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Monday 6 July 2020
American Airlines Mechanic Arraigned on Indictment Charging Cocaine Importation ConspiracyRead the Press Release
UPDATE
The defendant’s conviction for the conduct described in the press release below was vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on January 23, 2026. See 20-CR-219 (DLI) ECF No. 169.
Earlier today, Paul Belloisi, an American Airlines mechanic at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport), was arraigned via teleconference before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to import cocaine and importation of cocaine. Belloisi was arrested on February 5, 2020, released on a $300,000 bond and indicted by a grand jury in Central Islip, New York on June 18, 2020.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Troy Miller, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New York Field Office (CBP), announced the charges.
According to court filings, on February 4, 2020, shortly after American Airlines flight 1349 arrived at JFK Terminal 8 from Montego Bay, Jamaica, a routine search by CBP officers who are members of the JFK Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team revealed approximately 11.594 kilograms (25.56 pounds) of cocaine bricks concealed behind an insulation blanket in an external mechanical compartment beneath the aircraft. CBP officers and HSI special agents then began visual surveillance of the aircraft from a distance. Shortly before the aircraft was scheduled to depart, Belloisi was observed approaching the aircraft and entering the compartment where the cocaine had been hidden. The officers confronted Belloisi after he exited the compartment and observed evidence that Belloisi had handled the area where the cocaine bricks were discovered. Belloisi also had carried an empty tool bag to the aircraft and had cutouts in the lining of his jacket, which together were sufficiently large to hold the bricks of cocaine that had been in the compartment.
"As alleged, this airline mechanic abused his position as a trusted employee and his access to sensitive areas of JFK Airport to participate in the clandestine importation of cocaine,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “These charges will serve as a warning that federal law enforcement authorities remain vigilant in protecting the security of our borders and fighting the scourge of international narcotics trafficking. Those who attempt to poison our communities by smuggling drugs through our ports of entry will be held accountable.”
“As alleged, Belloisi was the ‘inside man’, moving more than 25 pounds of cocaine from Jamaica to New York,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh. “HSI and CBP’s joint efforts continue to stem these threats to our aviation industry by which perpetuate the international movement of contraband through our airports. HSI will continue to persistently investigate and dismantle these criminal enterprises working with our law enforcement and airline partners.”
“This internal conspiracy case serves as a great example of collaborative law enforcement efforts to combat those that would compromise their access to restricted space and equipment, while aiding international narcotics trafficking conspirators. U.S. Customs and Border Protection thanks our partners at HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, for their continued cooperation,” stated CBP Director of Field Operations Miller.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Belloisi faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Pollack is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
PAUL BELLOISI
Age: 52
Hicksville, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-219 (DLI)
Alleged Killer of Newport News Police Officer Charged in Federal CaseRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man made his initial appearance in federal court today on gun charges stemming from his alleged role in the death of a Newport News police officer in January.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Vernon Evander Green, II, 38, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana. Both charges stem from Green’s alleged involvement in a January traffic stop that led to the death of Newport News Police Officer Katie Thyne.
Green is scheduled for arraignment at 3 p.m. on Thursday at the federal courthouse in Norfolk.
Green is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and felony possession of marijuana. If convicted, Green faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa R. McKeel and Howard J. Zlotnick are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-35.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Acting U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Leader and Members of Cross-Country Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JOSE SERGIO MARTINEZ-AGUILAR, a/k/a “Orejon,” a/k/a “Andy,” a/k/a “Pa,” VLADIMIR PULSTILINKOV, a/k/a “The Russian,” MIGUEL LOVOS, SEBASTIAN RAMOS, a/k/a “Nimo,” and RICARDO RUIZ-SALINAS with narcotics trafficking offenses based on their alleged participation in an international drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. MARTINEZ-AGUILAR, PULSTILINKOV, and LOVOS also are charged with possessing and using firearms in connection with the narcotics trafficking.
MARTINEZ-AGUILAR and LOVOS were previously charged in Complaints filed in the Southern District of New York, and were taken into custody in California on June 26, 2020, and subsequently presented before magistrate judges in the Central District of California. RAMOS and RUIZ-SALINAS were taken into custody in New York earlier today, and will be presented before Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn today in Manhattan federal court. PULSTILINKOV currently remains at large. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Jose Sergio Martinez-Aguilar led an international drug trafficking organization that imported potentially lethal drugs from Mexico and distributed them throughout the U.S., including right here in New York. Now, thanks to the efforts of HSI, Martinez-Aguilar and his co-defendants are in custody and facing serious federal charges.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said: “As alleged, Martinez-Aguilar and his crew funneled highly addictive drugs across the southern border and from coast to coast, seeking to make a hefty profit off those addicted to his product. This case makes it clear that HSI’s capabilities across borders and across the country leave no one safe from the long arm of the law, and justice will be served.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, the Complaints charging MARTINEZ-AGUILAR and LOVOS, other court filings related to this matter, and statements made in court[1]:
Since at least June 2019, MARTINEZ-AGUILAR has led a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that imports narcotics into California from Mexico, and then distributes those narcotics in California and other parts of the country, including New York City. The DTO is responsible for distributing large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. PULSTILINKOV, LOVOS, RAMOS, and RUIZ-SALINAS are members of the DTO who worked with MARTINEZ-AGUILAR to traffic the DTO’s narcotics.
During the investigation, communications among members of the DTO intercepted pursuant to court orders revealed a significant drug trafficking operation, led by MARTINEZ-AGUILAR, that imported and distributed multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics across the country. On one occasion, LOVOS discussed with MARTINEZ-AGUILAR obtaining a job near the U.S.-Mexican border, “because things are hot over there” and he could “cross people” and narcotics into the United States. On another occasion, MARTINEZ-AGUILAR bragged to an associate that narcotics distributed by other drug trafficking crews “[wa]s not even half the quality of what I have.” The DTO supplied drugs to dealers for distribution on the streets of New York City. For example, in June 2020, law enforcement seized a package shipped by MARTINEZ-AGUILAR and his DTO associates from California to the New York City area that was found to contain over nine kilograms of fentanyl and more than a kilogram of a heroin/fentanyl mixture.
On June 26, 2020, law enforcement searched a stash house operated by the DTO in California, pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. During the search, law enforcement recovered a stash of heroin, methamphetamine, and other suspected narcotics, as well as multiple handguns and assault rifles. LOVOS was found and arrested at the stash house during the execution of the warrant. LOVOS, MARTINEZ-AGUILAR, and PULSTILINKOV possessed and used firearms in connection with the DTO’s narcotics trafficking business.
* * *
MARTINEZ-AGUILAR, 39, of Thermal, California, and LOVOS, 31, of Indio, California, are each charged with three counts of narcotics conspiracy and one count of firearms possession in connection with drug trafficking. PULSTILINKOV, 44, of Indio, California, is charged with two counts of narcotics conspiracy and one count of firearms possession in connection with drug trafficking. RAMOS, 29, and RUIZ-SALINAS, 43, of Brooklyn, New York, are each charged with one count of narcotics conspiracy. A chart containing the charges and maximum and minimum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Count
Charge
Defendant(s)
Maximum/Minimum Penalties
1
Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics – Cocaine
21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(b)(1)(A)
JOSE SERGIO MARTINEZ-AGUILAR
VLADIMIR PULSTILINKOV
MIGUEL LOVOS
SEBASTIAN RAMOS
RICARDO RUIZ-SALINAS
Life imprisonment
Mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
2
Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics – Fentanyl, Heroin
21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(b)(1)(A)
JOSE SERGIO MARTINEZ-AGUILAR
MIGUEL LOVOS
Life imprisonment
Mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
3
Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics - Methamphetamine
21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(b)(1)(A)
JOSE SERGIO MARTINEZ-AGUILAR
VLADIMIR PULSTILINKOV
MIGUEL LOVOS
Life imprisonment
Mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
4
Firearms Offense
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
JOSE SERGIO MARTINEZ-AGUILAR
MIGUEL LOVOS
Life imprisonment
Mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment
5
Firearms Offense
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
VLADIMIR PULSTILINKOV
Life imprisonment
Mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment
* * *
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, the New York City Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. She also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in connection with the arrests of certain of the defendants.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Rushmi Bhaskaran and Jarrod L. Schaeffer are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment and the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and Complaints, and the descriptions set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Saturday 4 July 2020
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on Independence DayRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr has issued the following statement:
“As we celebrate the 244th anniversary of our nation’s birth, we are reminded that the words of the Declaration of Independence are just as important today as they were the day they were written: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’ The Declaration goes on to make it clear that governments exist to secure these rights and derive their power from the consent of the governed. These words form the foundation of freedom and justice in the United States, and the framework for the rule of law.
