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11 September 2020
$1,000,000 in Federal School Safety Grants Awarded to City of Americus, Mitchell CountyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The City of Americus and the Mitchell County Board of Education received $500,000 each from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), announced Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“This much-needed federal funding will bolster the safety of students, teachers and staff in Americus and Mitchell County. We are grateful two school systems here in the Middle District of Georgia are recipients of these generous school safety grants,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler.
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The two awards announced this week can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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.
10 September 2020
Wilmington Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison for his role in the receipt, possession, and distribution of child pornography. The man was also sentenced to a five year term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, William Gene Kaleb Koch, 45, used an online conferencing and screen sharing application (“Application A”) to receive and share child pornography with other users in a virtual “room.” An undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) was able to gain access to the room and observed the user “NC Pig,” who was later identified as Koch, sharing child pornography and sexual exploitation material and engaging in chats with other users about the sexual exploitation of minors on at least 12 separate occasions.
Investigators tracked the NC Pig user to Koch’s residence in Wilmington, and obtained a federal search warrant that was executed by HSI agents and the Wilmington Police Department on August 9, 2018. Koch was present and agreed to a non-custodial interview in which he admitted to using Application A, as well as receiving and possessing child pornography. Later forensic review of Koch’s electronic devices revealed hundreds of videos and still images of child pornography (total image equivalent exceeding 14,000 images), the majority of which depicted children under 12 years of age, and some of which depicted infants and portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the assistance of the Wilmington Police Department and the United States Secret Service, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national initiative, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-CR-00143-BO.
Virginia Mental Health Agency Agrees to Pay $263,280 to Settle Civil False Claims Act LawsuitRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Victoria Transcultural Clinical Center, VTCC, LLC (“VTCC”), located in Fairfax, has agreed to pay $263,280 to settle a federal False Claims Act (“FCA”) case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. VTCC provides mental health services and behavioral therapy to children and adolescents in northern Virginia who are Medicaid recipients.
On June 15, 2020, the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia filed a Complaint under the FCA and the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act alleging that VTCC engaged in a scheme to obtain payments from the Virginia Medicaid Program by inflating bills for services rendered, by billing for services not rendered, and by failing to take steps to repay overpayments within 60 days after VTCC identified these claims. According to the allegations in the Complaint, three Qualified Mental Health Professionals and VTCC’s Director of Operations knowingly inflated hours they spent providing services to children and adolescents in need of intensive in-home and behavioral therapy services, including by billing time for services provided while the minor patients were out of the country or no longer receiving treatment from VTCC. The Government also alleged that VTCC’s management was aware of a general breakdown of VTCC’s clinical supervision policy and protocols and of specific instances of billing for services not rendered, and that VTCC failed to take action to repay the Virginia Medicaid Program in a timely manner.
The settlement announced today resolves a lawsuit originally filed under the whistleblower provisions of the FCA and the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act by a former employee of VTCC. A whistleblower suit or qui tam action under the FCA is commenced by an individual, known as a “relator,” filing a complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court, and providing a copy of the complaint and other evidence to the local U.S. Attorney. The United States then has an opportunity to investigate the claims. The FCA provides the whistleblowers with a share of the government’s recovery.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement of Medicare or Medicaid funds can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Office of the Virginia Attorney General, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilene Albala and Krista Anderson investigated the matter and prosecuted the case with Assistant Attorneys General Caitlyn Huffstutter, Megan Winfield, and Katherine Wright of the Virginia Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The civil claims settled by this FCA agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit are available on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cv-68. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Vicksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements in an Attempt to Purchase a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Dvonte Amir King, 23, of Vicksburg, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee to making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer and putting false information on an official form while attempting to purchase a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in New Orleans.
On June 4, 2018, King attempted to purchase a firearm from a local Vicksburg retailer. King filled out and signed ATF Form 4473, the standard form for background checks. On the form, King marked that he had never been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, whereas in truth and in fact, he had been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Approximately six months prior, on November 28, 2017, King had pled guilty to misdemeanor domestic assault in the Municipal Court of the City of Vicksburg. Persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence are prohibited from purchasing firearms under federal law and it is a federal offense to put false information on the firearm form.
King will be sentenced on November 19, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. by Judge Lee. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bert Carraway.
Van Zandt County Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 52-year-old Edgewood, Texas, man has been sentenced for federal drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Timothy Dwayne Henson pleaded guilty on Jan. 7, 2020, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, on two separate occasions in July 2018, Henson sold methamphetamine during controlled purchases in Van Zandt County. On Sep. 9, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Van Zandt County and recovered methamphetamine. Henson admitted to being involved in a conspiracy to obtain and distribute methamphetamine, and that he was directly responsible for the distribution of at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. Henson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 8, 2018 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
United States Assists Improved Border Control in NigeriaRead the Press Release
INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—has partnered with the U.S. Department of State and INTERPOL to dramatically improve Nigeria’s border security screening capacity. Under the U.S.-funded Project TERMINUS, on September 7th, Nigeria became the first African country to implement an automated system for uploading stolen and lost passport documents (SLTD) into the INTERPOL database that can be queried by all 194 INTERPOL member countries. This automation was made possible by implementing INTERPOL Washington’s SLTD Uploader software solution.
INTERPOL Washington’s Project TERMINUS, funded by the U.S. Department of State, executes solutions to upgrade INTERPOL member nations’ access to INTERPOL information sharing services. The goal of Project TERMINUS is to extend INTERPOL's I-24/7 secure global police communications system in high risk areas and select host nations. “INTERPOL Washington is pleased to continue our partnership with the U.S. Department of State to develop and deploy advanced tools and technology to assist our worldwide law enforcement partners in the fight against transnational crime and terrorism. By improving border security in Nigeria, we not only improve the safety of Nigerian citizens, we also strengthen the global chain of law enforcement tools linking together INTERPOL’s member countries,” said USNCB Director Uttam Dhillon.This initiative also helps member countries to meet their United Nations Security Council obligations to “… prevent the movement of terrorists and terrorist groups by effective border controls … and to “… improve international, regional, and sub-regional cooperation through increased sharing of information.” Due to any number of challenges, many countries, such as Nigeria, lacked access to INTERPOL’s 97-million-document SLTD database.
The SLTD Uploader software solution is a USNCB custom design which allows both the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja to connect directly to the INTERPOL database. Nigeria’s first document stream automatically uploaded approximately 150,000 SLTD records held in the Nigerian domestic SLTD database. This accomplishment culminated more than four months of active collaboration between the USNCB, the State Department, INTERPOL, and the Government of Nigeria, all of which was conducted virtually for the first time. “The completion of this project illustrates the ability of the USNCB to continue fulfilling its important around-the-clock mission in the midst of a worldwide pandemic,” said Dhillon.
The Nigeria project is the latest in a series of successful SLTD access improvement projects under the TERMINUS initiative, each building on prior lessons learned. Similar efforts have been executed in Malaysia and Indonesia, over the last three years.INTERPOL’s SLTD database is a critical tool for combatting terrorism by preventing Foreign Terrorist Fighter (FTF) movements by identifying and interdicting FTFs and other transnational criminals using stolen, lost or revoked documents such as passports, visas and identity documents. By ensuring that law enforcement officers have access to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 system, front line authorities can search and cross check traveler data in a matter of seconds and share sensitive or urgent police information with their counterparts around the globe in real time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A component of the U.S. Department of Justice, INTERPOL Washington is co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As the designated representative to the International Criminal Police Organization on behalf of the Attorney General, INTERPOL Washington serves as the national point of contact for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States.
Union Leader Sentenced for Embezzling Union FundsRead 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 Brian Arnold, 49, of Pine City, NY, who was convicted of embezzlement of union funds, was sentenced, by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to serve two years’ probation, to include six months home confinement. The defendant was also ordered to pay $33,224.15 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that the defendant served as Financial Secretary with Steelworkers Local Union 104M, which represents approximately 75 workers at Anchor Glass Container Corporation, from September 2015 to August 2018. As financial secretary, Arnold was responsible for collecting dues checks, recording all receipts, maintaining receipts and disbursement records, writing and signing checks, and preparing an accurate account of all money received and paid out to report monthly to the union membership.
Between April 2016 and August 2018, Arnold embezzled $33,224.15 in union funds. The defendant made unauthorized purchases with the union’s debit card; made unauthorized ATM withdrawals from the union’s checking account; and wrote unauthorized checks to himself from the union’s checking account.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the US Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS) Buffalo Office, under the direction of the Boston-Buffalo District Office, District Director Jonathan Russo.
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United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester Announces $481,097 Award to Tahlequah Public Schools to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester of the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tahlequah Public Schools received $481,097 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “School safety is a priority for school administrators, law enforcement agencies, and the community in general. Taking proactive measures to increase school security is a costly endeavor. This award to the Tahlequah Public Schools will relieve the financial burden of ensuring the safest possible environment for the children to learn and the teachers to educate them.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The award announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.*******
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 recovers $4.25 million from asphalt contractorRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today a civil settlement with Dave O’Mara Contractor, Inc. (“DOCI”), an asphalt contractor based in Southern Indiana. The settlement will result in a total payment of $4.25 million to the United States of America.
“The safety and security of the citizens of Indiana are paramount to this office.” Minkler stated. To risk the safety of the motoring public for the sake of saving money cannot be tolerated. This recovery sends the message that contractors must comply with various applicable state and federal regulations when billing the United States Government, or they will face the consequences of their choices.”
The settlement resolves allegations that DOCI misrepresented the materials that it used to pave a number of roads and highways throughout Central and Southern Indiana, which were funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration. Specifically, the government alleges that DOCI represented that it was including steel slag in its asphalt mixture when it was not. According to the government, this created the false impression that the roads that DOCI provided contained enough binder, or “glue,” to ensure that they would not prematurely deteriorate.
“It is important to ensure that taxpayers get what they pay for so that the quality of products used in highway transportation projects is not compromised,” stated Andrea M. Kropf, Regional Special Agent-In-Charge, United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Today’s settlement sends a message that putting the safety of the traveling public at risk for personal gain is an unacceptable way of conducting business.”
According to Rachana Fischer, the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the matter, the settlement followed a multi-year investigation by the United States Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office and the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.. The Indiana Department of Transportation provided substantial assistance to the United States in its investigation.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This investigation demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to enforce the collection of criminal and civil debts owed to the United States to maximize recoveries to the United States Treasury and to victims of crime. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 6.4.
U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen Announces DepartureRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA. – U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced today that he is resigning from the Department of Justice, effective Tuesday, September 15, at 12:00 p.m. Cullen, 43, who has served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia since March 30, 2018, made this announcement following his Senate confirmation to become a U.S. District Judge in the Western District of Virginia.
