Operation Legend. Today’s case is out of the Northern District of Ohio. Operation Legend launched in Cleveland on July 29, 2020, in response to the city facing increased homicide and non-fatal shooting rates.
United States vs. Antwan Bohanon
An Ohio man was charged on Aug. 13, 2020, in federal court in the Northern District of Ohio with illegally dealing in firearms without a federal firearms license.
“This defendant is accused of dealing firearms in the city of Cleveland without a license,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “He went to great lengths to acquire, advertise and sell firearms to many people in the city of Cleveland, including those who are prohibited under federal law from purchasing or possessing a gun. In fact, some of the firearms that the defendant allegedly sold later appeared in separate criminal cases. Even just one gun in the hands of someone who should not be in possession of a firearm can have dire consequences.”
According to court documents, Antwan Bohanon allegedly purchased multiple firearms outside of the city of Cleveland and later resold them inside of the city to various individuals, including some prohibited under federal law from purchasing or possessing a firearm. Bohanon would often post images of his firearms for sale to his personal Instagram account at prices higher than market value. According to the ATF affiant of the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, individuals who are unable to purchase firearms legitimately will frequently pay a much higher price to obtain one.
In addition, court documents show that some of the firearms Bohanon sold were later used in criminal activity.
The following is a list of firearms Bohanon is accused of importing, manufacturing, or dealing:
- A Glock, Model 22 pistol
- A Glock, Model 19 pistol
- A Ruger, Model Lc9 pistol
- A Glock, Model 23 pistol
- A Ruger, Model SR9c pistol
- A Glock model 26 pistol
- A Taurus, model PT92AF pistol
- A Smith and Wesson, Model SD40VE pistol
- A Taurus, Model PT24/7 Pro C pistol
- A Smth and Wesson, Model M&P 9 Shield pistol
- A Glock, Model 40 pistol
- A Taurus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Taurus, Model G2C pistol
- A Taurus, Model G2C pistol
- A Tuarus, Model G2C pistol
- A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Glock, Model 19 pistol
- A Springfield/HS Product Model XD pistol
- A Glock, Model 23 pistol
- A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Springfield/HS Product Model XD pistol
- A Glock, Model 30S pistol
- A Glock, Model 26 pistol
- A Glock, Model 27 pistol
- A Glock, Model 26 pistol
- A Glock, Model 23 pistol
- A Glock, Model 23 pistol
- A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
- A Ruger, Model LC9 pistol
- A Glock, Model 27 pistol
- A Glock, Model 26 pistol
- A Glock, Model 23 pistol
- A Glock, Model 26 pistol
- A Glock, Model 27 pistol
- A Springfield/HS Product Model XD pistol
- A Ruger, Model Security 9 pistol
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Background on Operation Legend
Since its inception, Operation Legend has yielded more than 2000 local, state, and federal arrests, with more than 592 defendants charged with federal crimes.
President Trump promised to assist America’s cities that have been plagued by violence. In July, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative across all federal law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime in cities across America that were experiencing an uptick in violence. Operation Legend is named after four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed on June 29th in Kansas City, Missouri, while asleep in his home.Operation Legend was launched in Kansas City, Mo., on July 8, 2020, and expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on Aug. 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on Aug. 14, 2020. As part of Operation Legend, Attorney General Barr has directed federal agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA and ATF to surge resources to these cities to help state and local officials fighting violent crime.
Ohio Woman Sentenced on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Vicky Hoffstetter, 38, of Painesville, OH, who was convicted of conspiracy to transfer firearms purchased outside of state of residency, was sentenced to time served and two years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Volkert, Jr., who handled the case, stated that between April 2018 and May 2018, the defendant, without being a licensed firearm importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector, conspired with others, to transport firearms into New York State from the State of Ohio. Hoffstetter conducted straw purchases of firearms in Ohio in her own name, while knowing that the firearms were actually paid and intended for a co-conspirator, who lived in Buffalo, New York.
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, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
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Office for Victims of Crime Awards Nearly $3 Million to Support Victims of 2019 Colorado School ShootingRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn along with the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime, a division of the Office of Justice Programs, today announced that $2,878,767 in funds from the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program has been awarded to the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice to assist victims of the 2019 shooting at STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
On May 7, 2019, one student was killed and eight others were injured when two students fired weapons in a Highlands Ranch classroom. At the time of the incident, there were 20 other students and a teacher in the classroom and many indirect victims, including the 1,827 students at the school, their families, 160 school staff members and law enforcement and emergency personnel who responded to the scene.
“An act of violence both calculated and senseless claimed an innocent young life and caused physical and emotional harm to many others,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We continue to grieve with the family of Kendrick Castillo and offer our prayers and support to the students and faculty of the STEM School and to the entire community of Highlands Ranch.”