For much of our history, the fruits of justice and freedom were not available to all Americans, and redeeming the promise of the Founding remains a work in progress. As our nation confronts challenges ranging from a global pandemic to serious unrest and violence, we must recommit ourselves to the timeless principles that give birth to our nation and that bind us together as a people. At the Department of Justice, we will continue working to uphold those principles by protecting individual rights and enforcing the rule of law. I wish all Americans a happy Fourth of July, and as the Department of Justice celebrates its 150th anniversary, I extend particular gratitude to all of our Department employees for the work they do each day, on behalf of the nation we love.”
Friday 3 July 2020
Portland Protester Arrested, Facing Federal Charge After Overnight Attack on Hatfield CourthouseRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Portland man has been arrested for his role in an overnight attack on the Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
“The lawless and violent acts of extremists across the political spectrum cannot continue. Violence directed at federal, state, and local law enforcement and property destruction is inconsistent with the aims of social justice,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “These are criminal acts and individuals who engage in them will be held accountable.”
Rowan M. Olsen, 19, aka Kiefer Alan Moore, was arrested by Federal Protective Service officers in the early morning hours of July 3, 2020, and a criminal complaint alleging destruction of government property is being presented to a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Olsen will remain in custody until his first appearance in federal court on July 6, 2020.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Last night’s demonstration marked a significant escalation in violence against federal property in Portland. Officers from the Federal Protective Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as U.S. Marshals, were assaulted with bottles, rocks, commercial-grade fireworks, and improvised explosives. Other incendiary devices were thrown into the Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
These actions are illegal and will not be tolerated. Perpetrators of violence against federal law enforcement officers and property will face arrest and prosecution.
Nigerian National Expelled from the United Arab Emirates to Face Cyber Fraud Charge in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Nigerian national who allegedly orchestrated an international cyber fraud scheme targeting several U.S.-based companies has been expelled from the United Arab Emirates to face a federal criminal charge in Chicago.
OLALEKAN JACOB PONLE, also known as “Mr. Woodbery” and “Mark Kain,” 29, originally of Lagos, Nigeria, is charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. A criminal complaint accuses Ponle of orchestrating “business email compromise” schemes to defraud several U.S.-based companies. The schemes resulted in attempted or actual losses to victim companies in the tens of millions of dollars, including a Chicago-based company that was defrauded into sending wire transfers totaling $15.2 million, the complaint states.
Ponle was arrested last month by law enforcement in the United Arab Emirates, where he had been residing. He was subsequently expelled from the UAE into the custody of the FBI and arrived in Chicago Thursday evening. Ponle made an initial court appearance this morning in Chicago. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert set a detention hearing for July 9, 2020, at 4:00 p.m.
The complaint and expulsion were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs at the Justice Department provided substantial assistance. The government of the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Wells of the Northern District of Illinois is prosecuting the case.
Ponle’s alleged cyber fraud scheme spanned at least the first nine months of 2019. The complaint describes several instances in which one or more unknown subjects gained unauthorized access to a U.S.-based company’s email account and sent messages to unwitting employees claiming to be from the company or a known business contact. The emails were nearly identical to prior legitimate emails sent over the company’s email account, but the fraudulent emails instructed victims to wire funds to a bank account that was set up by money mules at the direction of Ponle, the complaint states. Ponle then instructed the mules to convert the fraud proceeds to Bitcoin and send them to a virtual wallet that Ponle owned and operated, the complaint states.
In addition to the Chicago-based companies, other victims included companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York, and California, the complaint states.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only accusations and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Nigerian National Brought to U.S. to Face Charges of Conspiring to Launder Hundreds of Millions of Dollars from Cybercrime SchemesRead the Press Release
COMPLAINTLOS ANGELES – A Dubai resident who flaunted his extravagant lifestyle on social media has arrived in the United States to face criminal charges alleging he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams, including schemes targeting a U.S. law firm, a foreign bank and an English Premier League soccer club.
Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, 37, a.k.a. “Ray Hushpuppi” and “Hush,” a Nigerian national, arrived in Chicago Thursday evening after being expelled from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Abbas made his initial U.S. court appearance this morning in Chicago, and he is expected to be transferred to Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
Abbas was arrested last month by UAE law enforcement officials. FBI special agents earlier this week obtained custody of Abbas and brought him to the United States to face a charge of conspiring to engage in money laundering that is alleged in a criminal complaint filed on June 25 by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Abbas maintains social media accounts that frequently showed him in designer clothes, wearing expensive watches, and posing in or with luxury cars and charter jets. “The FBI’s investigation has revealed that Abbas finances this opulent lifestyle through crime, and that he is one of the leaders of a transnational network that facilitates computer intrusions, fraudulent schemes (including BEC schemes), and money laundering, targeting victims around the world in schemes designed to steal hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit describes BEC schemes as often involving a computer hacker gaining unauthorized access to a business’ email account, blocking or redirecting communications to and/or from that email account, and then using the compromised email account or a separate fraudulent email account to communicate with personnel from a victim company and to attempt to trick them into making an unauthorized wire transfer.
“BEC schemes are one of the most difficult cybercrimes we encounter as they typically involve a coordinated group of con artists scattered around the world who have experience with computer hacking and exploiting the international financial system,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “This case targets a key player in a large, transnational conspiracy who was living an opulent lifestyle in another country while allegedly providing safe havens for stolen money around the world. As this case demonstrates, my office will continue to hold such criminals accountable, no matter where they live.”
“In 2019 alone, the FBI recorded $1.7 billion in losses by companies and individuals victimized through business email compromise scams, the type of scheme Mr. Abbas is charged with conducting from abroad,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “While this arrest has effectively taken a major alleged BEC player offline, BEC scams represent the most financially costly type of scheme reported to the FBI. I urge anyone who transfers funds personally or on behalf of a company to educate themselves about BEC so they can identify this insidious scheme before losing sizable amounts of money.”
“This was a challenging case, one that spanned international boundaries, traditional financial systems and the digital sphere,” said Jesse Baker, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Los Angles Field Office. “Technology has essentially erased geographic boundaries leaving trans-national criminal syndicates to believe that they are beyond the reach of law enforcement. The success in this case was the direct result of our trusted partnerships between the Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement colleagues. These partnerships helped dismantle a sophisticated organized crime group who preyed upon unsuspecting businesses. It is thanks to these partnerships that the American people can feel a bit more secure today.”
The affidavit alleges that Abbas and others committed a BEC scheme that defrauded a client of a New York-based law firm out of approximately $922,857 in October 2019. Abbas and co-conspirators allegedly tricked one of the law firm’s paralegals into wiring money intended for the client’s real estate refinancing to a bank account that was controlled by Abbas and the co-conspirators.
The affidavit also alleges that Abbas conspired to launder funds stolen in a $14.7 million cyber-heist from a foreign financial institution in February 2019, in which the stolen money was sent to bank accounts around the world. Abbas allegedly provided a co-conspirator with two bank accounts in Europe that Abbas anticipated each would receive €5 million (about $5.6 million) of the fraudulently obtained funds.
Abbas and others further conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from other fraudulent schemes and computer intrusions, including one scheme to steal £100 million (approximately $124 million) from an English Premier League soccer club, the complaint alleges.
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.
If convicted of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, Abbas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI led the investigation of Abbas, and the United States Secret Service was also involved and provided substantial assistance. The FBI further thanks the government of the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Police Department for their substantial assistance.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anil J. Antony and Joseph B. Woodring of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this matter.
Thursday 2 July 2020
West Monroe Man Sentenced for Bilking Nearly $2 Million from Online CustomersRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a West Monroe man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a scheme that bilked eBay customers out of nearly $2 million.
Randall Keith Byrd, 66, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to serve four years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Doughty also ordered Byrd to pay $1,371,080.66 in restitution. Byrd pled guilty on March 16, 2020, to one count of wire fraud.
According to information presented in court, Byrd used eBay and PayPal to defraud hundreds of eBay customers out of nearly $2 million over a five-week period. Byrd listed and sold gold bullion and/or various types and quantities of gold coins, and primarily received payment through PayPal. Byrd never sent the purchased merchandise to the customers. When eBay customers inquired about the status of their purchase, Byrd provided fraudulent shipping and tracking information to delay the discovery that he had not sent the coins. As part of the scheme, between March 2019 and June 2019, the defendant utilized existing bank accounts and established new bank accounts to conduct financial transactions with the proceeds from his fraudulent coin sales.
In September of 2019, law enforcement officers executed a court-authorized search warrant at Byrd’s residence and found $228,700 in cash, a cashier’s check in the amount of $140,499.22, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, three Rolex watches, 66 gold and silver coins, and 11 firearms.
The FBI and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan prosecuted the case.
