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Tuesday 28 July 2020
Feds Charge 14 for Multi-Year Armed Drug Conspiracy Associated with Gang-Related Activity in LouisvilleRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A multi-year, multi-agency effort targeting violent crime in Louisville has resulted in a significant number of arrests and federal charges for the armed distribution of deadly drugs including fentanyl in the city, announced United States Attorney Russell Coleman.
Fourteen individuals have been arrested and charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone and methamphetamine in one of the largest federal takedowns of its type in recent history in Louisville. The charges are an outgrowth of a targeted focus on violent crime in Louisville following historic homicide rates in 2016 and a one third increase in murders and over 100% increase in shootings in the city thus far in 2020.
“The single most impactful way to demonstrate that the lives of Black families, their children, and young men of color actually do matter in Louisville is to reduce murders and shootings in their neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “This unified effort to dismantle a group driver of violence in this city builds on our increased federal prosecution over the last three years of the trigger-pullers that are decimating Black families and flooding the UofL Emergency Department with victims.”
“Last year, FBI Louisville and its law enforcement partners initiated an investigation into a neighborhood-based gang after it was identified as being one of Louisville's most violent,” said FBI Special Agent In-Charge Robert Brown Jr. “This operation was the culmination of a strategic targeting of violent offenders. We recognize people living in areas impacted by violence deserve to see their children grow up in safe neighborhoods. The FBI is dedicated to doing its part, but it will take everyone working together to root out violence, mistrust, and fear.”
“Drug dealers with guns are violent criminals who pose an increased threat to the safety of our communities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. “ATF and our partners disrupted a criminal organization operating in metro Louisville, by identifying violent offenders and their sources of crime guns and taking them off the street. We will continue to work closely with local and federal law enforcement to keep our communities safe and to hold offenders accountable.”
According to a federal grand jury indictment, beginning December 7, 2017, through June 17, 2020, all 14 defendants knowingly conspired to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and methamphetamine. The defendants include: Levontay Townes, Deonte Beason, Dariyon Newsome, Kevone Evans, Khalid Ashanti Raheem II, Frank Trammel Jr., Destiney Lashai Rhodes, Kevin Henry, Jen-Luc Henry, Reginald Harris, James Bivens, Pierre Travis, and Jason Edwin Logsdon.
The charge carries a penalty of no less than 5 years, and no more than 40 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $5 million, and no less than 4 years of supervised release. If a defendant has a prior qualifying conviction, the charge carries no less than 10 years and no more than life in prison, and no less than 8 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Destiney Lashai Rhodes also faces a charge of false statement during the purchase of a firearm in connection with the December 11, 2019, purchase of an F.N., model Five-Seven, 5.7 millimeter pistol and a Del-Ton Inc., model DTI-15, 5.56 millimeter pistol.
The charge carries a penalty of no more than 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and no more than 3 years supervised release.
Frank Trammell Jr., faces an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On or about December 11, 2019, Trammell possessed an F.N., model Five-Seven, 5.7 millimeter pistol and a Del-Ton Inc., model DTI-15, 5.56 millimeter pistol. The defendant had been previously convicted in Jefferson County on August 30, 2018, in case number 17-CR-3414, of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 25, 2014, he was convicted in case number 13-CR-0858-003, of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (more than 4 grams of cocaine), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, enhanced trafficking in marijuana, and enhanced possession of drug paraphernalia, all felonies. On August 15, 2013, Trammell was also convicted in case number 11-CR-0400-004, of complicity to commit burglary in the first degree, a felony.
The charge carries a penalty of no more than 10 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release. With three prior qualifying convictions the charge carries a penalty of no less than 15 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and no more than 3 years supervised release.
The Grand Jury further charged Dariyon Newsome and Kevone Evans with possession on March 10, 2020, of a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15, 5.56 caliber rifle, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing heroin with the intent to distribute.
The charge carries a mandatory 5 year term of imprisonment consecutive to the underlying possession with intent to distribute sentence, and no more than life, a maximum fine of $250,000, and no more than 5 years supervised release.
Levontay Townes was further charged by the Grand Jury with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On May 14, 2020. Townes did knowingly possess a Springfield 9 millimeter pistol and ammunition. The defendant has previously been convicted in Jefferson County in case number 11-CR-0173-003 and in case number 10-CR-3252-001, of robbery in the second degree (two counts), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (cocaine), and tampering with physical evidence, all felonies. On May 10, 2010, Townes was convicted in Jefferson County in case number 08-CR-3681-001, of robbery in the first degree, a felony.
The charge carries a penalty of no more than 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and no more than 3 years supervised release.
Townes also faces charges for possession with intent to distribute heroin, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
He faces no more than 20 years for possession with intent to distribute heroin, no less than 5 years in a consecutive sentence on each charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, no more than 10 years for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and no more than 20 years for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The charges set forth in an Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Fairmont man admits to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Keener, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to a child pornography charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Keener, age 47, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Keener admitted to having child pornography in March 2019 in Marion County.Keener faces not less than ten years and up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced for Embezzlement from a Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman convicted of Embezzlement and Theft From a Tribal Organization was sentenced on July 23, 2020, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Teri Tiger, a/k/a Teri Pretty Weasel, age 36, was sentenced to 1 year of probation, restitution in the amount of $5,711.15, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Restitution was paid in full before sentencing.
Pretty Weasel was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2019. She pled guilty on July 23, 2020.
The conviction stemmed from a series of thefts in February and March of 2015, in Eagle Butte, wherein Pretty Weasel, then a cashier for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Bingo Operations, embezzled and converted to her own use $5,711.15 of the moneys belonging to the Bingo Operations.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with LarcenyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Larceny.
Randy Little Shield, age 29, was indicted on July 16, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 22, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that sometime between March 6, 2020, and March 13, 2020, Little Shield unlawfully took personal property from an individual valued at more than $1,000.
The charge is merely an accusation and Little Shield is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Little Shield was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Denver Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Six Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Jenifer Adriana Lopez-Ramirez, age 22, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to serve 228 months (19 years) in federal prison for six bank robberies and use of a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence. Following her prison term, Lopez-Ramirez will serve 3 years on supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. government as the banks were federally insured. Lopez-Ramirez appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, and was remanded at its conclusion. The Denver office of the FBI joined in today’s announcement.
According to the stipulated facts contained in her plea agreement, on May 3, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez walked into the First Citizens Bank, located at 9848 Zenith Meridian Drive in Englewood, Colorado. She handed the teller a note demanding money, which she received.
Approximately an hour and a half later, also on May 3, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez robbed the UMB Bank, located at 8190 South University Boulevard in Centennial, Colorado. She walked into the bank and approached the teller. Lopez-Ramirez brandished a firearm resulting in the teller giving Lopez-Ramirez cash from the drawer.
On May 9, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez robbed First Bank, located at 8901 East Hampden Avenue in Denver, Colorado. Again, she approached the teller and handed him a note demanding money, which the teller provided.
Two days later, on May 11, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez robbed a Bellco Credit Union, located at 3890 North Quebec Street in Denver, Colorado. Lopez-Ramirez approached the teller and handed her a note. During the robbery she brandished a firearm located at her side. Lopez-Ramirez grew impatient and went behind the counter, taking cash out of the drawer. In doing so, she also took a GPS tracker.
As Lopez-Ramirez fled from the scene of the Bellco robbery in her vehicle, she was tracked by law enforcement using that GPS tracker. As she attempted to evade law enforcement she reached speeds of up to 100 mph. She then crashed into another vehicle, seriously injuring that driver. Lopez-Ramirez was subsequently arrested. The firearm used in this robbery was recovered from a juvenile who was in the car with Lopez-Ramirez and who had provided the weapon to her for the purpose of the robbery.
Lopez-Ramirez was released from Denver County Jail on May 20, 2019, on conditions that included wearing a GPS ankle monitor. On May 25, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez removed the ankle monitor and became a fugitive.
On June 4, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez robbed the Bank of the West, located at 1389 South Havana Street in Aurora, Colorado. Lopez-Ramirez received money from the teller and then fled with a GPS tracker, which she later discarded.
Six days later, on June 10, 2019, Lopez-Ramirez entered and robbed the TCF Bank located at 18520 Green Valley Boulevard in Denver, Colorado. She walked up to the teller and racked the slide of her gun. She demanded and received cash from the teller. She then fled the scene.
Lopez-Ramirez was arrested approximately ten days later on shoplifting charges, putting an end to her serial bank robberies.
“Lopez-Ramirez’s greed drove her to become a serial bank robber, and she continued her crime spree even after being arrested and released,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “Her career as an armed bank robber is over, and she will now have almost two decades in federal prison to think about her actions.”
“Today’s sentencing of Jennifer Adriana Lopez-Ramirez reflects the continuing impact federal, state and local partnerships have on combatting those who commit serial bank robberies in our community,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “We will continue to aggressively investigate individuals that target our financial institutions and ensure they are held accountable. The FBI would like to thank the Denver, Aurora, and Littleton Police Departments, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, as well as the United States Attorney’s Office, for their dedication and hard work on this investigation.”
The sentence was pronounced by U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore today, July 28, 2020. Ms. Lopez-Ramirez was charged by indictment on June 5, 2019, and pleaded guilty on February 4, 2020. This case was investigated by the Denver office of the FBI and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, with substantial assistance from the Denver, Aurora, and Littleton Police Departments, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt J. Bohn.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-0285.
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.
Dayton-area drug dealer charged with murderRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Joshua Cordell Lee Williams, 19, of Xenia, Ohio, with murder in relation to firearms and drugs charges stemming from a January 2020 homicide in Wilmington in an indictment returned here today.
Specifically, Williams is charged with firearms-related murder and possessing with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, on Jan. 21, 2020, Williams met with four individuals in Wilmington to sell them marijuana. The individuals had intended to meet Williams and take the marijuana without paying.