“Our hope is that these funds will help the victims of this senseless tragedy continue forward in their healing process,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “The Department of Justice and my office will never forget Kendrick, the STEM family, and the entire Highlands Ranch community.”
Funding will help the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice serve victims during the aftermath of this tragedy. Program funds will reimburse organizations for immediate, necessary services provided to the victims in the community and will provide ongoing trauma-informed, evidence-based healing and resiliency services to the students, families, employees and first responders. Services include meetings with a national school crisis and bereavement expert for students, parents and staff; STEM School Resiliency Center expenses, including mental health services and training for clinicians and a resiliency coordinator; supplemental victim compensation expenses; victim security at court proceedings; and mental health services for first responders.
“We mourn with those whose lives will forever be affected by this reprehensible crime,” said OVC Director Jessica E. Hart. “The disruption of so many young lives – and the horrific death of one child – continues to send ripples of sorrow through the Highlands Ranch community. There remains important work to be done and I hope this funding answers the call for assistance by the organizations that provided crisis response services in the immediate aftermath and that continue to serve the victims, their families, and the community.”
Since 1995, Office for Victims of Crime Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program grants have provided supplemental support to victims and jurisdictions that have experienced incidents of terrorism or mass violence. The funding comes from the Crime Victims Fund, financed by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders.
For more information on this grant program, visit https://www.ovc.gov/AEAP/
About the Office of Justice Programs: The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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.
Napa Valley Gang Member Charged with Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court charging Eduardo Bermudez Gomez with unlawful possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.
According to the criminal complaint, on or about February 1, 2020, Gomez, 28, of Napa, California and a twice-convicted felon, is alleged to have been driving under the influence and brandishing a firearm at innocent individuals. After receiving reports of a possible DUI, Napa Valley Police officers identified Gomez’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Gomez fled the traffic stop, subsequently crashed his vehicle into and severely damaged a number of parked cars, and overturned his own vehicle. Officers arrested Gomez and found a .25 caliber Beretta handgun on his person and a 9mm Ruger handgun at the scene. Two rounds of 9mm ammunition along with 0.3 grams of cocaine were also recovered. Earlier that evening, Gomez is reported have to nearly crashed with a separate driver by driving directly at her, and to have brandished his firearm at another vehicle which contained two innocent victims. Gomez is associated with the Sureños.
Gomez was arrested September 17, 2020, and made his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland this morning. Defendant is currently in federal custody. Defendant’s next scheduled appearance is for September 21, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse, for the continuation of the initial appearance.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ankur Shingal is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alexa Leisure and Angelica Jao. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Napa District Attorney’s Office, and the Napa Special Investigations Bureau.
NDTX Round-Up: September 11-17Read the Press Release
SENTENCING – MARCUS CARL GRANT
On September 11, Marcus Carl Grant, 38, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm. During the execution of a search warrant of a known drug house, law enforcement located Grant along with two other individuals. Agents recovered controlled substances, loaded firearms, cash, digital scales, and narcotics bagged for individual sale. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith is prosecuted this case.
SENTENCING – SERGIO REYES
On September 11, Sergio Reyes, 48, was sentencing to 9 years in federal prison for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, with the intent to distribute. Reyes and a co-conspirator negotiated with a confidential source for a multi-kilogram methamphetamine purchase. Reyes agreed to sell six kilograms of methamphetamine packaged in gallon-sized zip-locked bags. Shortly after the sell, Reyes was placed under arrest by the Mesquite Police Department. This case was investigated by the DEA and the OCDETF North Texas Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myria Boehm prosecuted this case.
GUILTY PLEA – DARNELL HARRIS GAUSE
On September 15, Darnell Harris Gause, 40, plead guilty to delay or destruction mail. While an employee of the United States Postal Service, Mr. Gause unlawfully delayed and detained items that were given to him to be mailed, namely, 10 checks. Mr. Gause faces up to five years in federal prison for his crimes. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Bray is prosecuting this case.
GUILTY PLEA – ORALIA FIGUEROA
On September 15, Oralia Figueroa, 50, plead guilty to perpetration of a false and fraudulent federal income tax return. Figueroa engaged in a scheme to knowingly and willfully prepare fill false IRS tax returns. Figueroa unlawfully listed dependents on the Form 1040 when here clients were not eligible and fraudulently claimed thousands of dollars of unreimbursed employee expenses. The total tax loss attributed to her conduct is at least $120,200. Figueroa faces up to three years in federal prison for her crimes. This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Hunter is prosecuting this case.
Mission Man Indicted for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Sandy Mangelson, age 49, was indicted on September 1, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 16, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Mangelson was convicted of Sexual Contact With a Child Under Sixteen in November 2005 and Gross Sexual Imposition (with a child) in 2007. As a result of the convictions, Mangelson is required to register as a sex offender. The Indictment alleges between December 5, 2019, and December 10, 2019, between December 20, 2019, and February 27, 2020, and between June 22, 2020, and June 25, 2020, Mangelson, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Mangelson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore is prosecuting the case.