# # #
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Warrant and Complaint Seek Seizure of All Iranian Gasoil aboard Four Tankers Headed to Venezuela Based on Connection to IRGCRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A forfeiture complaint and warrant were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all petroleum-product cargo aboard the Bella with international maritime organization (IMO) number 9208124, the Bering with IMO number 9149225, the Pandi with IMO number 9105073, and the Luna with IMO number 9208100 are subject to forfeiture based on the terrorism forfeiture statute.
John Demers, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division; Michael R. Sherwin, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Steven W. Cagen, Special Agent in Charge, Denver, Colorado, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Rainer S. Drolshagen, Special Agent in Charge, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The documents allege a scheme involving multiple parties affiliated with the IRGC to covertly ship Iranian gasoil, obtained via ship-to-ship transfers, to Venezuela. The shipments are alleged to be a “source of influence” for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The documents allege that profits from petroleum sales support the IRGC’s full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad. There are approximately 302,502 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Bella, approximately 302,522 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Bering, approximately 259,700 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Luna, and approximately 298,484 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Pandi. United States District Judge James E. Boasberg issued a warrant to seize all Iranian gasoline on these four vessels, based on a probable cause showing of forfeitability. The warrant commands the property to be brought to the sole jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
A warrant for arrest and civil forfeiture complaint are merely allegations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. Funds successfully forfeited based on terrorism authorities are in part directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/).
In announcing the forfeiture complaint, Assistant Attorney General Demers, Acting U.S. Attorney Sherwin, Special Agent in Charge Cagen, and Special Agent in Charge Drolshagen commended the work of those who investigated the case from HSI and FBI. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zia Faruqui, Brian Hudak, and Stuart Allen; National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, Deputy Chief Elizabeth Cannon and Trial Attorney David Lim; and United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Paralegal Liz Swienc and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick.
Warrant and Complaint Seek Seizure of All Iranian Gasoil Aboard Four Tankers Headed to Venezuela Based on Connection to IRGCRead the Press Release
A forfeiture complaint and warrant were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all petroleum-product cargo aboard the Bella with international maritime organization (IMO) number 9208124, the Bering with IMO number 9149225, the Pandi with IMO number 9105073, and the Luna with IMO number 9208100 are subject to forfeiture based on the terrorism forfeiture statute.
John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division; Michael R. Sherwin, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Steven W. Cagen, Special Agent in Charge, Denver, Colorado, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Rainer S. Drolshagen, Special Agent in Charge, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The documents allege a scheme involving multiple parties affiliated with the IRGC to covertly ship Iranian gasoil, obtained via ship-to-ship transfers, to Venezuela. The shipments are alleged to be a “source of influence” for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The documents allege that profits from petroleum sales support the IRGC’s full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad. There are approximately 302,502 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Bella, approximately 302,522 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Bering, approximately 259,700 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Luna, and approximately 298,484 barrels of Iranian gasoline currently on board the Pandi. United States District Judge James E. Boasberg issued a warrant to seize all Iranian gasoline on these four vessels, based on a probable cause showing of forfeitability. The warrant commands the property to be brought to the sole jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
A warrant for arrest and civil forfeiture complaint are merely allegations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. Funds successfully forfeited based on terrorism authorities are in part directed to the the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/).
In announcing the forfeiture complaint, Assistant Attorney General Demers, Acting U.S. Attorney Sherwin, Special Agent in Charge Cagen, and Special Agent in Charge Drolshagen commended the work of those who investigated the case from HSI and FBI. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zia Faruqui, Brian Hudak, and Stuart Allen; National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, Deputy Chief Elizabeth Cannon and Trial Attorney David Lim; and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Paralegal Liz Swienc and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick.
Violent Convicted Felon Given 7 Year Sentence for Repeatedly Possessing a Firearm and Shooting at an Elderly WomanRead the Press Release
MEMPHIS, TN –Kerrell Jackson, 33, has been sentenced to 84 months imprisonment for being a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on April 16, 2018, a Memphis Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding. Jackson, the driver of the vehicle, was driving 84 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. The Officer asked Jackson to produce his driver’s license. When Jackson reached for his wallet in his back pocket, the Officer saw a Taurus .40 caliber pistol on his person.
On September 9, 2018, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Jackson and an unknown female went to a residence on Neely Road in Memphis, Tennessee, in search of an individual who owed him money from a prior drug debt. A 73 year-old woman answered the door and informed Jackson that the person he was looking for was not there. Jackson became upset and began to wave and point a black firearm at the elderly woman and another man present. Upon leaving the residence Jackson fired three to four shots towards the house and in the direction of both victims.
Jackson has prior violent felony convictions for aggravated assault and facilitation of second degree murder, and was on state probation at the time of these new firearms offenses. As a result of his prior felony conviction history, Jackson is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On November 1, 2019, Jackson pled guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On July 1, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Mark. S. Norris sentenced Jackson to 84 months imprisonment followed by 2 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Jackson was a violent offender who repeatedly possessed and violently discharged a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history and probation status. There is a consequence for such brazen criminal behavior, and we will aggressively use and enforce federal law to incapacitate violent offenders, protect victims, and uphold the rule of law."
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Vermont Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Timothy W. Bentley, age 47, of Saint Albans, Vermont, pled guilty today to being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.
As part of his plea, Bentley admitted that on May 9, 2019, he entered a hardware store in Chazy, New York, took a Mossberg 590 Shockwave firearm from the wall display behind a counter, secreted that firearm in his pants, and walked around the store with a distinctive limp (because the firearm was in his pants). He then left in a car. Bentley has been in custody since his arrest on May 17, 2019. Agents recovered the stolen firearm.
Bentley is prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of a 2011 conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, for aiding and abetting a bank robbery
As a result of this conviction, Bentley faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. on December 8, 2020. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.
Unregistered Sex Offender in the U.S. Illegally Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who was illegally in the United States and was an unregistered sex offender June 25, 2020, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison.
William Noeli Santamaria-Rodriguez, age 36, from El Salvador, received the prison term after a July 26, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry of an aggravated felon and a December 19, 2019, guilty plea to one count of failure to register as a sex offender.
Santamaria-Rodriguez came to the attention of immigration authorities after his July 5, 2019, arrest in Crawford County for driving without a license. In a plea hearing held on July 26, 2019, Santamaria-Rodriguez admitted he was illegally in the United States after being deported as an aggravated felon to El Salvador on May 16, 2008. His deportation was the result of a June 15, 2006, conviction of two counts of assault with intent/sex abuse in Crawford County, Iowa. Santamaria-Rodriguez was required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and knowingly failed to do so. The Iowa Sex Offense Registry and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office records do not show the defendant ever registered as a sex offender since his illegal reentry in 2008 through July 5, 2019.
Santamaria-Rodriguez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Santamaria-Rodriguez was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Santamaria-Rodriguez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations and the United States Marshals Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 19-CR-4041 and 19-CR-4081.
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United States Attorney and the Internal Revenue Service Remind Taxpayers of Upcoming Filing Deadline and to Remain Vigilant for FraudRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. and Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Steiner, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), St. Louis Field Office, are reminding taxpayers that the tax filing and payment deadline is July 15, and to continue to be on the lookout for scam artists.
Deegan and Steiner made the announcement today to urge people who owe taxes, even if they have a filing extension, to carefully review their situation and pay what they can by July 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
Due to COVID-19, the original filing deadline and tax payment due date for 2019 was postponed from April 15 to July 15. For people facing hardships, including those affected by COVID-19, who cannot pay in full, the IRS has several options available on IRS.gov/payments.
“Taxpayers who are unable to pay their taxes in full should act as quickly as possible since interest and penalties can rapidly accumulate when more time passes,” warned Steiner. “You must pay the taxes you owe by July 15.”
In addition, Deegan and Steiner reminded taxpayers that scammers are hard at work looking for ways to steal your personal information and your money. Stay alert! The IRS will not contact you by phone, email or social media to ask for personal information. It is a scam.
“There are those who will seek to shamelessly prey upon vulnerable victims and American taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Deegan. “Working with the criminal investigators from the IRS, my office will continue to prosecute and hold responsible those who do. But I urge all taxpayers to remain vigilant to prevent themselves and those close to them from becoming victims.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are focusing on bringing to justice criminals that use taxpayer’s personal information as an opportunity to commit a crime, especially those looking to prey on vulnerable taxpayers,” said Steiner.
For official information, go directly and solely to IRS.gov.
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U.S. Attorneys Announce Appointment of Michigan's First Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons CoordinatorRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Andrew Birge and Matthew Schneider, the U.S. Attorneys for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan respectively, announced the appointment of Joel Postma to serve as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Coordinator for the two districts. As the MMIP Coordinator for both districts, Mr. Postma will respond to MMIP issues affecting each of the 12 Tribes in the state.
