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17 August 2020
Three Individuals Charged with Arranging Adoptions from Uganda and Poland Through Bribery and FraudRead the Press Release
Three women were charged in a 13-count indictment filed on Aug. 14 in the Northern District of Ohio for their alleged roles in schemes to corruptly and fraudulently procure adoptions of Ugandan and Polish children through bribing Ugandan officials and defrauding U.S. adoptive parents, U.S. authorities, and a Polish regulatory authority.
Margaret Cole, 73, of Strongsville, Ohio, Debra Parris, 68, of Lake Dallas, Texas, and Dorah Mirembe, 41, of Kampala, Uganda, were charged in the indictment. In relation to the Uganda scheme, Parris and Mirembe were each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and commit visa fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three substantive FCPA counts and three substantive counts of money laundering. Parris was also charged with one count of mail fraud. In relation to the Poland scheme, Parris and Cole were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Cole was further charged with one count of making a false statement to a U.S. accrediting entity and one count of making a false statement to a Polish authority.
“The defendants allegedly resorted to bribery and fraud to engage in an international criminal adoption scheme that took children from their home countries in Uganda and Poland without properly determining whether they were actually orphaned. The defendants sought to profit from their alleged criminal activity at the expense of families and vulnerable children,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These charges clearly show that the Department of Justice is committed to protecting children worldwide, including those involved in the international adoption process.”
“These defendants are accused of orchestrating an alleged scheme that bribed Ugandan officials, defrauded the United States and manipulated parents inside and outside of the country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio. “As a result of this alleged conduct, prospective parents were deceived, hundreds of thousands of dollars were misused and innocent children were displaced from their homes.”
“These three defendants preyed on the emotions of parents, those wanting the best for their child, and those wishing to give what they thought was an orphaned child a family to love,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office. “These defendants allegedly lied to both sides of the adoption process, and bribed Ugandan officials who were responsible for the welfare of children. Parents, prospective parents and children were emotionally vested and were heartbroken when they learned of the selfishness and greed in which these three engaged. The FBI will never cease in its efforts to protect the innocent and unwitting from those who prey on that trust and confidence and we will vigorously pursue and hold those responsible accountable.”
With respect to the Uganda scheme, the indictment alleges that Parris and Mirembe, together with others, engaged in a scheme to pay bribes to Ugandan officials to corruptly procure the adoption of Ugandan children by families in the United States, including the adoption of children who were not properly determined to be orphaned and who had to be ultimately returned to their birth parents.
Specifically, Parris, Mirembe, and their co-conspirators allegedly (1) paid bribes to social welfare officers in exchange for them issuing welfare reports recommending that certain children be placed into orphanages without first ensuring that the children were actually orphaned or that putting them up for adoption was in the children’s best interest; (2) paid bribes to Ugandan magistrate judges to obtain court orders placing those children in an orphanage that was willing to accept the children without inquiring into whether they were actually orphans; (3) paid bribes to court registrars to cause the court registrars to assign the cases of these children to two corrupt “adoption-friendly” judges; and (4) paid bribes to the corrupt Ugandan judges to obtain orders to permit their clients to bring the children to the United States for adoption.
Parris, Mirembe, and others also allegedly lied to, and concealed material information from, adoptive parents, including lying about the bribe payments and whether the children were properly determined to be eligible for adoption, and concealing other material information about the children’s history. The indictment also alleges that Parris, Mirembe, and others agreed to cause false documents to be submitted to the U.S. Department of State to hide the corrupt and fraudulent scheme and to mislead it in its adjudication of visa applications for the Ugandan children being considered for adoption. The co-conspirators and the entities they worked for received more than $900,000 in connection with these adoptions.
With respect to the Poland scheme, the indictment alleges that after clients of their adoption agency determined they could not care for one of the two Polish children they were set to adopt, Cole and Parris took steps to transfer the child to Parris’s relatives, who were not eligible for intercountry adoption and one of whom had a criminal arrest record. After the child was physically abused, Cole and Parris took steps to conceal their improper conduct from the entity responsible for accrediting U.S. intercountry adoption agencies—and from the Polish authority responsible for intercountry adoptions—in an attempt to continue profiting from these adoptions.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If you believe you are a victim of this offense, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/victim-witness-program or call (888) 549-3945.