Mangelson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. Trial is currently set for November 17, 2020.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham. United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUQMAN GOTTI, formerly known as Timothy Pennington, 39, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for exchanging sexually explicit images with a teenage boy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2017, Gotti and a 13-year-old boy were communicating through the Kik messaging application. After the boy informed Gotti that he was 14 years old, Gotti asked the boy for pictures and sent the boy a sexually explicit image of himself, intending that the boy send Gotti a sexually explicit picture in return. The boy then sent sexually explicit pictures of himself to Gotti. Later in the conversation, Gotti told the boy “I already went to jail over a 14 year old not trying to go through that again.” Gotti then asked the boy for more sexually explicit pictures. In response, the boy sent Gotti another sexually explicit photograph and video of himself.
In 2000, Gotti was convicted in state court of second degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. At the time of this offense, Gotti’s name was Timothy Pennington. He subsequently changed his name to Luqman Gotti.
Gotti has been detained since November 14, 2017, when he was arrested on related state charges. On December 20, 2018, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Man Sentenced for Misuse of Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that RAYMUNDO DE LA PAZ (DE LA PAZ), age 28, was sentenced on September 17, 2020 by United States District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, after previously pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information charging him with misuse of a Social Security Number, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
Judge Lemmon sentenced DE LA PAZ to probation for one year to include six months of home confinement and a $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, DE LA PAZ, a citizen of Mexico, presented a false Social Security card when attending a pre-employment safety class at the Gulf Coast Safety Council in St. Rose, Louisiana. DE LA PAZ falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him when in fact; the social security number had been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to another individual.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the United States Border Patrol and the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.
Madison County Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Crack Cocaine Distribution in Crockett CountyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Calvin Cole a/k/a “Fathead,” 46, of Jackson, TN, has been sentenced to 170 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in Court, in April 2017, agents with the 28th Judicial District Drug Task Force received a phone call from a concerned citizen that a heavyset male traveling to and from a residence on London Road in Alamo, Tennessee, was selling “dope” regularly.
Agents conducted surveillance and observed Cole on an almost daily basis arrive at a residence on London Road, driving different automobiles on different days and distributing crack cocaine throughout the day. Throughout the investigation, it was determined that multiple people would approach Cole and exchange money and crack cocaine.
In March of 2016 and April of 2016, agents with the Drug Task Force and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation made five separate undercover drug transactions with Cole on separate dates utilizing multiple reliable confidential sources (CSs) to purchase crack cocaine. Agents continually monitored the CSs throughout the meeting with Cole; after each transaction, the CS would turn over the crack cocaine to agents. The substance was then forwarded to the DEA crime laboratory for analysis, which determined that the substance was crack cocaine.
The transactions also included a co-defendant, identified as Tony “Bone” Douglas. Douglas was seen on surveillance video assisting Cole with distributing crack cocaine. Douglas would arrive to the location site prior to Cole’s arrival, search the customers for wires, and then sell crack cocaine to the large number of customers. Douglas was previously sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. Other co-defendants, including Arvis "Shorty" Ball of Alamo, TN, and Bob
Terry of Bells, TN were part of the Calvin Cole Drug Trafficking Organization, and were indicted along with Cole and Douglas in February, 2018:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/four-suspects-arrested-west-tennessee-federal-drug-trafficking-and-money-laundering.
During the sentencing hearing, the government presented numerous photographs and one video of Cole distributing crack cocaine to multiple drug buyers. Based upon statements from the drug buyers who were identified from the surveillance video, each person described when they began purchasing crack cocaine from Cole and for how long. Cole was ultimately found responsible for distributing approximately 2.8 kilograms of crack cocaine in Crockett County.
On September 16, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Cole to 170 months in federal prison followed by five years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fathead Cole and his fellow drug dealers will no longer sell poison for profit with impunity. We will not tolerate illegal drug activity disrupting and destroying the daily lives of citizens in our small communities, and this lengthy sentence will rightly punish and incapacitate Cole for his harmful criminal conduct. This is a high impact case that will improve public safety and the quality of life in Crockett County and across West Tennessee."
The 28th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, Gibson County Sheriff’s Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Jackson Police Department and Gibson County SWAT Team investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Louisville Man Convicted of Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - A Louisville man was convicted Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Covington, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and firearm offenses.
After three hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted 31-year-old Quinn Turner of conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The evidence at trial established that Turner distributed multiple pounds of crystal methamphetamine, on an ongoing basis from June 1, 2018 through October 3, 2018, both directly and through associates. Evidence also established that he used firearms to assist in his offense. Turner was arrested in Boone County, Kentucky, on October 3, 2018, when he arrived at a store with a pound of pure crystal methamphetamine that he planned to distribute. He was also in possession of a firearm when arrested. Turner had been released from state prison in November 2017, after serving a 12-year sentence for armed bank robbery.