“U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen has served the Department of Justice and the citizens of the Western District of Virginia with honor and distinction,” U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr said today. “During his tenure, the office made meaningful strides towards reducing violent crime, mitigating the opioid epidemic, and increasing cooperation among federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies. As he moves into his new role as a federal district judge, I am confident that he will remain steadfast in his commitment to equal justice and the rule of law.”
“Serving as U.S. Attorney has been the highlight of my career,” Cullen stated today. “I am enormously proud of the dedicated public servants in this office and the work that they—along with our many brave law-enforcement partners—do to protect the public.”
Under Cullen’s leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office focused on implementing the Attorney General’s priorities of combatting violent crime and the opioid epidemic. He also personally directed the federal civil rights prosecutions stemming from the August 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville.
As part of the national Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, Cullen and the prosecutors in his office have worked closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Roanoke Valley, the Danville-Pittsylvania County region, and the greater Lynchburg area to identify individuals and groups responsible for committing violent, firearms, gang-related, and serious drug offenses and prosecute them in federal court. These coordinated efforts led to a significant increase in the number of defendants prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, from 267 in fiscal year 2018, to 410 in 2019 (a 54 percent increase overall), and contributed to a substantial decrease in the rate of violent crime in Danville over a similar time period.
U.S. Attorney Cullen also directed a multifaceted federal response to the opioid epidemic that has ravaged the region over the past several years. His prosecutors have obtained convictions of over a dozen physicians and other health-care providers for the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and related criminal conduct. The office also has secured convictions and civil settlements against numerous corporate entities engaged in the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. In recognition of this hard work and the office’s long track record of success in prosecuting corrupt medical providers, Attorney General William P. Barr, in April 2019, announced that he would expand DOJ’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force (ARPO) to the Western District of Virginia. The ARPO Strike Force is composed of prosecutors and data analysts from DOJ’s Health Care Fraud Unit who deploy to participating districts to support the prosecution of individuals and organizations engaged in the unlawful distribution of opioids. With these additional investigative resources, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been able to increase the number of prosecutions in this critical area.
In addition to its enforcement efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under Cullen’s leadership, has productively collaborated with local community groups and treatment advocates on effective opioid prevention and recovery initiatives. In late 2018, U.S. Attorney Cullen convened a meeting with leaders from Carilion Clinic in Roanoke and public-health officials from Buffalo, NY, to discuss “Buffalo Matters,” a community-based program designed to aid patients with opioid-use disorder through rapid referrals from emergency rooms to community-based clinics upon discharge. As a result of this meeting and Carilion’s commitment to implementing the Buffalo Matters model, Roanoke Memorial Hospital has made significant progress in directing opioid-use disorder patients to treatment programs and, in turn, significantly reducing the number of ER visits. The office also recently announced the formation of a Heroin Education Action Team (HEAT), a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s office and families who have lost love ones to opioid overdose. Once in-person classroom instruction resumes, the HEAT team will deploy to school districts around the region and speak to students and their families about the dangers and tragedies associated with opioid use. Cullen was also proud to partner with Chief U.S. District Judge Michael F. Urbanski and the federal public defender to launch a federal drug-treatment court, one of only a handful of federal drug courts nationwide.
Cullen also devoted a significant amount of his time to the “Unite the Right” prosecutions. In July 2019, his prosecution team obtained a life sentence for James Fields Jr., who perpetrated an act of domestic terrorism in Charlottesville that killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer and seriously injured over 30 peaceful protestors. They also successfully prosecuted several members of the militant white-supremacist group the Rise Above Movement (RAM), who traveled from California and committed numerous acts of violence. He and his team also convicted an avowed white supremacist on civil rights and cyberstalking charges for threatening a prospective candidate for the Charlottesville City Council and the minor autistic daughter of a community activist. Cullen, who served on DOJ’s Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee while U.S. Attorney, was particularly outspoken about the alarming rise of violence by white supremacists in the United States.
In addition to these successful prosecutions, the office’s civil division has significantly increased its efforts in the areas of civil fraud enforcement and federal debt collection. In April 2020, the division announced a landmark $5 million settlement with a group of 24 coal companies owned and operated by the family of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice for unpaid violations of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. The division’s newly reconstituted affirmative civil enforcement (ACE) group has also successfully assessed monetary penalties against medical professionals, hospitals, and pharmacies for violations of the Controlled Substances Act and health-care fraud.
As U.S. Attorney, Cullen widely traveled the district to meet with his federal, state, and local law-enforcement counterparts. He visited over 50 local commonwealth’s attorneys’ offices during his tenure and met with scores of local sheriffs, police chiefs, and other community officials. Several of his key law-enforcement partners reacted to today’s announcement:
“Over the last several years, Thomas Cullen and the office he runs have provided the type of law enforcement leadership that has made Americans in general, and Virginians in particular, safer,” said David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “Mr. Cullen is a true partner to the FBI and a professional. He is aggressive though not a zealot, he seeks just outcomes, and he executes his authority with humility. Each of these qualities will continue to serve our country and our Commonwealth well from the Bench.”
“I congratulate U.S. Attorney Cullen on his appointment to the Federal bench and thank him for his steadfast support to both myself and the ATF Washington Field Division,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division. “Working together, we successfully coordinated the investigation and prosecution of an ever-increasing number of criminal cases within the Western District of Virginia – a testament to our mutual commitment to public safety and the rule of law. I wish Thomas all the best as he continues his distinguished career in public service.”
“In 2016 and 2017, the City of Danville, Virginia, was experiencing an extreme surge in violent crime, specifically gang related violent crime. Homicides and shootings were becoming a regular occurrence, and our community was suffering. In 2018, working with the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, under the leadership of Thomas Cullen, we were able to effectively prosecute several high-ranking gang members for these violent crimes, as a result, our community is now a much safer place,” said Danville Police Chief Scott C. Booth. “In 2019, our community experienced a 31 percent reduction in homicides, a 42 percent reduction in aggravated assaults, and a 63 percent reduction in robberies. Danville is a much safer place now because of Thomas Cullen and his leadership. Danville Police Department’s efforts including the implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods have resulted in drops in every violent crime category from 2018 to 2019.”
“I would like to offer my congratulations to Mr. Cullen on his confirmation as a federal judge. During his time as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Cullen has worked closely with local law enforcement to ensure that those people who victimize our citizens are brought to justice,” said Roanoke County Police Chief Howard B. Hall. “His contributions to our regional efforts have led to the successful conclusion of numerous significant investigations. He has been a great partner. While we will miss him locally, I am confident that he will make great contributions to our criminal justice system as a judge.”
“My staff and I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Cullen in his capacity as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Our region, like many other communities in the country, has been plagued by heroin trafficking and the devastation that it has on families,” said Shenandoah County Sheriff Timothy Carter. “As the U.S. Attorney, Mr. Cullen has been extremely sensitive to this devastation, and has worked hard to bring federal resources to bear, making a local impact in both enforcement for traffickers, and treatment for those addicted. Mr. Cullen is straight-forward, honest, and practical. He has a temperament and organizational skills to be a solid member of the federal judiciary. He makes sound and lawful decisions.”
“It has been a true pleasure working with U. S. Attorney Thomas Cullen these past 2 years. He was highly responsive and open to discuss partnerships that furthered community safety in Lynchburg,” said Bethany Harrison, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Lynchburg. “It is no surprise to me that he was confirmed for a Federal Judgeship. We will miss him terribly and wish him the best in his new endeavor.”
Attorney General Barr will announce Cullen’s replacement in the coming days.
U.S. Attorney Terwilliger Honored by ATF with Director’s AwardRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger was recently honored at the 24th Annual Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Awards ceremony with the Director’s Award, the ATF’s most prestigious award.
“It is my distinct privilege to present this award to U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger,” said ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “The core of ATF’s mission is reducing gun violence in our communities. Committed partners, like U.S. Attorney Terwilliger, are essential to leading change in our neighborhoods and across the nation. U.S. Attorney Terwilliger is an indispensable member of ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Governing Board, and a steadfast partner with our Washington Field Division in prosecuting cases in the Eastern District of Virginia. In addition, U.S. Attorney Terwilliger was instrumental in crafting nationwide policy for Project Guardian and promoting the use of crime gun intelligence in enforcing federal firearms laws and coordinating prosecution. It gives me great pleasure to thank him for his stalwart efforts in protecting the public and those we serve.”
The Director’s Award recognizes outstanding and exceptionally significant service in the public interest. To be eligible to receive the Director’s Award, one must have demonstrated leadership, skill or ability in administration or in the performance of duty that was of great value to ATF’s mission; and/or provided ATF with outstanding assistance and/or cooperation through advisory services or the allocation of human or material resources that effectively assisted in accomplishing ATF’s mission.
“The women and men of ATF were some of the first law enforcement agents with whom I ever had the pleasure of working with as a team to investigate and prosecute criminal activity,” said Terwilliger. “As my career evolved, one constant has been a close working relationship with ATF. From my time as a line prosecutor, judiciary committee staffer, Associate Deputy Attorney General, NIBIN board member, and now U.S. Attorney, I can state with certainty that ATF lives its mantra of “Being no Better Partner.” At each of those positions, it just so happened that I worked closely with ATF at a variety of levels. Further, it is ironic and telling that the first friend I made when moving back to Washington, D.C. at the age of 10, and remains one of my closest friends to this day, was the son of an ATF Assistant Director at the time and is currently an ATF Supervisory Special Agent. Finally, for at least the past 40 months, here in the Eastern District and across the United States, ATF has answered the call each and every time they have been asked to provide critical support to combat violent crime around the nation. Having literally grown up personally and professionally with the brave and dedicated men and women of ATF, I am incredibly humbled and proud to receive this award.”
Most recently, Terwilliger joined Ashan Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, in announcing the establishment of a new ATF satellite office in Newport News. The new office gives ATF a permanent presence on the Hampton Roads Peninsula, where drugs, gangs, and guns are a very serious problem. In addition to ATF Special Agents, the Newport News facility will house a task force consisting of officers from the Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Division, and the Newport News Sheriff’s Office.
In April 2019, Terwilliger joined law enforcement leaders from around the country on ATF’s National Crime Gun Intelligence Board. Established in 2016, the board uses the collective experience of federal, state, and local experts in the fields of forensics, law enforcement, and criminal law to ensure ATF receives valuable input on national programs related to Crime Gun Intelligence. Members of the 23-member board serve 3-year terms and are eligible for re-appointment. It meets biannually in different cities across the United States.