The FBI’s Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Jason Manning and Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Rice of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted in the investigation.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
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.
Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - A Enville, Tennessee man, Lane Christopher Mikaloff, 52, pleaded guilty in federal court Friday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to Mikaloff’s plea agreement, on January 16, 2019, law enforcement received a call regarding a suspicious person who had purchased two ski masks and a knife from a truck stop in Gallatin County, Ky. Officers responded to the truck stop and located Mikaloff, who admitted to officers he possessed drug paraphernalia. During a search of Mikaloff’s vehicle, officers found a large bag of methamphetamine, nine smaller bags of methamphetamine, approximately five ounces of marijuana, and $1,042 in currency. During the search, Mikaloff fled from the officers on foot. When he was apprehended, Mikaloff was found in possession of additional methamphetamine, in a bag around his neck. All told, Mikaloff was found in possession of 247 grams of methamphetamine. In his plea agreement, Mikaloff admitted he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
Mikaloff was indicted in September 2019. According to his plea agreement, Mikaloff has prior convictions for aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, felony assault, and rape.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Commissioner Rodney Brewer, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke.
Mikaloff is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4. He potentially faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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Suspected International Alien Smuggler Extradited to the United States from RomaniaRead the Press Release
RELEASE SUMMARY – August 17, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Luigi Cristinel Popescu of Cernatesti, Romania, was extradited to the United States over the weekend and made his first appearance in federal court today to face charges that he is the leader of an international alien smuggling network responsible for smuggling thousands of Romanians into the United States.
Popescu was arrested in Bucharest, Romania by Romanian law enforcement officials on August 14, 2020 at the request of the United States and was extradited to the United States on Saturday. At today’s hearing, Popescu was arraigned on a Superseding Indictment and ordered detained as a flight risk, by Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt. Popescu’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 23, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia Bashant for motion hearing and trial setting.
Popescu was indicted by a federal grand jury in late 2019. He is charged in a Superseding Indictment with one count of Conspiracy to Bring-in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain, five counts of Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain and Aiding and Abetting.
According to the Superseding Indictment, Popescu was the leader of an international alien smuggling organization for almost seven years and has been responsible for smuggling Romanian Nationals into the United States at both its northern and southern borders. Homeland Security agents learned from interviews with Romanian Nationals smuggled by Popescu, both those arrested and those who turned themselves into U.S. Border Patrol, that he facilitated the smuggling of aliens from Romania to the U.S. through Europe, Central America, Mexico and Canada, generally charging $10,000 to $25,000 for individuals and families.
The investigation revealed that Popescu worked with numerous co-conspirators in Romania, Spain, Guatemala and Mexico to facilitate the smuggling arrangements of thousands of Romanians. According to the investigation, Popescu utilized WhatsApp and FaceTime to remain in contact with aliens being smuggled, providing instructions and contacts along the way, including the name and number for smugglers in route to the United States. These co-conspirators would arrange for passage in route to the U.S. border. Popescu would send a picture of the Romanian aliens to co-conspirators and instructed the aliens that smugglers on their route would be waiting for them and would have their picture. Popescu used an ever-changing cadre of associates, guides, stash house operators and drivers to facilitate the organization’s criminal activities. In the final stage of crossing illegal aliens coming through Mexico into the United States, the Popescu network made use of various stash houses near the San Ysidro and Calexico, Ports of Entry.
“Putting your faith, hope and future in the hands of smugglers is extremely dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “My office will aggressively prosecute transnational criminal organizations that smuggle others into the United States for financial gain.” Brewer praised Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol and prosecutor Timothy D. Coughlin for their excellent work on the case.
“Transnational criminal organizations engaged in human smuggling endanger the security of the United States,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant. “Through close collaboration with our partners from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the government of Romania, this arrest signifies another victory in our fight to disrupt and dismantle organizations facilitating illegal entry into this country.”
“As a global organization, HSI collaborates with our foreign partners to identify, locate and investigate individuals who seek to exploit U.S. laws,” said HSI Regional Attaché Katie Bay, “We will continue to work to ensure that they face justice both at home and abroad.”