Tuner was charged in a superseding indictment, in September 2019.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Keith W. Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the verdict.
The investigation was conducted by DEA and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Kyle Winslow.
Turner will appear for sentencing on a date to be determined by the court. For the methamphetamine charges, he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. For the firearm offenses, he faces a minimum of five years, consecutive to any other sentence. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
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Lake City Meth Distributor Sentenced to 15 YearsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Marcia M. Howard has sentenced Benjamin Hank Ratliff (37, Lake City) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The court also ordered Ratliff to forfeit a 2011 Lexus, which he had used to facilitate the offense.
Ratliff had pleaded guilty on June 9, 2020.
According to court documents, between September 2017 and October 2018, Ratliff, along with his co-defendants, conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Lake City. Ratliff hid methamphetamine near stop signs or at different locations on side roads. His distributors and/or customers then retrieved the drugs and left money, in exchange, at the same location – sometimes hidden in a shoe or diaper. As part of their investigation, agents seized 429.823 grams of actual methamphetamine attributable to Ratliff.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Beatriz Gonzalez.
Justice Department Requires Divestiture in Order for Anheuser-Busch to Acquire Craft Brew AllianceRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it is requiring Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (ABI), its wholly-owned subsidiary Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC (AB Companies), and Craft Brew Alliance Inc. (CBA) to divest CBA’s entire Kona brand business in the state of Hawaii and to license to the acquirer the Kona brand in Hawaii in order for AB Companies, a minority shareholder in CBA, to proceed with its proposed acquisition of the remaining shares of CBA. The department has approved PV Brewing Partners, LLC as the acquirer. The proposed settlement will maintain competition in the beer industry in Hawaii benefitting consumers.
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri to block the $220 million proposed transaction. At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive harm alleged in the lawsuit.
According to the department’s complaint, AB Companies’ acquisition of CBA likely would substantially lessen head-to-head competition in Hawaii between ABI brands, such as Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra, and CBA’s Kona brand. If the transaction was allowed to proceed, ABI and CBA would have a combined share of approximately 41 percent in the moderately concentrated Hawaii beer market. The merger would also likely harm future competition between ABI and CBA as, absent the merger, the companies would continue to invest and compete against each other for premium beer sales in the state. By eliminating CBA’s Kona brand as a competitive restraint, ABI would also likely have greater ability to facilitate price coordination, resulting in higher prices for beer sold in Hawaii, amplifying competitive concerns.
“This merger, as originally structured, would have significantly increased market concentration in Hawaii and eliminated the growing competition between ABI and CBA brands,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s settlement with its divestitures will ensure that consumers continue to benefit from this competition today and into the future.”
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, ABI and CBA must divest CBA’s entire Kona Hawaii business — Kona Brewery LLC — to PV Brewing Partners or to an alternative purchaser approved by the United States. Specifically, the settlement requires the sale of the Kona brewing facilities in Hawaii, including a new 100,000-barrel capacity brewery currently under construction; the granting of a perpetual, exclusive license of the Kona brand for the brewing, distribution, and sale of Kona beer in Hawaii as well as other assets, rights, and interests necessary to ensure that PV Brewing Partners, LLC, is able to compete in the Hawaii beer market using the Kona brand.
ABI is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Belgium, with its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. ABI is already a minority shareholder in CBA. ABI proposes to acquire 100 percent ownership of CBA through AB Companies, a Delaware limited liability company that currently holds a minority ownership stake in CBA. ABI owns numerous major beer brands sold in the United States, including in Hawaii. These brands include Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light, Natural Light, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, and Golden Road.
CBA is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Washington, with its headquarters in Portland, Oregon. CBA owns several beer brands sold in the United States, including Widmer Brothers, Omission, Redhook, and Kona, a brand that originated in Hawaii and is especially popular in that state.
PV Brewing Partners LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company with its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. The entity was formed by VantEdge Partners LP, a private equity company based in metropolitan Kansas City.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Robert A. Lepore, Chief, Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street N.W., Suite 8000, Washington, D.C., 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Jury convicts fentanyl dealer of distribution causing deathRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – On September 17, 2020, at the conclusion of a four-day jury trial, Travis Broeker, 36, of St. Louis County, was found guilty of the crimes of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey has set sentencing for January 6, 2021 at 11:30 a.m.
The evidence at trial established that on February 28, 2018, at approximately 7:06 p.m., Broeker met the victim on a parking lot of a convenience store and sold him six fentanyl capsules. The victim returned to his residence in 2800 block of Telegraph, ingested fentanyl, and overdosed. The victim’s roommate called 911 at 7:27 p.m. The victim was successfully treated with NARCAN, and released from the hospital late in the evening of February 28. While the victim was in the hospital, his roommate confiscated his remaining fentanyl and his cell phone for the victim’s safety.
