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29 September 2020
Former Plainfield Resident Resentenced to 300 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Edward Brown, 78, formerly of Plainfield, was sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison at a resentencing hearing, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
In 2009, Brown was convicted of a series of offenses arising from his role in leading an armed standoff with the United Marshals Service after his conviction and sentencing for tax-related charges. Brown was initially sentenced to 444 months of imprisonment for his role in the standoff. Because of new legal precedent from the United States Supreme Court, one of Brown's convictions was no longer valid. Brown was therefore entitled to resentencing.
At the resentencing hearing today, United States District Judge George Singal, the original trial judge, imposed a 300-month sentence.
“We are grateful that the Court recognized the seriousness of this defendant’s crimes and chose to impose a substantial and appropriate sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This defendant’s armed standoff created a dangerous situation that could have resulted in bloodshed. This 300-month sentence sends the clear message that such conduct is unacceptable and that those responsible will be held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the New Hampshire State Police, the Plainfield Police Department, the Lebanon Police Department, and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
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Former Indiana state senator and gaming executive indicted for violations of federal campaign finance lawsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Acting United States Attorney John Childress and Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of Indiana returned an indictment charging a former Indiana state senator and gaming executive with violations of federal campaign finance laws, false statements, and falsification of records, for making illegal corporate contributions and conduit contributions to fund the congressional campaign of the former state politician.
Darryl Brent Waltz, 47, of Greenwood, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make conduit contributions, false statements and to obstruct justice, one count of making and receiving conduit contributions, one count of obstruction of justice, and two counts of making false statements related to a scheme to route contributions through conduit donors to his 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.
John S. Keeler, 71, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make illegal corporate contributions, false statements and to obstruct justice, one count of making illegal corporate contributions, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of making false statements related to a scheme to make corporate contributions to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.
According to the indictment, Waltz, a former Indiana state senator, was a candidate in the 2016 primary election for the office of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Ninth District of Indiana. Keeler, the vice president and general counsel of what was then known as New Centaur, LLC arranged with Kelley Rogers, a Maryland-based political consultant for the 2016 Waltz congressional campaign, to cause New Centaur, LLC to transfer thousands of dollars from its accounts to Rogers, who then contributed that money to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign.
To conceal the true nature of the payments as illegal corporate contributions, Keeler and Rogers agreed that Rogers would create phony invoices and agreements that purported to reflect services to be performed for New Centaur, LLC, by Rogers. Upon receiving the payments from New Centaur, LLC, Rogers recruited several straw donors, including Waltz, to each contribute $2,700 to Waltz’s campaign, the maximum permitted under federal law at the time. The straw donors were reimbursed by Rogers using the money from New Centaur, LLC.
Rogers also transferred a large portion of the New Centaur, LLC money to Waltz, who recruited additional straw donors to each donate $2,700 to his campaign. Waltz either reimbursed or paid these straw donors in advance. Waltz and Keeler concealed these illegal contributions from campaign officials, causing them to unwittingly file materially false reports with the Federal Election Commission.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Gullotta and John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Brad Shepard and MaryAnn Mindrum of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
Former Indiana State Senator and Gaming Executive Indicted for Violations of Federal Campaign Finance LawsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of Indiana returned an indictment charging a former Indiana state senator and a gaming executive with violations of federal campaign finance laws, false statements, and falsification of Federal Election Campaign (FEC) records in connection with a series of illegal corporate contributions and conduit contributions they made to fund the congressional campaign of the former state politician.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress of the Southern District of Indiana, and Acting Assistant Director James A. Dawson of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
Darryl Brent Waltz, 47, of Greenwood, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make conduit contributions, false statements and to falsify FEC records, one count of making and receiving conduit contributions, one count of falsifying FEC records, and two counts of making false statements related to a scheme to route contributions through conduit donors to his 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.
John S. Keeler, 71, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make illegal corporate contributions, false statements and to falsify FEC records, one count of making illegal corporate contributions, one count of falsification of FEC records, and one count of making false statements related to a scheme to make corporate contributions to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal campaign finance law.
According to the indictment, Waltz, a former Indiana state senator, was a candidate in the 2016 primary election for the office of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Ninth District of Indiana. Keeler, the vice president and general counsel of what was then known as New Centaur LLC arranged with Kelley Rogers, a Maryland-based political consultant for the 2016 Waltz congressional campaign, to cause New Centaur LLC to transfer thousands of dollars from its accounts to Rogers, who then contributed that money to Waltz’s 2016 congressional campaign. To conceal the true nature of the payments as illegal corporate contributions, Keeler and Rogers agreed that Rogers would create phony invoices and agreements that purported to reflect services to be performed for New Centaur LLC, by Rogers. Upon receiving the payments from New Centaur LLC, Rogers recruited several straw donors, including Waltz, to each contribute $2,700 to Waltz’s campaign, the maximum permitted under federal law at the time. The straw donors were reimbursed by Rogers using the money from New Centaur LLC. Rogers also transferred a large portion of the New Centaur LLC money to Waltz, who recruited additional straw donors to each donate $2,700 to his campaign. Waltz either reimbursed or paid these straw donors in advance. Waltz and Keeler concealed these illegal contributions from campaign officials, causing them to unwittingly file materially false reports with the Federal Election Commission.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Gullotta and John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Brad Shepard and MaryAnn Mindrum of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. Significant assistance was provided by the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former IRS Employee Sentenced for Stealing Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former IRS employee was sentenced in federal court today for stealing tax refunds.
Tamara R. Miller, 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to two years and two months in federal prison without parole.
On Jan. 23, 2020, Miller pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of government funds. Miller specifically admitted to stealing refunds from two taxpayers, totaling $5,214.
Miller was employed by the IRS as a data transcriber at the Kansas City Service Center. As part of her duties, Miller handled individual income tax returns received by mail at the Kansas City Service Center.
Miller selected tax returns on which the “Refund” section did not show a routing number or account number for a direct deposit to a financial institution (indicating the taxpayer elected to have the refund paid by a U.S. Treasury check). Miller used taxpayers’ means of identification, including names and Social Security numbers, shown on their tax returns to apply for accounts at online banks that issued prepaid debit cards. If Miller succeeded in opening an online account with a taxpayer’s means of identification, she entered the routing number and account number for the fraudulently created account in the “Refund” section of the taxpayer’s Form 1040. Miller had access to the fraudulently created account; the taxpayer did not know the account existed.
As an alternative means of fraudulently altering taxpayers’ returns, Miller entered the routing and account numbers for an existing online account to which she had access in the “Refund” section of the Forms 1040, thereby falsely representing that the taxpayer elected to have the refund amount deposited directly to that account.
Miller caused the fraudulently altered Forms 1040 to be submitted and processed for payment of the refund amounts requested by the taxpayers. The refund amounts were subsequently deposited directly to accounts controlled by Miller and accessible to Miller.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Larson. It was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Former Fort Drum Soldier Sentenced to 30 Months for Burglarizing North Country Firearms DealersRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Rian Patterson, age 23, a former U.S. Army solider previously stationed at Fort Drum, New York, was sentenced today to serve 30 months in federal prison for the burglaries of two federally licensed firearms dealers in Northern New York, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
As part of his previous guilty plea, Patterson admitted to stealing five (5) long guns during the burglary of a licensed federal firearms dealer in Gouverneur, New York, on September 14, 2019, and to the burglary of a second licensed federal firearms dealer in De Kalb Junction, New York, on September 29, 2019, during which five (5) handguns were stolen. All stolen firearms were recovered during the investigation of these crimes. Patterson also admitted to knowingly possessing stolen firearms taken during those burglaries in his barracks at Fort Drum, including one firearm with an obliterated serial number.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, the court also sentenced Patterson to three (3) years of post-imprisonment supervised release and ordered him to pay a restitution to the victims.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the U.S Army Criminal Investigation Division (ARMY CID), the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.
This case was brought pursuant to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Construction Executive Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion in Connection with Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ANTHONY GUZZONE, a former Director of Global Construction at Bloomberg, LLC (“Bloomberg”), pled guilty today to charges of evading taxes on more than $1.45 million in bribes he received from building sub-contractors. In related proceedings, co-conspirator Michael Campana, a subordinate construction manager at Bloomberg, was sentenced on July 24, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote to 24 months in prison, for evading taxes on more than $420,000 in the same scheme. In addition, Ronald Olson and Vito Nigro, two managers of a construction contractor that performed projects for Bloomberg, were separately charged in July 2020 for evading taxes on more than $1.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, in bribes that they received in the same scheme. Olson pled guilty to those charges on July 29, 2020, before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.[1]
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Bribery and tax evasion each impose hidden, unfair costs on the law-abiding public. The sort of criminality admitted to by Anthony Guzzone imposes that burden widely, on customers, on employers, and on taxpayers. Guzzone now awaits sentencing for his crime.”
According to the four criminal Informations filed in these federal cases, as well as other public documents and recent court proceedings:
Between 2010 and 2017, GUZZONE was the Director of Global Construction at Bloomberg, a global financial firm that was engaged in various building projects in New York City and elsewhere, while Olson and Nigro were executives at a construction contractor that performed projects for Bloomberg. For most of that time, beginning in 2013, Campana was also a construction manager at Bloomberg. Each of the defendants participated in a scheme to obtain bribes from construction sub-contractors, who paid kickbacks to the defendants in exchange for being awarded various construction contracts and sub-contracts performed for Bloomberg.