A struggle ensued between the individuals and Williams, who was armed with a firearm during the transaction. Williams fired the weapon, shooting the victim, Layne Hall, in the chest and fatally injuring him.
“Far too often, the combination of drug transactions and firearms results in death. As alleged, this case involves a fatal shooting over a few pounds of marijuana,” U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers said. “This case – the first ever federal murder case in Cincinnati – highlights this office’s emphasis on combatting violent crime.”
“This office, in partnership with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters' office, has initiated a multipronged attack on violent crime. We are concentrating on long-term historical investigations into violent organized crime and at the same time devoting resources to current, ongoing crimes perpetrated by the most violent in our community. Expect more to come.”
If convicted, Williams faces up to life in prison.
“The violence associated with the illegal drug trade is a scourge on our communities,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman. “When law enforcement agencies partner together in a task force environment, as in this case, we can better attack these issues and remove dangerous criminals from the streets.”
Williams was ordered to remain in custody pending trial.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Wilmington Police Chief Ron Cravens, Xenia Police Chief Donald R. Person, the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force and Clinton County Prosecutor Richard W. Moyer announced the charges. OCDETF Chief Christy L. Muncy and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Oakley are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Dallas Man Arrested for Extortion and Cyberstalking of Butte County VictimRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cameron Andrew Garcia, 26, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested today on a two-count federal indictment charging him with extortion and cyberstalking, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Garcia sent Instagram messages to a victim residing in Butte County, threatening to post sexually explicit images and videos of the victim to public websites unless the victim produced new sexually explicit images and videos for him and sent him money.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information related to this investigation or who believes they may be a victim can contact the FBI at [email protected].
If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Couple Pleads Guilty to Distributing Narcotics in Hampton RoadsRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man and woman pleaded guilty today to a multi-year conspiracy to distribute narcotics in Hampton Roads.
According to court documents, Dontae Rashawn Parks, 36, and Shakera Semone Greene, 36, spent the last three years distributing cocaine, crack, and heroin cut with fentanyl to the Newport News community. In addition to narcotics, over $23,000 in U.S. currency, multiple firearms, ammunition, and a ballistic vest were seized during lawful searches of the couples’ residences.
Parks and Greene pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine, base, heroin, and fentanyl in Hampton Roads. Parks additionally pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Greene faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 22, 2021. Due to his more significant role in the conspiracy and the additional firearms charge, Parks faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Jan. 21, 2021. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Undertow. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the pleas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-20.
Corporation insider pleads guilty to wire fraudRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 41-year-old San Antonio man has admitted to wire fraud that resulted in a loss of $1,878,615.84, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Robert Morales Munguia Jr. knowingly submitted false work orders to his company in order to receive gifts and payments from outside vendors. He also admitted he knew the work would never be completed.
From Feb. 27, 2015, until April 12, 2018, Munguia worked as an environmental specialist at a Texas-based corporation. During that time, he conspired with outside contractors to bill for 68 false work orders that were never completed. In return, Munguia received various gifts and cash.
As a result of the scheme, the company paid almost $2 million.
Munguia was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing, set for Nov. 6, before U.S. District Judge David Morales. At that time, Munguia faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate is prosecuting the case.
Collins Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Reshun Goudy, 24, of Collins, Mississippi, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
On February 12, 2019, Reshun Goudy, as part of a conspiracy with others, distributed a quarter pound of methamphetamine. After seizure, the methamphetamine was sent to the DEA crime lab, which analyzed the methamphetamine as 96% pure.
On July 24, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Goudy for the conspiracy.
Goudy will be sentenced on November 18, 2020 by Judge Starrett, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shundral Cole.
Cicero Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Labor Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Cicero woman who helped numerous undocumented immigrants from Guatemala illegally enter the United States pleaded guilty today to a federal labor trafficking charge.
CONCEPCION MALINEK, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of labor trafficking. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set sentencing for Oct. 20, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Labor, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher V. Parente.
Malinek admitted in a plea declaration that she assisted ten undocumented Guatemalan immigrants with illegally entering the U.S. from 2009 to 2019. Once in the country, Malinek arranged for the immigrants to reside in her home in Cicero while they worked in nearby jobs. Malinek then threatened to contact U.S. immigration authorities if the immigrants wouldn’t pay her a substantial portion of their earnings.
If you believe you are a victim of labor trafficking, you are encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888, or logging on to https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.
Calaveras County Man Sentenced for Embezzling Housing Assistance Program FundsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Raymond Cawthorne, 57, of Valley Springs, was sentenced today to five years’ probation for embezzlement of public funds, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Cawthorne previously paid $14,000 in restitution and forfeited another $14,000 as part of his sentence.
“Raymond Cawthorne was sentenced today for embezzling funds from a federal rescue program that is still in use today to help homeowners stay in their homes,” said Special Inspector General Christy Goldsmith Romero of SIGTARP. “He is one of 384 defendants convicted of crimes that SIGTARP investigated. We commend the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California for prosecuting rescue fraud crime investigated by SIGTARP.”
According to court documents, between May 2015 and October 2016, Cawthorne embezzled over $14,000 belonging to the Keep Your Home California (KYHC) Program. The federally funded program was launched in response to the 2008 financial crisis and provided homeowners, who became unemployed, with temporary mortgage assistance so that they could avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. Participating homeowners became ineligible after they found new employment. The program was part of a broader effort by the federal government to stabilize the nation’s housing market where states with the most distressed markets received federal monies to develop locally tailored foreclosure prevention solutions.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), a federal law enforcement agency that targets crime at financial institutions and federally funded housing programs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Broward Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Fort Lauderdale, FL. – Today, a federal district judge sentenced prior felon Jeremy Juwan Rosello, 22, of Lauderdale Lakes, to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing stolen firearms that later ended up in the hands of alleged international firearms traffickers.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Robert Cekada, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and Gregory Tony, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.
According to court documents, on September 22, 2018, officials in Lacolle, Canada seized 19 firearms and a silencer hidden inside a vehicle that was crossing from the United States to Canada. Two of the firearms seized in Canada, a Glock handgun and Sig Sauer handgun, along with the silencer, had been reported stolen in Broward County. ATF, in conjunction with BSO, determined that Rosello, a convicted felon, obtained the two handguns and silencer unlawfully in Broward County and sold them, through another convicted felon, to others alleged to be engaged in firearms trafficking. Investigation also determined that Rosello possessed several additional firearms unlawfully and was engaged in drug dealing at the time of the offense.
On July 23, 2019, Rosello pled guilty in federal court to one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the efforts by ATF and BSO for their joint investigative and prosecutorial efforts. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam C. McMichael.
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.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 19-cr-60122-RKA
British Citizen Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for His Role in Fraudulent Investment Scheme Related to Co-Working BusinessRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SAVRAJ GATA-AURA (“GATA-AURA”) was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for participating in a scheme to defraud more than 800 investors of more than $40 million by making false and fraudulent representations about, among other things, the management, profitability, and operations of a co-working space company called Bar Works Inc. and related entities (“Bar Works”). GATA-AURA previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who also imposed the sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “For more than a year-and-a-half, Savraj Gata-Aura lured hundreds of victims to invest approximately $40 million into a massive Ponzi scheme. He concealed from investors that Bar Works was run by Renwick Haddow, who has pled guilty for his role in this and another fraud scheme, instead listing the fictional CEO ‘Jonathan Black’ in offering documents. By the time the scheme collapsed, Gata-Aura had personally made close to $3 million from unsuspecting investors.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment filed against SAVRAJ GATA-AURA and statements made in related court filings and proceedings, including the trial of co-defendant James Moore:
From approximately September 2015 to June 2017, GATA-AURA partnered with Renwick Haddow, who is also a British citizen, in soliciting investments into Bar Works through material misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the identity of Bar Works’ management and the financial condition of that company. Previously, Haddow had been disqualified as a director of any U.K. company for eight years, and sued by the Financial Conduct Authority, a British regulator, for operating investment schemes through misrepresentations that lost investors substantially all of their money. These sanctions and lawsuit were publicized extensively online.
In order to conceal his role at Bar Works because of the negative publicity on the internet related to past investment schemes and government sanctions in the United Kingdom, Haddow adopted the alias “Jonathan Black.” Notwithstanding Haddow’s control over Bar Works, GATA-AURA and others knowingly distributed the Bar Works offering materials listing Black as the chief executive officer of Bar Works and claiming that Black had an extensive background in finance and past success with start-up companies. As GATA-AURA well knew, “Jonathan Black,” was an entirely fictitious person, created to mask Haddow’s control of Bar Works.
Among other things, GATA-AURA helped devise and distribute pitch materials that contained the misrepresentation, coordinated a substantial sales force to recruit investors knowing that the materials contained the falsehood, advised Haddow as to how to continue to conceal the truth concerning the identity of “Jonathan Black,” and affirmatively represented to sub-agents for investors that he was communicating with CEO “Jonathan Black.” GATA-AURA and his agent network were directly responsible for raising approximately $40 million from investors in Bar Works. GATA-AURA received in excess of $2.9 million in commissions out of victim funds for his participation in the scheme.
In sentencing GATA-AURA, Judge Rakoff remarked that the defendant “lied, cheated, and as a result many victims were left destitute or deprived of money that was important to them. . . . His primary motivation was greed.”
In addition to the prison term, GATA-AURA, 33, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. GATA-AURA was also ordered to pay forfeiture of $2,988,225. The Court will also enter a restitution order at a later date.
Renwick Haddow, 51, pled guilty on May 23, 2019, to one count each of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy relating to the Bar Works scheme, and one count each of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy relating to a separate investment scheme involving Bitcoins. Haddow’s sentencing is scheduled for October 23, 2020.
James Moore, 58, was convicted of one count of wire fraud and one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his participation in the scheme on June 7, 2019, following a week-long jury trial before Judge Richard M. Berman. Moore’s sentencing date is pending.
Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has separately brought civil actions against GATA-AURA, Haddow, and Moore, for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vladislav Vainberg and Martin S. Bell are in charge of the prosecution.
Bakersfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Liodam Gonzalez, 28, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a machine gun and possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 30, 2019, Liodam Gonzalez fired a fully automatic handgun in a residential neighborhood in Bakersfield. At the time of his arrest, Gonzalez was a convicted felon and was member of the West Side Baker criminal street gang. Police officers found and seized the machine gun in Gonzalez’s residence.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case.
Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Oct. 16. Gonzalez faces a maximum 10-year prison term and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
Antitrust Division Names Taylor Owings Acting Chief of StaffRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division today announced that Taylor Owings will serve as Acting Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel of the Antitrust Division. Owings, who has served as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General since February 2018, will replace outgoing Chief of Staff William Rinner. Rinner will continue to serve as Senior Counsel until his planned departure from the Department in the coming months.
“Taylor has excelled in her role as Counsel, advising on appellate and intellectual property issues, as well as overseeing matters in the Technology & Financial Services Section and civil matters in the San Francisco Office. In addition to her primary responsibilities, Taylor has made herself invaluable whenever a critical or novel issue comes up,” said Delrahim. “I fully expect to continue to rely on her wise counsel and for her to bring her great dedication and initiative to the role of Chief of Staff.”
For the past year, Owings has served on the leadership team organizing the Antitrust Division’s role in the Department’s on-going review of market-leading online platforms. For her work since entering the Department, she received the Assistant Attorney General’s Award of Distinction in 2018 and the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in 2019.
Prior to the Antitrust Division, Owings practiced antitrust law at law firms in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. She clerked for the Hon. Douglas H. Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the Hon. Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She graduated Order of the Coif from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she served on the board of the Vanderbilt Law Review. She also has a Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in Economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard College.
19+ Year Prison Sentence for Florida Fugitive Caught Transporting Meth in GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A fugitive wanted for trafficking methamphetamine in Florida was sentenced to 235 months in prison today after he was caught by Georgia State Patrol (GSP) troopers transporting nearly three kilos of methamphetamine on I-75, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell sentenced Jeremy Taylor, 29, of Cottondale, Florida, to 235 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
Taylor was pulled over by a GSP trooper on February 19, 2019, while driving on I-75 in Dooly County, Vienna, Georgia. Taylor presented a false identification at first, then later gave troopers his true name. Troopers discovered Taylor had warrants out for his arrest for trafficking methamphetamine from Bay County, Panama City, Florida, and a failure to appear on aggravated assault from Holmes County, Bonifay, Florida. During a legal search of the vehicle, troopers confiscated three shoeboxes containing three bags of methamphetamine, for a total of 2,435.85 grams after taking into account the purity.
“Methamphetamine suppliers who attempt to use Georgia as a supply line for trafficking drugs will be punished. We will fight the destructive distribution of narcotics and seek the maximum penalties for criminal drug dealers caught in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank GSP and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office for their work investigating the case, as well as GBI and DEA for their continued daily cooperation helping us bring drug traffickers to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, GSP, GBI and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ouzts prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Monday 27 July 2020
Woman Sentenced for Attempting to Smuggle Black Tar Heroin in Plastic ToysRead the Press Release
In San Antonio, a federal judge sentenced 28-year-old Angelica Reyes-Vasquez to 70 months in federal prison for her role in smuggling black tar heroin into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Office Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden.
On October 26, 2019, Reyes-Vasquez, a citizen of Mexico, arrived at the San Antonio International Airport on a flight originating from Mexico City, Mexico. While going through customs inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers detained Reyes-Vasquez for providing conflicting information to the officers. Reyes-Vasquez was referred to secondary inspection for further questioning. A subsequent inspection of Reyes-Vasquez’ luggage revealed three plastic toys containing approximately 5.4 kilograms of black tar heroin.
On January 21, 2020, Reyes-Vasquez pled guilty to one count of importation of heroin. On July 21, 2020, U.S. District Judge Jason K. Pulliam sentenced Reyes-Vasquez to 70 months of federal imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Reyes-Vasquez has remained in federal custody since her arrest on October 26, 2019.
“While some may mistakenly view smuggling controlled substances as a path to a quick profit, the sentencing of Reyes-Vasquez demonstrates that serious consequences await those who engage in criminal activity,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Folden. “HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and bring drug smugglers to justice.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Office Director. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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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.
West Virginia Doctor Pleaded Guilty to Lying to the DEARead the Press Release
A West Virginia doctor has pleaded guilty to omitting material information as required as part of his controlled substance reporting requirements to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart of the Southern District of West Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA’s Louisville Division made the announcement.
Michael Shramowiat, M.D., 67, of Vienna, West Virginia, was charged in an information unsealed July 24, 2020, and pleaded guilty to one count of omitting material information from his controlled substance reporting, as required by his DEA registration, before U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger of the Southern District of West Virginia. Sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 2, 2020, before Judge Berger. As part of the plea, Shramowiat will have his medical license and DEA registration permanently revoked and forfeit $250,000 worth of cash and assets.
As part of his guilty plea, Shramowiat admitted that he failed to report to the DEA that he disposed of hydrocodone, a schedule II controlled substance, from his practice Mountaineer Pain Relief and Rehabilitation, in violation of his reporting duty pursuant to DEA regulations.
The DEA investigated the case. Assistant Chief Kilby Macfadden and Trial Attorney Andrew B. Barras of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the ARPO Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 70 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 50 million pills. Thus far there have been 29 guilty pleas as a result of ARPO Strike Force’s efforts. The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for approximately $19 billion. In addition, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Individuals who believe that they may be a victim in this case should visit the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness website for more information.
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.
Ventura County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Bribing L.A. County Officials and Cheating on His TaxesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County man was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to public officials in Los Angeles County in order to secure government contracts for his electrical contracting company.
Enrique Contreras, 40, of Newbury Park, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $821,366 – $600,000 to Los Angeles County and $221,366 to the United States Treasury – in restitution.
Contreras pleaded guilty in May 2019 to one count of bribery and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. He paid his restitution amount prior to today’s sentencing hearing.
To secure lucrative contracts from the Los Angeles County government for his Lancaster-based low-voltage electrical wiring company, Tel/Pro Voice and Data, Inc., Contreras bribed two County officials with payments totaling $600,000. Then, in an effort to conceal the bribes and lower Tel-Pro’s taxable income, Contreras falsely claimed that some of the bribe payments, along with other personal expenses, were legitimate business expenses incurred by Tel-Pro.
As a result of those fraudulent deductions, Contreras failed to report a total of $636,454 in income from 2013 to 2017 and he owes $221,366 in unpaid taxes.
The two County officials who accepted Contreras’s bribes were Mohammad R. Tirmazi, 51, of Alta Loma, who was an employee at Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department, and Thomas M. Shepos, 71, of Palmdale, a public official formerly employed by the County in the Real Estate Division.
From 2013 to 2016, Contreras made cash payments to Shepos, totaling approximately $200,000 to $300,000, in exchange for Shepos providing non-public County information to Contreras and helping Contreras secure County contracts.
Last month, Tirmazi was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for accepting nearly $300,000 in bribes from Contreras and then failing to report the income he received from those bribes and a side business on his federal tax returns.
Shepos pleaded guilty in November 2018 to accepting bribes and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7.
One of the individuals from whom Shepos admitting receiving bribes was real estate developer Arman Gabaee, 59, of Beverly Hills. Gabaee was arrested and subsequently indicted on federal bribery charges in 2018, which includes allegations that he offered to buy Shepos a $1.1 million home in Northern California’s wine country. His trial is currently scheduled for November 3 before United States District Judge George H. Wu.
This matter was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth C. Pinkel and Lindsey Greer Dotson of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.
United States Files Complaint to Stop Deceptive and Improper Sales of Consumer Background ReportsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced that the United States filed a civil complaint to stop a California company from deceiving customers in connection with its sale of subscriptions to a consumer background report service, and to seek redress for injury to consumers as well as civil penalties.
The Department of Justice filed the complaint on July 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against MyLife.com, Inc. and the company’s founder and chief executive officer, Jeffrey Tinsley. The complaint alleges that the defendants sell subscriptions to their website’s consumer background report service by implying, often falsely, that individuals have criminal or sexual offense records that can be viewed only by buying a subscription. According to the complaint, the defendants also misrepresent or fail to disclose material terms of those subscriptions, including that payment for multiple months is charged upfront, that subscriptions will automatically renew, and that the subscription or automatic renewal could be cancelled only by calling a customer service center that prevented or discouraged cancellations. The complaint alleges that this conduct violates the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
According to the complaint, the defendants are also violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act because they promote use of their background reports for employment decisions, tenant screening, or other prohibited purposes—and know consumers use the reports for such purposes—but they lack reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of their background reports or to determine who is using them and why.
“Americans should be able to shop online and by phone with confidence that they are not being deceived about the services they are buying or the terms of sale,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ethan P. Davis of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with the FTC to protect consumers from deceptive sales practices and from so-called credit reports that may contain inaccurate information and be used for improper purposes.”
The complaint seeks a permanent injunction to prohibit the defendants from future violations, as well as monetary civil penalties and relief to redress injury caused to consumers.
A complaint is merely a set of allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence.
The case is being handled by attorneys in the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, including Senior Litigation Counsel Lisa K. Hsiao and Trial Attorneys Patrick R. Runkle and Zachary A. Dietert, in conjunction with staff at the FTC’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.
United States Attorney’s Office Commemorates 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, South Carolina --- Sunday, July 26, 2020, marked the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), a critical civil rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina is proud to play a critical role in the Justice Department’s enforcement efforts under the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
“This office plays a vital role in ensuring equal access to all,” said U.S. Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. “We are fully committed to ADA enforcement.”