Mr. Postma is one of ten such Coordinators around the country appointed by the Department of Justice. He will gather reliable data to identify MMIP cases connected to Michigan, conduct outreach with Tribal communities to understand the challenges revealed through past experience, coordinate with Tribal, federal, state and local law enforcement in the development of protocols and procedures for responding to and addressing MMIP, provide training and assistance and promote improved data collection and analyses throughout Michigan. Mr. Postma will work out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Grand Rapids in order to facilitate meeting with each of the 12 Michigan Tribal communities, as circumstances allow.
Prior to accepting the MMIP appointment, Mr. Postma served for 25 years as an agent of the FBI. His service with the FBI included several years working cases involving missing and runaway children as well as death investigations in Indian Country in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was an early and active participant in Tribal Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) and Child Protection Team (CPT) meetings. He also established protocols for drug investigations in Indian Country and initiated a "ride-along" program to foster a better working relationship between the FBI and Tribal law enforcement.
"We are very excited to welcome Mr. Postma into this important new position designed to serve native crime victims and their families. Tribal communities have long suffered disproportionate violent crime and now the MMIP challenges in particular have caught the attention of the Department. Mr. Postma is eminently qualified to help respond to the challenges and comes recommended to us by Tribal as well as state and federal law enforcement members who know him," said U.S. Attorney Birge.
U.S. Attorney Schneider added that, "Joel Postma has outstanding qualifications, and he will be a great asset as Michigan’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Coordinator. We are pleased to have him join our team to serve and support Tribal communities and our partners in law enforcement."
On November 22, 2019, Attorney General William Barr launched a national strategy to address missing and murdered Native Americans. When establishing the MMIP Initiative, the Department of Justice made an initial investment of $1.5 million to hire MMIP coordinators to serve with U.S. Attorney’s Offices in 11 states, including Michigan. The strategy also calls for the deployment of the FBI’s most advanced response capabilities when needed, improved data collection and analysis, and training to support local response efforts.
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 Announces Nearly $11.6 Million Awarded to Nevada to Help Address COVID-19Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada announced today that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has awarded nearly $11.6 million in grant funding to Nevada, including the City of Las Vegas, City of Reno, and Nevada Department of Public Safety.
“This funding will help Nevada respond to public safety challenges posed by COVID-19, including assisting agencies with meeting the needs of their officers and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “We appreciate OJP’s support in making these resources available to our state.”
The grants were recently awarded as part of the $850 million available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. This program allowed eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply for funding. A list of all awards can be found at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/cesf/awards. Below are the awardees in Nevada:
RecipientAward Amount
Nevada Department of Public Safety$7,385,200
City of North Las Vegas $537,416 Washoe County $36,862 City of Carson City $40,461 Henderson Police Department $128,895 City of Reno $376,434 Clark County $1,485,666City of Las Vegas
$1,485,666
Sparks Police Department $99,236The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act gives jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of funds for responding to the COVID-19 situation. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment and distributing resources to hard-hit areas. Funds may also be used to help correctional facilities cover costs related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, sanitation, contagion prevention and measures designed to address the related medical needs of inmates, detainees and correctional personnel.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program were candidates for the emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations. For more information, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553.
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Two Men Sentenced in Child Exploitation CasesRead the Press Release
COMPUTER MONITORING OF PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY, MAN LEADS TO 15 YEAR SENTENCE
MADISON, IN, MAN ON SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR TRAVELING TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUNG CHILD
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - A Campbellsville, Kentucky, man, has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release for attempted receipt of child pornography and accessing the internet with intent to view child pornography, thanks to detection software monitored by United States Probation officers. James S. Wolfe, 56, was found guilty of the charges by jury trial in January after less than 30 minutes of deliberation.
LOUISVILE, Ky. - A Madison, Indiana, man, Jon Michael Helms, 46, was also sentenced on Monday. Helms was sentenced by United States District Judge Justin R. Walker to 30 years’ imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release for interstate travel to engage in a sexual act with a child under 12.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“We as parents must face the reality of the growing threat to our kids from the combination of predators and technology; not just to other families or neighborhoods, but a risk to every household with a screen,” said U.S Attorney Russell Coleman. “Though the bright spot being that whether the badge of a U.S. Secret Service Agent, Kentucky Attorney General Detective, U.S. Probation Officer, or credentials of a federal prosecutor, Kentucky law enforcement is unified in giving no quarter in battling to keep our children safe.”
U.S. v. James S. Wolfe
On July 2, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment charging Wolfe with attempted receipt of child pornography and accessing with the intent to view child pornography. At the time of the charges, Wolfe was serving a 10-year term of Supervised Release imposed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. In that case, Wolfe pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography.
On November 29, 2017, Wolfe was released from the Bureau of Prisons and his 10-year term of Supervised Release commenced. The United States Probation Office in the Western District of Kentucky agreed to accept Wolfe for supervision after changes were made to the conditions of the supervision. Wolfe moved to Campbellsville, Kentucky, where he lived with his mother and older brother. He requested permission to have access to a computer. The United States Probation Office agreed to the request, but Wolfe was supposed to use the computer with internet access to seek employment and conduct routine business. And, the computer had to have monitoring software loaded on it to keep track of Wolfe’s activities. The supervising Probation Officer met with Wolfe and explained the monitoring process to him and his mother. Computer monitoring began on April 24, 2018.
Less than a week later, the monitoring company contacted the Probation Officer concerning Wolfe’s search activities. On May 7, 2018, the Probation Office received notification that Wolfe’s computer was not reporting back to the monitoring company’s servers. Two days after the reinstallation of the monitoring software the Probation Office was again notified of concerning activity on Wolfe’s computer. The search terms clearly referred to children and sexual activity. On May 25, 2018, the supervising Probation Officer conducted an unscheduled home visit and made contact with Wolfe and his mother. When confronted by the Probation Officer concerning the online activity, Wolfe stated that he didn’t think anything he had searched or viewed constituted pornography. The Probation Officer seized the computer, an unauthorized cellular telephone and numerous pages of handwritten notes (containing, among other things, lists of web sites).
A forensic examination of the computer conducted by the United States Secret Service revealed search terms indicative of child sexual exploitation as well as shadow copies of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children. The Secret Service prepared a report and provided it to the United States Probation Office. The United States Probation Officer submitted the information to the Court in support of an action to revoke Wolfe’s Supervised Release and Senior United States District Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr., revoked his release on June 3, 2019. Wolfe’s conduct also led to the filing of the new charges for which he was convicted by a jury on January 15, 2020, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, before Chief United States District Judge Greg N. Stivers.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless and was investigated by the United States Probation Office and the United States Secret Service.
U.S. v. Jon Michael Helms
According to the Plea Agreement, a Detective with the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations engaged in an online undercover investigation concerning child sexual exploitation. The Detective entered a secret group on a social media platform while maintaining an Undercover Persona (UC). On July 20, 2018, the Detective received a message from an unknown party on the Messenger Application with the username: “heartbreaker1974,” who sent several images and videos of suspected Child Sex Abuse during the time the Detective observed the group chat.
On July 30, 2018, "heartbreaker 1974" – later determined to be Jon Michael Helms -- sent a direct message to the UC over the application. During the conversation, Helms stated he was a male in Madison, Indiana, and that he had been engaging his daughter in sexual abuse from 6 months of age until the present (claiming child was 10 at the time). He then provided two images of a female child purported to be his daughter along with a phone number. Helms and the Detective talked on the phone and continued communicating for several days. During that time, the Detective learned Helms’ identity as well as the fact that he was listed on the Indiana Sex Offender Registry (underlying conviction -- 2014 in Jennings County, Indiana, for possession of child pornography).
Helms requested to meet with the Detective (who he believed was an 11-year-old child) to engage in sexual acts. Helms also stated he had previously engaged in sex with a two-year-old child. The two agreed to meet on August 4, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. Law enforcement officials tracked Helms from Madison to Louisville. When they saw him approaching the agreed upon location, they stopped the car and arrested Helms, the only passenger in the vehicle. After being advised of his constitutional rights, Helms waived those rights and admitted that he had travelled to Louisville from his home in Indiana to meet a person he had communicated with over the messaging application. He also admitted that he had posted images and videos of child pornography to the app. Later review of his phone confirmed it had been used by Helms to communicate with the Detective.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless. The Kentucky Office of Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations led the investigation with significant assistance from the United States Secret Service.