Terwilliger made acquiring National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machines here in the Eastern District a high priority immediately after taking the reigns as U.S. Attorney in May 2018. Law enforcement in the Eastern District currently has access to three NIBIN machines: one in Beltsville, Maryland, that services law enforcement in Northern Virginia; one in Newport News that is shared by the Newport News Police Department and the Hampton Police Department; and one in the City of Richmond.
“The ATF’s NIBIN technology is a game-changer,” said Terwilliger. “Not only does it help us solve shootings, but it also offers a deterrent effect in that criminals will know every time they fire a gun during a crime of violence, we will use this technology to assist us in matching the casing, tracking the gun, and hunting down the trigger-puller. The ATF’s leadership on this program and commitment to providing law enforcement officers around the country with the tools they need to solve firearms crimes is beyond impressive.”
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Schroder Announces $323,702 Award to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
September 10, 2020 – U.S. Attorney Schroder of Alaska announced that Ketchikan Police Department received $248,702 and Nenana City School District received $75,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“As our children return to school in the next few weeks or months, the Department of Justice and the Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) want to help communities keep their students safe.” Said U.S. Attorney Schroder.
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The two awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 Robert J. Higdon, Jr. Announces $100,000 Award to the Johnston County School System to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. of Eastern District of North Carolina announced that the Johnston County School System received $100,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“Protecting the safety and security of our children is critical as they learn and develop. School safety is of paramount importance as we work to ensure children are secure,” said Mr. Higdon.
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The 160 awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 Robert Brewer Announces $415,000 Award to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
COPS Office Public Affairs (202) 514-9079 or [email protected]
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 10, 2020
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer of the Southern District of California announced today that the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District received $415,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).
Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“These grants will help the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and many others across the country keep our children out of harm’s way,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “There is nothing more important than safeguarding our children and schools.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The [x number] award[s] announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 Nicholas A. Trutanich Announces $500,000 Award to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada announced today that the Clark County School District Police Department received $500,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“On behalf of our communities, we appreciate this grant from the COPS Office to help the Clark County School District safeguard our children and schools,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “These funds are a significant step towards keeping children in Clark County and across the country out of harm’s way.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The award announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 Maria Chapa Lopez Announces More Than $1.3 Million in Awards to Improve School Safety in the Middle District of FloridaRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that four school districts in the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) have received a total of $1,316,375 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
MDFL recipients include the School Board of Orange County ($499,321); Seminole County Public Schools ($168,000); the Hernando County School Board ($499,054); and the School District of DeSoto County ($150,000).
“Guaranteeing a safe and secure environment in which to learn – free from violence – is critically important for our students,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “These funds will assist our partners in creating and enhancing systems and procedures to reduce threats and violence in our schools.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The four awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 J. Douglas Overbey Announces $1,391,296 Million Award to Address School Violence Prevention in East TennesseeRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – United States Attorney J. Douglas Overbey of the Eastern District of Tennessee announced today, the City of Knoxville, Bradley County School District, and Monroe County Schools received $1,391,296 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“As schools reopen for in-person and on-line, it is imperative we adjust to meet the unique needs and circumstances of our communities. These funds will provide essential resources to help mitigate the impact of on-line learning and provide necessary protection in keeping all students safe. Additionally, these grant funds will help provide vital services to ensure a safe and productive school year for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Overbey.
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The three awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald Announces More Than Half A Million Dollars in Awards to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a total of $598,538 in school safety grant funding awarded to the Shakopee Police Department, the Austin Independent School District – 492, and the Wayzata Independent School District – 284. The funding was awarded by the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“When all children are able to return to the classroom, their focus should be on learning,” said United States Attorney Erica MacDonald “This grant funding can be used to support a wide range of measures to support the physical safety of our children while they are in school.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
Grantee
Amount Awarded
Shakopee Police Department
$69,960
Austin Independent School District – 492
$460,958
Wayzata Independent School District – 284
$67,620
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The grant awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
U.S. Attorney Duncan Announces $882,800 in Awards to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr., of the Eastern District of Kentucky, announced that Anderson County Board of Education, Fayette County Board of Education, and Whitley County Board of Education will receive $26,794, $499,355, and $356,651, respectively, from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).
Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“While this school year has started in a non-traditional manner for many schools across the Commonwealth and around the country, these local award recipients can still utilize these funds to prepare for in-school sessions, by improving school safety for when students do return to the classroom,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “COPS awards like these are critical to supporting our school safety programs and protecting our kids.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The three awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
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 Bill Powell Announces Awards to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia announced that several law enforcement agencies and school districts received more than $824,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“Children and their safety are top priorities for my office and our law enforcement partners. Every child deserves a safe and secure learning environment, and this funding will go a long way in creating just that,” said Powell.
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
Awards in the Northern District of West Virginia are:
• Marshall County Sheriff’s Office - $120,560
• Upshur County Sheriff’s Office - $146,230
• Grant County Board of Education - $390,069
• Pocahontas County Board of Education - $167,915The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The four awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years
Two Brothers Charged with COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. and Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced today that two brothers were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud conspiracy for their alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking nearly $7,000,000 in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Larry Jordan, 42, of Lancaster, NY, and Sutukh El, a/k/a Curtis Jordan, a/k/a Hugo Hurt, 38, of Buffalo, NY, face 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
The complaint alleges that Larry Jordan and Sutukh El conspired to and did submit at least eight fraudulent loan applications in an attempt to obtain nearly $7,000,000 for their company, 5 Stems Inc. In support of the fraudulent loan applications, Larry Jordan and Sutukh El allegedly made numerous false and misleading statements about the companies’ respective business operations and payroll expenses.
The complaint further alleges that the fraudulent loan applications were supported by fake documents, including falsified federal tax filings. For example, included in one application was a fraudulent IRS filing that appeared to be the company’s 2019 federal unemployment tax return (FUTA) showing that the company paid nearly $3,300,000 in employee wages that year. In reality, the IRS has no record of such a filing.
In addition, Larry Jordan and Sutukh El are accused of using fraudulently obtained loan proceeds on what appear to be personal expenses, including the purchase of securities, home improvements, and a vehicle. To date, the government has seized more than $400,000 of the more than $600,000 that Larry Jordan and Sutukh El obtained in their alleged fraud.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Kruly and Grace Carducci for the Western District of New York are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Three Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills and Methamphetamine and Firearms Offenses in BakersfieldRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jorge Luis Velasquez, 33, of Mexico, Omar Velazquez Landeros, 27, of Bakersfield, and Victor Romero Galvan, 29, of Mexico, were indicted today for conspiring and possessing with intent to distribute over 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, and for carrying firearms in furtherance of these crimes, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on or about January 28, 2020, in Kern County, Landeros distributed approximately one pound of nearly pure methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Bakersfield. Velasquez assisted with coordinating that transaction. On or about March 13, 2020, Landeros distributed approximately 1,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, which Velasquez helped to coordinate as well. On September 1, 2020, Landeros, Velasquez, and Romero Galvan conspired to distribute approximately 10,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills and 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Each defendant possessed a firearm when they arrived at the prearranged drug deal in Bakersfield, California. When law enforcement arrived to arrest the defendants, Velasquez and Landeros fled with firearms in hand. Landeros was apprehended shortly thereafter. Velasquez discarded his firearm and fled on foot onto the SR-99 where he obtained and attempted to escape in a CalTrans vehicle. Velasquez eventually abandoned the vehicle and again fled on foot, at which point he was apprehended by law enforcement. Law enforcement arrested the defendants, and seized the firearms and the controlled substances.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tennessee Attorney Charged with Conspiracy, Federal Bribery, and Interstate Transportation in aid of BriberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Errol Harmon, 47, of Memphis, Tennessee, has been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy, bribery, and interstate transportation in aid of bribery, announced United States Attorney Mike Hurst, Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Neil Sanchez with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General, and Mississippi State Auditor Shad White.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on August 25, 2020, and unsealed by the federal court on September 9, 2020, alleges that Errol Harmon, a Tennessee attorney, conspired with Cerissa Renfroe Neal, the former Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Education (“MDOE”), to defraud the State of Mississippi and the United States, along with three Tennessee businessmen, Joseph B. Kyles, David B. Hunt, and Lambert Martin. Neal, Hunt, Kyles, and Martin have all been separately indicted and charged with federal crimes for their roles in the scheme, in which Neal used her position in the Mississippi Department of Education to steer contract awards to Kyles and his co-conspirators’ companies in return for bribery and kickbacks paid to Neal.
According to the indictment, Cerissa Neal was the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Education during 2013-2016, when she conspired with Kyles, Harmon and the two other conspirators, to defraud the State of Mississippi and the United States by bid-rigging, false quotes, and altered purchase orders, in order to make money and profit by defrauding the Mississippi Department of Education into awarding contracts and purchase orders at inflated prices, directed to co-conspirators and their businesses.
The indictment alleges that Neal, using her position within the Mississippi Department of Education, would split contract requests from one contract into multiple, smaller contracts, in order to avoid threshold amounts that would trigger a formal, competitive bidding process. Neal would entertain and advocate for a bid for the contract from one of the three conspirators’ businesses, including The Kyles Company in Memphis, Tennessee (Joseph Kyles), Doc Imaging (also d/b/a as “Hunt Services”) in Jackson, Tennessee (David Hunt), and Educational Awareness in Memphis, Tennessee (Lambert Martin). To meet the Department of Education requirement that such an informal bid have at least two competing vendor quotes for comparison, Neal would obtain false and inflated quotes, by herself and from the other co-conspirators, designed to make the intended co-conspirator’s business the lower bid, and to guarantee the award of the contract.
The indictment alleges that conspirators coordinated their submissions to the Department of Education as well as the sharing of the resulting contract payments. After the Department of Education made payment on the rigged contract to the co-conspirator-owned business, the winning bidder shared some of the money with co-conspirators, in return for their assistance in rigging the bid and winning the Department of Education contract. Kyles, Hunt, and Martin, through their respective businesses, garnered over $650,000 from the State of Mississippi, including federal funds granted by the U.S. Department of Education to Mississippi.
As alleged in the indictment, Errol Harmon’s role in the scheme was to receive money from Kyles and convey that money as payments to Neal. In multiple instances, Kyles gave cash or wrote a check to Harmon. On or about the same day, Harmon then wrote a check to Neal for substantially the same sum and caused that check to be delivered to Neal. In this manner, Neal received more than $42,000 directly or indirectly from her co-conspirators.