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy – the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina has evaluated and investigated hundreds of ADA-related matters since 1990. Its enforcement matters involve core issues including accessible voting, access to places of public accommodation, and addressing discriminatory policies, practices, and procedures.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, the Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. To contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina regarding ADA issues, email the office at [email protected]. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
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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.
United States Attorney William M. McSwain Commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Yesterday marked the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Today, William M. McSwain, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, commemorated President George H.W. Bush’s historic July 26, 1990 signing of the ADA into law and announced that his Office will be hosting a virtual roundtable event with community leaders to discuss the ADA and his Office’s enforcement work under the statute.
“This landmark civil rights legislation sought to eliminate discrimination against millions of Americans with disabilities by outlawing the societal barriers that for so long excluded them from fully participating in some of the most fundamental aspects of American life, like seeking and holding a job, accessing transportation and medical care, patronizing a business, and voting,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Although the ADA has been a transformative statute, our work is not done. Thirty years after its passage, illegal barriers still exist that prohibit people with disabilities from fully participating in our communities and deny them the ADA’s promise of equal opportunity and access. In recent years, my Office has removed many barriers to access in places of public accommodation in our District, such as hotels, restaurants, and medical facilities, and in state government services and buildings such as courthouses, schools, and polling places. We will continue to make ADA compliance a top priority.”
U.S. Attorney McSwain noted that his Office often hears from the targets of ADA investigations that they did not consider the ADA in opening their business, designing or renovating their building, or developing their program, or mistakenly believed the ADA did not apply to them. “There is no ‘grandfather’ clause to the ADA,” McSwain emphasized. “On the thirtieth anniversary of the ADA, I want the public to know that when my Office receives a complaint under the ADA, we will investigate and, where appropriate, take enforcement action.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has a proud history of prioritizing civil rights enforcement and the ADA in particular; it has continued that tradition in recent efforts. For example, in February 2020, the Office began a review of all polling places in the District to ensure compliance with the ADA in advance of the November 2020 election. In April 2019, in response to an investigation initiated by the Office, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Inc., executed a settlement agreement in which it agreed to address barriers to access for individuals who use wheelchairs in Jefferson’s radiology outpatient clinic. After a lengthy investigation, in March 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Education signed a settlement agreement to address alleged discrimination against students with disabilities in its alternate education programs. In a March 2018 settlement agreement, Allergy & Asthma Specialists, P.C. agreed to fix barriers to access for deaf individuals at its Jenkintown facility. And in October 2018, after the Office initiated a review of several Philadelphia restaurants’ ADA compliance, twelve agreed to resolve a multitude of ADA access issues in their businesses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, the Civil Rights Coordinator for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will be organizing the upcoming roundtable to educate local stakeholders about this important work with regard to the ADA and the Department of Justice’s jurisdiction under the statute, and to hear from disability rights advocates about recurring issues in the community.
U.S. Attorney McSwain urges people who believe they are being discriminated against in violation of the ADA to file complaints with the Department of Justice. Complaints may be filed online at https://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm, by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD), or via email to the following address: [email protected].
United States Attorney William D. Hyslop Commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Ada)Read the Press Release
Spokane – Sunday, July 26, 2020, marks the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), a critical civil rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is proud to play an essential role in the United States Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
United States Attorney William D. Hyslop said, “The ADA is landmark legislation that has improved the lives of millions of Americans. The ADA has broken down barriers and attacked discrimination at its root. It has led to significant accessibility improvements in buildings, programs, voting, and travel that were otherwise inaccessible. It has transformed discrimination into equality for over 60 million, or nearly 1 in 4, individuals in the United States with a disability. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington has vigorously investigated and, when necessary, prosecuted violations of the ADA when brought to our attention. On this 30th Anniversary of the ADA, let us reflect on the many ways the ADA has transformed our community for the better, and how it can continue to do so in the future.”
Some examples of ADA enforcement work in the Eastern District of Washington (EDWA) conducted by the United States Attorney’s office in conjunction with the Civil Rights Division include:
• Project civic access: review of public buildings for accessibility and compliance with the ADA in Spokane and Yakima. See e.g., : https://www.ada.gov/yakima_co_pca/yakima_sa.html;
• Multiple investigations of hospitals and health clinics to ensure they are providing effective communication for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, and also physical access to medical care for people with mobility disabilities. See e.g., https://www.ada.gov/astria_sa.html;
• Compliance with disability access and ADA accommodation standards in rental properties. See e.g., U.S. v. Riexinger Enterprises, Inc., et al (EDWA 2018); U.S. v. Christensen (EDWA 2020);
• Investigations of numerous other referred complaints concerning the denial of services to individuals accompanied by service animals; non-compliant parking; inaccessible entrances and doors; or the lack of assistive devices. These investigations have resulted in improvements to access and accommodation at EDWA hotels, swimming facilities, county fairs, movie theaters, restaurants and more.
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy – the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, the Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
The ADA has advanced the promise of the American dream, ensuring that people with disabilities can write their own stories. And as a society, we are better and stronger because of the contributions that people with disabilities make.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
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.
USAO News: U.S. Attorneys, Texas AG Warn Consumers of Scams Involving Counterfeit, Mislabeled, Non-Existent PPERead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox – in partnership with U.S. Attorneys Ryan K. Patrick (Southern District of Texas), John F. Bash (Western District of Texas), and Stephen J. Cox (Eastern District of Texas) as well as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton – today informed the public about several fraudulent schemes involving masks, personal protection equipment (PPE), and other COVID-19 related gear. They urged everyone to exercise increased due diligence and caution when dealing with new suppliers or vendors, especially when using a third-party broker.
As demand for PPE increases, scammers may advertise equipment they do not actually have in attempts to make a quick profit. These PPE products may be counterfeit and mislabeled, and some may not exist at all. Some fraudsters reach out directly to consumers and government entities through email or social media to push their products.
Red flags that a seller may be engaging in a scam include:
- Unusual payment terms
- Last-minute price changes
- Last-minute excuses for delay in shipment
- Unexplained source of a large quantity of material
- Evidence of re-packaging or mislabeling
There are ongoing federal and state prohibitions on charging exorbitant prices for PPE during this time of national emergency.
Texans who believe they have encountered scams or price gouging can call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or file a complaint online. For additional information on disaster scams, please visit their disaster scams website.
More information on unapproved or counterfeit PPE can be found at cdc.gov/niosh. If you have information about PPE-related fraud, or about hoarding or price gouging of critical supplies, you can report it without leaving your home to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling the National Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Notes 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island is proud to play a critical role in enforcing the ADA to help eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities. U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman today reinforces the Office’s commitment to vigorously enforce the ADA in the years to come.
U.S. Attorney Weisman said, “Despite the tremendous progress that has been made in the 30 years since this landmark civil rights law was signed, we still see unlawful barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in many aspects of society. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work to remove obstacles to equality and dismantle the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has prioritized enforcing the ADA to vindicate the rights of people with disabilities in Rhode Island. Some recent efforts include:
- Ensuring Physical Access to Health Care Facilities: The U.S. Attorney’s Office has successfully resolved multiple matters to ensure physical access to health care facilities to those with mobility disabilities, including Brown Medicine, Coastal Medicine, University Medicine, Landmark, RI Skin Doc, and Ocean State Primary Care.
- Providing Equal Access for Children with Disabilities in Summer Camp Settings: On March 19, 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reached an agreement with Save The Bay to ensure equal access for children with disabilities, as well as damages to the child.
- Ensuring Equal Access to Local Government Services: The U.S. Attorney’s Office has resolved complaints with the Town of Richmond, City of Newport, Town of North Smithfield, and Town of West Warwick to ensure that people with disabilities can access local governmental services and facilities.
- Ensuring Physical Access to Places of Public Accommodation: The U.S. Attorney’s Office has successfully resolved multiple matters to ensure physical access to public places to accommodate those with mobility disabilities. Recently, the Office has entered into agreements with Stop & Shop and Family Dollar to ensure physical access for customers with mobility disabilities.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit https://www.ada.gov/. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/civil-rights-enforcement or 401-709-5000.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.– The 30thAnniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), a critical civil rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, was celebrated on Sunday, July 26, 2020, by U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is proud to play a critical role in the Justice Department’s enforcement efforts under the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
“The purpose of the ADA is to provide equal access and equal opportunities for people with disabilities, including by removing physical and social barriers, allowing for full participation in all society has to offer,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our Office remains committed to investigating and remedying ADA violations to ensure that no American is deprived of opportunities to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.”
The following ADA cases were recently investigated and settled by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky:
- A settlement with Tenth Frame Cinemas, LLC, in Mt. Sterling, Ky.; Danville Cinemas, LLC, in Danville, Ky.; Somerset Cinemas, LLC, in Somerset, Ky.; and Morehead Cinemas, LLC, in Morehead, Ky., in which the cinemas agreed to provide sufficient closed captioning technology, allowing individuals with hearing and/or sight impairments to enjoy newly released movies. Read the press release on the settlement here.
- The Wildwood Inn Tropical Dome and Theme Suites in Florence, Kentucky (“Wildwood Inn”) entered into an agreement with the United States to adopt a Service Animal Policy, train its staff members on ADA requirements for service animals, and post signage permitting service animals. . Read the press release on the settlement here.
- Buddy’s Pizza, LLC, and Crumbaugh, LLC, in Frankfort, Ky., entered into an agreement with the United States to install an ADA accessible entrance ramp at the main entrance and construct a new, accessible bathroom. In addition, signage at the restaurant will be modified to comply with the ADA’s requirements. Read the press release on the settlement here.
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy – the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, the Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Sunday, July 26, 2020, marked the 30thAnniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), a critical civil rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is proud to play a critical role in the Justice Department’s enforcement efforts under the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is proud to play a critical role in the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “Our office remains committed to investigating and remedying violations wherever found, and protecting the rights of all of our citizens.”