“On behalf of the U.S. Border Patrol, I want to express our appreciation for the countless hours expended by the men and women of law enforcement who were involved in bringing Popescu to justice”, San Diego Sector Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke. “His case is the latest and one of many that has helped us to dismantle and degrade Transnational Criminal Organizations around the world.”
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol to target active Transnational Criminal Organizations, such as the Popescu network involved in alien smuggling along the U.S./Mexican border in the Southern District of California.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant stated, “Transnational criminal organizations engaged in human smuggling endanger the security of the United States. Through close collaboration with our partners from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the government of Romania, this arrest signifies another victory in our fight to disrupt and dismantle organizations facilitating illegal entry into this country.”
HSI Calexico Special Agents worked closely with Attaché offices in Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, Austria, and with foreign law enforcement agencies in a concerted effort to disrupt and dismantle the Popescu alien smuggling organization. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) provided substantial assistance during the investigation.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition.
DEFENDANT Case Number 18cr5174-BAS
Luigi Cristinel Popescu Age: 52 Cernatesti, Romania
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 – Conspiracy: to Bring-in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a) (1)
(A) (i), (a) (1) (A) (v) (I) and (a) (1) (B) (i).
Maximum penalty: Ten years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine
Counts 2-6 - Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain: - Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii) and Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2 - Aiding and Abetting.
Maximum penalty: Each count carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of three (3) years and a maximum of ten (10) years for the first or second violation. Any additional violations carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years and a maximum of fifteen (15) years.
AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
United States Border Patrol, Calexico, California Intelligence Unit
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Stockton Tax Preparer Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paola Bedoy, 65, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to five years in prison for eight counts of preparing fraudulent tax returns, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a jury trial, for years Bedoy ran a tax preparation business in Stockton called Javez Enterprises. Bedoy repeatedly encouraged and assisted her clients in preparing fraudulent federal income tax returns by claiming earned income credits and child tax credits based upon dependents who were not eligible for those credits. For example, Bedoy falsely listed a child as disabled when he was not, put dependents on returns that her clients didn’t even know to fraudulently boost refunds, and repeatedly sought tax credits based on noncitizen children living in Mexico who Bedoy knew did not qualify for those tax credits. In one instance caught on video, Bedoy suggested the fraud to a client so that the client could afford to pay her fee and then tripled her fee to that client. Bedoy also admitted to investigators that she “bought” children to add to clients’ tax returns to inflate their refunds, and sometimes kept the inflated portion of the refunds for herself.
While Bedoy initially claimed she committed some of this fraud to help her family, during the time she committed the fraud, Bedoy gambled extensively at area casinos, losing over $130,000 during a period that she reported only $67,000 in income on her own personal federal income tax returns. Bedoy testified in her own defense at trial and received a sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice after the court determined that Bedoy gave materially false testimony. In the aggregate, Bedoy filed hundreds of tax returns with the IRS seeking refunds in the millions of dollars.
Bedoy was ordered to report to begin service of her sentence by 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 19. This case was the product of an investigation by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hales prosecuted the case.
South Dakota Federal Prosecutor Honored with the 2020 USD Attorney of the Year AwardRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons is pleased to announce that Constance Larson, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Sioux Falls Office, has been selected as the 2020 recipient of the USD Women in Law Attorney of the Year Award. She was honored at an event in Sioux Falls on August 14, 2020.
The USD Women in Law Attorney of the Year award seeks to annually recognize one South Dakota attorney who exemplifies excellent character, a drive for mentoring women within the profession, and a dedication to positively affecting South Dakota residents through their professional duties and involvement within the state.
“Our friend and colleague Connie Larson embodies the best principles and highest ideals of the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “We are grateful to the University of South Dakota Women in Law for recognizing her incredible legal talent, her passion for justice, and her heartfelt commitment to serving and mentoring others.”
Constance graduated from the University School of Law in 1995. Following graduation, she clerked for the South Dakota Supreme Court. While clerking, Constance had a diverse experience in the law and had the opportunity to be mentored by members of the South Dakota judiciary.
Following clerking, Constance began her career as a prosecutor in the Pennington County States Attorney’s Office, where she served for two years. Following her time in Pennington County, Constance transitioned to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, where she served for ten years.