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Two Luzerne County Men Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking and Ammunition OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kearon Brinson, age 40, of West Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and Lamont Hubbard, age 49, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, were indicted on June 30, 2020, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and ammunition charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Brinson and Hubbard conspired to traffic in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl between January 2019 and February 2020 in Luzerne County. Brinson was charged with possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, and Hubbard with possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, both on February 24, 2020. Hubbard also was charged with possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Luzerne Country Drug Task Force, and the Kingston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
This case further was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious drug offense is 40 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty under federal law for the ammunition offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Two Las Vegas Men Indicted for Distributing Opioids Resulting in A DeathRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Marco Cebrenos-Osuna, 29, of North Las Vegas, who is accused of distributing opioids resulting in the death of another person, made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the DEA.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Cebrenos-Osuna and Daniel Anguiano, 41, of Las Vegas, with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and one count of distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. Cebrenos-Osuna was arrested on June 30, 2020, and Anguiano was arrested on May 27, 2020. A jury trial has been scheduled before U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon on August 21, 2020.
As alleged in the indictment, Anguiano and Cebrenos-Osuna conspired to and distributed oxycodone, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, resulting in the death of a man who obtained opioids from them. Oxycodone and fentanyl are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, and acetyl fentanyl is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance:
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is approximately 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl poses a high risk of death not only to users, but to law enforcement since the drug may be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. A few milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, may be deadly.
- Acetyl fentanyl is an analog of fentanyl that is 10-15 times more potent than morphine. Acetyl fentanyl has never been approved for medical use and is not available by prescription.
- Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is a common drug of abuse. It can be prescribed for managing moderate to severe pain when other treatments are not sufficient.
If convicted, Aguiano and Cebrenos-Osuna each face: (a) a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine for the conspiracy to distribute oxycodone; and (b) a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment (with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment) and a $10,000,000 fine for distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. In addition to imprisonment and fines, the defendants also each face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is the product of an investigation by the DEA.
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Two Convicted Felons Indicted for Armed Robbery of 7-ElevenRead the Press Release
St. Louis, Missouri – Monte Kent, 32, of St. Louis, and Harvey Cameron, 29, of St. Louis, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Cameron was also indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on June 21, 2020, Kent and Cameron robbed the 7-Eleven at 5350 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, Missouri. As Kent drove a black Cadillac sedan to the front of the store, Cameron got out of the sedan with an AK-style pistol while clutching a trash bag. Kent remained in the driver’s seat. Once inside the store, Cameron pointed the gun at a 7-Eleven employee and demanded the entire cash register drawer. The employee put the cash drawer in the trash bag. Cameron then left the store and got into the black Cadillac sedan. Kent and Cameron drove away.
Shortly after the robbery, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers were advised of the location of a Cadillac sedan matching the description parked on Blair Avenue in St. Louis. The officers exited their police vehicle and announced their presence. But, Kent and Cameron sped off, driving recklessly through the City of St. Louis. When the vehicle finally hit a dead end, Kent and Cameron got out of the sedan and fled on foot. They were subsequently apprehended.
Officers searched the black Cadillac sedan. There was a black trash bag in it with over $90, the 7-Eleven cash register drawer, as well as the AK-style pistol.
If convicted, the charge of robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a minimum sentence of seven years; and felon in possession carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on all charges. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
These charges are the result of a joint investigation by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three men indicted for conspiracy to submit fraudulent tax refund claims for fictitious business entitiesRead the Press Release
Justin Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a four-count indictment charging Brandon R. Mace, age 43, of Youngstown, Terris Chanley Baker, age 49, of Canton and Robert J. Rohrbaugh II, age 46, of Youngstown with Conspiracy to Commit Offenses against the United States, Aiding and Abetting Theft of Government Property, Aiding and Abetting False Claims against the United States and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
According to the indictment, from March 2015 to April 2016, the defendants conspired together to submit fraudulent federal income tax returns in the names of various fictitious entities to the IRS in order to obtain tax refunds for the enrichment of themselves and others. On one occasion, the defendants were successful in obtaining a refund check for a fictitious business in the amount of $1,352,779. After obtaining the refund, the defendants then attempted to launder the money by purchasing high-end and luxury vehicles.
In order to carry out their conspiracy, the defendants created phony business entities, trusts, Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and prepared fraudulent income tax return documents, which reported large tax withholdings that never existed.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Miller.
Three Individuals Charged with Trying to Steal Cash from Aurora ATMRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Three men have been charged in federal court with attempting to steal cash from an automated-teller machine in downtown Aurora.
On the evening of May 31, 2020, FERMIN OCAMPO-TELLEZ, DIEGO VARGAS, and MICHAEL GOMEZ, along with other individuals, attempted to remove the ATM from its enclosure in the drive-through area of a First Midwest Bank branch in the first block of South Broadway in Aurora, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The trio forcibly grabbed the machine and Ocampo-Tellez repeatedly struck it with a baseball bat in an unsuccessful attempt to move it, the complaint states. No money was taken, but bank officials estimated it will cost $30,000 to repair the machine, the complaint states.
The complaint charges Ocampo-Tellez, 27, Vargas, 24, and Gomez, 19, all of Aurora, with one count of conspiracy to commit bank theft. All three defendants were arrested Wednesday and have made initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. The investigation remains ongoing.
The complaint and arrests were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. The Aurora Police Department and Naperville Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate McClelland.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. sentencing guidelines.
Thee Michigan men indicted for distribution of THC vape cartridgesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio – A federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio has returned a two-count indictment charging Artyom Garber, age 33, Paul Queenan, age 64 and John Botsford, age 62, all of Michigan with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC).
According to court documents, Garber (formally of Cleveland, Ohio), Queenan and Botsford agreed to deliver 9,800 THC vape cartridges from Ann Arbor, Michigan to a residence in Cleveland, Ohio. On October 10, 2019, agents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) performed an investigative stop of Queenan and Botsford in Cleveland and seized the cartridges. During an investigation, detectives learned of an additional 700 THC cartridges remaining in a storage unit in Dearborn Heights, Michigan that belonged to Garber and Queenan.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation was conducted by the FDA – Office of Criminal Investigations in conjunction with the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Commission Major Crimes Task Force. The Task Force consists of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, FDA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell.
St. Francis Man Indicted on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
Kendall Elk Looks Back, age 29, was indicted on March 9, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 29, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $10,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on January 13, 2019, in Todd County, Elk Looks Back knowingly possessed a weapon less than sixteen inches in length, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The charge is merely an accusation and Elk Looks Back is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Elk Looks Back was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
South Bend Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Rumaldo Gamboa, age 45, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Michael G. Gotsch, Sr. on his guilty plea to simple assault, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
According to documents in this case, Mr. Gamboa is a non-Indian while the victim is a Native American woman, a tribal member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. At the time of the incident, the victim was Mr. Gamboa’s spouse and intimate partner. The incident occurred on tribal land, in the Pokagon tribal village located just outside of South Bend.
“The United States has an important relationship with the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians and crimes that occur on this federally-recognized tribal land of the Pokagon Band will be taken seriously by my Office,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch. “We understand the importance of prosecuting domestic violence crimes to ensure the safety of women in tribal communities. We will continue to work in unison with the Pokagon Band to protect the safety of its tribal citizens, while respecting the Pokagon Band’s sovereignty and culture.”
Pokagon Police Chief William Lux said, “The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is a federally-recognized sovereign nation and is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in the U.S. government to protect our tribal citizens and to prosecute those who violate the law on Pokagon land, especially crimes of domestic violence. The safety of Native American women in domestic situations is an extremely important concern to Native American communities. We appreciate the support of the FBI and U.S. Attorney Kirsch in prosecuting Mr. Gamboa for his crime committed against a member of our tribal community.”
This case was investigated by the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
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Santa Ana Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possessing Nearly One Kilogram of Fentanyl and Gun in His Bedroom ClosetRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man who was arrested after authorities uncovered at his residence nearly one kilogram of the extremely potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, as well as a .45 caliber pistol, was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison.
Guillermo Ernesto Sanchez Hermosillo, 43, of Santa Ana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton. Hermosillo pleaded guilty on January 24 to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Hermosillo received a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for the fentanyl crime and a consecutive five-year mandatory minimum sentence for the firearm offense.
After receiving information that Hermosillo was engaging in drug-trafficking activities, officers with the Huntington Beach Police Department and a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives went to Hermosillo’s apartment on July 31, 2018 to conduct a probation compliance check. Hermosillo was on probation after sustaining a conviction in a domestic violence case four months earlier. At the time of the search, there were three minors in the apartment, including a 3-week-old baby.