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy – the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, the Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ or email the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected]. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
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.
U.S. Attorneys in Texas and Attorney General Paxton Partner to Warn Consumers of Fraudsters Selling Counterfeit, Mislabeled, and Non-Existent PPERead the Press Release
Today, U.S. Attorney John F. Bash joined fellow U.S. Attorneys in Texas—Ryan K. Patrick in the Southern District, Erin Nealy Cox in the Northern District and Stephen J. Cox in the Eastern District—and Attorney General Ken Paxton to inform the public about several fraudulent schemes involving masks, personal protection equipment (PPE), and other COVID-19 related equipment. They urge everyone to exercise increased due diligence and caution when dealing with new suppliers or vendors, especially when using a third-party broker.
As demand for PPE increases, scammers may advertise equipment they do not actually have in attempts to make a quick profit. These PPE products may be counterfeit and mislabeled, and some may not exist at all. Some fraudsters reach out directly to consumers and government entities through email or social media to push their products. Red flags that a seller may be engaging in a scam include:
- Unusual payment terms
- Last-minute price changes
- Last-minute excuses for delay in shipment
- Unexplained source of a large quantity of material
- Evidence of re-packaging or mislabeling
There are ongoing federal and state prohibitions on charging exorbitant prices for PPE during this time of national emergency. Texans who believe they have encountered scams or price gouging should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or file a complaint online. For additional information on disaster scams, please visit our disaster scams website.
More information on unapproved or counterfeit PPE can be found at cdc.gov/niosh. You can also find information on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website and the Environmental Protection Agency website. If you have information about PPE-related fraud, or about hoarding or price gouging of critical supplies, you can report it without leaving your home to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling the National Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
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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.
U.S. Attorney's Office Commemorates 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
New Haven – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities, was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to play a critical role in the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under this landmark legislation.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act has been critical in protecting the civil rights of all persons with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Durham. “The ADA seeks to eliminate disability discrimination in services, programs and activities that most Americans take for granted, but for too long were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. Whether in schools, civic life, or the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy, the ADA requires that we take necessary steps to ensure access for all. As our office celebrates the 30th anniversary of this important law, we also rededicate ourselves to continue our work in this important area.”
U.S. Attorney Durham noted that U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has taken a comprehensive and pragmatic approach to enforce the ADA.
For years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ADA enforcement action and outreach efforts have worked to ensure that places of public accommodation are accessible. The office has settled with numerous Connecticut financial institutions, hotels, restaurants, recreational facilities, transportation companies and other businesses to ensure accessibility for all. The office also has conducted extensive training and outreach to ensure that places of public accommodation are complying with the mandates of the ADA. For example, in February 2020, the office settled a case with Progressive Insurance Company to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities at all Progressive Casualty Insurance Company locations across the country.
In 2014, the office launched an Education Working Group to address numerous complaints that educational institutions were discriminating against children with disabilities. The office subsequently entered into various settlement agreements and letters of resolutions with educational institutions, to protect the rights of people with disabilities, especially children. Since 2014, the office has settled cases with local and national day care centers, afterschool programs, elementary and secondary schools, and higher education institutions, to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities. Just last month, the office settled a case with Bradford Child Care Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company that owns Tender Care Learning Centers in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, to resolve allegations that Tender Care was not operating in compliance with the ADA because it was discriminating against children with epilepsy.
As part of the Justice Department’s Barrier Free Healthcare Initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted extensive outreach on the ADA, and has settled numerous cases with hospitals and other healthcare providers. These settlements have ensured that individuals with disabilities receive equal access to services, are provided with effective communication, and are not discriminated against because of their use of service animals. In 2019, the office settled with Concentra, a national health care company, to ensure effective communication for deaf and hard of hearing individuals at Concentra’s patient-facing facilities throughout the U.S.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work with the State of Connecticut and local governments across the state to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. As part of the Justice Department’s ADA Voting Initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and Disability Rights Section worked with state and local governments to ensure polling locations in Connecticut had accessible equipment and removed architectural barriers. The office, through the Justice Department’s ADA Intercity Rail Initiative, worked with Connecticut’s Department of Transportation to resolve allegations that the New London Rail Station has not been accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities, as required by the ADA.
Finally, the office has conducted enforcement actions against housing providers to protect individuals with disabilities and, in recent years, settled two cases against the Bridgeport Housing Authority (BHA). The first settlement addressed allegations that the BHA violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by refusing to provide reasonable accommodations to a woman with disabilities who lived with her children in one of the housing authority’s properties. The second settlement, which involved both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, resolved allegations that the BHA discriminated against persons with disabilities, in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the ADA, and the FHA, and secured $1.5 million dollars to compensate hundreds of victims.
Over the past 30 years, the U.S. has undertaken the hard work of changing attitudes about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and dismantling the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed our society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
To file a complaint with the Justice Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a business that serves the public, or a public entity, in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.
U.S. Attorney Stephen Cox Hails 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and remains the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas is proud to play a critical role in enforcing the ADA in order to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. Today, on the 30th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush signing the ADA into law, U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox reiterates the Eastern District of Texas’ continued commitment to investigate and litigate significant ADA cases.
“Thirty years ago, President George H.W. Bush invoked our founding fathers when celebrating the passage of the ADA. He stated the ADA ‘brings us closer to that day when no Americans will ever again be deprived of their basic guarantee of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’” said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox. “Unfortunately, the ADA’s promise has not been fully realized. Individuals with disabilities continue to face unlawful barriers, which prevent them from fully participating in all society has to offer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas will continue to work to remove these barriers and ensure all individuals are afforded equal opportunity, freedom from discrimination, and the ability to fully participate in society.”
The Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the Eastern District of Texas is Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee M. Cooper. Currently, her work involves negotiating settlements to require commercial facilities and private entities to remove architectural barriers that prohibit persons with mobility disabilities from gaining access; assisting state and local governments in revising policies and procedures to provide effective communication and appropriate auxiliary aids and services for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind; and ensuring that employers are providing reasonable accommodations for employees and job applicants with disabilities.
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but for too long were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. Whether in employment; areas of civic life; or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy—the ADA requires that we take those steps necessary to ensure access for all.
Over the past 30 years, our country has undertaken the hard work of changing attitudes about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and dismantling the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. Today, we commemorate the many ways that the ADA has transformed our society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination. The ADA has advanced the promise of the American dream, ensuring that people with disabilities can write their own stories. And as a society, we are better and stronger because of the contributions that people with disabilities make.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov
To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/
For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
U.S. Attorney McAllister Recognizes 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – This week marks the 30thAnniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), a critical civil rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas is proud to play a critical role in the Justice Department’s enforcement efforts under the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent civil rights law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. \
“Our office is authorized to investigate complaints, conduct compliance reviews to ensure accessibility, initiate and intervene in litigation, and provide technical assistance to businesses, governments, and the general public,” McAllister said. “All of these actions are designed to promote voluntary compliance with the ADA.”
“The ADA has been watershed legislation that has improved the lives of millions of Americans by including them more fully in our society, recognizing and celebrating their talents and abilities, rather than allowing employers and institutions to act based on stereotypes regarding their challenges. One champion of the ADA, Senator Bob Dole, recently celebrated his 97th birthday, and I would like to say both ‘Thank You’ and ‘Happy Birthday!’ to the Senator from my home county of Russell.”
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy – the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. This week, the Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
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.
U.S. Attorney David J. Freed Recognizes the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Harrisburg - U.S. Attorney David J. Freed recognizes the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. At the signing ceremony, President Bush stated the ADA “signals the end to the unjustified segregation and exclusion of persons with disabilities from the mainstream of American life.”
Thirty years later, the ADA is a transformative law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in places of public accommodation, including all hotels, restaurants, retail stores, theaters, health care facilities, convention centers, parks, and places of recreation (Title III), in all activities of state and local governments (Title II), and in employment (Title I). The ADA empowers the Department of Justice to investigate, litigate, and resolve complaints of discrimination as well as authorizing the Government to conduct compliance reviews of covered entities.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, because of measures taken to enforce the ADA, the United States Attorney’s Office has worked with the Commonwealth and local governments, as well as area business to ensure compliance with the antidiscrimination provisions of the ADA. In particular, this Office has taken a leading role in the United States to ensure individuals with disabilities can exercise their right to vote in person at polling places in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
"We remain committed to eliminating segregation and exclusion of persons with disabilities from the mainstream of American life," said US Attorney Freed. "This Office will continue to investigate and enforce the ADA to ensure that those with disabilities are free from barriers to vote, to attend school, to visit a place of public accommodation, and to participate in the democratic process at state and local government buildings.”
For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ADA.gov. Anyone who has experienced discrimination in violation of the ADA, should contact the Civil Rights coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing [email protected].
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Tennessee Man Who Shot Charleston Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Sevierville, Tennessee man pled guilty to a federal firearm charge today, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Bryan Lee Ogle, II, 33, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep the rest of us safe from dangerous individuals like Ogle,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We are fortunate that when Ogle shot the Charleston Police officer the bullet was deflected by the officer’s body camera. Assaults on police officers in my district will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case is a great example of state and federal prosecutors working together to hold violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Ogle admitted that he was driving a vehicle near Montgomery on February 8, 2018, when officers with the Montgomery Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop on it. In response, the defendant pulled over momentarily but then began to flee at a high rate of speed. The pursuit reached speeds of approximately 110 mph in a residential and business area with a 35 mph speed limit. Eventually, the defendant lost control of the vehicle and struck a hillside on the side of the roadway. As officers attempted to open the driver’s side door and remove the defendant, he put the vehicle in reverse and attempted to back away. The vehicle then struck a utility pole and was immobilized. An officer then stood in front of the vehicle and gave the defendant commands to stop the vehicle. In response, the defendant attempted to rev the engine and move forward to strike the officer. After realizing that the vehicle would not move, the defendant exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. He was caught by officers and a physical struggle ensued, with the defendant striking and biting the involved officers. The defendant also attempted to grab and remove one of the officer’s firearms during the struggle.