Harmon will appear for arraignment September 24, 2020, before United States Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson in Jackson at 1:30 p.m. Neal, Hunt, Kyles and Martin have each appeared in court for arraignment earlier in August and September, and were all released on conditions of bond pending trial.
If convicted, Harmon faces maximum penalties of 5 years in prison for the count of conspiracy, 10 years in prison for the count of bribery, and 5 years in prison for the count of interstate transport in aid of bribery. Each count also can merit a fine of up to $250,000.
The case has been assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III for trial.
U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the Special Agents with the FBI’s Jackson Division and with the Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Education, the Mississippi Auditor’s Office and the Mississippi State Attorney General’s Office, who investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
South Carolina Man Arrested on Federal Firearm Charge Following Shooting Rampage on I-95Read the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A South Carolina man was arrested today for possessing an unregistered short-barrel shotgun after he shot multiple vehicles and one person along I-95, and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase into Virginia on Saturday.
Franklin Joseph Dangerfield, 33, of Ladson, South Carolina, was arrested by special agents of the ATF and is charged by complaint with one count of possessing an unregistered short-barrel shotgun and faces a maximum penalty of 120 months’ in prison if convicted. Dangerfield will make his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Gates in Raleigh.
According to the complaint, on September 5, 2020, at approximately 6:45 p.m., deputies with the Nash County Sheriff’s Office responded to southern Nash County after receiving calls of a male shooting at vehicles along I-95 from a black pickup truck. Deputies located the truck traveling at high speeds north on I-95, and pursued the driver through four counties, before crossing the North Carolina-Virginia state line. Deputies with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the pursuit. The driver of the pickup truck exceeded speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour before crashing at Mile Marker 11 in Emporia, Virginia at approximately 7:30p.m. Virginia State Police observed Dangerfield, the sole occupant of the vehicle, in the driver’s seat and a loaded Savage Arms Springfield 67H 12-gauge shotgun in plain view on the front passenger seat. The shotgun had a sawed-off barrel and was not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of federal law. Officers also recovered shotgun shells and a hacksaw from the truck.
The injuries in Nash County along I-95 include one person shot in the shoulder and another punctured in the face by shattered glass. The gunshot victim was air-lifted to Greenville. A Nash County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s marked vehicle sustained damage in the chase and the deputy received treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Police Department, and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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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.
South Bend, Indiana Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –Jessie Richardson, 33, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio upon his plea of guilty for making a threat to injure through a means of interstate communication, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Richardson was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “Mr. Richardson has shown a pattern of threatening behavior in the past, culminating in him calling in bomb threats to FedEx. I want to thank the law enforcement team that worked this case and want others to know that threatening people over the phone or internet could focus my Office’s attention on you.”
According to documents in this case, in November 2019 Mr. Richardson called a FedEx facility in South Bend over 200 times in less than a month. On the evening of November 12, Richardson called a FedEx call center since it was too late to get through to the local facility in South Bend. During this call he told the call center that there was a bomb in the building and that the building was going to blow up. The following day, he called the South Bend facility directly and stated that there was a bomb in the building and he hoped the people inside were ready to die. The building was evacuated for safety so law enforcement could investigate. Mr. Richardson has three prior convictions for intimidation and one for invasion of privacy where he violated a protection order.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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Shreveport Prosthetics, Inc. Agrees to Pay $1.6 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Shreveport Prosthetics, Inc. (“SPI”) has agreed to pay $1.6 million, plus interest, to the federal government to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act for false supplier billings to the Medicare program.
SPI is a Louisiana corporation that provides upper and lower extremity prosthetics to patients in North Louisiana. The civil settlement resolves allegations that when SPI’s supplier number was deactivated, SPI funneled its claims to Medicare through a supplier in Texas for services that were rendered by SPI in Louisiana. SPI also routinely waived patient coinsurance amounts over a three year period, resulting in Medicare being overcharged for the billed services. This lawsuit was initiated by former office administrator/billing specialist Kimberly Throgmorton under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions, of the False Claims Act. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. Ms. Throgmorton will receive over a quarter of a million as her share of the government’s recovery.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and aggressively pursuing healthcare providers who seek public funds through unlawful means. This settlement should send a message to all healthcare providers and suppliers in the Western District of Louisiana that violations of the False Claims Act will continue to receive this office’s full attention and resources,” said Alexander C. Van Hook, Acting U.S. Attorney.
“We remain focused on investigating healthcare providers who seek to enrich themselves by engaging in illegal activities,” said Miranda L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of insidious schemes, which are designed to bypass important protections for Medicare beneficiaries.”
As part of the settlement, SPI agreed to a three-year Integrity Agreement (IA) with the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The IA promotes compliance with the statutes, regulations, program requirements, and written directives of Medicare and all other federal health care programs. Among other compliance obligations, the IA requires that SPI must establish and maintain a compliance program, engage an Independent Review Organization to perform quarterly claims reviews, and routinely report on these obligations to OIG.
This resolution is part of the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. The Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services work in partnership to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
The case is docketed as United States ex rel. Throgmorton v. Shreveport Prosthetics, Inc., et al., No. 17-881 (W.D. La.).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen J. King prosecuted the case.
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Seven charged in multi-state scheme to purchase vehicles and watercrafts using false and stolen identification documentsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that seven individuals were charged for using stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico and falsified identification documents to fraudulently purchase and finance vehicles and watercrafts from dealerships in Northern Ohio. The charges were made public in a forty-count indictment unsealed today in a federal court in the Northern District of Ohio.
In a coordinated effort, the District of New Jersey, the State of New Jersey and the District of Massachusetts also charged defendants in this scheme.
“These defendants allegedly attempted to profit off of the stolen identities of U.S. citizens by purchasing various motor vehicles and watercrafts at Ohio dealerships and then, in some cases, proceeded to ship the vehicles out of the state and country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Thanks to tireless work of law enforcement across the country, this identify theft ring has been disrupted, and these defendants can no longer use the funds of hard-working citizens to enrich themselves.”
“Concluding a nearly three-year investigation, Sandusky Bay Border Patrol Agents worked hand-in-hand with the AUSA, FBI, HSI, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to bring an interstate crime ring to an end,” said Douglas Harrison, Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector. “In all, seven suspects were charged in Ohio after defrauding banks using stolen identities and selling bank owned assets across state lines in New Jersey. I am extremely proud of the work our agents do every day, especially when it culminates in a successful operation after years of effort.”
"These defendants victimized individuals and financial institutions with their selfish greed,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Victims had their identities stolen and used for lavish purchases. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure fraudsters, no matter where they reside, are held accountable."
Charged today on counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, misuse of a social security number and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles are:
- Guillermo Alexander Cruz-Guerrero, age 38, of Dominican Republic. Currently in federal custody in Ohio.
- Carmen Teresa Cabrera, age 29, of Haskel, New Jersey. Arrested in New Jersey.
- Reyfy Gonzalez, age 31, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey. Arrested in New Jersy.
- Andy Arleny Mazara-Garcia, age 29, currently in state custody in Massachusetts.
- Willie Antonio Samuel-Baldayaquz, age 38, currently in custody in Connecticut.
The following defendants remain at large:
- Rene Guzman-Aquino, age 36, of Puerto Rico.
- Julio Fernando Valdez-Pimentel, age 27, of Pennsylvania.
According to court documents, from January 2017 to July of 2019, the defendants are accused of orchestrating a scheme to obtain genuine Ohio Driver licenses from the Ohio BMV using stolen identification documents from real U.S. citizens and phony driver’s licenses from Puerto Rico.
The indictment states that the defendants then obtained fraudulent credit cards and bank accounts using the stolen identity documents. These defendants then allegedly visited Northern Ohio motor vehicle dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and jet skis using 100% financed loans. In support of their loan applications, the defendants are accused of providing the biographical information of real United States citizens, as well as fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and social security cards as proof of identification. After the group purchased these vehicles, many were transported to New Jersey and some were exported out of the country.
In total, law enforcement identified over 70 vehicles and watercraft in all states from all defendants with an estimated total value of $3,750,268.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations’ Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, the Cleveland Division of the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Elyria Police Department and Akron Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad J. Beeson and Jason W. White.
Seven People in Charged in Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy in Sheboygan, WisconsinRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that seven defendants have been charged in federal court with offenses related to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substances in the Sheboygan area.
The defendants charged in this case reside in the following cities in Wisconsin:
Name
Residence
Irwin Sosa (25)
Sheboygan
Omar Sosa (23)
Sheboygan
Isaiah Beasley (24)
Sheboygan
Nicholaus Hoem (43)
Sheboygan
Ethan T. Massey (43)
Waupun
Nicholas R. McAtee (30)
Sheboygan
Michael D. Waite (46)
Appleton
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Irwin Sosa, Omar Sosa, Beasley, Hoem, Massey, McAtee, and Waite with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) (1), (b)(1)(A) and 846. If convicted of this charge, the defendants face a mandatory minimum imprisonment of 10 years and up to life; $10,000,000 fine; minimum five years supervised release up to life; and a $100 special assessment.
The indictment alleges that between approximately June 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, the defendants conspired to distribute controlled substances. As alleged, the offense involved 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.
Two of the co-conspirators, Omar Sosa and Beasley, were also charged with discharging a firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1)(A)(iii) & 2. If convicted of this charge, the defendants face ten years mandatory minimum sentence up to life imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a $100 mandatory special assessment, and five years supervised release.
One of the co-conspirators, McAtee, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) & 924(a)(2). If convicted of this charge the defendant faces ten years imprisonment; $250,000 fine; at least three years supervised release; $100 special assessment.
“The combination of drug trafficking and firearms is often lethal and altogether too common,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the outstanding collaboration between the local, state, and federal agencies that built this case.”
“The DEA recently expanded its operation to include the Sheboygan area. These indictments show how even newly formed law enforcement partnerships can quickly be effective in the fight against drug trafficking.” said DEA Milwaukee District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul E. Maxwell, Jr.
“Fighting the drug epidemic requires taking down large drug trafficking organizations that are supplying dangerous narcotics to members of our communities who are battling substance-use disorder. The coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement led to the federal charges that are being announced today,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul.
The defendants were charged based on joint investigation by law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Sheboygan County Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Group (MEG Unit), the Milwaukee Police Department, the Sheboygan Police Department; and the Sheboygan County District Attorney’s Office, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Manitowoc County Metro Drug Unit, the Manitowoc Sheriff’s Department, and the Grand Chute Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mario F. Gonzales.