In all, the defendants are charged with failing to pay taxes, between 2010 and 2017, on bribes exceeding $5.1 million. The defendants received such bribes in various forms, including millions of dollars in cash, as well as construction labor and materials for work on their individual homes and properties, and the direct payment of personal expenses. Such personal expenses included charges related to Campana’s 2017 wedding, such as approximately $40,000 paid by sub-contractors to a catering hall in New Jersey, over $13,000 to a photography studio, and over $23,000 to a travel agent for airline tickets purchased in connection with Campana’s honeymoon. Each of the defendants evaded federal income tax on this bribery income, by failing to declare it on income tax returns for various years between 2010 and 2017.
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GUZZONE, 51, of Middletown, New Jersey, pled guilty today to a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2010 through 2017. GUZZONE is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., before United States District Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Olson, 53, of Massapequa, New York, pled guilty on July 29, 2020, to a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2011 through 2017.
Nigro, 59, of Middletown, New Jersey, was charged on July 16, 2020, with a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2011 through 2017.
The charges against GUZZONE, Olson, and Nigro each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, and an order of restitution. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judges.
Campana, 34, of Tuckahoe, New York, pled guilty to a tax evasion charge on November 26, 2019, for the tax years 2014 thought 2017, and was sentenced on July 24, 2020, to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution of $155,000 in unpaid taxes (which he has repaid), and a fine of $10,000.
Ms. Strauss praised the excellent work of the Internal Revenue Service.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raymond Lewis, and Stanley J. Okula, Senior Litigation Counsel of the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] In addition, all four defendants have been charged in New York State Supreme Court for participating in the underlying bribery scheme. Nigro and Campana have pled guilty in that case and are awaiting sentencing.
Former CFO of Boston Grand Prix Indicted in Fraud and Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Boston Grand Prix was arrested today on charges that he failed to report income that he received from serving as executive with the Boston Grand Prix organization on his federal tax returns and for a scheme to defraud equipment and small business financing companies.
John F. Casey, 56, of Ipswich, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of money laundering and three counts of filing false tax returns. Casey was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance at 3:30 today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald J. Cabell.
As alleged in the indictment, Casey became the CFO of the Boston Grand Prix in January 2015. The Boston Grand Prix organization made payments to or on behalf of Casey totaling approximately $308,292 in 2015 and $601,073 in 2016 which Casey failed to include in the gross income he claimed on his personal tax returns for those years.
The indictment also alleges that Casey owned an ice rink in Peabody between October 2013 and June 1, 2016. Between October 2014 and October 2016, Casey obtained over $743,000 in funds from equipment financing companies, purportedly for the purchase of equipment for the ice rink. In addition, in August 2016, more than two months after he sold the Peabody rink, Casey obtained over $145,000 in small business loans for the rink business. In order to secure the financing, Casey allegedly submitted materially false documents and information, including fake invoices for the equipment, bank records purporting to show deposits into Casey’s accounts related to the Peabody rink, falsely inflated personal and corporate tax returns, and personal financial statements falsely claiming ownership and value of various assets. Casey also allegedly submitted a fake Deed of Sale containing a forged signature in support of one of his loan applications. Relying on Casey’s false statements, the financing companies provided funding to Casey in amounts and on terms they otherwise would not have made. Most of the funds provided by the victim companies were never repaid.
Casey is also charged with laundering the proceeds of his fraud scheme, and with failing to include the income from his fraud scheme on his 2014, 2015 and 2016 personal federal tax returns.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a consecutive sentence of two years in prison, one year supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Firearms trafficker attempts to smuggle guns to HaitiRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Jacques Mathieu has pleaded guilty to attempting to export 12 firearms and approximately 36,000 rounds of ammunition to Haiti by concealing the contraband in a car he intended to ship to the island.
“Firearms traffickers help fuel violence on our streets and outside the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Alert agents found the weapons and ammunition and stopped the shipment before it reached its intended destination.”
“Firearms trafficking poses a very serious threat to the safety of our communities in the U.S. and abroad,” said Arthur Peralta, Special Agent in Charge of ATF in Atlanta. “Jacques Mathieu’s attempts to illegally export firearms is a significant concern for the people of Haiti and we will do everything we can do to stop these illegal firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”
“Special Agents of the Office of Export Enforcement are committed to combating the illicit smuggling of firearms and ammunition internationally,” said P. Lee Smith, Performing the Non-exclusive Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement (OEE) at the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry of Security. “Firearms and ammunition illegally exported from the United States often end up in the hands of violent criminals and harm the most vulnerable communities, in this case in the Republic of Haiti. OEE is committed to aggressively investigating international firearms smuggling networks and working with our law enforcement partners to bring violators to justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In September 2019, Mathieu, a Haitian national, attempted to ship a 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara to Haiti via the Port of Palm Beach, Florida. He reported on export shipping documents that the car contained 12 boxes of used clothing. However, Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) and Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement agents searched the car and discovered 12 firearms and approximately 36,000 rounds of ammunition concealed in the boxes.
Jacques Mathieu, 51, of Tucker, Georgia pleaded guilty to the offense of attempting to export firearms and ammunition to the Republic of Haiti. Sentencing is scheduled for January 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry of Security.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
This case was also brought as part of Project Guardian, a national Department of Justice initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, including those related to firearms trafficking. More information about Project Guardian can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Fifth Person Admits Trafficking Oxycodone and Xanax Pills as Part of Gloucester City Drug RingRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester City, New Jersey, man today admitted conspiring to distribute oxycodone pills and selling Xanax pills, making him the fifth person to plead guilty for his role in a drug trafficking ring operating in and around Gloucester City and Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Marcus Rushworth, 47, of Gloucester City, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and distributing a quantity of Xanax.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Rushworth admitted that on multiple occasions from January 2020 to March 2020, he worked with Rocco DePoder to sell oxycodone and Xanax to customers in and around Gloucester City. Rushworth also obtained a quantity of Xanax from DePoder on Feb. 17, 2020, in order to sell to a drug customer. Rushworth was charged along with 17 others in March 2020 in connection with an investigation by the FBI into the illegal distribution of prescription drugs, including high dosage oxycodone pills, to customers in Gloucester City and Camden.
The drug conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison and the distribution charge carries a potential penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2021.
Four other defendants – Kenneth Rushworth, 59, of Gloucester City, a relative of Marcus Rushworth, Wayne Muse, 74, of Lindenwold, New Jersey, Robert Pratt, 57, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, formerly of Blackwood, New Jersey, and Steven Walker, 47, of Camden – previously pleaded guilty before Judge Bumb to informations charging them with drug trafficking offenses involving the distribution of prescription drugs.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of FBI Philadelphia Division, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Driscoll; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; the Camden County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, under the direction of Director Jared M. Maples; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins, with the investigation leading to the charges.
He also thanked the FBI Newark Division, New Jersey State Police, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Vidoni of the Office’s Camden office and Sara F. Merin of the Newark office.
Felon and Drug User Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced yesterday to fifteen years in federal prison.
Carlos Dejuan Hutchinson, age 41, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Information disclosed at sentencing showed that, on October 12, 2019, Hutchinson was the front-seat passenger in a truck that was stopped by police. Hutchinson and the driver were both removed from the truck. Officers found a pistol in the right rear pocket of Hutchinson’s pants. Hutchinson was arrested and placed in the back of a police car, where he attempted to ditch a methamphetamine pipe. At the guilty plea, Hutchinson admitted he possessed the firearm while he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and after he had previously been convicted of three burglaries. He faced a fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence because of his three prior burglary convictions.
Hutchinson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hutchinson was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hutchinson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00129.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm After Shots Fired Call in Cedar RapidsRead the Press Release
A felon who was found in possession of a firearm following a shots fired call pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Kendall J. Willis, age 25, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that on May 21, 2020, a call was made to the Cedar Rapids 911 line. The caller reported shots fired at an apartment complex on North Towne Court in Cedar Rapids. Police officers arrived at the scene and spoke with multiple witnesses. One witness saw two individuals, one of whom was later identified as Willis, walk into an apartment after the shots were fired. The witness saw that each individual was holding a handgun. Officers searched the ground near where the shots were fired and found three 9mm shell casings. Willis and Johnson then left the apartment that witnesses had seen them enter and were detained. During a later search of that apartment, officers found marijuana, drug packaging, and two 9mm pistols, one of which had an extended magazine. Ballistics testing determined that two of the shell casings found outside the apartment were fired by one of the pistols and that the other shell casing had been fired by the other pistol. Willis had previously been convicted of felony armed robbery charge in Chicago in 2014.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Willis remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Willis faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20‑CR‑00058‑CJW‑MAR.
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Española man sentenced to 30 years for sexually abusing a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Kevin Vigil, 54, of Española, New Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Sept. 22 for sexually abusing a six-year-old child.
A federal jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, returned a guilty verdict against Vigil on Aug. 23, 2019, following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez.
The minor victim and the victim’s parents had been visiting Vigil at his home within the exterior boundaries of Ohkay Owingeh tribal lands on the evening of February 3, 2018, and spent the night there. In the early hours of February 4, Vigil assaulted the victim as she lay between Vigil and her mother. The mother immediately confronted Vigil, left his house, sought medical attention for the victim, and reported the abuse to law enforcement.
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam showed that the victim’s injuries were “fresh” and that those injuries were consistent with penetration or attempted penetration. The victim had to be sedated because she was in so much pain. As part of the SANE exam, DNA evidence was collected from the victim as well as from Vigil. An analysis of that evidence revealed presence of Vigil’s DNA on the victim and on her underwear from the night of the offense.
This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Nayback and Allison Jaros.
Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Prescribing Oxycodone, Failing to Pay Employee TaxesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that that Dr. SHEIKH AHMED, 57, of Orange, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to six months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally prescribing oxycodone and failing to pay employee withholding taxes to the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ahmed is a pediatrician who operated a medical practice, under the name East Hartford Medical Center, at 580 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford. Despite being a pediatrician, Ahmed’s practice did not only focus on children. Between December 2017 and May 2018, Ahmed prescribed controlled substances, including Oxycodone, to two individuals outside the scope of professional medical practice. The individuals paid Ahmed $500 to issue prescriptions for 30-day supplies of Oxycodone, and Ahmed agreed to increase the patients’ dosage in the future, without discussion as to the medical justification for the increase. Ahmed counseled the patients about the need to increase dosages gradually to avoid scrutiny from pharmacies regarding the prescribed medications. Ahmed also had the patients bypass normal financial intake procedures and took cash payments directly from the patients. Ahmed failed to perform sufficient examinations to assess the patients’ pain levels prior to issuing the prescriptions.
The investigation also revealed that Ahmed failed to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service $117,893 in employee withholding taxes from five of his businesses, including East Hartford Medical Center, between 2013 and 2016.
Ahmed was arrested on November 28, 2018. On November 8, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of prescribing outside the scope of medical practice, and one count of willful failure to pay withholding taxes.
Ahmed has made full restitution to the IRS.
Ahmed, who is released on a $200,000 bond, is required to report to prison on November 10.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Chief State’s Attorney. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Department of Justice Awards More than $92 Million to Support Offenders Returning to CommunitiesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards totaling more than $92 million to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders returning to their communities after confinement.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded grants to jurisdictions, research institutions and other organizations in support of proven science-based approaches to reintegrate offenders into communities.
President Trump is a staunch supporter of providing a second chance to incarcerated individuals reentering our communities. In 2018, he signed into law the First Step Act, including reauthorization of the Second Chance Act, the biggest piece of criminal justice reform legislation to be enacted in more than a decade. He also directed the establishment of the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry and tapped Pastor Tony Lowden to be its executive director. President Trump has declared April as Second Chance Month for the past four years, and these awards represent his Administration’s commitment to assisting people in America’s prisons and detention facilities who have earned the opportunity to take their places back in society.
“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help offenders get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation. I saw these programs work first hand in my time as a judge and am so grateful for the hard-working people who are helping our reentering population.”
Fiscal Year 2020 reentry and recidivism reduction grants awarded include the following:
- More than $71.4 million under BJA’s grant programs designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism.
- More than $11.2 million under OJJDP’s Second Chance Act suite of grant programs to support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18.
- More than $9.3 million under NIJ’s reentry research and evaluation programs, which support rigorous research to advance understanding about reoffending and the success of reentry strategies, programs and practices. This includes evaluating innovative reentry initiatives that specifically focus on juveniles, young adults and adults with a moderate-to-high risk of reoffending.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded, and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/reentryfactsheet.pdf.
Additional information about FY 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data Webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. 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.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 105 Months for CarjackingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Friday, Christopher Daniel Jones, 26, of Camp Verde, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 105 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Jones previously pleaded guilty to Carjacking on February 26, 2020.
On July 27, 2019, Jones, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community and a convicted sex offender, snuck into the victim’s parked van at a gas station located on the Yavapai-Apache Nation. When the victim returned to the van, Jones was hiding in the back. Wielding a knife, Jones moved toward the front of the van and forced the victim to drive, holding the knife to the victim’s body. The victim jumped out of the van, and Jones drove it away, resulting in a law enforcement pursuit that ended with Jones’s apprehension about 75 miles away. Investigation revealed that Jones had an active warrant, was on supervised release in two separate Failure to Register as a Sex Offender cases, and had recently escaped from Behavioral Systems Southwest.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Yavapai-Apache Nation Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault and Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-8265-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-075_Christopher Jones# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Convicted Fraudster Charged with Devising New Scheme While Serving Federal Sentence for Another SchemeRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A Felony Information filed in federal court charges Christopher D. Hales, 39, of Lehi with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with a financial fraud scheme he and other co-conspirators devised while Hales was in a halfway house serving a sentence for another federal fraud case.
The charges allege the new scheme resulted in a loss to investors of at least $7 million. An initial appearance and change of plea hearing for Hales is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daphne A. Oberg.
Hales was convicted of bank fraud in April 2011 as a part of a mortgage fraud case. He was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $12,719,236 in restitution. He violated terms of his supervised release in 2016 and he was sentenced to another 30 months in federal prison.
“Utah has an outsized fraud problem, and these allegations illustrate the conduct of a serial schemer. Utahns must diligently consider investment pitches and their risks before parting with hard-earned savings,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today.
According to the Felony Information, Hales was released from federal prison on Feb. 8, 2018, and resided at a halfway house in Salt Lake City until around Aug. 8, 2018. Nevada Secretary of State records show Sindakit Software LLC was formed on Aug. 6, 2018, by a co-conspirator (CC1) known to federal prosecutors. CC1 was listed as the sole officer. CC1 was listed on the Sindakit Software bank account as the manager and was the only authorized signor.
The Information alleges Hales and CC1 conspired to defraud investors and potential investors by inducing them to purchase investments in a sports betting software. Hales purported to own a sports betting software that “beat the house” to convince investors to give him money to place sports bets. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges Hales made a variety of false statements of material facts to investors and potential investors, including representing that 100 percent of investor funds would be used to place sports bets when, in fact, Hales diverted nearly all investor funds received to his and CC1’s personal use, and to make payments to other investors.
Hales also told them he was Chris Christian, when in fact, he was Christopher Hales, a convicted felon on supervised release. Investors were also told Hales would match all investor funds, when in reality he would take out a line of credit with the sports betting website and use the line of credit to hedge bets. Hales also told investors that the sports betting was producing a rate of return for investors of around 10 percent a week – an amount made up by Hales to entice investors to provide funds. He also represented that there were potential buyers willing to purchase the software he developed for tens of millions of dollars, when there were actually no buyers, according to the Felony Information.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Hales failed to disclose to investors that they did not actually own an algorithm or a sports betting software and that they were laundering investor funds through transfers in and out of the Sindakit Software account. Sports betting account statements provided to investors were false and were inflated based on Hales’ line of credit and his ability to manipulate the statements. They also did not disclose that part of the investors’ money was used to pay commissions to those introducing investors to Sindakit or that they were using investment money from newer investors to pay promised winnings to earlier investors in what is commonly recognized as a Ponzi scheme.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are conducting the investigation.
Chinese National Sentenced for Laundering Millions for Mexican Drug CartelsRead the Press Release
A Chinese national was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $4.2 million for laundering drug proceeds generated by large-scale cocaine trafficking in the United States.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Agent in Charge Wendy C. Woolcock for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey T. Scott of DEA's Louisville, Kentucky Field Division; Chief Jason Crosby of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); and Special Agent in Charge James Gibbons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago, Illinois made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema for the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court documents, Xueyong Wu, 40, cultivated relationships with Latin American drug trafficking organizations to transport and launder their United States-based drug proceeds. Much of this money was repatriated to Mexico through a complex series of international financial transactions. Wu received a percentage of the money involved in these transactions as compensation for organizing these laundering activities. Much of this money was generated through movement of cocaine or payment for cocaine that took place within the Eastern District of Virginia.
Trial Attorneys Steve Sola and Kerry Blackburn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Ben’Ary and David A. Peters prosecuted the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Chinese National Sentenced for Laundering Millions for Mexican Drug CartelsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Chinese national was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $4.2 million for laundering drug proceeds generated by large-scale cocaine trafficking in the United States.
According to court documents, Xueyong Wu, 40, cultivated relationships with Latin American drug trafficking organizations to transport and launder their United States-based drug proceeds. Much of this money was repatriated to Mexico through a complex series of international financial transactions. Wu received a percentage of the money involved in these transactions as compensation for organizing these laundering activities. Much of this money was generated through movement of cocaine or payment for cocaine that took place within the Eastern District of Virginia.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wendy C. Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division; Jeffrey T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of DEA's Louisville, Kentucky Field Division; Jessica Moore, Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); and James Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago, Illinois made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Ben’Ary and David A. Peters, along with Trial Attorneys Steve Sola and Kerry Blackburn of the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-15.
Chico Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alfred David Villasenor, 36, of Chico, pleaded guilty on Monday to being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
On Nov. 20, 2019, law enforcement officers conducted a welfare check at Villasenor’s residence. They located Villasenor hiding underneath a blanket on the floor of the master bedroom with a shouldered, loaded non-serialized AR-15 rifle on a bipod. Villasenor had been pointing this rifle at the door officers had used to enter the room. Officers seized approximately 900 rounds of ammunition of various sizes. At that time, Villasenor was subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chico Police Department, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Conolly and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case.
Villasenor is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14 by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Villasenor faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Career drug dealer sentenced to federal prison for meth, opioids, marijuanaRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: An Appling County man with multiple prior convictions for selling narcotics has been sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison.
Charlie Williams, 38, of Alma, Ga., was sentenced to 190 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Quantities of Hydromorphone and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Williams must serve four years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Charlie Williams first went to prison as a drug dealer 18 years ago, and time behind bars seemed to be the only time he wasn’t pushing poison on the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement partners have made the community a safer place by getting him back behind bars.”
Williams was on felony probation for convictions in state court on charges of selling cocaine when he was arrested in Oct. 2019 after Appling County Sheriff’s Office investigators served a search warrant at his home. During the search, investigators found large amounts of methamphetamine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid) pills and marijuana, along with more than $1,000 cash and drug-sales paraphernalia.
“This drug trafficker, who happens to be a repeat offender, was arrested because of the great working relationship that DEA has with its federal, state and local counterparts,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy. “Mr. Williams will now spend well-deserved time in prison and his apprehension makes our communities a safer place today.”
“One prison term was not enough for this defendant,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds. “His decision to reoffend brings harsh penalties. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate drug dealers that threaten the safety of our communities.”