During the struggle, the defendant indicated that he possessed a firearm and attempted to reach for it. Once the defendant was secured in handcuffs, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol was located in a holster on the defendant’s belt. Ogle admitted that he possessed the firearm knowing that he had previously been convicted of several felony offenses in Tennessee.
After Ogle’s arrest in Montgomery, he was taken to Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) General Division for medical treatment. While in custody at CAMC, Ogle attempted to escape from police, with the pursuit ending in a stairwell. When police officers attempted to place Ogle in custody, he knocked a Montgomery Police officer off of the stairs causing injuries to the officer. While the officer was down, Ogle gained control of his firearm and shot a Charleston Police officer. The bullet was deflected by the officer’s body worn camera. Ogle pled guilty in Kanawha County Circuit Court to attempted murder, escape, assault in the commission of a felony and battery and was sentenced to the maximum sentence of six to 30 years in state prison.
Ogle faces up to life in prison on the federal charge when sentenced on October 22, 2020.
The Montgomery Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-00057.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Syracuse Man Sentenced to Nearly Eight Years in RICO Gang CaseRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Rashawn Wynn, age 43, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 92 months in prison for violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) as part of the 110 Gang, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), and Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department.
In imposing sentence, Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also ordered Wynn to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. As part of his guilty plea, Wynn admitted that he was a member of the 110 Gang operating in the City of Syracuse. Wynn further admitted that he repeatedly distributed crack cocaine in 110 Gang territory during 2017 and 2018, and that he was supplied crack cocaine by other 110 Gang members. In imposing sentence, the Court found that the 110 Gang members regularly possessed and used firearms to facilitate their drug trafficking, and that the defendant was aware of such use.
Wynn was one of 14 defendants charged in the case for violating RICO based on their membership in the 110 Gang. The other 13 men have all pled guilty or been convicted at trial. Co-defendant Damani Prince was sentenced in October 2019 to serve six and one-half years in prison, to be followed by three years supervised release. The remaining defendants in the case are awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Syracuse Police Department, and the Gang Violence Task Force, which consists of members of the Syracuse Police, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Kristen Grabowski.
This case was brought as part of 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.
Syracuse Man Sentenced on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Troy Jackson, age 43, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 46 months in prison for his conviction for participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division, Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett, Sheriff Eugene Conway, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and William J. Fitzpatrick, Onondaga County District Attorney. The defendant was also ordered to serve a period of six years supervised release following his term of incarceration, and to forfeit to the government $7,000 in proceeds from his drug trafficking activity.
Pursuant to his plea agreement in this case, Jackson admitted that during the summer of 2018, he repeatedly acquired multiple ounces of cocaine from his co-defendant Daitwaun Fair, which he (Jackson) then redistributed to others. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Commandeur.
Sonoma County CEO Sentenced to Three and A Half Years in Prison on Charges Stemming from Multi-Million-Dollar Student Loan Repayment Services ScamRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Brandon Frere was sentenced to 42 months in prison following his guilty plea to wire fraud and money laundering charges, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The charges stem from a multi-million-dollar scheme to use deceptive sales tactics to convince people to enroll in his companies’ student loan repayment services programs. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Susan Illston, United States District Judge.
Frere, 43, of Sonoma County, owned and operated three companies—American Financial Benefits Center (AFBC), the Financial Education Benefits Center (FEBC), and Ameritech Financial (Ameritech)—all based in Rohnert Park, Calif. According to his plea agreement, between January of 2014 and November of 2018, Frere used the companies to market student loan document preparation services for borrowers who wished to apply for programs through the Department of Education. Frere targeted potential customers who were seeking federal loan forgiveness, loan consolidation, and reduced-payment programs. When Frere’s companies sold consumers “document preparation” services, they also sold them a purportedly optional membership in a “financial education benefits program.” The so-called benefits program provided the opportunity to customers to sign up for services such as LifeLock identity theft protection and roadside assistance.
Frere admitted he instructed his employees to follow misleading sales scripts and to employ deceptive sales tactics so that people would enroll for services without fully understanding what they were paying for. For example, when initially enrolling consumers in the document preparation service and signing them up for the financial education benefits program, Frere hid the fees for the financial education benefits program and described the benefits program in a way that made it seem like the cost of the program was included in the document preparation services. Further, Frere admitted he instructed enrollment associates not to present the benefits program as an optional or additional service to the document preparation service; this way, consumers would purchase the benefits packages without knowing they were doing so.
In sum, Frere instructed his employees (1) to make false statements concerning the companies’ ability to deliver fixed payments for the life of student loans and loan forgiveness under alternative repayment plans; (2) to engage in enrollment practices that improperly inflated a consumers’ family size to reduce their prospective payments under federal alternative repayment plans (and therefore make it appear to the consumer that their monthly payments would be lower than what they would have been if the family size were not inflated); and (3) to hide the monthly fees that consumers would pay for a purportedly optional financial education benefits program while leading victims to believe that the benefits program was already included in the document preparation service. Frere admitted for the purposes of sentencing that the amount of losses attributable to his scheme was no less than $25,000,000 and up to $65,000,000.
Moreover, Frere admitted that in order to conceal the proceeds of his wire fraud scheme, in 2015, he began transferring to overseas bank accounts that he controlled large sums of the funds that he had received through the scheme. He continued this process in August 2017, after he became involved in litigation with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and became concerned the FTC or a court might be able to seize the proceeds of his fraud. The FTC filed a civil complaint in February 2018 against Frere and his companies in federal court in Oakland. (Federal Trade Commission v. American Financial Benefits, et al., Case No. CV 18-00806-SBA).
Frere was arrested December 5, 2018, at SFO as he attempted to board a flight to Cancun, Mexico.
Frere was charged by information on October 1, 2019 with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(B). Frere pleaded guilty to both counts.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Illston also ordered Frere to serve an additional term of 36 months of supervised release. Judge Illston also scheduled a hearing for October 16, 2020, to determine restitution issues.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Joiner is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop and Kimberly Richardson. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General.
Schenectady Man Arrested on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Scotsross, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was arrested last week and charged with attempting to possess with the intent to distribute N-dimethyltryptamine (“DMT”), a hallucinogen similar to lysergic acid diethylamide (“LSD”), announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Scotsross appeared last week before United States Magistrate Daniel J. Stewart and was released pending further proceedings. The criminal complaint alleges that on July 22, 2020, Scotsross accepted a package addressed to him at his Schenectady residence that contained what he expected to be over ten kilograms of tree-bark laced with DMT. Thereafter, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Scotsross’s Schenectady residence, seizing quantities of DMT and LSD, and substances and equipment used to manufacture and process DMT and LSD for distribution. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge filed against Scotsross carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of three years to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with the assistance of the Schenectady Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Department, and the New York State Police Crime Scene Emergency Response Team, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda.
Rural King Robber Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Carlos Eduardo Hampton (23, Cocoa) to eight years and one month in federal prison for robbery and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hampton had pleaded guilty on January 30, 2020.
According to court documents, on July 26 and August 16, 2019, Hampton and three others used a sledgehammer to break into two Rural King locations in Ocala and Zephyrhills. The men then used the sledgehammer to smash open display cases and steal a total of 28 firearms. Employees inside the stores fled in fear during each of the robberies. Some of the stolen firearms have been recovered at crime scenes in South Florida and Indiana.
Hampton and the other men were apprehended as they fled from the second Rural King location in Pasco County. When arrested, Hampton was wearing sneakers embedded with shards of glass from the broken display cabinets. His clothing also matched images from the store’s surveillance cameras, showing him using the sledgehammer to steal 16 firearms. Hampton was previously convicted of a firearms offense in Indiana and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Ocala Police Department, and the Zephyrhills Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Large Drug Trafficking Organization: Including Shooting at Rival Gang Members and Police OfficersRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Obed Torres Garcia, 23, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one kilogram or more of heroin, and using, carrying and discharging firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Marangola, Cassie M. Kocher, and Katelyn M. Hartford, who are handling the case, stated that between 2015 and January 29, 2018, the defendant was a member of a drug trafficking organization led by Carlos Javier Figueroa, which was responsible for the transportation and sale of cocaine and heroin, and for acts of violence in furtherance of the organization’s drug trade, including an exchange of gunshots with members of the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce (G.R.A.N.E.T.). Various locations throughout Rochester were utilized to receive, store, and sell the supply of illegal narcotics, which were shipped from Puerto Rico.
As an active member of the Figueroa drug trafficking organization, Garcia, among other things, packaged cocaine and heroin for distribution, and personally distributed significant quantities of cocaine and heroin. Also, in furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendant and other members of the organization used and maintained a residence at 820 East Main Street in Rochester, for the purpose of packaging, storing, and distributing quantities of cocaine and heroin. Between December 2017 and January 29, 2018, Garcia lived in the apartment, which was paid for by Carlos Javier Figueroa in exchange for the defendant’s work for the organization.
On January 29, 2018, at 6 Burbank Street in Rochester, Garcia discharged a handgun in the direction of G.R.A.N.E.T. officers who were attempting to execute a search warrant at the location. Officers, who the defendant admits were justified in their use of force, exchanged fire and Garcia suffered a traumatic brain injury from a gunshot wound. As a result of the traumatic brain injury, the defendant has no memory of the events of January 29, 2018. However, after a thorough review of all relevant evidence with attorneys, Garcia did not dispute that had the case gone to trial the government would have proved these facts beyond a reasonable doubt through civilian and police witness testimony and forensic evidence. As part of his plea, defendant further admitted that in addition to the January 29, 2018, police-involved shootings, he, in December 2016, while distributing heroin in the vicinity of the Valero gas station located near the intersection of Clinton Avenue and Hoeltzer Street in Rochester, shot at rival drug dealers who were also present using a 9mm handgun.