The victim returned home around midnight where he and his roommate spoke with each other before the roommate went to sleep. During the early morning hours of March 1, the victim’s roommate found him unresponsive, in a fetal position. The same paramedics who treated him the previous night responded a second time, and determined that he was “beyond help.” The victim was pronounced dead at 6:08 a.m., on March 1.
St. Louis County Police investigators obtained the victim’s remaining fentanyl and cell phone from his roommate. The police used an undercover detective purporting to be the victim’s friend to contact Broeker, who agreed to distribute additional fentanyl to the victim and the undercover detective. Broeker enlisted co-defendant Pamela Barton to deliver 20 capsules of fentanyl to the undercover detective. Barton unwittingly contacted the police to make the fentanyl delivery and was arrested. Investigators later arrested Broeker, who admitted distributing fentanyl to the victim.
On January 15, 2020, Judge Autrey sentenced Barton to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Distribution of fentanyl resulting in death is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 20 years imprisonment up to life. Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, and the range of punishment for both offenses includes a fine of up to $1,000,000.
The St. Louis County Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nauman Wadalawala prosecuted this case for the United States.
Jury Convicts Orlando Man of Possessing Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Tony Deshane Brown, a/k/a Antowayne Hill, a/k/a Antowayne Pollard (50, Orlando), guilty of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 16, 2020.
Brown originally had been indicted on June 8, 2016. A superseding indictment was issued on March 11, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Brown fled from an Orlando duplex, with baggies of cocaine packaged for sale, as agents and officers were preparing to execute an unrelated search warrant next door. Brown encountered officers at the rear of his residence where he had hoped to hide the cocaine. There, officers discovered 18 baggies of cocaine in a prescription bag that Brown had been carrying.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr.
Judge Sentences Convicted Felon to 7 Years for Possessing a Firearm in Scuffle with PoliceRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jeremy Pruitt, 33, has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in Court, on May 8, 2018, Memphis Police officers pulled over a vehicle on Depass Street because the people inside were not wearing their seatbelts. The driver side rear passenger, Jeremy Pruitt, got out of the car and would not obey officer commands. The officer saw a firearm in Pruitt's hand as he exited the vehicle. As Pruitt ran from law enforcement, he stumbled. A scuffle ensued and Pruitt attempted to take the officer’s drawn service firearm. Pruitt broke away and began to raise his hand to shoot the officer. As a result, Pruitt was shot in the hand. The officer’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) captured the entire scene.
Memphis Police officers continued their search and located Pruitt at a residence on Salem Avenue. Law enforcement knocked on the door, an occupant answered the door and told police that he had the person they were looking for. Pruitt was sitting on the couch near the front door. This was recorded on the BWC. After officers took Pruitt into custody, they began to search for his firearm. The loaded firearm was found on the fence line in the yard behind the residence on Salem. This was also recorded by the officer’s BWC. As a result of his prior felony conviction, Pruitt is prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition.
Pruitt admitted to law enforcement to possessing the firearm, and on December 19, 2019, Pruitt pled guilty in U.S. District Court to possessing the firearm.
On September 17, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Pruitt to 92 months in federal prison followed by two years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to both the community and law enforcement, as seen in this case. This sentence is just punishment for such a brazen attack on police, and will incapacitate Pruitt from committing additional gun violence for a significant period of time, making us all safer."
The Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Sept. 15 was:
Jordan Paul Owens, 20, of Evergreen, on charges of false statement in firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, Owens faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Owens was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the Case. Pacer case reference. 20-29.
William Allen Rorvik, 39, of Missoula, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rorvik faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Rorvik was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol, and Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-23.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 15 was:
Dakoda Blu Wade Iron Shirt, 27, of Browning, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Iron Shirt faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years of supervised release. Iron Shirt was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and Big Sky Safe Trails Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-68.
Taylor Gardipee Walker, 22, of Harlem, on charges of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted of the most serious crime, Walker faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Walker was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-54.
Brian John Loven, 41, of Missoula, on charges of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Loven faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Loven was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-33.
Kathleen Elizabeth Francis, 53, of Lewistown; Amber Rachelle Carr, 35, of Lewistown; and Shirley Ann Adcock, 73, of Bakersfield, CA, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years of supervised release. All defendants were released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-53.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Sept. 14 was:
Eric Richard Morrow, 36, of Jordan, on charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Morrow faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Morrow was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-97.
Appearing on Sept. 15 was:
Melvin Louis Weasel Boy, 46, Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Weasel Boy faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Weasel Boy was released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-62.
Appearing on Sept. 17 was:
Dale Lee Musgrave, 50, of Pompeys Pillar, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to submit false statements in mine records, false statements in mine records and false statement. If convicted of the most serious crime, Musgrave faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-159.
Robert James Miller, 49, of Billings, and Isabellita Anne Isis, 43, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. The defendants were released pending further proceedings. The FBI Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-96.