The public is cautioned that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Seven Charged in Connection with a $2.1 Million Money Laundering Scheme that Involved Money from the Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
Seven individuals were charged in an indictment in the District of South Carolina with laundering over $750,000 of fraudulently obtained funds, including over $390,000 obtained from a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The seven individuals used a variety of methods to launder the money, including laundering the money through a casino. The indictment also identifies over $2.1 million in funds from twelve different bank accounts allegedly associated with the fraud scheme as subject to forfeiture which agents seized.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Peter M. McCoy Jr. of the District of South Carolina; Special Agent in Charge Jody Norris of the FBI’s Columbia Field Office; Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kupperbusch of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) Eastern Region made the announcement.
Lauren Marcel Duhart, 34 of Stonecrest, Georgia, Joshua Bernard Smith, 39 of McDonough, Georgia, Steve Ronald Lewis, 43 of Snellville, Georgia, Christopher J. Agard, 41 of Marietta, Georgia, Henry Duffield, 58 of Belton, South Carolina, Jeremy Brandon Latourneau, 43 of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Derick Keane, 43 of Spartanburg, South Carolina, were charged in an indictment filed in the District of South Carolina with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Duhart, Smith, and Agard were arrested this morning and appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald of the District of South Carolina.
In May 2020, Agard submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application for his business, Wild Stylz Entertainment, LLC, to a financial institution. In support of the application, Agard submitted fraudulent supporting documents that made numerous false and misleading statements about Wild Stylz’s number of employees and payroll expenses. The financial institution approved and funded a loan of over $395,000. Agard disseminated the fraudulently obtained funds to other members of the conspiracy to conceal the true nature of their fraudulently obtained funds. On May 27, 2020, Agard made $200,000 counter withdrawal at a bank branch. On May 28, 2020, Agard withdrew $50,000 in cash and made a $96,000 counter withdrawal. In June 2020, Duhart, Smith, and Lewis requested that Hunt provide Duhart, Smith, and Lewis with bank accounts in which to deposit fraudulently obtained PPP funds. Hunt had previously participated in drug trafficking and financial fraud with two South Carolina business owners. The two South Carolina business owners agreed to let Lewis use their business bank accounts in return for a percentage of the fraudulent funds deposited in their account. Hunt provided the two South Carolina business owner’s banking information and additional account access information to Lewis. During multiple recorded calls in early June 2020 Duhart, Lewis, Smith, and Hunt discussed the bank and wire fraud conspiracies. In one call, Lewis informed Hunt that the scheme involved fraudulent bank applications and that they needed to submit as many applications to the bank as possible by June 30th.
The indictment alleges that Agard also utilized his business, Wild Stylz, to launder the proceeds of other fraud schemes. In October of 2019, Lewis recruited Duffield to participate in a fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, Duffield allowed Agard to transfer $378,000 of fraud proceeds from the Wild Stylz business account to be deposited into Duffield’s business account in return for a portion of the proceeds. After the proceeds were deposited, Roosevelt Hunt (who has pled guilty to related charges), Latourneau, and Keane withdrew the funds from Duffield’s account by depositing checks totaling $200,000 at a casino. After gambling for less than two hours, Hunt, Keane, and Latourneau cashed out from the casino and left with approximately $198,750 in cash. Lewis met with Hunt to retrieve the cash which had been withdrawn from Duffield’s account. Lewis delivered a portion of the cash he picked up from Hunt to Duhart.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, and the SBA OIG. Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sloan P. Ellis and Brandi B. Hinton of the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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.
Seven Charged in Connection with over $750,000 Money Laundering Scheme Involving Funds from Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today that seven individuals were charged in an indictment with laundering over $750,000 of fraudulently obtained funds, including over $390,000 from a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The defendants used a variety of methods to launder the money, including laundering the money through a casino. The indictment also identifies over $2.1 million in funds which agents seized from twelve different bank accounts allegedly associated with the overall fraud scheme. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the indictment marks the 50th PPP-fraud case to date across the country.
The case started as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that targeted high-level heroin and methamphetamine traffickers located in Greenville. That initial investigation has also resulted in the indictment and arrest of eight other individuals on various drug trafficking and fraud-related charges.
“Criminals seek to take advantage of dire situations, and it is our job to stand in their way,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “I want to commend the federal agencies involved for their excellent work. In these unprecedented times, the Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline for businesses across the United States, and by extension the millions of Americans whose very livelihoods depend on these businesses. This office, in concert with our partners in law enforcement, will remain vigilant in its mission to protect our citizens, and we will prosecute those who seek to manipulate this essential program.”
"Taxpayer funds from the Paycheck Protection Program were supposed to keep businesses open and provide money for workers during these difficult times," said Jody Norris, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbia Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "These subjects allegedly schemed and stole money meant for our fellow citizens in need. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek out and arrest others who commit these despicable COVID related crimes."
“Hitting drug traffickers in their pockets is a crucial part of dismantling high-level drug distribution networks,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “Their money is their life-line and without it, their drug distribution activities could not survive. DEA and its law enforcement partners remain committed to making our communities safe.”
“During this unprecedented time in our nation, criminals are seeking opportunities to profit from programs meant to provide financial assistance to many Americans who have been impacted by this pandemic,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to aggressively identify and pursue those individuals that siphon funds illegally for their own personal gain. We are actively investigating to combat this fraud and hope this serves as an example to anyone plotting a similar scam.”
The indictment charges the following individuals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering:
- Lauren Marcel Duhart, 34, of Stonecrest, Georgia;
- Joshua Bernard Smith, 39, of McDonough, Georgia;
- Steve Ronald Lewis, 43, of Snellville, Georgia;
- Christopher J. Agard, 41, of Marietta, Georgia;
- Henry Duffield, 58, of Belton, South Carolina;
- Jeremy Brandon Latourneau, 43, of Spartanburg, South Carolina; and
- Derick Keane, 43, of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
During the course of the initial OCDETF investigation, agents learned that some of the drug trafficking targets were also engaged in wire fraud and money laundering. According to the indictment unsealed today, Agard utilized his business, Wild Stylz Entertainment, LLC, to launder the proceeds of fraud schemes. As part of the scheme, Duffield, who was recruited by Lewis, allowed Agard to transfer $378,000 of fraud proceeds unrelated to PPP loans from the Wild Stylz business account to be deposited into Duffield’s business account. In return, Duffield received a portion of the proceeds. After the proceeds were deposited, Roosevelt Hunt (who has pleaded guilty to related charges), Latourneau, and Keane withdrew the funds from Duffield’s account by converting $200,000 in business checks to chips at a casino. After gambling for less than two hours, Hunt, Keane, and Latourneau cashed out from the casino and left with approximately $198,750 in cash.
According to the documents filed with the court, in May 2020, Agard submitted a fraudulent Wild Stylz PPP loan application, along with fraudulent supporting documents that made numerous false and misleading statements about Wild Stylz’s number of employees and payroll expenses. Agard received a loan of more than $395,000 and disseminated the fraudulently obtained funds to other members of the conspiracy through various means. During multiple recorded calls in early June 2020, Duhart, Lewis, Smith, and Hunt discussed the bank and wire fraud conspiracies. In one call, Lewis informed Hunt that the scheme involved fraudulent bank applications and that they needed to submit as many applications to the bank as possible by June 30th.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
This case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Small Business Association Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sloan P. Ellis and Brandi B. Hinton of the District of South Carolina, along with Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are prosecuting the case.
The charges in these cases are only accusations of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information about potential attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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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.
Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to Medicare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anita Vijay, 50, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals and to soliciting kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Anita Vijay worked as the Social Services Director at a skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Sacramento. In her role, Vijay assisted Medicare beneficiaries in selecting home health care and hospice agencies following their discharge from the facility. Vijay used her position to steer Medicare beneficiaries to home health agencies in Folsom and El Dorado Hills and a hospice agency in Folsom. In exchange for the referrals, the agencies’ owners paid her and her husband, Jai Vijay, illegal cash kickbacks.
In her plea agreement, Vijay admitted that the agencies’ owners paid her and her husband kickbacks in exchange for the referral of approximately 60 beneficiaries. Medicare paid the agencies approximately $400,000 for services they purportedly provided to the beneficiaries. Because the agencies obtained the referrals by paying kickbacks, they should not have received any reimbursement from Medicare.
This case is a product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley is scheduled to sentence Anita Vijay on December 3, 2020. She faces maximum statutory penalties of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and ten years in prison for the kickback charge. Anita Vijay also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross loss or gain. 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.
On February 6, 2020, Jai Vijay pled guilty to conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals.
Russian Project Lakhta Member Charged with Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A criminal complaint was filed here today charging a Russian national for his alleged role in a conspiracy to use the stolen identities of real U.S. persons to open fraudulent accounts at banking and cryptocurrency exchanges.
“Project Lakhta conspirators used the stolen identities of U.S. persons to further their goals of undermining faith in our democratic institutions and for personal gain,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Artem Mikhaylovich Lifshits is yet another Russian national charged in the Eastern District of Virginia with engaging in a conspiracy that victimized real U.S. persons and institutions. This case demonstrates that federal law enforcement will work aggressively to investigate and hold accountable cyber criminals located in Russia and other countries, which serve as safe-havens for this type of criminal activity.”
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, Lifshits, 27, of St. Petersburg, Russia, serves as a manager in “Project Lakhta,” a Russia-based effort to engage in political and electoral interference operations. Since at least May 2014, Project Lakhta’s stated goal in the United States has been to disrupt the democratic process and spread distrust towards candidates for political office and the political system in general. Since 2014, Project Lakhta has sought to obscure its conduct by operating through a number of entities, including the Internet Research Agency (IRA). The Translator Department, where Lifshits served as a manager beginning around January 2017, is alleged to be responsible for much of Project Lakhta’s influence operations, which are still ongoing.
“Today’s charges allege that Russian national, Artem Lifshits, conspired with others to steal Americans’ identities and use them to open fraudulent bank and cryptocurrency accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Lifshits participated in this fraud in order to further Project Lakhta’s malign influence goals and for his own personal enrichment. This case provides a clear illustration of how these malicious actors fund their covert foreign influence activities and Russia’s status as a safe-haven for cyber criminals who enrich themselves at others expense.”
According to court documents, Lifshits allegedly conspired with other Project Lakhta members to obtain means of identification of real U.S. persons, which the conspirators then used to open fraudulent accounts at banking and cryptocurrency exchanges in the victims’ names. Lifshits and the conspirators allegedly used these fraudulently opened accounts to both promote Project Lakhta’s influence operations and for personal enrichment.
“According to the complaint, the subject engaged in a wire fraud conspiracy to further Russian foreign influence efforts and to enrich himself and others,” said Alan E. Kohler, Jr., FBI Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division. “The FBI will move aggressively to uncover and disrupt any efforts aimed at undermining our democratic institutions.”