“The defendant’s willingness to support the lawless objectives of this drug trafficking organization knew no bounds,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “The bad decisions made by defendant—from distributing drugs, to shooting at rival gang members, to shooting at the police—came at a heavy price. In the end, all that defendant has to show for his unwavering commitment to this criminal enterprise are a traumatic brain injury and the prospects of a lengthy prison sentence.”
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Violent Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Eduardo Payan.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 years in Prison for Child EnticementRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 23, 2020, Brian D. Wickersham (age: 60) of Merrill, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach.
Wickersham, a long haul truck driver, took his victim with him on a four-day trip from Wisconsin to Virginia and back. During the trip, Wickersham provided the victim with money and gifts; in the evenings, Wickersham sexually assaulted the child and pressured him to engage in increasingly aggressive sexual acts. The trip ended at the “Country Express” truck stop in Bellevue, Wisconsin, on the outskirts of the City of Green Bay. While Wickersham and his victim awaited a replacement driver, Wickersham attempted to violate the child a final time. The victim fled the truck and sought assistance inside the truck stop’s restaurant. Brown County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived to protect the child and located Wickersham hiding at a nearby hotel where he was taken into custody.
In 1994, Wickersham was convicted of “First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child” in Milwaukee County Circuit Court for the repeated sexual assault of a four-year-old child. At that time, he was required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life. In 2008, Wickersham was convicted of “Sex Registry Violations” in Taylor County Circuit Court for repeated unsupervised contact with minor children and lying to investigators. In 2016, Wickershamwas again convicted in Taylor County for “Knowingly Failing to Notify School Officials of Sex Offender Status.”
In handing down the sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the horrendous nature of the crime and previous pattern of preying on children. He further stated his belief that a 20-year prison sentence was lengthy enough to protect the community given Wickersham’s advanced age. Upon the completion of his federal prison sentence, the defendant will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the Brown County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Green Bay office of the F.B.I. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Humble and Megan J. Paulson.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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O.C. Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge for Preparing and Filing False Tax Returns that Caused Nearly $5 Million in LossesRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges that he used his tax preparation company to knowingly file false tax returns and cheat the United States out of nearly $5 million.
Michael Hung Lee, 70, of Garden Grove, entered his plea before United States District Judge David O. Carter. Lee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to aid and assist in the preparation of false tax returns.
According to his plea agreement, from 2014 to March 2018, Lee was a tax preparer who owned and operated 1040 U.S. Tax Center, Inc., a Garden Grove-based company. During that time, Lee knowingly participated in a conspiracy where he and others fraudulently filed federal individual income tax returns on behalf of their clients in order to obtain false refunds from the IRS.
On these tax returns that he prepared and filed, Lee willfully and fraudulently claimed Schedule D capital losses that he knew his clients never approved and for which they were unqualified, the plea agreement states. The false declarations of capital losses reduced his clients’ listed taxable income. As a result, the federal government incurred a tax loss of at least $4,917,035, according to the plea agreement.
Judge Carter scheduled a November 16 sentencing hearing, at which time Lee will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
On June 15, Mylinh Thi Lee, 50, of Garden Grove, who is Michael Lee’s daughter and also was a tax preparer at 1040 U.S. Tax Center, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. She will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison at her sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for October 26.
This matter was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - David Campbell, 36, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 16, 2019, three Nashua police officers were returning to the station from a patrol when they observed Campbell walking in a gas station parking lot. They paused to watch him. He seemed to be impaired as he was at times staring off into the distance and walking aimlessly in the parking area. During a consensual encounter, he was arrested after being found in possession of methamphetamine.
Accordingly, Campbell was arrested and transported back to the station. A subsequent search revealed distributable quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Campbell waived his Miranda rights and admitted to selling methamphetamine. He also acknowledged that he was working on a deal in the parking lot before the officers confronted him.
Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2020.
“In this case, alert Nashua police officers were able to prevent the distribution of dangerous drugs and allow us to bring a drug trafficker to justice in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This is exactly the type of law enforcement partnership that Operation SOS was designed to promote. We will continue to coordinate with Nashua Police Department and all of the law enforcement agencies in Hillsborough County to disrupt the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Mattoon Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Trafficking Child PornographyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Mattoon, Ill., man, Tyler L. Foote, 29, described by the government as an avid collector of extremely violent child pornography, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison. Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm further ordered that Foote remain on supervised release for a period of 10 years following completion of his prison sentence.
In court filings, the government represented that Foote is a collector of extremely violent child abuse images. These image and video files include acts of sexual violence against minor children, including infants, bestiality, bondage and urination.
On Dec. 20, 2019, Foote entered open pleas of guilty to five counts of trafficking child pornography. Foote, of the 1300 block of Champaign Ave, in Mattoon, was arrested on Aug. 16, 2019, on Coles County state charges, and was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2019.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon O’Brien of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The charges were investigated by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Mattoon Police Department.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Maryland man sentenced to prison for cyberstalking Ohio victimsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Maryland man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison for cyberstalking victims in the Southern District of Ohio.
Vincent Brocoli, 33, of Essex, Md., was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019 and pleaded guilty in November 2019.
According to court documents, from August 2016 until April 2019, Brocoli (also known as Matthew Dehart, BunchMedia and BunchMarketing), cyberstalked a female victim and her parents by creating social media accounts in their names, sending them threats, and using the Internet to cause substantial emotional distress to their family.
Brocoli created social media accounts like @xokirstylies1, @xokirstyslut1 and @killyourselfkirsty, among others.
The defendant used the Internet to post photos of the victim with a cross on her forehead and send messages like “I hope you get cancer and die UGLY SLLUT [sic],” and “Go away and die. Just put a gun in your mouth and get it over with.”
Court documents also detail that, over the course of nearly three years, Brocoli used the Internet and multiple social media platforms to post threatening and sexually vulgar comments, calling the victim a “worthless lying slut” and a “whore.” Brocoli also used the Internet to post comments asserting that the victim and her husband had AIDS, like claiming that the victim “took [her husband]’s gay cum down her throat and now she has aids. Diseased whorebag.”
Brocoli posed as the victim’s father and mother online by creating multiple Instagram and Twitter handles using their names. He also used the Internet to post comments to the victim’s mother, calling her a “pedophile,” commenting that she needed “to be arrested for child abuse,” and telling her to “Shut up and die.” Brocoli further used the Internet to post to the victim’s father that he would “be the first to go to hell and answer to the real God when the time comes.”
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed Friday evening, July 24, by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher N. St. Pierre represented the United States.
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Maryland Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Ruthless Cyberstalking Campaign Against Former GirlfriendRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Ahmad Kazzelbach, age 26, of Pasadena, Maryland, to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on the federal charges of cyberstalking and intentional damage to a protected computer.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.
According to Kazzelbach’s plea agreement, beginning in June 2015, Kazzelbach and the victim both worked at Company A, an insurance broker located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and in December 2015 began a romantic relationship, moving into a shared apartment. In late May 2016, the victim ended her relationship with Kazzelbach. Although Kazzelbach moved out of their shared apartment, he subsequently began a year-long scheme to harass the victim by compromising her personal online accounts, forging policy cancellation letters on behalf of her clients, and filing false reports with law enforcement that ultimately resulted in the victim being wrongfully arrested and incarcerated on multiple occasions.
Specifically, on July 25, 2016, Kazzelbach created an e-mail account that mimicked the victim’s real e-mail address and within 10 minutes, changed the name on the victim’s Apple account to the fake e-mail address he had created. Two days later, Kazzelbach initiated a password reset, locking the victim out of the account which controlled certain settings on her iPhone, as well as access to the photos, music, and videos associated with her account. Kazzelbach also accessed the victim’s Instagram account and changed a portion of her user name to “whore,” and accessed the victim’s online student loan account and changed the account e-mail address to the fake address he had created.
Kazzelbach also admitted that in late August 2016, he used a fax machine at Company A to send two letters purporting to cancel supplemental health insurance policies belonging to two of the victim’s clients, whose information Kazzelbach had accessed through his position at Company A. On August 28, 2016, Kazzelbach accessed the victim’s own online health insurance account, to which she had previously given Kazzelbach limited access for initiation purposes, and made unauthorized changes to the victim’s race, pregnancy status, and income. The change in income resulted in the victim being disqualified from the plan in which she had enrolled, potentially modifying or impairing her medical care.
On September 1 and October 1, 2016, Kazzelbach attempted to access the victim’s bank account and tax-filing account, respectively, using a proxy server, which can be used to hide an electronic device’s true location or identity. However, investigators were able to identify the true Internet Protocol (IP) address from which the attempts were made and determined that the account was subscribed to by Kazzelbach’s father at a residence where Kazzelbach was then residing.
On September 30, 2016, Kazzelbach sent a text message to the victim in which he disguised his real identity by using a “spoofing” program, which used computer software to make it appear as though the message originated from a Florida-based cell phone number that did not belong to Kazzelbach. In the message, Kazzelbach wrote, “Prepare yourself for what’s coming…the last 3 months were just the beginning. I have bigger plans for you…I love how easily manipulated you can be.”
As detailed in his plea agreement, Kazzelbach filed a petition for a protective order against the victim on December 10, 2016, in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County, falsely alleging that the victim had physically abused him and made violent threats in text messages and on social media. A temporary protective order was granted on December 13 and a hearing on a final protective order was scheduled for December 29, 2016. Between December 13 and December 29, Kazzelbach contacted Anne Arundel County on four occasions to falsely report that the victim was continuing to harass and threaten him in violation of the temporary protective order. Based on Kazzelbach’s sworn statement, and on text messages, and phone calls on Kazzelbach’s phone that he had spoofed to make it appear that the victim had contacted him, when in fact, she had not, the court issued four arrest warrants for the victim. On December 29, 2016, the final protective order against the victim was granted, effective for a period of one year. Then, between December 29, 2016 and June 2017, Kazzelbach made 14 additional false reports to law enforcement, causing seven more criminal actions to be filed against the victim in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, and resulting in her false imprisonment for four nights.