Leland Thomas Ash Jr., 26, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ash faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ash was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-87.
Gregory William Knows His Gun, 37, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Knows His Gun faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Knows His Gun was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-93.
Marvin Charles Hurd, 27, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hurd faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-94.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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In Another INTERPOL Operation Blackwrist Success, Tyler Jury Finds Longview Sex Offender Guilty of Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox announced that a Longview sex offender who was identified in the course of a joint international investigation has been found guilty of possession of child pornography in the Eastern District of Texas.
Charles Orange, 55, of Longview, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 20, 2019, and charged with possession of child pornography. Orange was tried and found guilty by a jury. At sentencing, Orange faces between 10 years and 20 years in federal prison.
“Congratulations to the team who brought Charles Orange to a well-deserved appointment with justice,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox. “The jury’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that child exploitation of any kind will not be tolerated. On behalf of the Eastern District of Texas, I wish to express our gratitude to INTERPOL, Thailand’s DSI, Australia’s AFP, and our other law enforcement partners from around the world for their tireless efforts and shared commitment to save the lives of children and bring sexual predators to justice,” added U.S. Attorney Cox. “This investigation exemplifies the important work that can be accomplished through close coordination and cooperation with our international partners.”
“Child predators often believe they can conceal their identities by hiding behind their computer screens in furtherance of their efforts to exploit those most vulnerable," said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI Dallas. "This is a deplorable crime, and those who commit it have no place in our society. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our international and domestic partners to pursue those who seek to sexually exploit children no matter where they are.”
According to information presented at trial, the investigation of Charles Orange originated as a lead from Operation Blackwrist. Named after a bracelet worn by one of the victims, Operation Blackwrist was launched by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in 2017 following the discovery of material depicting the abuse of 11 boys, all under 13 years old. The material—first identified on the dark web—originated from a subscription-based website with nearly 63,000 users worldwide. For years, the site had published new material weekly, with the abuser taking great care to avoid detection, often masking the children and leaving very few visual or audio clues. Officers relied on the physical traits of the children to track their ongoing abuse and reached out to the global police community for help.
In June 2017, Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations (DSI) took on the case, working in close collaboration with INTERPOL’s Liaison Bureau in Bangkok. Investigators around the world also joined the effort to identify the 11 boys and find site administrators. HSI identified the website IP address and worked on establishing potential links to the United States.
Bulgaria’s Cybercrime Department at the General Directorate Combating Organized Crime, supported by Europol, took down the website’s servers. The Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand deconflicted intelligence and compiled information packages on website users for INTERPOL member countries. The US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cross-checked e-mail addresses and provided additional intelligence. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and South Australian Police came on board when an IP address pointed to a location in Adelaide.
In November 2017, the first victims were identified, leading to simultaneous arrests in Thailand and Australia two months later. The website’s main administrator, based in Thailand, was identified as Montri Salangam. He was the man seen abusing the 11 boys, one of whom was his nephew. The children had been lured to Salangam’s home with meals, internet access and football games. A second administrator, Ruecha Tokputza, was based in Australia. Police found thousands of images taken in both Thailand and Australia on his seized devices, some of which featured Tokputza as the main abuser. The youngest identified during the South Australian court proceedings was just 15 months old.
In June 2018, Thai courts sentenced Salangam to 146 years in prison on charges of child rape, human trafficking, and possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. A second man, an elementary school teacher close to Tokputza, received 36 years in prison on the same charges. On May 17, 2019, an Australian judge sentenced Tokputza to 40 years and three months in prison, the longest sentence ever imposed in Australia for child sex offenses. The judge referred to Tokputza as “every child’s worst nightmare” and “every parent’s horror.”
INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock welcomed the successful prosecutions and applauded the massive international effort required.
“Operation Blackwrist sends a clear message to those abusing children, producing child sexual exploitation material and sharing the images online: We see you, and you will be brought to justice. Every child abuse image is evidence of a crime and INTERPOL will always provide its full support to officers on the ground to help identify and rescue victims around the world.”
“These efforts have already resulted in numerous arrests in the United States to include individuals occupying positions of public trust. We are proud to be a part of these international efforts,” said HSI Bangkok Regional Attaché Eric McLoughlin.
The website and its administrators sparked a series of investigations around the world, leading to further arrests in Thailand, Australia, and the United States. Police in nearly 60 countries examined referrals compiled by New Zealand.
HSI Bangkok and HSI Indianapolis partnered with INTERPOL and DSI, as well as other law enforcement agencies, to pursue any investigative leads with a potential nexus to the United States. On January 16, 2018, HSI Bangkok assisted Thai authorities with the execution of search and arrest warrants in furtherance of this operation. One arrest was executed, and five victims were rescued at the time of the operation.