In addition to these criminal charges, today the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Lifshits and two other Project Lakhta actors for sanctions based on the malicious cyber-enabled activity outlined in the complaint.
“These designations are notable accomplishments in the Secret Service’s relentless efforts to safeguard the financial system from transnational cyber-crime,” said Matthew S. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office. “International cooperation continues to be an essential element in addressing the global challenge of transnational cyber-crime and we greatly appreciate our law enforcement partners for their assistance in this case. The Secret Service will continue to work closely with our domestic and international partners to bring transnational cyber criminals to justice.”
The criminal complaint does not allege that any U.S. citizens knowingly participated in Project Lakhta’s influence operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jay V. Prabhu and Carina A. Cuellar are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-mj-256.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Russian Project Lakhta Member Charged with Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint was filed today charging a Russian national for his alleged role in a conspiracy to use the stolen identities of real U.S. persons to open fraudulent accounts at banking and cryptocurrency exchanges.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, Artem Mikhaylovich Lifshits, 27, of St. Petersburg, Russia, serves as a manager in “Project Lakhta,” a Russia-based effort to engage in political and electoral interference operations. Since at least May 2014, Project Lakhta’s stated goal in the United States has been to disrupt the democratic process and spread distrust towards candidates for political office and the political system in general. Since 2014, Project Lakhta has sought to obscure its conduct by operating through a number of entities, including the Internet Research Agency (IRA). The Translator Department, where Lifshits served as a manager beginning around January 2017, is alleged to be responsible for much of Project Lakhta’s influence operations, which are still ongoing.
Lifshits allegedly conspired with other Project Lakhta members to obtain means of identification of real U.S. persons, which the conspirators then used to open fraudulent accounts at banking and cryptocurrency exchanges in the victims’ names. Lifshits and the conspirators allegedly used these fraudulently opened accounts to both promote Project Lakhta’s influence operations and for personal enrichment.
“Today’s charges allege that Russian national, Artem Lifshits, conspired with others to steal Americans’ identities and use them to open fraudulent bank and cryptocurrency accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Lifshits participated in this fraud in order to further Project Lakhta’s malign influence goals and for his own personal enrichment. This case provides a clear illustration of how these malicious actors fund their covert foreign influence activities and Russia’s status as a safe-haven for cyber criminals who enrich themselves at others expense.”
“Project Lakhta conspirators used the stolen identities of U.S. persons to further their goals of undermining faith in our democratic institutions and for personal gain,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Artem Mikhaylovich Lifshits is yet another Russian national charged in the Eastern District of Virginia with engaging in a conspiracy that victimized real U.S. persons and institutions. This case demonstrates that federal law enforcement will work aggressively to investigate and hold accountable cyber criminals located in Russia and other countries, which serve as safe-havens for this type of criminal activity.”
"According to the complaint, the subject engaged in a wire fraud conspiracy to further Russian foreign influence efforts and to enrich himself and others," said Alan E. Kohler, Jr. FBI Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division. "The FBI will move aggressively to uncover and disrupt any efforts aimed at undermining our democratic institutions."
“These designations are notable accomplishments in the Secret Service’s relentless efforts to safeguard the financial system from transnational cyber-crime,” said Matthew S. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field office. “International cooperation continues to be an essential element in addressing the global challenge of transnational cyber-crime and we greatly appreciate our law enforcement partners for their assistance in this case. The Secret Service will continue to work closely with our domestic and international partners to bring transnational cyber criminals to justice.”
The criminal complaint does not allege that any U.S. citizens knowingly participated in Project Lakhta’s influence operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jay V. Prabhu and Carina A. Cuellar are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
In addition to these criminal charges, today the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Lifshits and two other Project Lakhta actors for sanctions based on the malicious cyber-enabled activity outlined in the complaint.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Rocky Mount Crips Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charge following Gang-Related ShootingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Darius Lamark Richardson, 22, a validated member of the Crips street gang, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces a maximum penalty of 120 months in prison.
According to the investigation, officers with the Rocky Mount Police Department responded to a shots fired call at a residence on Hendricks Street in Rocky Mount around 7:30 p.m. on July 12, 2019. Witnesses advised officers that four male subjects exited a white Nissan Maxima sedan and began firing at the house, which was the residence of a known Blood gang member. Rocky Mount Police Department patrol units located the suspect vehicle several blocks away from where the shooting occurred. The vehicle was registered to a validated Crip gang member. When officers initiated their emergency equipment, the Nissan sedan immediately began to accelerate. Officers pursued the vehicle, which was traveling at high speeds in a residential area. Eventually, the driver jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the vehicle in gear and rolling down the street until it crashed into a house. Officers chased the driver on foot and eventually detained him on North Howell Street. The driver was later identified as Darius Richardson, a convicted felon and validated Crip gang member. Along the flight path, officers recovered a black Smith & Wesson handgun, which had been reported stolen out of Rocky Mount four days earlier. Investigators later determined the shooting was related to an ongoing gang feud.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II, accepted the plea. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rocky Mount Police Department is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh is prosecuting the case.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Rochester Man Guilty of Defrauding Holiday InnRead 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 Henry Williams, 55, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was on supervised release following a 2016 conviction for bank fraud in the Western District of New York, when he began working at the front desk of the Holiday Inn. In January 2020, Williams began using the hotel’s Point of Sale machine fraudulently to load and attempt to load hundreds of thousands of dollars onto credit/debit cards that he controlled. The defendant impersonated various hotel managers while making phone calls to the hotel’s card payment processor in furtherance of his scheme. Williams also attempted to cover his tracks and conceal his involvement in the fraud by impersonating a hotel employee and making false complaints of criminal activity by another hotel employee.
The defendant successfully stole approximately $4,871.58 in fraudulent refunds. He also attempted over a period of time to obtain more than $840,000 in additional fraudulent refunds.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the U.S. Probation Department, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Anthony SanGiacomo.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
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Rochester Felon Pleads Guilty to Ammunition ChargeRead 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 Charles B. King, 36, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to being a felon in possession of ammunition. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that on August 25, 2019, police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at 1570 Clifford Avenue in Rochester. During a search of the residence, officers found 26 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition in the defendant’s bedroom. With four prior felony convictions, King is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition. Officers also found a 12-gauge shotgun in the basement.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
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Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Child Related Sex CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 9, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Neil A. Frank (age: 35) of Appleton, Wisconsin.
Frank faces charges alleging he used a computer to attempt to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b) and that he attempted to transfer obscene material to a minor in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1470. He is further charged with two counts of committing a felony sex offense as an individual required to register as a sexual offender in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A.
In 2012, Frank was convicted of attempted possession of child pornography in Outagamie County Circuit Court. He is required to register as a sexual offender under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Based on his prior record, Frank faces a mandatory 20 years’ imprisonment and up to life sentence if convicted of the charges.
This case was investigated by the Fox Valley Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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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Realtor Sentenced for His Role in Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. announced today that Alagi Samba, 50, of Bronx, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud affecting a financial institution, was sentenced to time served by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $790,350.40 to M&T Bank and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Moellering, who handled the case, stated that between about June 2008 and February 2009, the defendant conspired with others to devise a scheme to commit mortgage fraud and obtain eight loans for unqualified borrowers for homes in the Bronx.
As part of the scheme, Samba served as a realtor on behalf of co-conspirator Daniel Badu in the purchase of a property in the Bronx. The defendant was aware that Badu was employed as a home health aide and did not have the income or assets to qualify for a mortgage loan in the amount of $574,543 to purchase the property. Samba obtained Badu’s personal identification information and business documents and provided them to another co-conspirator, a mortgage broker, knowing that the documents would be altered or falsely created to indicate that Badu was an ophthalmologist at his company Eagle Eyes. In addition, fraudulent paystubs and tax returns were submitted to support the loan application. Samba provided these false loan documents in order to secure a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Based on that false application and supporting documentation, the loan was approved.
The defendant and his co-conspirators arranged for additional fraudulent loans to be approved, including another loan for Badu, and caused wire communications to be transmitted in interstate commerce for those loans. The defendant caused losses of approximately $547,000 affecting financial institutions in Buffalo and elsewhere.
Five co-defendants, including Daniel Badu, were previously convicted and sentenced.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin, Boston Division; the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brad Geary; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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Readout of Attorney General William P. Barr’s Visits to Chicago and PhoenixRead the Press Release
This week, Attorney General William P. Barr traveled to Chicago, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona, to announce updates on Operation Legend and the results of Operation Crystal Shield, respectively.
In Chicago yesterday, Attorney General Barr held a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois during which he provided updates on Operation Legend. Joined by ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo, FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman for the Northern District of Ohio, and U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch II for the Northern District of Indiana, the Attorney General announced that since Operation Legend was launched on July 8, there have been more than 2,000 arrests, with nearly 600 defendants charged in federal courts. He also announced that since launching Operation Legend in Chicago on July 22, the homicide rate has declined significantly. In fact, when comparing the seven weeks prior to the operation’s launch with the five weeks immediately following the launch, homicides in Chicago declined 50%.
Attorney General Barr holds a press conference in Chicago on Operation LegendAs a designated Operation Legend city, the Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $3.5 million in funding to reimburse the Chicago Police Department and City of Chicago for the work of local law enforcement on the federal task forces supporting Operation Legend’s violent crime reduction efforts. The COPS Office has also made $9.375 million available to the Chicago Police Department to fund the hiring of 75 officers.
Immediately following the press conference, Attorney General Barr visited the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) 7th District, where he met with the CPD superintendent, the 7th district commander, and officers. During his time at CPD, the Attorney General received briefings on active cases, as well as on the technologies, such as shot spotters and LPRs, that CPD is utilizing to help them prevent violent crime and enforce the law. The Attorney General then went on a ride-along to the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago with the commander of the 7th district.
Today, the Attorney General and DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea held a press conference at the DEA’s Phoenix Field Division to announce the results of Operation Crystal Shield, a DEA-led initiative targeting the command and control elements of Mexican cartels that operate major methamphetamine “transportation hubs” throughout the United States. Joined by DEA Chief of Operations Chris Evans, DEA Special Agent in Charge Cheri Oz, and U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey, AG Barr and Acting Administrator Shea announced that since Operation Crystal Shield was launched in February 2020, the DEA seized nearly 29,000 pounds of methamphetamine, $43.3 million in drug proceeds, and 284 firearms.