In March 2017, the Anne Arundel County prosecutor handling Kazzelbach’s case asked for Kazzelbach’s consent to download the contents of his iPhone, but Kazzelbach refused. The prosecutor told Kazzelbach that if he did not permit a full search of his phone, the Anne Arundel charges against the victim would be dismissed. In response, Kazzelbach began making false reports to Baltimore County instead. In May 2017, the Anne Arundel charges against the victim were dismissed. Baltimore County Police officers subsequently began their own investigation and determined that no attempted or completed text messages were sent from any of the victim’s accounts on the dates and times alleged by Kazzelbach.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Baltimore Cyber Task Force (CTF), the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Myers for his assistance.
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Luis Luna, Edwin Martinez, and Samuel Fuller Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on July 24, 2020, Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Luis Luna, 28, of Hartford, Connecticut; Edwin Martinez, aka “Pino”, 26, of Hartford, Connecticut; and Samuel Fuller, 34, of Barton, Vermont following their guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute illegal narcotics, including fentanyl and cocaine base. Chief Judge Crawford sentenced Luna to 72 months in prison, Martinez to 72 months in prison, and Fuller to 24 months in prison. James Bassett, 41, of North Troy, Vermont, a fourth co-conspirator will be sentenced on July 31, 2020.
All four defendants pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. In addition, Fuller and Luna pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base. Luna and Martinez pleaded guilty to a conspiracy stretching from December 2018 to June 2019, while Fuller and Bassett pleaded guilty to a conspiracy ending in May 2019.
United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont Drug Task Force for their collaboration on this investigation. She stated: “Our law enforcement partners, federal and state, are united in their efforts to stop the flow of deadly opiates and other illegal narcotics from out of state. As this case demonstrates, we are working hard to root out long time drug traffickers in Vermont and from source cities like Hartford, Connecticut. This case demonstrates that our law enforcement partners work seamlessly across state lines and that there will be serious consequences for dealers who victimize and profit by feeding the addictions of Vermonters.”
According to publicly available information, Edwin Martinez was Luis Luna’s fentanyl source in Hartford, Connecticut during the charged time period, and Luis Luna, in turn, supplied Samuel Fuller with the fentanyl that originated with Mr. Martinez. After making regular trips to Hartford, Connecticut and purchasing fentanyl from Luis Luna, Samuel Fuller would return to Vermont and split the fentanyl with James Bassett, who had provided the money for the purchase from Luis Luna. In addition, Mr. Luna was Mr. Fuller’s cocaine base source and would sell cocaine base to Mr. Fuller, who would then sell it in Vermont. In addition to the charged time period, Mr. Luna and Mr. Martinez have a history of supplying opiates to Vermonters since approximately 2012, including Mr. Fuller, who has been making trips to Hartford, Connecticut to buy opiates since approximately 2016. The Court noted Mr. Fuller’s addiction driven behavior during the conspiracy and his recovery since his arrest when explaining Mr. Fuller’s sentence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Vermont State Police’s Drug Task Force conducted the investigation in this matter. The United States was represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Van de Graaf and Nikolas Kerest. Mr. Luna was represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. Mr. Martinez was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq. Mr. Fuller was represented by Brooks McArthur, 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
Leader and Members of Mob Family Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder, Racketeering, and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MATTHEW MADONNA, the Acting Boss of the Luchese Family, CHRISTOPHER LONDONIO, a soldier in the Luchese Family, and TERRENCE CALDWELL, an associate of the Luchese Family, were sentenced today to life in prison following their conviction for the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and other felonies. A jury convicted MADONNA, LONDONIO, CALDWELL, and Steven L. Crea, the Underboss of the Luchese Family, on November 15, 2019, following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who also imposed today’s sentences. CREA will be sentenced at a later date.[1]
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Matty Madonna, Christopher Londonio, and Terrence Caldwell – respectively, the Acting Boss, a soldier, and an associate of the Luchese Family – were responsible for the execution-style murder of Michael Meldish seven years ago. Madonna ordered it, Londonio set it up, and Caldwell pulled the trigger. Now all three have been sentenced to serve the rest of their lives in federal prison. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, we continue our commitment to render La Cosa Nostra a thing of the past.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, and other court documents:
Until his arrest in this case, MADONNA was the Acting Boss of the Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra, one of the “Five Families” that constitute the Mafia in the New York City area. In 2013, MADONNA became displeased with Michael Meldish, a longtime organized crime associate who had refused to collect debts owed to MADONNA. MADONNA ordered Meldish killed. Acting under the orders of MADONNA and Crea, LONDONIO helped set up Meldish – a personal friend of LONDONIO’s – to be killed, and acted as the getaway driver for the murder. CALDWELL carried out MADONNA’s and Crea’s orders to kill Meldish. CALDWELL met Meldish and drove with him to a Bronx neighborhood to meet LONDONIO. As Meldish got out of his car, CALDWELL shot him once in the head, killing him instantly. CALDWELL then drove off with LONDONIO. For their participation in the Meldish murder, MADONNA, LONDONIO, and CALDWELL were each convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and use of a firearm in furtherance of murder in aid of racketeering.
In addition, MADONNA, 84, of the Bronx, New York, LONDONIO, 45, of Hartsdale, New York, and CALDWELL, 61, of New York, New York, were also convicted of racketeering conspiracy; CALDWELL was convicted of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm in furtherance of attempted murder in aid of racketeering arising out of his May 29, 2013, ambush of a member of the rival Bonanno Family in Manhattan; and LONDONIO was convicted of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
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Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Hagan Scotten, Celia V. Cohen, and Alexandra N. Rothman, were in charge of the trial and sentencings.
[1] Like MADONNA, LONDONIO, and CALDWELL, Crea is subject to a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Kit Carson County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Noel Quintana-Carbajal, age 47, who is a Mexican national illegally in the United States, was sentenced to serve 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for illegal reentry of a previously deported alien following a felony conviction. Quintana-Carbajal will be deported at the conclusion of his prison sentence. He was found in Kit Carson County Jail by immigration officers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Removal Operations (ERO) joined in the announcement.
According to the stipulated facts contained in Quintana-Carbajal’s plea agreement, he is a native and citizen of Mexico without a claim to lawful immigration to the United States. He has been removed from the United States eight times, with his most recent removal taking place on May 12, 2015. The defendant did not seek or obtain permission to return lawfully to the United States. Nonetheless, he returned. Immigration officials encountered Quintana-Carbajal on January 27, 2020, while he was in custody at the Kit Carson County Jail in Burlington, Colorado. He was detained there on state charges.
Quintana-Carbajal was previously convicted in U.S. District Court in New Mexico for the offense of Illegal Reentry. He was sentenced to a term of 120 days in a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
“There is a lawful process to enter the United States, said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. ”Quintana-Carbajal failed to follow that process not once, not even twice, but a total of eight times. His prison sentence and subsequent deportation should send a message that there are consequences for this illegal behavior.”
“As this case demonstrates, we will not allow criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety to treat our border like a revolving door,” said John Fabbricatore, field office director, ERO Denver. “ICE is committed to using its immigration enforcement authority to ensure that our communities are protected from felons like Quintana-Carbajal who show no regard for our laws or our borders. ICE is pleased to be working closely with the U.S. Attorney to hold criminals like Quintana-Carbajal accountable.”
The sentence was pronounced by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martinez on July 22, 2020. Quintana-Carbajal was charged by indictment on February 20, 2020, and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2020. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The defendant was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dorothy DiPascali.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 20-cr-0062.
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.
Justice Department Settles Claim Against Virginia-Based Staffing Company for Improperly Favoring Temporary Visa Workers over U.S. WorkersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement agreement with ASTA CRS Inc., a provider of IT staffing and consulting services with offices in Ashburn, Virginia, and Greenbelt, Maryland. This is the ninth settlement under the Civil Rights Division’s Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, which is aimed at targeting, investigating, and taking enforcement actions against companies that discriminate against U.S. workers in favor of temporary visa workers.
The settlement resolves a claim that ASTA’s Maryland office discriminated against U.S. workers because of their citizenship status when it posted a job advertisement specifying a preference for non-U.S. citizens who held temporary work visas.
“When a company advertises a job by stating a preference for temporary visa workers, it deters qualified and available U.S. workers from applying and denies those U.S. workers equal opportunity to compete for that employment,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Our message to workers is clear: if companies advertise a preference for temporary visa holders over U.S. workers, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable. This is especially important at a time when more U.S. workers may be seeking employment as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) has reached numerous settlements under the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, and employers have distributed or agreed to pay a combined total of more than $1.2 million in back pay to affected U.S. workers and civil penalties to the United States. These settlements involve employers that discriminated in their use of the H-1B, H-2A, H-2B and F-1 visa programs.
Based on its investigation of ASTA, the department concluded that ASTA’s Maryland office posted a job advertisement aimed exclusively at non-U.S. citizens with certain temporary visas, including H-1B visas and F-1 student visas. The Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from discriminating in hiring by preferring candidates with temporary work visas over U.S. workers. Under the INA, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship, immigration status or national origin at any stage of their hiring process, including the posting of job advertisements, regardless of whether it affects the final hiring outcome.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, ASTA will train its employees on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, change its policies and procedures to comply with this law, and be subject to two years of department monitoring requirements, including providing regular reports to the department.
The Civil Rights Division’s IER Section is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits, among other things, citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar; email [email protected]; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
The Civil Rights Division wants to hear about civil rights violations. Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations through the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; or discrimination in the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin; or retaliation can file a charge or contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.