“Much of the crime in our communities is driven by a handful of repeat offenders who continually challenge the efforts of law enforcement to keep our streets safe,” said Appling County Sheriff Mark Melton. “We appreciate the help of our law enforcement partners in getting this drug dealer out of our neighborhoods and back where he belongs: behind bars.”
The case was investigated by the DEA, the GBI, and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Canton man sentenced to 9 years for bank robbery after escape from correctional facilityRead the Press Release
CANTON, Ohio – U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Ronald E. Holt, age 54, of East Sparta, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams to 115 months imprisonment, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $8,180 in restitution after Holt pleaded guilty to bank robbery on September 1, 2020.
According to court documents, on January 7, 2020, Holt walked into a KeyBank branch in Canton and waited in line until being called to a teller window. At the window, Holt announced that “This is a robbery,” and demanded cash from the teller. Holt received $8,180 and left the bank. Holt committed this robbery shortly after escaping from the Stark Regional Community Correction Center earlier on the same day. Holt has a long criminal history, including multiple convictions for violent offenses and drug offenses in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.
This case was investigated by Special Agent Timothy Alvord, FBI and the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz.
California Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Attempting to Stab Black ManRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson for the Northern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Jack Bennett for the FBI San Francisco Division announced today that a California man has been charged with a federal hate crime for attacking a black man with a knife on a street in Santa Cruz, California.
Ole Hougen, 44, of Santa Cruz, California, was charged by criminal complaint with willfully attempting to cause bodily injury by using a dangerous weapon because of a person’s actual or perceived race and color, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 249.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Hougen confronted a 29-year-old black man who was crossing a street in Santa Cruz. Hougen took out a nine-inch knife and slashed at the man’s head, chest, and stomach multiple times while yelling racial slurs at him. At the time of the attack, Hougen was on probation for state convictions involving a racially-motivated assault on a different black man in 2018. The complaint also describes two additional racially-motivated assaults against black men committed by Hougen in 2014 and 2018.
The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Hougen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris and Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Santa Cruz Police Department.
California Man Charged with Transporting Large Quantity of FentanylRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced that RICHARD MENDOZA was charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute fentanyl on behalf of a drug trafficking organization. MENDOZA was charged by complaint and arrested in Arizona on September 23, 2020, after law enforcement found approximately nine kilograms of fentanyl packaged and hidden inside of the exhaust system of the vehicle that MENDOZA was driving. MENDOZA will be presented and arraigned at a later date upon his arrival in this district.
According to the allegations in the Complaint and Indictment[1]:
Beginning in or about June, law enforcement identified RICHARD MENDOZA as an individual who was working to coordinate shipments of fentanyl to New York on behalf of a drug trafficking organization. On or about September 16, 2020, law enforcement intercepted phone calls on which MENDOZA was preparing to receive a truck that had been pre-loaded with narcotics by other members of the drug trafficking organization. On or about September 17, 2020, MENDOZA was the driver and sole occupant of a truck that was ultimately stopped and searched by law enforcement. During the search, law enforcement found approximately nine kilograms of fentanyl that were packaged and hidden inside the vehicle’s exhaust system.
* * *
MENDOZA, 50, of Desert Hot Springs, California, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force. The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Peter J. Davis and Andrew A. Rohrbach are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint and Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Complaint and Indictment, and the description of the Complaint and Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Business owner sentenced for bribing city of Atlanta official to win contract at Atlanta’s airportRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Hayat Choudhary, CEO of Atlanta Airport Shuttle Services, Inc., d/b/a Meskerem Restaurant, has been sentenced to federal prison for paying $20,000 in cash to a City of Atlanta Department of Procurement official to secure a contract at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
“The public expects that government contracts are awarded solely based on merit,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “As the defendant learned, there are serious consequences for those who believe they can bribe their way into a contract. We will continue to vigorously investigate pay-to-play schemes at all levels of government.”
“Choudhary’s actions erode the public’s trust in a process that is meant to be fair to all contract applicants,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully this sentencing will help restore some of that trust, or at least send a message that the FBI is determined to pursue anyone who would undermine the integrity of how contracts are awarded.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (“Atlanta’s airport”) is the principal airport for Georgia and the southeastern United States. In 2017, Atlanta’s airport – the busiest passenger airport in the world at the time – generated more than $500 million in revenue for the City of Atlanta, including approximately $8.8 million in fees and charges from private ground transportation companies (such as taxicabs, limousines, ridesharing, and hotel and parking lot shuttles). One such company was Atlanta Airport Shuttle Services, Inc., d/b/a Meskerem Restaurant, owned and operated by the defendant, Hayat Choudhary.
The City of Atlanta’s Department of Procurement was responsible for acquiring all services for Atlanta’s airport. The Department of Procurement’s “Guiding Principles” commit its personnel to “award contracts that are consistent with the policy, regulations, rules, and laws,” and “without regard for personal gain.”
On or about May 2, 2017, the Department of Procurement announced that the City of Atlanta sought to enter a contract for a vendor to establish and operate a kitchen/restaurant at the Ground Transportation Building at Atlanta’s airport. The kitchen/restaurant would serve the large and growing number of taxi, limousine, and rideshare drivers that provided transportation services to passengers traveling to and from Atlanta’s airport.
The Department of Procurement projected that the kitchen/restaurant at the Ground Transportation Building would generate annual revenue of $200,000, and generate rent payments to the City of Atlanta of $13,000 per year. The City of Atlanta offered a ten-year term for the kitchen/restaurant contract, with a three-year renewal option. Choudhary’s company, Atlanta Airport Shuttle Services, Inc., d/b/a Meskerem Restaurant, was one of the bidders for the contract.
“Official-1” was the Department of Procurement officer responsible for overseeing the bidding process and, thus, influenced the awarding of the kitchen/restaurant contract. After the contract was announced, Choudhary paid a $10,000 bribe to Official-1 to obtain the contract. After the first bribe payment, Official-1 instructed Choudhary that he had to pay another $10,000 to receive the contract. Choudhary paid the second $10,000 bribe. Following Choudhary’s payment of $20,000 to Official-1, the City of Atlanta awarded the contract to Choudhary’s company.
Choudhary, 58, of Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to one years, ten months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years’ supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor C. Wilmot prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Boston Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for cocaine trafficking.
Robert Santos, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2019, Santos pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
Santos was arrested on Sept. 7, 2018 after police officers observed a silver Hyundai Tucson making an illegal turn. Officers attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop, but Santos, who was driving the car, fled—first in his vehicle, leading police on a car pursuit through South Boston and subsequently on foot into Moakley Park. Santos was apprehended and found in possession of several plastic baggies containing cocaine and crack cocaine weighing a total of 27 grams.
Santos was sentenced after completing the RISE program.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Looney of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to being a felon in possession of a semi-automatic pistol.
Kyvon Ross, a/k/a Ky-von Ross, 20, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition before U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2021. Ross was indicted in September 2019.
Ross possessed a Beretta .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition on May 31, 2019, in Boston. Ross was subsequently arrested and has been in custody since. Ross is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Bessemer Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Bessemer man pled guilty today to child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer.
MICHAEL LAWRENCE GARCIA-TORRES, 28, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Annemarie C. Axon to one-count of transportation of child pornography and one-count of possession of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, between September 2017 and February 2018, Garcia-Torres uploaded 405 images and 19 videos of child pornography to a Dropbox account. He also possessed 1,295 images and 85 videos of child pornography on his electronic devices.
Garcia-Torres faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, supervised release of at least five years and up to life, and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.
Bergen County Man Conspires to File at Least 18 Fraudulent Tax Returns in Victims’ Names to Obtain Tax RefundRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, was charged today for his role in a conspiracy to file phony tax returns in order to illegally obtain tax refunds, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Emmanuel A. Barrientos-Fermin, 38, of Tenafly, New Jersey, is charged in a three-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment:
From January 2020 through February 2020, Barrientos-Fermin, and others conspired to utilize stolen personal identifying information (PII) to submit fraudulent tax returns to obtain tax refunds without the victims’ knowledge or consent. Co-Conspirator-1 (CC-1) would obtain falsified Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, birth certificates and W-2 forms bearing the victims’ stolen PII and provide them to Barrientos-Fermin and other conspirators. Barrientos-Fermin and others would use the fraudulently obtained PII to file tax returns at various tax preparation company branches, posing as the victims.
Barrientos-Fermin and CC-1 entered into an agreement in which CC-1 would pay $200 to Barrientos-Fermin to enter tax preparation companies posing as the victims to file tax returns in their names. Barrientos-Fermin provided CC-1 a photo of himself; CC-1 provided Barrientos-Fermin with driver’s licenses bearing Barrientos-Fermin’s photos and the victims’ PII. CC-1 also provided Barrientos-Fermin with matching Social Security cards, W2s, and birth certificates. Barrientos-Fermin went to tax preparation locations pretending to be the victims and provided the false documents to the tax preparers to prepare and file fraudulent tax returns. At Barrientos-Fermin’s request, the tax preparers submitted the fraudulent returns via wire transmission from their branch offices in New Jersey to their data processing center in Columbus, Ohio. After submitting each fraudulent tax return and collecting advance refund debit cards, Barrientos-Fermin provided CC-1 the debit cards in exchange for cash payments of $200 per return.
The count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The counts of aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison. The count of access device fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. All three counts are also punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, and special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Totowa, New Jersey, Police Department for assistance in the arrest and investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Perry Farhat of the Government Frauds Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Armed Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Richard Tingler, age 56, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the federal charges of armed bank robbery and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to his plea agreement, on January 23, 2019 and February 1, 2019, Richard Tingler and his co-defendant David Gollahon committed two armed bank robberies in Baltimore, Maryland and co-defendant Richard Adams served as the getaway driver in both robberies. During each robbery, Gollahon and Tingler each brandished a firearm and threatened victim bank employees.