In 2008, Constance continued her service to the people of South Dakota in taking on the role of Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. In this capacity, Constance maintains a rigorous and diverse practice focusing on federal felony offenses.
Constance maintains her commitment to the profession and the community by remaining active as a mentor within the South Dakota State Bar and serving on various state bar committees, including chairing the Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. She also serves her South Dakota community in various capacities.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for “Sextorting” More Than 40 MinorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of DYLAN MATTHEW DELING, a/k/a “Jason Keens,” a/k/a “Dylan Nash,” 21, to 420 months in prison for producing child pornography and extortion. DELING, who pleaded guilty on July 18, 2019, was sentenced today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“This defendant’s victimization went beyond sexual exploitation; his ultimate goal was to instill fear and humiliation. This type of depraved criminal behavior will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald. It is my hope that today’s sentence represents justice and closure for the victims and their families.”
“The sentence of this defendant demonstrates the FBI’s never-ending commitment to apprehending sexual offenders who prey on innocent children," said Aubree M. Schwartz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Minneapolis field office. "No sentence can wipe away the scars and irreparable harm those heinous actions leave on child victims. This should send a strong message to anyone considering exploiting our most vulnerable citizens.”
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between October 2017 and August 2, 2018, DELING used multiple social media and chat platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kik, and Skype, as well as text messages to carry out his sextortion scheme. Sextortion is the act of extorting sexually explicit images and videos from a victim by threatening to reveal a victim’s sexually explicit chats, images, or videos, or through threats of harm to the victim or the victim’s loved ones. In the course of his scheme, DELING sextorted more than 40 minor girls whom he knew to be or believed were between 11 and 17 years old.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, DELING, using multiple usernames and accounts, employed several different techniques to attempt to and to obtain child pornography from minor girls. One technique DELING used was offering compliments and expressions of affection to the minor girls to persuade them into creating sexually explicit images of themselves. In many instances, DELING threatened to and actually did disseminate sexually explicit images of the girls to their friends and family if the girls refused to provide him with sexually explicit images. In other instances, DELING threatened to send his associates to rape, kidnap, injure, or kill the girls or their loved ones. To underscore his threats, DELING sent screenshots of maps of the girls’ residences, family members’ contact information, and other identifying information to the girls, as well as posting the information online. In at least one instance, DELING obtained sexually explicit images through a friend of one of the girls.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, in coordination with multiple state and local law enforcement agencies inside and outside of Minnesota.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E Dugi.
Defendant Information:
DYLAN MATTHEW DELING, a/k/a “Jason Keens,” a/k/a “Dylan Nash,” 21
Fairmont, Minn.
Convicted:
- Production of child pornography, 1 count
- Interstate communication with intent to extort, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 420 months in prison
- 30 years of supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Puerto Rico Legislator Indicted for Theft, Bribery, and FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a 13-count indictment against legislator María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano (Charbonier), aka “Tata,” a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, as well as her husband Orlando Montes-Rivera (Montes), their son Orlando Gabriel Montes-Charbonier, and her assistant Frances Acevedo-Ceballos (Acevedo), for their alleged participation in a years-long theft, bribery, and kickback conspiracy.
The indictment charges Charbonier, Montes, Montes-Charbonier, and Acevedo with conspiracy; theft, bribery, and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds; and honest services wire fraud. Charbonier, Montes, and Montes-Charbonier are facing two counts of money laundering. The indictment also charges Charbonier with obstruction of justice for destroying data on her cell phone.
According to the allegations in the indictment, from early 2017 until July 2020, Charbonier, Montes, Montes-Charbonier, and Acevedo executed a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by engaging in a theft, bribery, and kickback scheme. In early 2017, Charbonier inflated her assistant Acevedo’s salary from $800 on a bi-weekly, after-tax basis to $2,100; this amount increased to nearly $2,900 by September 2019. Out of every inflated paycheck, it was agreed that Acevedo would keep a portion, and kick back between $1,000 and $1,500 to Charbonier, Montes, and Montes-Charbonier.
“Puerto Rico legislator María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano, her family, and her associates allegedly carried out a brazen scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico through bribery, kickbacks, theft, and fraud,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “When elected officials betray the people's trust in order to enrich themselves at the public’s expense, the Justice Department will hold them accountable.”