Attorney General Barr holds a press conference in Phoenix on Operation Crystal Shield
Attorney General Barr is briefed by DEA Special Agent on drug smuggling through the desert
Following the press conference, the Attorney General, Acting Administrator Shea, SAC Oz, and U.S. Attorney Bailey met with police chiefs, sheriffs, and officers from around the state of Arizona to get an on-the-ground sense of what local law enforcement is experiencing with regards to violent crime, drug trafficking, officer wellness, and other important issues facing law enforcement.After meeting with local law enforcement, the Attorney General attended a working lunch with the leaders of federal law enforcement in Arizona - the ATF, DEA, leaders from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, FBI, United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection Tucson Sector Border Patrol, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the IRS.
The Attorney General completed his day at the DEA Phoenix Field Division with a briefing on the DEA’s clandestine lab cleanup capabilities.
Rapid City Man Indicted for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Rydell Iron Rope, age 47, was indicted on September 1, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 9, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Iron Rope was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in September 1996. As a result of the conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. The Indictment alleges between June 1, 2019, and August 1, 2019, and between December 1, 2019, and February 1, 2020, as well as, March 16, 2020, and May 8, 2020, Iron Rope, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Iron Rope is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Iron Rope was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Project Guardian: Two Men Plead Guilty to Federal Ammunition and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two men pled guilty this week to federal ammunition and firearm charges, according to United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
Darrell Lowers, 39, of New York, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. On January 21, 2020, officers with the Charleston Police Department were dispatched to a residence for a report of shots fired. Lowers was detained inside the residence and .45 caliber Winchester ammunition was recovered from his truck. Lowers was on parole out of New York at the time he committed this offense. He has prior felony convictions for second degree burglary in 2013, third degree arson in 2011, and attempted second degree assault in 2007. These convictions all occurred in New York. Lowers faces a potential 15 years to life in prison when sentenced on January 14, 2021. The case was investigated by the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller is handling the prosecution.
Brian Kelly Townsend, 58, of Charleston, pled guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Townsend admitted that on June 9, 2018, he contacted law enforcement alleging he had been assaulted by his girlfriend. When questioned by law enforcement, Townsend admitted that no assault had occurred and that he had made a false report to police. His girlfriend then expressed fear of Townsend, indicating he was a convicted felon and had a firearm that he kept locked in his pickup truck. She produced a holster and ammunition. Townsend was questioned and admitted that he was a convicted felon and possessed a firearm. Law enforcement recovered a loaded Charter Arms Corp. .32 caliber revolver from Townsend’s pickup truck. Townsend has prior felony convictions for child abuse causing bodily injury and third offense domestic battery in Kanawha County Circuit Court that disqualify him from owning or possessing firearms. Townsend faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on December 8, 2020. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Senior United States Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Julie White is handling the prosecution.
These cases are being prosecuted as 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 (ATF) 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. The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting these cases with support from the Project Guardian partners noted above. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
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. 2:20-cr-00118 (Lowers) and Case No. 2:20-cr-00088 (Townsend).
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Previously Removed Felon Pleads Guilty for Failing to Update Sex Offender RegistrationRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Salvadoran national pleaded guilty today to failing to update his registration as a sex offender.
“Jose Claros-Lopez is a dangerous sex offender who has demonstrated that he is a threat to community members and has a blatant disregard for America’s laws,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to protecting the vulnerable victims in our community and will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute criminals who threaten them.”
According to court documents, Claros-Lopez, 36, had previously entered the United States unlawfully and was convicted in 2006 of rape, an aggravated felony, in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia. After serving 13 years in prison for his conviction, Claros-Lopez was removed from the United States to El Salvador. He unlawfully reentered the country at some point thereafter and took up residence in Herndon, Virginia. He lived in Herndon from at least January 2020 until his arrest in April 2020.
Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Claros-Lopez’s conviction for felony rape required him to register as a sex offender and keep his registration current in any jurisdiction where he resided, worked, or attended school. He knowingly failed to update his registration with the Virginia Sex Offender Registry when he unlawfully reentered the United States.
“I am proud of the Deputy Marshals and our federal partners who worked on this case. Not only did this defendant illegally reenter our country, but when he did so, he further violated our laws by not registering as a sex offender,” said Nick E. Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I hope this case will allow the citizens in Eastern Virginia to rest easier tonight, and that it sends a signal to other potential offenders that the men and women of the Marshals Service will work day and night to protect the citizens of this great nation”
Claros-Lopez pleaded guilty to failing to update his registration as a sex offender. Claros-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, followed by a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, when he is sentenced on January 13, 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.
“Claros-Lopez was convicted of a violent and cruel crime, served 13 years, and because he was illegally present, was removed from the United States. He chose to flout the law and return, hiding within our community,” said Matthew Munroe, Acting Washington Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). “Thanks to the dedication and cooperation of our law enforcement partners, he can no longer hide in the shadows.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew Munroe, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C.; and Nick E. Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia. made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa L. Chong is prosecuting the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Clayman assisted with the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-138.
Pittsburgh Man Indicted for Throwing Projectiles at Police Officers and Damaging a Police Vehicle During May 30th Pittsburgh ProtestRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment, returned on August 26, 2020, named Jordan Coyne, 25, as the sole defendant. Coyne self-surrendered this morning.
"Throwing rocks, bricks and pieces of concrete at Pittsburgh Police officers and vehicles are not acts of protest - they are federal crimes. Jordan Coyne’s reckless, violent behavior endangered police officers and drowned out the protected speech of lawful protesters," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "Make no mistake: if you attack police officers or commit violent crime under the guise of a protest, you will be indicted federally. We will not tolerate these unlawful acts in western Pennsylvania."
"There were hundreds of innocent people around when this individual decided it was ok to throw dangerous objects at law enforcement officers and their vehicle," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. "This type of behavior is not acceptable. As I've said before, the FBI supports every citizens’ constitutional right to peaceably protest. We will not support those who hijack these peaceful protests to pursue their own agenda."
"The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has said from the outset that we are committed to respecting protesters First Amendment rights, but we will never tolerate criminal activity that puts the public and our police officers at risk in what should be peaceful demonstrations," said Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert. "The seriousness of this crime is reflected in the federal charges that have been leveled today. We thank the US Attorney’s Office, as well as all of our law enforcement partners at the local state and federal levels, for their tireless commitment to holding criminals accountable for their actions."
According to the Indictment, Coyne obstructed law enforcement officers during civil unrest that occurred on May 30, 2020, in downtown Pittsburgh. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Coyne threw projectiles at several Pittsburgh Police officers and damaged a Pittsburgh Police vehicle by throwing a projectile through its rear window.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would
be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Physician and Sales Representative Charged in $2.5 Million Health Care Fraud and with Unlawful Disclosure of Patient InformationRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A federal grand jury has returned a 16-count indictment charging a physician and pharmaceutical sales representative with defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $2.5 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, as well as unlawfully obtaining and disclosing individually identifiable patient health information protected by HIPAA, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Keith Ritson, 40, of Bayville, New Jersey, and Frank Alario, M.D., 63, of Delray Beach, Florida, are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as individual acts of health care fraud and wire fraud. Both men are charged with a second conspiracy to wrongfully obtain and disclose patients’ individually identifiable health information. Alario is additionally charged with making false statements in a health care matter, and Ritson faces additional charges of conspiring to commit money laundering and substantive counts of money laundering.
The cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden. The indicted defendants are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio in Camden federal court via videoconference on Sept. 10, 2020.
According to the indictment:
Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient is allergic to a dye or other ingredient.
The conspirators recruited individuals to obtain very expensive and medically unnecessary compounded medications from a Louisiana pharmacy, Central Rexall Drugs Inc. (Central Rexall). The conspirators learned that certain compound medication prescriptions – including pain, scar, antifungal, and libido creams, and vitamin combinations – would be reimbursed by insurance providers in amounts in the thousands of dollars for a one-month supply.
The conspirators also learned that some New Jersey state and local government and education employees, including teachers, police officers, and state troopers, had insurance coverage for these particular compound medications. An entity referred to in the indictment as the “Pharmacy Benefits Administrator” provided pharmacy benefit management services for the State Health Benefits Program, which covers qualified state and local government employees, retirees, and eligible dependents, the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program, which covers qualified local education employees, retirees, and eligible dependents, and other insurance plans. The Pharmacy Benefits Administrator would pay prescription drug claims and then bill the State of New Jersey or the other insurance plans for the amounts paid.
In the first charged conspiracy, Ritson recruited individuals with prescription drug benefits administered by the Pharmacy Benefits Administrator to receive unnecessary compound medication prescriptions, which Alario signed without examining, speaking with, or establishing a physician-patient relationship with the patient. Alario sent a form to Central Rexall’s compliance program in which he falsely attested that he saw and spoke with patients in person and established a physician-patient relationship prior to prescribing Central Rexall medications. Ritson and Alario earmarked established patients of Alario’s medical practices who had insurance that covered the expensive compound medications. Alario prescribed the medications not for the patient’s need or request, but for the benefits he and Ritson stood to gain. The scheme caused the Pharmacy Benefits Administrator to pay over $2.5 million for the fraudulent prescriptions. For his role in the scheme, Ritson received a percentage of the amount that Central Rexall received from the Pharmacy Benefits Administrator for the medications, and Alario benefitted by receiving free meals, entertainment, travel, and other remuneration from Ritson.
The indictment also charges Ritson and Alario with a separate scheme to wrongfully obtain and disclose individually identifiable patient health information for their own personal gain and commercial advantage. As a sales representative not affiliated with Alario’s medical practices, Ritson should not have had access to patients’ confidential information. However, since only certain insurances covered the compound medications promoted by Ritson, the defendants accessed patient files and other identifying information to ascertain patients’ insurance coverage. On at least one occasion, Ritson and Alario jointly accessed patient information on an office computer for the purpose of determining insurance coverage for the medications. Ritson also had access to parts of Alario’s office where patient information was stored or could be heard and observed, including employee-restricted areas with medical files, fax machines, and computers. Ritson was also frequently present in exam rooms during patient appointments with Alario for the purpose of promoting the compound medications, at which time Alario commonly introduced Ritson to his patients as his “nephew” or gave the impression that Ritson was affiliated with the medical practice. By being present during the patient exams, Ritson had access to patients’ medical files and protected health information.
The health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison; each wire fraud count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison; each health care fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; the false statement count and the conspiracy to wrongfully obtain or disclose individually identifiable patient health information count each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison; and the money laundering charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All of the offenses are also each punishable by a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Mikulka, with the investigation leading to the indictment. He also thanked the Division of Pensions and Financial Transactions in the State Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Division Chief Aimee Nason, for its assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina O. Hud and R. David Walk Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Dealing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pled guilty today to a federal charge related to the trafficking of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Andrew Martin Hopkins, 57, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
“Hopkins intended to sell more than 100 grams of meth that had a purity of 96%,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “I commend law enforcement for yet another great job in getting this meth dealer off the streets before he could peddle dangerous and deadly meth in and around the Parkersburg area.”