Following this operation, HSI Bangkok worked with the HSI Cyber Crimes Center (C3) to ensure actionable leads were provided to HSI domestic offices for further investigation. HSI Indianapolis, HSI Buffalo, HSI Ft. Lauderdale, HSI Norfolk, HSI Tyler, and C3 provided significant support for the operation.
To date, the operation has led to the rescue of 50 children, as well as the arrest and prosecution of child sex offenders in Thailand, Australia, and the United States.
Agents with HSI Tyler, acting upon information provided in the Operation Blackwrist lead, executed a search warrant on Dec. 20, 2018 at Charles Orange’s residence in Longview, Texas. A device containing child pornography was found next to Orange’s bed. According to the testimony of a forensic analyst, child pornography contained on the device had been accessed and downloaded as recently as the night before the execution of the search warrant. Additionally, analysts testified that Orange’s email address, Internet history, and Internet Protocol (IP) address connected him to the child exploitation website identified in Operation Blackwrist. Orange, a sex offender, was previously convicted in 2008 of Indecency with a Child.
This case is 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. Attorneys’ 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.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Longview Police Department with support from HSI C3. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and Marisa Miller prosecuted this case.
Illegal Alien Convicted of Making False Statements During Purchase of FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida –A federal jury has found Wilmer Eduardo Mejia-Palacios (36, Orlando) guilty of four counts of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Mejia-Palacios faces up to five years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 16, 2020.
Mejia-Palacios had been indicted on February 12, 2020. A superseding indictment was returned on September 2, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Mejia-Palacios attempted to purchase firearms in Orlando on four separate occasions. In connection with those attempted purchases, Mejia-Palacios completed firearms transaction record: ATF 4473, claiming that he was a United States citizen. Those claims were false. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Firearm Purchase Program referred the case to agents at Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing PCPRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORGE OQUENDO, also known as “G,” 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing PCP.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2019, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department received information that Oquendo was distributing a large quantity of packaged and liquid PCP from his Wilson Street residence. Investigators subsequently made a controlled purchase of PCP from Oquendo at his residence.
On May 22, 2019, investigators attempted to arrest Oquendo after he drove to a parking lot on Prospect Avenue in West Hartford. When multiple law enforcement vehicles closed in on Oquendo, he quickly accelerated, struck and damaged one police vehicle, drove across the parking lot, and then smashed his car into a second law enforcement vehicle that was blocking the exit to Prospect Avenue. A task force officer who occupied the second police vehicle was injured in the crash and briefly lost consciousness. Oquendo was apprehended and placed under arrest shortly thereafter.
At the time his arrest. Oquendo possessed a clear plastic bag containing smaller zip lock bags, each containing a black leaf substance soaked in PCP. A subsequent search of Oquendo’s residence revealed approximately 50 grams of black leaves soaked in PCP, more than seven grams of liquid PCP, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and approximately $14,000 in cash.
Oquendo’s criminal history includes convictions for firearm and assault offenses.
Oquendo has been detained since his federal arrest on May 31, 2019. On June 12, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP).
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Grand jury indicts two Jefferson County Chiropractors and eight others for fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – Dr. Thomas Hobbs and Dr. Vivian Carbone-Hobbs of Jefferson County were indicted with two members of their office staff, a former union representative of Anheuser-Busch In Bev, and five patients with conspiring to fraudulently obtain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration and disability insurance payments from providers of long-term and short-term disability insurance. The indictment charges Dr. Hobbs, Dr. Carbone-Hobbs, Clarissa Pogue, Christina Barrera, James Ralston, Elizabeth Guetersloh, Glenda Johnson, Sheila Huffman, Shannon Nenninger, and Gary Walesky with various violations including: conspiracy to defraud; health care fraud; and, theft of government funds.
According to the indictment, the defendants exaggerated the patients’ medical conditions and ability to care for themselves in order to qualify for the government disability benefits and the private insurance disability payments. The chiropractors also required their patients to undergo excessive medical treatments and diagnostic evaluations beyond what was medically necessary to pad their medical records. Beginning as early as 2011, AB In-Bev employees sought the chiropractors’ assistance because it permitted them to fraudulently obtain Social Security disability insurance benefit payments, a long-term disability insurance payment of $100,000.00 from Prudential Insurance Companies, and long-term and short-term disability benefits through Met-Life. In exchange, his patients paid him as much as $3,000.00 for each of the types of disability payments they were seeking in addition to insurance payments he collected from Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Health Care and payment for unreimbursed services from the patients.
The losses resulting from the false and fraudulent statements to the Social Security Administration and the private insurance disability providers exceeded $12,000,000.
Conspiracy to defraud carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for each count and a fine of $250,000 or both. The health care fraud violations and the theft of government fund violations carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each count and a fine of $250,000 or both. Restitution to the victims is also mandatory.