Hermosillo admitted in his plea agreement that at the time of the July 2018 search, in a bedroom closet in his residence, he possessed 891 grams of fentanyl, nearly two kilograms of heroin and approximately 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. Hermosillo also admitted to knowingly possessing a firearm – a Glock.45 caliber pistol – in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The ATF and the Huntington Beach Police Department investigated this matter.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anne C. Gannon of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
Salem New Hampshire Police Captain Arrested for Tax Fraud Related to Profit from Sales of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Captain with the Salem, N.H. Police Department was arrested today and charged with tax fraud deriving from profits he earned from selling firearms.
Michael Wagner, 48, of Pelham, N.H., was arrested and charged in an indictment unsealed today on one count of filing a false tax return. Wagner will make an initial appearance via videoconference at 2:15 p.m. in federal court in Boston. Wagner is a Captain with the Salem, N.H. Police Department.
The indictment alleges that in December 2012 and January 2013, Wagner purchased approximately 36 assault rifles from Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, N.H. and resold them in 2013 to earn a profit of more than $33,000 that Wagner purposely omitted from his 2013 tax return. Wagner allegedly used a 25 percent discount that Sig Sauer offered law enforcement officers, which increased his profit, and directed a subordinate police officer to make a purchase of an assault rifle for him after Sig Sauer stopped giving Wagner the law enforcement discount. The indictment further alleges that Wagner overstated his deductions in his 2013 tax return by falsely claiming more than $10,000 in reimbursed expenses for police equipment, ammunition and firearms.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Boston Field Division; Attorney General of New Hampshire Gordon MacDonald; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rush Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead 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 Rungrot Phimthong, 26, of Rush, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that on October 10, 2018, the defendant possessed a laptop computer, which contained more than 600 images of child pornography. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors or minors under 12 years-old. Phimthong also admitted that prior to December 21, 2017, he electronically sent images of child pornography to other individuals with whom he was communicating.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 29, 2020, before Judge Geraci.
# # # #Rochester Gun Store Burglar Admits to Lying About Military MedalsRead 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 Marcos D. Guzman, 36, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to making fraudulent representations about the receipt of military medals before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that Guzman lied to the U.S. Probation Office about his military service and being awarded two Purple Hearts in order to try to get a lower sentence on two pending firearms offenses. Specifically, the defendant lied about serving in the United States National Guard, being deployed to Iraq for 18 months, and receiving two Purple Hearts for saving another soldier on the battlefield in Iraq. Guzman provided photographs to the U.S. Probation Office that purported to show the two Purple Heart certificates. The Purple Heart certificates were fake.
In April 2019, Guzman was convicted of theft of firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, after stealing approximately 87 firearms from Chinappi’s Firearms & Supplies, a gun store on West Ridge Road in Spencerport, NY. Co-defendants Dakota Sarfaty and Luis D. Marcano-Agosto have also been convicted. Many of the firearms were sold on the streets of Rochester.
“As our Nation comes together to celebrate July 4th, we also reflect on those brave men and women of the military who made, and who continue to make, sacrifices so that we may enjoy the blessings of liberty,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “For a convicted armed felon and thief to attempt to receive leniency for his criminal acts by fraudulently cloaking himself in an honor reserved for our bravest of military heroes is the antithesis of honor and conduct which is deserving of special recognition—in the form of its very own criminal conviction.”
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Algieri; and the Yates County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Ron Spike.
Guzman is scheduled to be sentenced for both the firearms offenses and lying about the military medals on August 12, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
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Reno Resident Arrested and Charged for Breaking Windows at Reno Federal Courthouse During May 30 Civil UnrestRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. — Keith Leroy Moreno, 27, of Reno, made his initial court appearance today for allegedly destroying federal property on May 30, 2020, in Reno, following a protest relating to George Floyd’s death, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI, and U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield for the U.S. Marshals Service.
“Our office is committed to protecting the First Amendment right to peacefully protest and demonstrate,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “But violence, destruction, and vandalism, including damage to federal property such as courthouses, will not be tolerated.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Rouse stated: “The FBI’s mission is to uphold the Constitution, which includes freedom of speech and the right to assemble. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to ensure individuals who destroy parts of our city will be held accountable.”
As alleged in court documents, in the late evening of May 30, 2020, Moreno threw a cigarette receptacle (weighing about 23 pounds) and two rocks through the first floor windows of the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Courthouse, located at 400 South Virginia Street in Reno. Moreno broke three of the courthouse’s windows.
Subsequently, Moreno allegedly boasted about having thrown the receptacle through a courthouse window on May 30. In addition, Moreno allegedly bragged that law enforcement was not smart enough to find him and claimed that, if there was further civil unrest or rioting, “I’d go right back to it.”
Moreno was arrested on Wednesday, July 1, and he had his initial appearance via video conference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes of the Eastern District of California.
If convicted, Moreno faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for destruction of government property. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only. If convicted of any offense, the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct for purposes of establishing probable cause, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Nevada Attorney General's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Penelope Brady is prosecuting the case.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced for Internet CrimeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography was sentenced on June 16, 2020, by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court Judge.
Kody Ronning, age 23, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ronning also will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Ronning was arrested and federally indicted following his participation in multiple chats and text messages with a person Ronning believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent. Ronning requested sexually explicit images from the 14-year-old undercover persona between September 2018 and October 2018.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Ronning was immediately remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
James Dakota Miller, age 21, was indicted on June 11, 2020. Miller appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on June 24, 2020, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 5 up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Miller receiving and possessing child pornography between March, 2016 and January, 2020 at Rapid City. The charges are merely an accusation and Miller is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is a joint effort between the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Miller was detained pending trial. A trial date has been set.
Poplarville Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Mississippi – Brian Travis, 40, of Poplarville, Mississippi was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to serve life in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Travis was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.00.
On July 3, 2019, as part of an ongoing DEA investigation into Travis, law enforcement officials executed federal search warrants on two properties in Poplarville, Mississippi. During the execution of the warrants, law enforcement officials located approximately 19 pounds of methamphetamine. Subsequent testing indicated the methamphetamine had a purity of approximately 99%. Additional investigation revealed that Travis was involved with the distribution of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and led to the seizure of over $40,000.00 and a car.
On August 6, 2019, Travis was charged in a federal criminal indictment. He pled guilty before Judge Guirola on November 26, 2019, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shundral Cole.
Payne County Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years for Possession of Multiple Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – BRANDON TODD HATCHETT, 46, of Ripley, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 130 months in prison for possessing seven firearms and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
On June 19, 2019, Hatchett was charged by superseding indictment with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. The superseding indictment set forth seven firearms that Hatchett possessed, including two AR-15 style rifles.
On October 13, 2019, Hatchett pled guilty to both counts of the superseding indictment.
On July 1, 2020, U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Hatchett to 120 months in prison on the firearms count, to be followed by 10 months of imprisonment on the ammunition count. Judge DeGiusti also imposed three years of supervised release.
According to evidence at sentencing, on April 5, 2019, Hatchett pulled up to a residence in Ripley, Oklahoma, armed with an arsenal of weapons and ammunition sitting beside him in the cab of his truck. Hatchett engaged in a confrontation with an individual at the residence, which led to a car chase through Main Street in Ripley. During the chase, Hatchett pulled his truck alongside the passenger side of the other vehicle where he fired multiple rounds from his AR-style rifle into the other vehicle. Shrapnel from one of the rounds struck the driver in the leg. Following the shooting, the Payne County Sheriff’s Department organized a manhunt for Hatchett. He was later arrested by the Logan County Sheriff’s Department. At the time of his arrest, Hatchett had all seven firearms in his possession.
On April 20, 2019, the Payne County Sheriff’s Department learned that Hatchett had purchased additional rounds of ammunition from a Walmart store. Hatchett was again arrested and held pending sentencing on both offenses.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Payne County Sheriff’s Department, and the Logan County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wilson D. McGarry and Lori Hines prosecuted the case.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man was sentenced to federal prison for a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Keith Saunders, 33, was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.
“Great work by the Parkersburg Police Department and the ATF. Our communities are safer with one less drug dealer on the streets,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
Saunders admitted that on two separate occasions in 2017, he met with confidential informants working with the Parkersburg Police Department and sold the informants methamphetamine. Saunders also had attempted to sell a firearm to the confidential informant, but was unable to complete the transaction. On October 29, 2019, Saunders admitted that he sold heroin to a confidential informant again working with the Parkersburg Police Department. On October 30, 2019, a state search warrant was executed at Saunders’ home where ammunition in addition to several digital scales were located. Saunders admitted to being addicted to methamphetamine for several years and told investigators that he sold approximately half a pound of methamphetamine a week in order to support his drug addiction.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution.