Specifically, on January 23, 2019, Adams drove Tingler and Gollahon in a gray Hyundai Accent car to the area of a PNC Bank branch in Baltimore, Maryland. Tingler and Gollahon each had a firearm.
After entering the bank, Tingler, wearing a black ski mask, gray gloves, and a camouflage jacket and carrying a loaded black firearm and black leather duffle bag, and Gollahon, wearing a black ski mask and a gray hooded sweatshirt and carrying a loaded black firearm, told everyone to put their hands up. Tingler approached the victim teller, pointed his firearm at her, and demanded $100 dollar bills and “loose bills” from the bottom drawer of the till. Meanwhile, Gollahon held the other bank employees and customers at gunpoint in the lobby area of the bank. He told the bank employees and customers, “don’t move.”
The victim teller complied with Tingler’s demand for cash and handed over $7,531.00 U.S. dollars. Tingler and Gollahon then fled the bank on foot. As they ran through a parking lot, they accidentally dropped $5,584 in cash. They then got into the gray Hyundai Accent car driven by Adams, and drove away
On February 1, 2019, Adams drove Tingler and Gollahon in a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a M&T Bank branch in Baltimore, Maryland. Tingler and Gollahon each had the same firearm they had used in connection with the January 23, 2019 robbery of the PNC Bank.
After entering the bank, Tingler, wearing a black beanie, gray gloves, and the same camouflage jacket and carrying a loaded black firearm, and Gollahon, wearing a dark colored hoodie, tan jacket colored jacket, and black gloves and carrying a loaded black firearm, approached the teller window. Tingler pointed his firearm at the teller and demanded $100 bills. The victim teller complied and handed over cash from the till, but Tingler continued to demand more money. At the same time, Gollahon approached the teller line with his firearm pointed in the direction of the tellers and bank customers.
In response to the demands for more cash, the victim teller and a co-worker went to the bank’s vault and removed $40,000 in cash. They provided that cash to Tingler and Gollahon, who ultimately were given a total of $43,802.00 in cash. In addition to the cash, the victim teller also provided a GPS tracker, which was activated.
Tingler and Gollahon then fled the bank and got into the 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Adams. Adams drove the Monte Carlo away from the bank. Law enforcement received GPS information concerning the location of the GPS tracker taken from the bank, which they relayed to Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
BPD officers stopped the vehicle, ordered Adams, Tingler, and Gollahon out of the vehicle, and arrested them. At the time of his arrest, Gollahon had on his person the same firearm he used during the robbery.
Law enforcement searched Adams’ 2006 Monte Carlo car and recovered a blue backpack containing $43,802.00 in cash, the GPS tracker taken during the robbery, and the firearm carried by Tingler during both bank robberies.
Later that day, law enforcement searched Adams’ residence in Essex, Maryland and seized Gollahon’s gray hooded sweatshirt and the black leather duffel bag carried by Tingler during the January 23, 2019 robbery.
If the Court accepts the parties’ plea agreement, Tingler will be sentenced no more than 18 years imprisonment for armed bank robbery and for brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for January 19, 2021.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended FBI, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Riley and Daniel Loveland, Jr., who are prosecuting the case.
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Additional Corruption Charges Added to Indictment Against Former Orange Public OfficialRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The former acting business administrator for the Township of Orange, New Jersey, who had previously been indicted for multiple acts of corruption and fraud, was indicted today on additional conspiracy, wire fraud, and kickback-taking charges in a superseding indictment, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Willis Edwards III, 49, formerly of East Orange, New Jersey, and currently of Lithonia, Georgia, was charged in a superseding indictment with additional counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and taking kickbacks in connection with the business of Orange, a federally funded local government.
According to the superseding indictment:
An associate of Edwards, Jeanmarie Zahore, was the sole owner of JZ Nettech, a computer consulting business. On Sept. 15, 2015, the City Council of Orange Township, New Jersey, passed a resolution awarding JZ Nettech, without competitive bidding, a $350,000 emergency contract to install a computer networking system at a municipal complex that housed the Orange Municipal Court and the Orange Police Department (the “Municipal Complex Project”).
Between August 2015 and November 2015, Edwards solicited and accepted cash payments totaling approximately $20,000 from Zahore as a reward for Edwards’ favorable treatment of Zahore and JZ Nettech in connection with the Municipal Complex Project.
On Sept. 14, 2015, after communications between Edwards and Zahore in August 2015, Edwards advised a senior official of the Orange Municipal Court and a senior official of the Orange Police Department that there was an urgent need to address a potential security vulnerability in the Municipal Complex’s computer network, and that JZ Nettech had been selected as the vendor to fix the problem. Edwards caused Orange to issue a Certification of Funds, certifying that $350,000 was available for the Municipal Complex Project and identifying the vendor as JZ Nettech.
On Sept. 15, 2015, Edwards spoke before the Orange City Council in support of allocating emergency funds for the Municipal Complex Project and awarding the Municipal Complex Project to JZ Nettech. At the meeting, during which Orange City Council members raised questions about the selection of JZ Nettech as the vendor for the Municipal Complex Project, Edwards did not disclose that he had engaged in communications with Zahore since at least August 2015.
On Sept. 16, 2015, the day after the Orange City Council approved the $350,000 contract, Edwards approved the issuance of a blanket purchase order authorizing Orange to pay JZ Nettech $350,000 in connection with the Municipal Complex Project.
From Sept. 18, 2015, to Nov. 10, 2015, Zahore received and deposited three Orange checks totaling $350,000 in connection with the Municipal Complex Project into his JZ Nettech bank account.
Beginning shortly after Orange made its first payment to Zahore, Edwards told Zahore on more than one occasion, in substance, that Edwards had taken care of Zahore and that Zahore should consider that and do something.
In November 2015, following Edwards’ multiple solicitations and demands for payment from Zahore, Edwards received approximately $10,000 in cash from Zahore as a reward for Edwards’ favorable treatment of Zahore and JZ Nettech in connection with the Municipal Complex Project. Upon receipt of that $10,000 cash payment, which was funded in substantial part by money paid by Orange to JZ Nettech, Edwards expressed his dissatisfaction to Zahore with the amount of the payment. Edwards received a second payment of approximately $10,000 in cash from Zahore, who characterized those two cash payments in a spreadsheet that Zahore maintained of expenses related to the project:
11/20/2015 Gift: WE $10,000.00
11/23/2015 Gift: WE $10,000.00
The superseding indictment further charges that Edwards willfully signed a 2015 federal tax return under penalty of perjury that did not report, among other items of income, the approximately $20,000 in kickbacks.
The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (Count 14) and wire fraud (Count 15) each carry a potential penalty of 20 years in prison; the count of accepting kickbacks in connection with the business of a federally funded local government (Count 16), carries a potential penalty of 10 years in prison. All three counts are also punishable by a fine of $250,000.
These charges were added to a 28-count indictment returned on July 7, 2020. Zahore was indicted on Aug. 18, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi; and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cari Fais and J Fortier Imbert of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal courts have imposed final judgments on two defendants in connection with the unlawful release of asbestos during a commercial renovation project in Cheyenne in 2015. The project involved the building at 2100 Pioneer Avenue, which Dr. Richard S. Cutler had purchased for use as a dental office. Despite a prior inspection that confirmed the presence of asbestos in the building, Dr. Cutler’s contractor, Jacob Lee Davis, began renovation work at the building without conducting proper abatement or taking various other measures required by federal law and regulations. A subsequent investigation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed several workers had been exposed or potentially exposed to asbestos during the renovation project.
“The results in these cases demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting public health and safety,” said U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen. “The defendants in these cases caused asbestos to be released, which presented a serious health threat to workers,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, Denver Area Office. “The prosecutions in these cases further demonstrate EPA’s commitment to the protection of human health and the environment,” Ehrig said.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming prosecuted Davis and Dr. Cutler in related federal cases. Ultimately, Davis pled guilty to knowingly violating and causing others to violate asbestos work practice standards, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2(b) and 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(1). On June 9, 2020, the Honorable Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Davis to three years of supervised probation, a $9,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. On September 8, 2020, the court amended Davis’ judgment to reflect his agreement to pay $2,225 restitution. Meanwhile, Dr. Cutler pled guilty to negligently causing the release of asbestos, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(4). On August 26, 2020, the Honorable Kelly H. Rankin sentenced Dr. Cutler to three years of supervised probation, a $25,000 fine, $2,225 restitution, and a $25 special assessment. As a condition of probation, each defendant must perform 120 hours of community service.
Asbestos is a hazardous air pollutant, and even short-term exposure can increase a person’s risk of health complications. Federal law and regulations impose various obligations on persons responsible for a demolition or renovation project at a facility containing asbestos, depending on the type and quantity of asbestos involved. In Wyoming, these obligations may include providing written notice to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at least 10 working days before disturbing material that contains asbestos. Any owner or contractor with questions about an asbestos-related project is encouraged to contact DEQ for more information.
28 September 2020
‘Undead Bandit’ Sentenced to 14 Years for Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
A serial bank robber who led police on a high-speed chase across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Dubbed the “Undead Bandit” by the FBI, Carter Briscoe Tucker, 54, pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in December of 2019. Last Friday, he was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Karen G. Scholer.
In plea papers, Mr. Tucker admitted to robbing ten banks across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex from October 2017 to August 2019 and stealing in excess of $52,000. During the commission of most of the bank robberies, Mr. Tucker wore a Halloween-style mask, all black clothing, gloves, and a holster on his left hip, which contained a .45 caliber pistol.