Hopkins was driving a pickup truck in Vienna on May 19, 2019 when he was pulled over by an officer with the Vienna Police Department near the intersection of Grand Central Avenue and 21st Street for displaying a license plate that belonged on a vehicle of a different make and model. After the officer determined that Hopkins could not produce proper registration or proof of insurance for the vehicle, a K-9 was requested to respond to the scene of the traffic stop. After the K-9 arrived, it was deployed on the vehicle and provided a positive indication for the presence of controlled substances. Officers then searched and located methamphetamine inside the truck as well as on Hopkins’ person. A total of 102.85 grams of methamphetamine were located during the search, along with $3,631 in United States currency. The methamphetamine was sent to a laboratory and confirmed to have a purity of 96%. Hopkins admitted to possessing the entire amount of methamphetamine and having the intention to distribute it to other people.
Hopkins faces up to life in prison when sentenced on December 8, 2020.
The Vienna Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the West Virginia State Police. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00003.
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Palm Desert Man Charged in Firebomb Attack on Republican ClubRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Palm Desert man was named today in a federal criminal complaint that charges him with attempted arson in the May 31 firebombing of the East Valley Republican Women Federated (EVRWF) office in La Quinta.
Carlos Espriu, 23, who is currently in state custody, is expected to be taken into federal custody later today and make an initial appearance Friday afternoon in United States District Court.
The criminal complaint alleges that, just after 1:15 a.m. on May 31, a masked Espriu used a metal baseball bat to break windows at the EVRWF headquarters, and then he lighted an improvised incendiary device constructed of three bottles that he tossed through the windows before fleeing. Several minutes later, surveillance video shows Espriu returning to the EVRWF office, smashing more windows with the bat and reaching into building to retrieve the Molotov cocktails before walking away with the device. According to the complaint, Espriu returned to the EVRWF office about 30 seconds later, this time without a mask, and threw the set of bottles into the facility, which immediately caused a fire to start.
EVRWF offered a reward for information about the firebombing, which prompted several members of the public to come forward with information that allowed law enforcement officials to identify Espriu as the man seen in surveillance video taken by EVRWF and a nearby business, according to the complaint.
The affidavit in support of the complaint outlines steps taken by investigators to link Espriu to the firebombing. Law enforcement identified social media accounts believed to belong to Espriu, including a Twitter account that, three days before the EVRWF arson, tweeted: “I wanna go burn shit n get hit with tear gas.” They also observed Espriu repeatedly using a vehicle closely resembling one seen on the surveillance footage.
The complaint also outlines the results of search warrants executed at Espriu’s residence in July that led to the recovery of a green lighter very similar to the one used to light the Molotov cocktails, as well as audio recordings from a dashboard camera in which Espriu tells a woman in late June that he shaved his facial hair after seeing some of the surveillance video broadcast on local news. In the audio recordings, Espriu tells the woman how he manufactured the Molotov cocktails by filling three bottles with gasoline and inserting a towel into one bottle, and then he recounts the details of the firebombing as seen on the surveillance video, according to the complaint.
The firebombing caused limited damage to the EVRWF headquarters.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The complaint charges Espriu with one count of attempted arson. If he were to be convicted of the offense, Espriu would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
The investigation in this matter is being conducted by the FBI’s Inland Empire Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Paducah Police Department Drug Unit Receives First-Ever U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
PADUCAH, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell Coleman is pleased to announce that the first-ever recipient of the U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement Award is the Paducah Police Department Drug Unit.
“Paducah has much to be proud of in its Police Department and the PPD Drug Unit, the core mission of which is to fight to remove the poison that threatens the most vulnerable among us and the violence caused by drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “The Keeton Corrections facility had long been a thorn in the side of this community and risk to its neighbors. Addressing that threat is a gold standard example of how the feds can come alongside our local law enforcement partners to maximize our ability to keep West Kentucky families safe.”
The Award commendation presented by U.S. Attorney Coleman to Captain Matt Smith, Sergeant Shawn Craven, Detective Corey Willenborg, Detective Beau Green, Detective Nathan Jaimet, and Detective Matt Scheer reads as follows: “In recognition of your exceptional service to the citizens of the Western District of Kentucky. Your dedication and professionalism are in keeping with the highest standards of American law enforcement and reflect great credit on you, the Paducah Police Department, and all law enforcement officers who dedicate their lives to keeping the citizens of the Western District of Kentucky safe.”
The Paducah Police Department’s Drug Unit conducted a nearly two-month long investigation into the drug running activities at a Paducah halfway house resulting in eight arrests. With the assistance of Keeton Corrections and the Kentucky Office of Probation and Parole, detectives were able to execute numerous search warrants – including of the correctional facility. The searches revealed additional drugs and weapons, to include contraband that placed correctional officers at risk.
Several of those arrested have been charged both at the state and federal level. Ralph Gaines Jr. received a 15 year federal sentence as an armed career criminal. David Jones was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. DeAnthony Woods entered an open guilty plea and will be sentenced in October of this year; he faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison. There is not parole in the federal system.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky is honoring the extraordinary efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials across the District. Additional awards will be presented throughout the District in the coming months.
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Omaha Woman Sentenced to 84 Months for Drug and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Katina Maria Martinez, 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 9, 2020, by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and for conspiracy to launder the proceeds from the drug conspiracy. Martinez received a sentence of 84 months’ imprisonment with a five-year term of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
In mid-2017, a Drug Enforcement Administration-led task force initiated Operation Dog Pound, which was a drug interdiction effort focused on an Omaha, Nebraska, drug trafficking organization. Martinez was identified during the investigation as someone closely associated with the head of the organization, Keevan Dean. Martinez would often accompany Dean when he would distribute pound quantities of methamphetamine and was responsible for packaging the methamphetamine. Martinez personally delivered smaller quantities of methamphetamine and collected money. Martinez would also deposit money into the bank accounts provided by the California source for the methamphetamine at the direction of Dean. On November 12, 2018, Martinez was stopped in Arizona returning from California and was in possession of 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Investigators utilized phone and text messaging intercepts, vehicle trackers, and physical surveillance to establish Martinez’s involvement in the conspiracy.
Dean was convicted for drug and money laundering conspiracies and is set for sentencing on November 18, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nebraska State Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Omaha Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
OSHA Safety and Health Officer and His Brother Charged with Conspiring to Extort ContractorRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County, New Jersey, men – a compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) with the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and his brother – are scheduled to appear today on charges that they conspired to extort $6,000 in cash from a general contractor, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Alvaro Idrovo, 44, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, and Paul Idrovo, a/k/a “Jose Diaz,” 46, of Nutley, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with knowingly and intentionally conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, specifically to commit an act of extortion under color of Alvaro Idrovo’s office or employment with OSHA. The defendants are scheduled to appear later today by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre.
According to the complaint:
Alvaro Idrovo was assigned to investigate an anonymous complaint concerning the misuse of an extension ladder at a North Bergen work site of Company 1. He told Individual 1, the owner of Company 1, that Individual 1 was in violation of OSHA regulations for not having the necessary safety training certificates for Company 1’s workers to be on ladders at the work site. Alvaro Idrovo falsely advised Individual 1 that he needed to obtain training certificates with a specific vendor named “Jose Diaz” or Individual 1 would be subject to exorbitant fines and possible arrest for the violation.
Individual 1 contacted the phone number supplied by Alvaro Idrovo, which actually belonged to Paul Idrovo, posing as “Jose Diaz,” who told Individual 1 that the required OSHA training certificates would cost $13,000 in cash and repeated Alvaro Idrovo’s false assertions that if Individual 1 did not get the training certificates that Individual 1 would be in big trouble with OSHA, including big fines and possible jail. In follow-up telephone conversations with Paul Idrovo, Individual 1 was able to negotiate the fee down to $6,000 in cash.
When OSHA officials learned of Idrovo’s attempt to extort Individual 1 while questioning Individual 1 on an unrelated matter, the OSHA officials referred the matter to federal law enforcement officials, who arranged for Individual 1 to make consensual recordings with both Alvaro and Paul Idrovo. During an April meeting surveilled by law enforcement, Individual 1 paid Paul Idrovo $6,000 in cash in exchange for ladder and safety awareness training certificates and a safety and health plan. Alvaro Idrovo thereafter attached copies of the training certificates and the plan to his OSHA reports regarding Company 1’s violation despite knowing that the training certificates falsely claimed that training had been provided to the noted individuals in March 2020, “Jose Diaz” had provided training, and the alleged training was OSHA certified.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Mikulka in New York, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Leslie Faye Schwartz, of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Northern Minnesota Resort Owners Charged with Violating the Lacey ActRead the Press Release
United States Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal information charging ROBERT DALE LATOURELL, JR., 50, MELINDA MAY LATOURELL, 45, AND MELISSA ANN LATOURELL, 45, (the defendants) with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearances in United States District Court at a later date.
As alleged in the information, the defendants, along with others, own and operate a resort on the shores of Moose Lake, near Ely, Minnesota, inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and the Superior National Forest. In addition to providing guided canoe, fishing trips and boat towing services inside the BWCAW, the defendants also operate a motorized portage at Prairie Portage, pursuant to a federal contract administered by the United States Forest Service. The Prairie Portage is situated along the United States-Canada border. Beginning in approximately October 2012 until December 2016, the defendants used their access afforded to them by their contract with the United States Forest Service, to enter the protected waters of the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada on numerous occasions and used seine nets and other methods to unlawfully harvest ciscoes. Ciscoes (Coregonus artedi) are pelagic fish that can be found in the waters along the United States-Canada border, where they spawn in the late fall. Ciscoes are also known as lake herring or tullibee, and are packaged, frozen, and then sold to bait and convenience stores, gas stations, and other vendors throughout northern Minnesota. The defendants unlawfully imported, possessed, transported, and sold ciscoes for thousands of dollars of profit to bait retailers in Minnesota in violation of the Lacey Act.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Ontario (Canada) Ministry of Natural Resources, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with assistance received from the 1854 Treaty Authority, the United States Forest Service's Office of Law Enforcement and Investigations, the International Boundary Commission, and the Duluth Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Polachek is prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the information are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Information:
ROBERT DALE LATOURELL, JR., 50
Ely, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, 1 count
MELINDA MAY LATOURELL, 45
Ely, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, 1 count
MELISSA ANN LATOURELL, 45
Ely, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600