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Owner of Fraudulent Telemarketing Company Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Samuel Friedman (47, Pasco County) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Friedman owned and operated a telemarketing operation known as SKF Enterprises, LLC. SKF targeted the Medicare-aged population to generate orders for durable medical equipment (“DME”) and cancer genetic (“CGx”) testing. SKF’s call center employees were trained to follow a script of triage questions designed to upsell DME and CGx testing to Medicare beneficiaries. SKF then packaged this information into the format of a prescription for doctors’ approval under the guise of “telemedicine,” but no proper telemedicine occurred. Rather, doctors’ signatures were secured in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. During the scheme, Friedman bribed numerous doctors, through fraudulent “telemedicine” companies, to sign and to approve thousands of DME and CGx-testing orders, regardless of medical necessity.
Once signed by doctors, Friedman sold the prescriptions to client-conspirators for submission to Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The conspirators attempted to conceal their illegal kickback relationships using sham boilerplate marketing agreements. For these illegal sales, conspirators paid SKF more than $3.4 million.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Fiore.
Northridge Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Federal Prison for Running $3.3 Million Scheme that Used Stolen Identities of ChildrenRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 259 months in federal prison for overseeing a long-running $3.3 million credit card, loan and real estate fraud scheme using stolen identities, primarily that of children.
Turhan Lemont Armstrong, 50, of Northridge, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $3,305,609 in restitution. Judge Klausner also has ordered the forfeiture of two homes – one in Northridge, the other in Perris – purchased with illicit funds obtained from the scheme.
At the conclusion of a two-week trial that ended in May 2019, a jury found Armstrong guilty of all 51 counts in a federal grand jury indictment. The indictment included charges of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, financial institution fraud, making false statements to financial institutions, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to commit access device (credit card) fraud, access device fraud, interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, and aggravated identity theft.
Armstrong used stolen identities and Social Security numbers to obtain credit cards, open bank accounts, set up shell companies, apply for loans, and purchase homes and cars. Armstrong and his co-defendants favored using the Social Security numbers of children and people who had left the United States because they would be less likely to monitor their credit.
In addition to using fraudulently obtained credit cards to purchase goods, members of the scheme were able to use point-of-sale terminals maintained by “collusive merchants,” which allowed them to make what were essentially cash withdrawals.
Armstrong and his co-conspirators also used the fraudulent information to apply for loans from financial institutions across the country. In some instances, Armstrong obtained loans for cars that had already been exported out of the United States.
Armstrong did not report any income to the IRS for the years 2009 through 2017 – yet he maintained residences in Georgia, Florida and the Sherwood Forest neighborhood of Northridge. When authorities went to Armstrong’s apartment in Atlanta in late 2017 to arrest him pursuant to the indictment, he evaded law enforcement, only to be arrested three days later leaving his house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Investigators executed search warrants at all three of Armstrong’s homes, as well as two storage units in the Los Angeles area, where they discovered false identity documents, hundreds of credit cards in various names, and lists of Social Security numbers belonging to other people.
“[Armstrong’s] criminal conduct was more than a series of bad decisions – it was a way of life,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. “The victims of [Armstrong’s] crimes run the gamut: banks, credit card issuers, car dealerships, utility companies, and the people all over the country whose identities [he] stole.”
The total loss to the victims in this case is $3,305,609, according to court documents.
Co-defendants Mounir Deiri, 59, of Van Nuys, and Andres Velarde, 57, of Culver City, each pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges in this case and are serving federal prison sentences of 51 months and 60 months, respectively.
The investigation of Armstrong was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Substantial assistance was provided by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Police Department, and the North Miami Beach Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section, Allison L. Westfahl Kong, Chief of the General Crimes Section, and Michael Sew Hoy of the Asset Forfeiture Section.
Northeast Ohio priest indicted on charges of child pornography, child exploitation and juvenile sex traffickingRead the Press Release
Justin Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio has returned an eight-count indictment against Robert D. McWilliams, age 40, of Strongsville. The defendant is charged with two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children, one count of Transportation of Child Pornography, one count of Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged In Sexually Explicit Conduct and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
“Today’s indictment reflect the serious and elaborate nature of the acts allegedly taken by the defendant to traffic and exploit local area children,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “The alleged acts committed in this case are a disturbing and strong reminder for parents to be vigilant about who their children talk to and what they do online.”
“Allegations of child exploitation against a trusted member of the religious community has long-term reverberations beyond just the criminal acts of the accused," said Vance Callender, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit. "Identifying people who violate their positions of public trust will always be a priority for those in HSI that investigate child exploitation."
According to court documents, from 2017-2019, McWilliams engaged in sexually explicit conduct and behavior involving minors. McWilliams pretended to be a female on social media applications, which he used to make contact with minor male victims. Allegedly, certain of McWilliams’s victims were young boys McWilliams knew because he served as a priest in parishes with which these children and their families were affiliated.
Posing as a female, McWilliams allegedly enticed the minor male victims to send sexually explicit photographs and videos, sometimes threatening to expose embarrassing information McWilliams already knew about the victims if they did not send such images. At times, McWilliams is alleged to have threatened to send those photographs to family and friends if the minor male victims did not send additional photographs and videos. McWilliams is also alleged to have followed through on this threat by sending the mothers sexually explicit photographs he received from minor male victims.
The affidavit also alleges that McWilliams was in possession of, received or distributed approximately 1,700 images and videos of child pornography and approximately 150 files of child pornography in a Dropbox cloud storage account.
Additionally, McWilliams is alleged to have used the social networking website Grindr.com to make contact with a minor male victim for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex. McWilliams allegedly met the victim on multiple occasions and, in exchange for sex, paid the victim for each act.
Anyone with knowledge of McWilliams’s contact with children should contact Homeland Security Investigations at (216) 749-9602.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation is being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office and Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carol M. Skutnik and Bridget M. Brennan.
Nine Michigan Residents Facing Federal Charges for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that an indictment was returned charging nine Michigan residents with trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and suboxone between November 2018 and June 2020. The alleged conspiracy involved current and former inmates of the Michigan Department of Corrections procuring controlled substances from Mexico and distributing them in Alger, Luce, Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Van Buren Counties. The charges carry varying maximum penalties, including up to life in prison for some of the defendants.
The following individuals were charged:
Name
Age
Residence
Luis Alberto Cruz
30
Detroit, Michigan
Carlos Martinez a/k/a "Los"
41
Norton Shores, Michigan
Umberto Gavier Cruz a/k/a "Diablo"
66
Covert, Michigan
Emmanuel Alfonso Ventura a/k/a "E"
28
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Rocky Joseph Krupa a/k/a "Rock"
46
Traverse City, Michigan
Jesus Cortez
40
Lansing, Michigan
Sarah Joy McBride
32
Allegan, Michigan
Cecil William Wallis
33
Twin Lake, Michigan
Arnulfo Trevino a/k/a "Nulfo"
63
Muskegon, Michigan
Further details of the investigation are available in the criminal complaints filed in United States v. Luis Alberto Cruz, No. 1:20-mj-00145 and United States v. Carlos Martinez, No. 1:20-mj-179.
The charges are the result of a combined federal, state, and local investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Michigan Department of Corrections, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, and the Michigan State Police and its sponsored drug trafficking task forces: the West Michigan Enforcement Team, the Southwest Enforcement Team, and the Traverse Narcotics Team.
The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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New Kensington Woman Pleads to Copyright Infringement ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of copyright, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Sherry Collingwood, age 60, of New Kensington, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from January 2014, and continuing until March 2017, Collingwood willfully infringed the copyright of one or more copyrighted works, to include "Blue Bloods," "Vikings," "Dexter," "True Blood," "Breaking Bad," and "Californication," and other television shows and motion pictures that have been released for sale to the public. She did this by reproducing and distributing for private financial gain, ten or more copies of one or more copyrighted works during a 180-day period. The copies have a total retail value of more than $2,500. .
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Collingwood.
Morris County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A 36-year-old Daingerfield, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Michael Leon Wood pleaded guilty on May 5, 2020, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. Wood also agreed to forfeiture of $3,625, which he received from selling methamphetamine.
According to information presented in court, on March 1, 2018, Wood delivered an ounce of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $600. On Jan. 15, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Wood’s residence in Morris County and recovered approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, $1,150 in cash, a rifle, a pistol, and a shotgun. Wood admitted to being responsible for distributing approximately 96 grams of methamphetamine.
Wood was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 16, 2019 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
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Monroe County Man Sentenced to 300 Months’ Imprisonment for Fentanyl Laced Heroin Distributions Resulting in DeathsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Vincent Ingino, age 28, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania was sentenced on July 1, 2020, to 300 months’ imprisonment followed by three-years supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for distributions of controlled substances resulting in two deaths.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Ingino was convicted by a jury in February 2020 on two counts of knowingly and intentionally distributing controlled substances that included a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, causing the deaths of two individuals. In August 2018, Ingino drove to Patterson, New Jersey to obtain bundles of heroin for resale in the Stroudsburg area. Ingino first sold fentanyl laced heroin to a 24-year-old male on August 10, 2018; he made another sale of fentanyl laced heroin to a 28-year-old male on August 11, 2018. Both men were found dead by friends and family the day after Ingino’s sales of drugs to them.