On August 3, 2019, Mr. Tucker entered a Wells Fargo bank in Alvarado, Texas. He approached the bank teller, placed a cooler on the counter, and stated, “Give me all your money. No dye packs. No trackers, and nobody is going to get hurt.” Afraid for her life, the teller complied with Mr. Tucker’s demand and handed over cash.
Local law enforcement were alerted to Mr. Tucker’s license plate number and he was located leaving the bank. Mr. Tucker fled the scene at speeds in excess of 100 mph when authorities attempted to pull him over. Police deployed spike strips in an effort to disable his vehicle, but Mr. Tucker continued to drive with flat tires. Eventually, Mr. Tucker bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Law enforcement arrested him the following day.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation and Alvarado Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS assisted with the arrest. The following agencies aided in the robbery investigations: Denton Police Department, Grapevine Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Balch Springs Police Department, Keller Police Department, Argyle Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Alvarado Police Department and Fort Worth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith prosecuted this case.
Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Gun Following a ShootingRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who possessed a gun as a felon and while being a marijuana user was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison.
Shakur Demir Todd-Ellis, age 22, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison sentence following a March 17, 2020 guilty plea to possession of a firearm as a prohibited person.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing revealed that on March 25, 2019, a shooting occurred outside an apartment complex in Waterloo, Iowa. Two different people fired shots during the incident. Todd-Ellis was not one of the shooters, but was present during the shootings. After the shooting, one of the shooters handed Todd-Ellis his firearm and Todd-Ellis went into the nearby apartment complex with it. Officers surrounded the area and had Todd-Ellis and other occupants of the apartment unit come out. Officers then searched the apartment unit where Todd-Ellis was located. Inside the unit, officers located three firearms, including the one Todd-Ellis took from the shooter. Officers also located multiple cell phone videos of Todd-Ellis holding firearms. Todd-Ellis admitted he has used marijuana since the 6th grade. He was also convicted of felony burglary in 2017.
Todd-Ellis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Todd-Ellis was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. Todd-Ellis was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) through a cooperative effort of the Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2009.
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Water Management Companies Enter Resolutions to Pay $4.3 Million in Monetary Penalties for Clean Air Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two companies have entered resolutions with the government requiring the payment of a combined $4.3 million in monetary penalties, and an enhanced environmental compliance program, for their involvement in Clean Air Act violations.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Rockwater Northeast LLC, a Pennsylvania-based company that provides water management services to companies in the oil and gas industry, was charged in a criminal information on September 24, 2020, with 31 counts of violating the Clean Air Act, for tampering with the emissions systems on 31 heavy-duty diesel trucks owned by the company, and installing “defeat devices” that disabled emissions diagnostic systems on the trucks. Rockwater Northeast LLC also is alleged to have caused the trucks to pass annual vehicle safety inspections by the Department of Transportation (DOT), despite the modified emissions systems.
Separately, Select Energy Services, Inc., a Texas-based company and the successor in interest to Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc., parent company of Rockwater Northeast LLC, entered a three-year non-prosecution agreement with the United States. The agreement resolves Clean Air Act violations for modified emissions systems on 29 additional heavy-duty diesel trucks that were owned by Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc. Select Energy Services, Inc. has cooperated with the investigation since its acquisition of Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc. in 2017.
Rockwater Northeast LLC agreed to pay a monetary resolution of $2 million, and Select Energy Services, Inc. agreed to pay a monetary resolution of $2.3 million. Under the terms of the non-prosecution agreement, Select Energy Services, Inc. agreed to continue cooperating with the government, and to implement an environmental compliance program designed to prevent future Clean Air Act violations. Select Energy Services, Inc. also is required to conduct annual audits during the three-year term of the agreement, to ensure Clean Air Act compliance.
Six individuals have been prosecuted in connection with this investigation; four of whom are current or former employees of Rockwater Northeast LLC, and two of whom are former third-party vendors of Rockwater Northeast LLC. All six individuals pleaded guilty to conspiring to impede the lawful functions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOT, and to violate the Clean Air Act:
- Brian Mellot, of Cumberland, Maryland, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release;
- Gavin Rexer of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing;
- Dennis Paulhamus of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing;
- Joseph Powell of Hickory, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing;
- John Joseph of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing; and
- Timothy Sweitzer of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
“We take seriously our job of protecting the environment in Pennsylvania, and we won’t hesitate to prosecute individuals committing environmental crimes,” said United States Attorney Freed.
“The defendants in this case knowingly and repeatedly installed ‘defeat devices’ to remove emissions controls in dozens of diesel trucks in violation of the Clean Air Act,” said Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Lynn of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Pennsylvania. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that EPA and our law enforcement partners are committed to enforcing our environmental laws.
“Businessmen and companies that intentionally falsify records in order to circumvent federal laws and regulations will be held accountable for their actions,” said Douglas Shoemaker, Regional Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “This multi-million dollar settlement demonstrates our continuing effort to combat transportation-related fraud and abuse in the State of Pennsylvania and throughout the country.”
The matter was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division and the DOT’s Office of the Inspector General, with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Phillip J. Caraballo and Sean Camoni, and by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patricia C. Miller.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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United States Files Complaint Against Nutter Home Loans for Forging Certifications and Using Unqualified Underwriters to Approve Government-Insured Reverse MortgagesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The United States has filed a complaint under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 and the False Claims Act against Nutter Home Loans, f/k/a James B. Nutter & Co. (Nutter), for forging certifications and using unqualified underwriters to approve Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM), the Department of Justice announced today.
“The HECM program benefits America’s seniors and our communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate the bedrock requirements of this important program.”
“Companies participating in federal programs must operate with honor and integrity,” said Acting U.S Attorney Michael R. Sherwin for the District of Columbia. “This action sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fraud against programs designed to financially help our nation’s seniors.”
“Lenders who willfully disregard FHA requirements for HECM loans expose the program to significant financial losses that threaten the future availability of this important program to seniors,” said Rae Oliver Davis, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “This complaint is evidence that we will tirelessly investigate allegations of abuses of the HECM program by FHA lenders.”
The FHA, part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), offers numerous mortgage insurance programs intended to help build and sustain strong communities across America. The HECM program is a reverse mortgage program specifically for senior homeowners age 62 and older. The program allows seniors to access the equity in their residences, and thereby age in place in their family home, through a mortgage agreement with a lender that is insured against loss by the FHA. The United States’ complaint alleges that in order to significantly increase its loan production, Nutter used unqualified underwriters lacking the requirements established by HUD to review and approve HECMs that Nutter ultimately insured with the FHA. Moreover, on other loans, Nutter forged the signatures of qualified underwriters to make it appear that a qualified underwriter had reviewed and approved the loan.
This matter was investigated by the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, HUD, and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. The claims asserted against the defendant are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Two Iranian Men Charged by Federal Grand Jury in Scheme to Send Export-Controlled Computer Servers to IranRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has indicted two Iranian men with participating in a conspiracy to procure and illegally send export-controlled computer servers to Iran.
Ebrahim Azadegan, 42, and Alireza Alvandi, 45, were named in a 10-count indictment returned on September 25 that charges them with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, which restrict the export of goods and services from the United States to foreign nations. Azadegan and Alvandi were also charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, smuggling goods out of the United States, and money laundering.
According to the indictment, from January 2013 through July 2017, Azadegan, Alvandi, Dana Point resident Johnny Tourino, and Spectra Equipment, Inc. purchased, sent, and attempted to send computer servers to Iran without obtaining licenses from the U.S. government that are required under IEEPA. Tourino and Spectra were previously indicted in a separate case in 2018 and are scheduled to go on trial in January.
The computer servers were dual-use commercial goods, meaning they had both a commercial application and a military or strategic one. The computers were controlled by the Commerce Control List for anti-terrorism and national security reasons.
Azadegan, Alvandi, and Tourino allegedly falsely told the manufacturer that the computer servers were intended for Slovenia, when they knew they were intended for Bank Mellat, an Iranian financial institution.
Under IEEPA, it is crime to willfully export or attempt to export items to Iran without a license from the U.S. government. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the computer servers are items that could be detrimental to regional stability and national security.
Azadegan and Alvandi are both believed to be in Iran.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The 10 charges in the indictment carry a statutory maximum sentence of 190 years in prison.
This case is the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
The case against Azadegan and Alvandi is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Takla of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and William Mackie from the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Three Oregonians Accused of Crimes During Civil Disorder Events in PortlandRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that three Portland, Oregon residents have been charged with crimes during civil disorder events.
A federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon has returned a one-count indictment charging John Phillip Wenzel, with Civil Disorder on August 14, 2020.
Halston Eugene Hamilton and Michael Lee Pilgrim have been charged with Violation of National Defense Airspace, a misdemeanor, for flying a drone within federal airspace on September 26, 2020.
Each of these charges is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Supplier of Family-Run Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 140 months in prison for his role in a cocaine-trafficking conspiracy targeting Virginia communities.
According to court documents, Razagin Kaseen Lee, 47, of Elizabeth City, was the cocaine source of supply for the family-run Jones Drug-Trafficking Organization based in Portsmouth. He was the last member of that organization to be sentenced.
Lee participated in this conspiracy for almost four years before he was caught. In September 2019, law enforcement officers searched his Elizabeth City residence and recovered more than 3.2 kilograms of cocaine, two 9mm handguns, more than $213,000 in cash, and two luxury vehicles, all of which are subject to forfeiture.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police; Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., Chief of Elizabeth City Police; and Tommy Wooten II, Pasquotank County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Bird are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation High Tide, a proactive, large-scale narcotics trafficking and firearms investigation that focused on high-impact targets driving crime in some of the hardest hit neighborhoods in Hampton Roads.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-015.