“I encourage those who have information of public officials involved in criminal acts to come forward. We will continue investigating and prosecuting elected officials whose criminal conduct enriches themselves at the expense of the government and their constituents,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “I commend our partners from the FBI for their tremendous efforts investigating this matter, particularly during the pandemic. I would also like to recognize the Public Integrity Section attorneys who supported this investigation and traveled to Puerto Rico in order to work with our District to present this case to the Grand Jury.”
“Most of the work we do takes place behind the scenes. Quality investigative work requires time and patience,” said Special Agent in Charge Rafael Riviere Vázquez of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “It is my hope that the people of Puerto Rico never doubt that we are doing the work that we have been entrusted to do. Public Corruption is FBI San Juan's priority and it will continue to be a priority. Puerto Rico belongs to each and every one of us, and together we can take it back.”
The indictment further alleges that the defendants used a variety of means to transfer the kickbacks from Acevedo to Charbonier and her family. Allegedly, Acevedo would sometimes transfer cash by hand to Montes, Montes-Charbonier, and other individuals connected to Charbonier; Acevedo would sometimes transfer kickbacks in approximately $500 increments to Montes or to Montes-Charbonier using ATH Móvil, a mobile phone application that allows individuals who bank at certain financial institutions to send money to each other through an interface on their cell phones; and, at times, Acevedo left cash kickbacks in a pre-determined location, such as Charbonier’s purse or inside of a vehicle, for Charbonier to later collect.
The money laundering counts against Charbonier, her husband and son involve the secretive maneuvers that the Charbonier family used to move their illegally derived cash among themselves in a manner designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of that cash.
The indictment also charges Charbonier with obstruction of justice. After learning of the existence of the investigation into illegal activities in her office and after learning that a warrant had been obtained for one of her phones, Charbonier allegedly proceeded to delete certain data on the phone. In particular, Charbonier deleted nearly the entire call log, nearly all WhatsApp messages, and nearly all iMessages associated with this phone, the indictment alleges.
The indictment is the result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney María L. Montañez Concepción from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
Puerto Rico Legislator Indicted for Theft, Bribery, and FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a 13-count indictment against legislator María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano (Charbonier), aka “Tata,” a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, as well as her husband Orlando Montes-Rivera (Montes), their son Orlando Gabriel Montes-Charbonier, and her assistant Frances Acevedo-Ceballos (Acevedo), for their alleged participation in a years-long theft, bribery, and kickback conspiracy.
The indictment charges Charbonier, Montes, Montes-Charbonier, and Acevedo with conspiracy; theft, bribery, and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds; and honest services wire fraud. Charbonier, Montes, and Montes-Charbonier are facing two counts of money laundering. The indictment also charges Charbonier with obstruction of justice for destroying data on her cell phone.
According to the allegations in the indictment, from early 2017 until July 2020, Charbonier, Montes, Montes-Charbonier, and Acevedo executed a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by engaging in a theft, bribery, and kickback scheme. In early 2017, Charbonier inflated her assistant Acevedo’s salary from $800 on a bi-weekly, after-tax basis to $2,100; this amount increased to nearly $2,900 by September 2019. Out of every inflated paycheck, it was agreed that Acevedo would keep a portion, and kick back between $1,000 and $1,500 to Charbonier, Montes, and Montes-Charbonier.
“Puerto Rico legislator María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano, her family, and her associates allegedly carried out a brazen scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico through bribery, kickbacks, theft, and fraud,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “When elected officials betray the people's trust in order to enrich themselves at the public’s expense, the Justice Department will hold them accountable.”
“I encourage those who have information of public officials involved in criminal acts to come forward. We will continue investigating and prosecuting elected officials whose criminal conduct enriches themselves at the expense of the government and their constituents,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “I commend our partners from the FBI for their tremendous efforts investigating this matter, particularly during the pandemic. I would also like to recognize the Public Integrity Section attorneys who supported this investigation and traveled to Puerto Rico in order to work with our District to present this case to the Grand Jury.”
“Most of the work we do takes place behind the scenes. Quality investigative work requires time and patience,” said Special Agent in Charge Rafael Riviere Vázquez of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “It is my hope that the people of Puerto Rico never doubt that we are doing the work that we have been entrusted to do. Public Corruption is FBI San Juan's priority and it will continue to be a priority. Puerto Rico belongs to each and every one of us, and together we can take it back.”