At sentencing, members of both families made moving statements to the Court, which Judge Mannion acknowledged.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, the Pennsylvania State Police, and detectives from the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Olshefski and Jenny Roberts.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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Mission Man Indicted for Second Degree Murder and Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder and Assault With a Dangerous Weapon.
Nathan Blue Bird, Sr., age 37, was indicted on June 11, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 30, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is any term of years up to life in 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.
The Indictment alleges that on May 30, 2020, Blue Bird killed a man by striking him repeatedly with a metal bat.
The charges are merely accusations and Blue Bird is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Blue Bird was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Minneapolis Man Charged with Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a criminal complaint charging TROY TEASLEY, 27, with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. TEASLEY is in custody and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) received a tip from a confidential source that TEASLEY, who was the subject of a fugitive investigation for a supervised release violation, was in Minneapolis and possessed a firearm. On June 30, 2020, law enforcement located TEASLEY in the Seven Corners neighborhood in Minneapolis in the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Tahoe and arrested him on the felony warrant. During a search of the Tahoe, law enforcement located a loaded Glock, model 30S, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. TEASLEY has a previous felony conviction of aggravated robbery in Hennepin County, therefore is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was brought as part of the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, a multi-agency effort that brings together additional federal and state resources to assist local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals responsible for gun violence in the Twin Cities. For more information about the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/united-states-attorney-announces-new-twin-cities-violent-crime-task-force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
TROY TEASLEY, 27
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Charges:
- Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count
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The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Member of Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang charged with racketeering conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tony Gauna, 37, of Vaughn, New Mexico appeared in federal court in Albuquerque today for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with participation in a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) conspiracy and other offenses related to the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (“SNM”) prison gang.
The complaint specifically charges Gauna with one count of RICO conspiracy, two counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the criminal complaint, Gauna has been a member of the SNM prison gang since 2001. He allegedly committed numerous violent crimes on behalf of SNM since joining the gang. These crimes included allegedly brandishing a pistol while robbing a discount store in Albuquerque on April 15 and allegedly discharging a pistol during a restaurant robbery in Albuquerque on April 30. Gauna could not lawfully possess firearms at the time of these alleged offenses based on previous felony convictions for shooting at or from a motor vehicle, battery on a police officer, auto burglary and other crimes.
Gauna also allegedly committed other acts of violence on behalf of SNM, including a stabbing to enforce a drug debt in 2003 and a beating at a park in Roswell, New Mexico in 2009. The complaint further accuses Gauna of stealing firearms from a home in Roswell in 2009 and selling the firearms to SNM members. The criminal complaint also accuses Gauna of committing several drug trafficking offenses on behalf of SNM, including smuggling heroin into detention and correctional facilities in New Mexico.
Gauna is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on July 6. He faces up to 20 years in prison for RICO conspiracy and interference with commerce by threats or violence. Gauna faces from ten years to life in prison for discharging and from seven years to life in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He faces up to ten years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico Corrections Department, New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Correctional Center, Albuquerque Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.
Member of Latin Kings New Bedford Chapter Charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm Following Robbery and Shooting InvestigationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) was charged today will illegal firearm possession following an investigation into an armed robbery in New Bedford and a shooting in Boston.
Ramon Martinez, a/k/a “King Razor,” 26, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Martinez, who is currently in custody in Bristol County, will make his initial appearance in federal court at a later date.
According to charging documents, on April 30, 2020, a victim reported to police that he had been robbed and punched in New Bedford by two men who were in a black Ford Fusion. The men put a knife to the victim’s back and stole his wallet and motorized scooter. The victim was allegedly targeted because he beeped his horn at a friend and the men in the Ford Fusion believed that the victim was honking at them. During the investigation, Martinez, a known member of the Latin Kings, was identified as one of the robbers and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to court documents, also on April 30, 2020, police responded to a report of shots-fired in the area of Callender Street in Boston where three .45 caliber casings were recovered. Investigators viewed Martinez’s SnapChat account and observed postings related to this shooting incident.
It is further alleged that, on May 7, 2020, police observed Martinez exit a residence on Crapo Street in New Bedford and walk to the rear of a black Ford Fusion. They observed Martinez open the trunk and quickly close it, and then get into a nearby vehicle. Officers stopped the vehicle, placed Martinez under arrest for the April 30th armed robbery and located a set of keys for the Ford Fusion. In the trunk of the Fusion, officers located a Glock Model 30S .45 caliber firearm with four rounds of ammunition. Preliminary testing linked the Glock Model 30S to the casings recovered on Callender Street in Boston.
Due to multiple prior convictions, Martinez is prohibited from possessing firearms. Martinez was also known to investigators to be a member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Medical Equipment Company Owner Pleads Guilty to $20 Million Health Care Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Jonathan Michael Rouffe (47, Boca Raton) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in 2018, Rouffe and his conspirators established a conglomerate of durable medical equipment (“DME”) supply companies. During the creation of the companies, they lied to Medicare to secure billing privileges. The scheme involved placing the companies in the names of straw owners. By concealing their true ownership, the conspirators secretly gained control of multiple companies, which Medicare prohibits. This enabled the conspirators to submit high volumes of illegal DME claims while attempting to evade law enforcement scrutiny. In one year, through the conglomerate, Rouffe and his conspirators submitted more than $20 million in illegal DME claims, resulting in over $10 million in payments from Medicare and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (“CHAMPVA”).
To attain such high volumes of claims, the conspirators used bribes and kickbacks. Specifically, Rouffe and his conspirators illegally purchased thousands of DME claims from so-called “marketers.” The marketers, for their part, had generated the claims under the guise of “telemedicine,” but no telemedicine had actually occurred. Instead, the “marketers” had bribed doctors to sign the DME brace orders that supported the claims. Rouffe and his conspirators paid millions to secure the illegal DME claims for submission to Medicare and CHAMPVA.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Fiore.
McKees Rocks Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting a Postal CarrierRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, pleaded guilty today and was sentenced in federal court to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on conviction of assaulting a federal employee, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Raheem Jackson, 28.
According to the information presented to the court, on December 31, 2018, Jackson struck the victim, R.F., in the head with a hand railing as R.F delivered mail for the United States Postal Service. R.F. lost consciousness and suffered bleeding to the brain. Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Ambrose emphasized the severity of the offense.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo are prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Service conducted the investigation of Jackson.
Matteson, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Lavell Gordon, 30, of Matteson, Illinois, was sentenced by Judge Simon to 120 months in prison following his guilty plea to one count of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, in the spring of 2019, Gordon sold an undercover confidential informant crack cocaine on five separate occasions. On May 29, 2019, in Hammond, Indiana, during the last of these five crack cocaine sales, Gordon received two firearms in exchange for the crack cocaine, after which he was immediately arrested. He has five prior felony convictions, including convictions for armed robbery, aggravated robbery, burglary, larceny of a firearm, and resisting a peace officer.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives HIDTA Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.
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Maple Heights man indicted on arson charge from May 30 demonstrations in Downtown ClevelandRead the Press Release
Justin Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio has returned a one count indictment charging Timothy James Goodner, age 19, of Maple Heights with arson. According to court documents, Goodner was involved in an act of arson concerning the Shaia’s Parking Lot attendant booth on 1242 West 3rd Street on Saturday, May 30th, 2020.
“Today’s indictment reflects the continued resolve of federal law enforcement to identify, arrest, and prosecute those individuals responsible for the widespread damage in our downtown on May 30,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “This defendant is alleged to have committed arson during the riot that followed an otherwise peaceful, Constitutionally-protected assembly. We will continue to seek out and prosecute those who were engaged in similar acts on that day.”
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Goodner and other persons gathered around an attendant booth in the West 3rd Street parking lot during the demonstrations on May 30th. Images and videos released from that day show a suspect setting fire to cardboard boxes and paper towels and then placing them inside the attendant booth. Goodner is then allegedly observed contributing to the fire by placing boxes and other combustible products inside the both to help accelerate the burning.
Afterwards, the Cleveland Division of Police released images and video of suspects committing various criminal acts from the demonstrations to the media. Goodner was identified via these images from numerous anonymous tips by his clothing and a visible tattoo.
Goodner was arrested and booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail on June 22, 2020, by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on an active warrant obtained by the Cleveland Police Department for aggravated arson.
A charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hanley. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Cleveland FBI, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their assistance with this matter.