Name, AKA
Age, Hometown
Pleaded Guilty to the Following Charge(s)
Sentence
Malcolm Dominique Jones,
aka “Big Malcolm”
45, Portsmouth
Drug-trafficking conspiracy; distributing heroin, fentanyl, and Acetyl fentanyl
22 years in prison
Corey Luther Jones,
50, Portsmouth
Drug-trafficking conspiracy; possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes (two counts)
20 years in prison
Malcolm Dominic Jones, Jr.,
aka “Little Malcolm”
25, Portsmouth
Drug-trafficking conspiracy
156 months in prison
Raewkon Akil Pierce,
aka “Ray Ray,”
“Ray Butter,” “Butter”24, Portsmouth
Distributing cocaine
140 months in prison
Razagin Kaseen Lee
47, Elizabeth City, NC
Drug-trafficking conspiracy
140 months in prison
Domininc Donta Jones,
aka “Dom”
27, Portsmouth
Drug-trafficking conspiracy; possessing firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking crime
120 months in prison
Stamford Heroin Trafficker Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOAQUIN VERAS, 46, of Stamford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, one kilogram or more of heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March and May 2019, investigators made two controlled purchases of approximately 100 grams of heroin each from Veras. Investigators then arranged to purchase a kilogram of heroin from Veras for $58,000.
On May 16, 2019, Veras was arrested in possession of approximately one kilogram of heroin. A search of a Stamford apartment that Veras used as a stash location revealed another kilogram of heroin, a quantity of cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for sale, and $7,000 in cash.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for December 23, 2020, at which time Veras faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Veras has been detained since his arrest.
In August 2011, Veras was sentenced in the Southern District of New York to 57 months of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Stamford Police Department. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA, Connecticut State Police and Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, Bridgeport and Trumbull Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.
Southern California Man Pleads Guilty to Burglarizing Kern County Post OfficeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ryan James Taylor, 34, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty today to burglary of a post office, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 26, 2018, Taylor forcibly broke into the Mojave Post Office in Kern County and stole United States Mail from the outgoing mail drop bin. After breaking into the post office, Taylor also stole a United States mail truck. The stolen mail included a Starbucks gift card that Taylor later used to purchase a coffee drink and a check that he endorsed over to himself, all without authorization.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Dec. 14. Taylor faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Solano County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Bomb a Suisun City ResidenceRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thomas Wayne Capenhurst, 33, of Dixon, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and malicious use of explosive materials, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Capenhurst offered to pay co-defendant Robert McGraw and another man $10,000 each to place pipe bombs at his brother’s house in Suisun City.
According to the plea agreement, on Feb. 17, 2018, McGraw walked to the front door of a home on Blue Jay Drive in Suisun City, just before 1:00 a.m., and set one of the pipe bombs on the front porch. He lit the fuse and then ran. Afterwards, the pipe bomb detonated and blew the front door off its hinges. Pieces of metal shrapnel were lodged in the home’s exterior walls, and windows were broken nearby. Court documents state that a family of five was active inside the home, having just returned from a trip to the Bay Area.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Suisun City Police Department. Special assistance was provided by the Dixon Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Vacaville Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Benicia Police Department, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.
A status conference has been set for McGraw on Oct. 5. Capenhurst is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberley J. Mueller on Jan. 4, 2021. He faces a penalty of not less than five years, and up to 20 years, in prison, and a $250,000 fine for malicious use of explosive materials, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sixteen men charged federally as part of Cincinnati gun violence initiativeRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged 15 Cincinnati men and one Chicago man with crimes related to Cincinnati gun violence in separate indictments unsealed here today. Six defendants were arrested late last week, and 10 were already in state custody.
U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers, ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil announced the cases as part of a 2020 Summer Gun Violence Initiative.
The aim of the initiative is to identify repeat and dangerous offenders for federal prosecution.
The cases include multiple incidents of shots fired, defendants who allegedly threatened children with firearms at a school and an apartment complex, and a handful of individuals fighting in the street with weapons.
Each defendant is a convicted felon charged with illegally possessing a firearm, which is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Those charged include:
Name
Age
Daniel Ambrose
25
Ricardo Boyd
32
Kenneth Davis
22
Traevon Edwards
27
Willie Goldsmith
27
Darryl Johnson
28
Greg McIntosh
27
Richard Williams-Moore
23
Jeff Napier
34
Rashan Robinson
31
Jerome Rucker
22
Recardo Sims
26
Andreqio Stevens
41
Darren Thomas
32
Demetrius Williams
24
Terrance White, of Chicago,
26
Ambrose, Boyd, Goldsmith, Johnson, McIntosh and Sims were arrested on Friday.
The Cincinnati Police Gang Squad has been investigating Daniel Ambrose for his alleged responsibility in several shooting incidents in the Avondale neighborhood this August. Ambrose was arrested early Friday morning by ATF SWAT.
In February 2020, Ricardo Boyd was arrested on local domestic violence charges after assaulting a woman and a child. It is alleged that Boyd illegally possessed a firearm in his pants pocket at the time of the assault.
It is alleged that in September 2020, Recardo Sims and multiple other individuals were fighting on Bowling Green Court in Cincinnati. 911 calls indicate that at least four firearms were seen.
In the case pending against Andreqio Stevens, at least six people called 911 on May 12, 2020, to report that Stevens was allegedly standing in the parking lot of Eatondale Apartment Complex waving a gun and threatening to “kill everybody.” In some 911 calls, you can hear individuals screaming and warning others to “get in the house.” Callers describe being terrified, running away from Stevens and having children with them.
In January 2020, Daryl Johnson reportedly waved a gun at students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in downtown Cincinnati.
U.S. Attorney DeVillers said federal investigations into Cincinnati gun violence will continue, and he anticipates more charges to come.
Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon, OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy, Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato, Kenneth L. Parker, Timothy D. Oakley, Jennifer Weinhold, Anthony Springer, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Zach Kessler and Jackie Stachowiak are representing the United States in these cases.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Seventeen indicted for drug tracking conspiracy in Mansfield area; fifteen arrested in takedown operationRead the Press Release
Seventeen individuals were charged today in an unsealed, 26-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in Cleveland for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in the Mansfield area. Fifteen were arrested during an early morning takedown operation.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith, Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch and Richland County Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon made the announcement.
“During the past few years, federal and local law enforcement partners have been working tirelessly to identify, arrest and incarcerate drug traffickers in the Mansfield and Richland areas,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Anyone attempting to sell drugs in this community should be prepared for a strong law enforcement presence and response.”
“Another group of drug traffickers are being held accountable for their illicit distribution of illegal narcotics on our neighborhood streets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Over the past three years, collaborative law enforcement efforts have rid the streets of Mansfield of over 150 individuals for bringing poison to our community. Law enforcement will continue to identify, disarm and disrupt drug trafficking organizations in our territory.”
“Today’s operation was another fine example of collaboration between local law enforcement, our federal law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Northern District of Ohio, in targeting drug trafficking suspects and removing illegal drugs from Mansfield as well as the surrounding communities in Richland County,” said Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch.
“The drug trafficking problem in the city of Mansfield and Richland County is being addressed on a continuing basis,” said Richland County Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon. “We are greatly appreciative of our fellow local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their assistance.”
Named in the indictment are:
Antoine Bentley, 36, of Mansfield; Tiffany Boggs, 25, of Mansfield; Jerry Bowen, 28, of Mansfield; Ryan Day, 37, of Butler; Ashley Fields, 25, of Mansfield; Sheldon Holbrook, 27, of Mansfield; Eric Jackson, 43, of Bellville; Michelle Jarvis, 36, of Ashley; Jason Jarvis, 40, of Mansfield; Brandon Mann, 38, of Mansfield; Gregory McClintok, 27, of Mansfield; Michael Murphy, 37, of Mansfield; Mark Spear, 37, of Ashland; Roger Schlupp, 33, of Tiffin; Nicholas Vargas, 39, of Plymouth; Zachary Wallen, 39, of Mansfield and Roz Whitworth, 38, of Mansfield.
According to the indictment, from March 2018 to September 2020, these defendants are accused of conspiring together to distribute and possess methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl throughout the Mansfield area via drug suppliers in California. The indictment states that defendants Eric Jackson, Jason Jarvis, Mark Spear and Roz Whitworth obtained the illegal drugs and distributed them to the other named defendants, who then sold the drugs to various customers in the Northern District of Ohio.
The conspirators are accused of conducting their drug trafficking activity using cell phones, text messages and Facebook messenger. To reduce the risk of being detected by law enforcement, and to conceal the identity of the person using the device, co-conspirators often used cellular telephones that had been obtained in the names of other persons or in fictitious names, the indictment states.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), Metrich Unit, Ashland Police Department, Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office and Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros.
Samantha Simms Sentenced to Time-Served for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Samantha Simms, 33, of Burlington, was sentenced on September 25, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to time-served to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $4,000 fine.
According to court documents, on March 3, 2020, the Vermont State Police received a call from Michael Haines in Cambridge. Haines told a trooper that a person he knew as “Tee,” was attempting to break into his house and that Tee was outside his residence in a truck with Sam Simms. While on the call with the trooper, Haines suddenly said, “I’m shot, I’m shot.” When troopers arrived on scene, they found Haines deceased on the floor of his kitchen. Haines’s death has been ruled a homicide.
Investigation into the homicide has indicated that Simms drove Tee, a.k.a. Taylor Ruffin Herrington, to Haines’s residence in Cambridge and Herrington shot into Haines’s house in a dispute over drugs. Herrington has been charged in federal court with carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 846.