In a separate indictment, the federal grand jury also charged Dr. Thomas Hobbs with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. That violation carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 or both.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases were investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Dorothy McMurtry and Tracy Berry are handling the cases for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Because the Social Security Administration provides benefits through the Disability Insurance Benefit Program to more than 8.4 million individuals a year at a monthly rate of more than $10.4 million, the Social Security Administration accepts reports of those suspected of committing fraud against the program through the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General Hotline at: 1-800-269-0271 or https://oig.ssa.gov/report/.
Grand jury indicts St. Louis County woman who made false claims to MedicaidRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO – On September 17, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Yvonne Woods on three counts of making false, fictitious or fraudulent claims. The 50 year old is a resident of St. Louis County.
According to the indictment, between January 2014 and May 2019, Woods claimed to be homebound and in need of receiving home health care benefits funded by the Missouri Medicaid program.
The indictment states that Woods arranged to receive and continue to receive home health care from the program through a local home health care company. As part of the arrangement, Woods underwent training and signed timesheets on a regular basis.
Initially, Woods received some health care services from an attendant. However, in October 2014, the attendant obtained a full-time job with another employer and stopped provided services to Woods. Later, Woods set-up a bank account using the attendant’s name with the defendant’s contact information. Woods submitted false timesheets on a weekly basis, and received the payments. When Medicaid paid the claims, without knowing the false and fraudulent nature, Woods obtained and spent the money from the account using the attendant’s name. Woods used the money to pay for utilities, a cell phone bill, food, and other expenses.
“Medicaid funds are vital to providing beneficiaries with critical health and human services. Therefore, these funds must be carefully guarded,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Siphoning money from this program is a disservice to Missouri beneficiaries and the taxpayers who fund such programs.”
For each count, Woods faces a maximum punishment five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Woods is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The MO Healthnet program, with assistance from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Grand Jury indicts St. Louis man for several armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, MO - St. Louis – On September 17, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Louquincy Carr for four counts of armed business robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm in connection with those robberies, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The 35-year-old St. Louis resident was previously charged by a federal complaint regarding one of these robberies.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 24, 2020, Carr entered a T-Mobile store located on South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis. Carr looked at some display phones before approaching the counter. At the counter, an employee showed Carr what appeared to be an iPhone in its box. Then, Carr pointed a silver handgun at the employee and demanded money from the register while also placing the boxed phone into his pants pocket. The employee complied and gave Carr the money. Thereafter, Carr forced the employee into the back office at gunpoint. Carr then fled the store on foot.
According to Court documents, digital surveillance video captured the following image documenting the robbery.
According to court documents, on August 4, 2020, Carr entered the same T-Mobile store and looked around for a short time. He approached an employee, produced a silver handgun and demanded money from the register. The employee compiled and removed money from the cash drawer. After taking money and the wallet, Carr led two employees and two customers into a back room at gunpoint.
According to Court documents, digital surveillance video captured the following image documenting the robbery.
According to Court documents, on August 14, Carr entered a Boost Mobile store, located at 3706 South Grand Boulevard and approached the employee at the register. After the employee and Carr had a conversation, Carr produced a silver handgun and demanded money. The employee complied and removed money from the register. After taking the money from the first employee, Carr turned to a second employee and demanded money from the second employee. Carr then ordered the two employees to a back office, at gunpoint. Once in the back office, asked where the “good phones” were and forced an employee, at gunpoint, to put multiple phones into a bag Carr had with him. After the bag was filled, Carr ordered the two employees into the bathroom and ran out the back door.
According to Court documents, digital surveillance video captured the following image documenting the robbery.
According to Court documents, on August 25, 2020, a male entered a Wingstop Restaurant, located at 3626 South Grand Boulevard, in St. Louis. Carr entered the restaurant and walked near the counter. Carr waited for a short period of time, walked behind the counter, removed a silver handgun from his pocket and pointed it employees. Carr ordered an employee to open the register and remove the money. The employee complied and handed the money from the register to Carr. Carrt then ordered an employee to open the safe. The employee complied and handed Carr money from the safe. Carr took the money and ordered all store employees into a back room of the restaurant. Once all employees were in the back room, Carr ordered two employees to open the back door at which time the male fled from the restaurant.
According to Court documents, digital surveillance video captured the following image documenting the robbery.
According to court documents, forensic evidence led to the identification of Carr. Court documents further reflect that on September 10, 2020, Carr was taken into custody by law enforcement and search warrants were executed at two different residences at which the Carr is known to stay. Located during the execution of the search warrant was a silver handgun that appeared to be consistent with the gun the Carr used during the charged robbery.
This investigation is part of Operation LeGend, which is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in St. Louis in 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. The case was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) Jen Szczucinski as part of the Safer Streets Initiative. The initiative was launched by Attorney General Schmitt and U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen in January of 2019 as an unprecedented state and federal partnership to prosecute violent crime in St. Louis.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.