After the shooting, Simms drove Herrington back to Chittenden County. Later that evening, a confidential informant (CI) working with the Vermont Drug Task Force arranged a controlled buy of methamphetamine from Simms. The CI met with Simms and Simms provided the CI with less than one gram of meth. Simms was arrested and later pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
The United States was represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Fuller. Samantha Simms was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq., and Norman Blais, Esq.
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
Pollock Prisoner Sentenced to 29 Years for Killing Fellow InmateRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a United States Penitentiary Pollock inmate was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee Drell to 350 months (29 years, 2 months) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for killing another inmate. This sentence imposed will run consecutive to the federal sentence he is currently serving. Cortez pled guilty to the charge on March 4, 2020.
David Cortez, 36, a citizen of Mexico who is currently serving a federal sentence for drug trafficking, was sentenced on one count of second degree murder. According to information presented to the court, Cortez and another inmate stabbed a cellmate on June 18, 2014 while outside in the yard at the United States Penitentiary in Pollock, Louisiana, which is within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and located in the Western District of Louisiana. The victim inmate sustained a number of stab wounds to his upper and lower back, chest, shoulders, arms, neck and head, and died as a result of the injuries. Cortez killed the victim inmate with malice aforethought.
The FBI and U.S. Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Owner of Bitcoin Exchange Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy for Laundering Millions of Dollars in International Cyber Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Bulgarian national was found guilty today for his role in a transnational and multi-million dollar scheme to defraud American victims through online auction fraud.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. of the Eastern District of Kentucky, Assistant Director Michael D’Ambrosio of U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Investigations and Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer made the announcement.
Rossen Iossifov, 53, formerly of Bulgaria, was convicted by a federal jury in Frankfort, Kentucky of one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering after a two-week trial in front of U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 12, 2021.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Iossifov and his co-conspirators participated in a criminal conspiracy that engaged in a large-scale scheme of online auction fraud that victimized at least 900 Americans. Specifically, Romania-based members of the conspiracy posted false advertisements to popular online auction and sales websites—such as Craigslist and eBay—for high-cost goods (typically vehicles) that did not actually exist. Members of the conspiracy would convince American victims to send money for the advertised goods by crafting persuasive narratives, for example, by impersonating a military member who needed to sell the advertised item before deployment.
According to court documents, members of the conspiracy created fictitious online accounts to post these advertisements and communicate with victims, often using the stolen identities of Americans to do so. They also delivered invoices to the victims bearing trademarks of reputable companies in order to make the transaction appear legitimate. Members of the conspiracy also set up call centers, impersonating customer support, to address questions and alleviate concerns over the advertisements.
According to court documents, once victims were convinced to send payment, the conspiracy participants engaged in a complicated money laundering scheme wherein domestic associates would accept victim funds, convert these funds to cryptocurrency, and transfer proceeds in the form of cryptocurrency to foreign-based money launderers.
According to evidence presented at trial, Iossifov was the owner of RG Coins, a Bulgaria-based Bitcoin exchange. From at least September 2015 to at least December 2018, he exchanged cryptocurrency into local fiat currency on behalf of the Romania-based members of the conspiracy, knowing that the Bitcoin represented the proceeds of illegal activity. According to trial testimony, for example, in just the span of about two and a half years, Iossifov exchanged over $4.9 million worth of Bitcoin for just four other members of the criminal enterprise.
Seventeen total defendants have been convicted in this case. Three others are fugitives.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and supported by the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2). Assistance was provided by the Romanian National Police (Service for Combating Cybercrime) and the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (Agency for Prosecuting Organized Crime). The Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided significant support and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support in securing and coordinating the arrests and extraditions from Romania of more than a dozen defendants.
The United States was represented at trial by Senior Counsel Frank H. Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn M. Anderson and Kenneth R. Taylor of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The case is additionally being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Timothy C. Flowers of CCIPS.
Individuals believing they may be victims of the advanced fee and online auction fraud or brute-force attack schemes described herein are encouraged to visit the following website to obtain more information: https://justice.gov/usao-edky/information-victims-large-cases. Tips to avoid becoming a victim of online auction fraud can be found here on the U.S. Secret Service’s website.
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.
Oregon Resident Accused of Interfering with Police Making Arrests During Civil Disorder in PortlandRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Portland, Oregon resident has been charged with jumping onto the back of a police officer who was arresting someone, as the officer was engaged in lawful crowd dispersal during a civil disorder event.
A federal grand jury in Portland, Oregon has returned a one-count indictment charging Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills, 24, with Civil Disorder.
According to court documents, during the evening hours of September 5, 2020, a crowd of people attempted to march to the Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct located at 737 SE 106th avenue from Ventura Park. When the crowd encountered law enforcement officers, multiple fire bombs and commercial grade fireworks were thrown by the crowd towards law enforcement, resulting in injury to both law enforcement and community members. The assembly was declared a riot and the crowd received multiple warning to disperse from the area. The crowd refused to disperse and people in the crowd began throwing rocks at law enforcement and lit several fires in the streets using dumpsters, garbage cans and wooden pallets.
Oregon State Police Troopers assigned to conduct crowd control duties during the declared riot, encountered a group of persons refusing to disperse from the area as directed. As one Trooper attempted to take a female subject into custody, another member of the above group, later identified as Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills, jumped on the Trooper’s back as the Trooper and the other subject were on the ground. Additional Troopers came to the aid of the arresting officer and Englich-Mills was placed under arrest.
Meganne Elizabeth Englich-Mills made an initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. Englich-Mills was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial to be held.
The Portland Police, Oregon State Police and FBI investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Peter Sax, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Operation LeGend Results in over 500 Arrests, Including 37 Murder SuspectsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, at a joint press conference with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith, announced today that 518 arrests have been made by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend.
“On behalf of the team of federal law enforcement agencies involved in this groundbreaking initiative, I made certain promises when Operation LeGend was launched,” Garrison said. “Those promises have been kept. The FBI, the ATF, the DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service worked collaboratively and effectively with the Kansas City Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies to accomplish the objectives of Operation LeGend. We created a model for others to follow. Our success in Kansas City is now being duplicated in eight more cities across the nation.”
Promises Made, Promises Kept
“We promised that Operation LeGend would be a short-term, high-impact strategy to freeze the escalation of violent crime and respond to the record number of homicides in Kansas City this year,” Garrison said. “That promise was kept. Operation LeGend has had a significant impact on violent crime in Kansas City, and those efforts will continue.”
During the 10 weeks from the announcement of Operation LeGend on July 8 through Sept. 16, homicides in Kansas City were down 22 percent, non-fatal shootings were down 24 percent, and aggravated assaults were down 44 percent, as compared to the 10 weeks before July 8.
“We promised that federal agents would work alongside local law enforcement, in a supportive role to provide additional support and assistance,” Garrison said. “That promise was kept, and in the process, valuable lessons were gained for how to confront violent crime.”
For example, the FBI has doubled the number of agents working violent crime cases and embedded agents with the Kansas City Police Department’s violent crime unit. The ATF has added a new unit that is permanently embedded with Kansas City’s assault squad. Intelligence has been gained and shared among law enforcement agencies to improve future investigations. “These strategies for collaborating with local law enforcement have been successful, and will continue,” Garrison said.
“We promised there would be no storm troopers patrolling the streets of Kansas City, no interference with the civil rights of protesters engaged in public demonstrations,” Garrison said. “Despite accusations of a federal occupation, we have worked cooperatively with both local law enforcement and local community leaders. None of those dire predictions from our critics came to pass.”
“I’ve also said, from the start of Operation LeGend, that law enforcement would not be the sole solution to violent crime,” Garrison added. “Violence is a community issue, and requires a community-wide response.”
“I hope that by keeping the promises we made, by doing what we said we would do, we’ve established a level of trust and credibility that will continue to bear fruit,” Garrison said.
Among those arrested since the launch of Operation LeGend, 126 are federal defendants in the Western District of Missouri (with additional federal cases referred to U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Kansas and Texas). Among the remaining arrests, 37 were homicide cases. In addition to the arrests, agents and officers have seized 176 firearms, large quantities of illegal drugs, and several stolen vehicles during Operation LeGend.
Among the homicide arrests made under Operation LeGend was the defendant charged in state court with murder of 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, in whose memory the operation was named.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not track cases that are referred for prosecution in state court or in other districts. Defendants have been charged in the Western District of Missouri with the following federal crimes: - 70 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; - 45 defendants have been charged with drug trafficking offenses; - 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.Operation Free Market Update: Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Michigan man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for a federal drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Gary Jerome Johnson, also known as “Sosa”, 29, previously pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
“Michigan football legend Bo Schembechler used to refer to what he called “A Michigan Man.” He was definitely not referring to fentanyl dealers from Michigan,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Johnson, already wanted by law enforcement authorities in Michigan, was found in Huntington with 16 grams of fentanyl that he had every intention of selling. Now he will be going to federal prison with the many other fentanyl dealers we have convicted.”
Johnson previously admitted that on May 2, 2019, he was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for a traffic stop in Huntington. After learning that Johnson was wanted out of Michigan for absconding from parole, he was placed under arrest and taken to the West Virginia State Police detachment in Huntington for processing. The Trooper found approximately 16 grams of fentanyl in his cruiser. Johnson admitted he intended to sell the controlled substance.
Operation Free Market was a long-term drug investigation in the Huntington area. The investigation was the result of a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.
The case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), an enforcement surge that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00204.
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Olathe Man Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Olathe man was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for embezzlement, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Michael Panethiere, 42, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In his plea, he admitted he committed the crime while he was employed by Palmer Electric Company in Pleasant Valley, Mo. He used his position to generate and sign company checks that he made payable to himself. He transferred the money to his control using his account at Community America Credit Union in Olathe. The total loss was more than $280,700.
McAllister commended the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton for their work on the case.