The indictment further alleges that the defendants used a variety of means to transfer the kickbacks from Acevedo to Charbonier and her family. Allegedly, Acevedo would sometimes transfer cash by hand to Montes, Montes-Charbonier, and other individuals connected to Charbonier; Acevedo would sometimes transfer kickbacks in approximately $500 increments to Montes or to Montes-Charbonier using ATH Móvil, a mobile phone application that allows individuals who bank at certain financial institutions to send money to each other through an interface on their cell phones; and, at times, Acevedo left cash kickbacks in a pre-determined location, such as Charbonier’s purse or inside of a vehicle, for Charbonier to later collect.
The money laundering counts against Charbonier, her husband and son involve the secretive maneuvers that the Charbonier family used to move their illegally derived cash among themselves in a manner designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of that cash.
The indictment also charges Charbonier with obstruction of justice. After learning of the existence of the investigation into illegal activities in her office and after learning that a warrant had been obtained for one of her phones, Charbonier allegedly proceeded to delete certain data on the phone. In particular, Charbonier deleted nearly the entire call log, nearly all WhatsApp messages, and nearly all iMessages associated with this phone, the indictment alleges.
The indictment is the result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney María L. Montañez Concepción from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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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Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to More than 7 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 87 months of imprisonment and six years of supervised release on his convictions of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV imposed sentence on Latone Dunbar, 25.
According to information presented to the Court, in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and drug-trafficking activity in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, in February of 2019, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019.
Intercepted communications demonstrated that Dunbar purchased distribution-level quantities of heroin from co-conspirator Ronald Williams, and re-sold the heroin to other customers. The court was further informed that during a search of Dunbar’s residence on March 8, 2019, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police found a Highpoint rifle and approximately four grams of heroin stamped "DOPE."
Assistant United States Attorneys Christy C. Wiegand and Brendan McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, known as OCDETF. OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.
Park Hill Man Sentenced to 292 Months for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Guy Coleston McDonald, age 32, of Park Hill, Oklahoma was sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment, and 5 years of supervised release for Drug Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. The charges arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”).
The Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning in or about September 2017, and continuing up to and including the date of the Superseding Indictment, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with others, known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Over the course of the Drug Conspiracy, the Defendant was responsible for the acquisition and eventual distribution of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine throughout the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Through the use of violence he was able to intimidate and threaten others to insure payment for the methamphetamine he distributed to them. During the course of collecting and attempting to collect “drug debts”, the Defendant pistol-whipped, physically assaulted, and stole drugs and a firearm from others. On one occasion, he shot multiple times into the bedroom window of an individual who owed a “drug debt” of $300 to the Defendant. The individual was struck in the leg but survived.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Hundreds of people die every year in Oklahoma as a result of methamphetamine. It is critical to public safety that local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies continue to diligently pursue drug trafficking organizations responsible for delivery and distribution of this deadly drug in Oklahoma and throughout the country. Because of successful multi-agency investigations like this one, we continue to identify the distribution networks and organizations that deliver the drugs and the tragic outcomes that follow.”
”The availability of illegal drugs and guns lends to increased violent crime in our communities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “ATF is committed to disrupting that cycle through collaborative investigations like this.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.
Northern Kentucky Physician Indicted for Illegal Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - Michael J. Grogan, 67, of Lakeside Park, Kentucky, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday, for 257 counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances.
The indictment alleges that, between February 1, 2018 and February 13, 2019, Grogan was the owner and operator of Go Beyond Medicine, a medical clinic located in Crescent Springs, Ky., and Grogan unlawfully distributed and dispensed Schedule II controlled substances, outside the scope of a professional medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. According to the indictment, Grogan wrote 257 unlawful prescriptions for Oxycodone.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted jointly, by the DEA, FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force.
Grogan was arraigned on Monday, and his trial date is scheduled for October 26. If convicted, Grogan faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes governing the imposition of sentences.
An indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Northeast Ohio Correctional Center Correction Officer indicted for bribery and providing cell phones and contraband to inmatesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a three-count indictment charging Skyler Herring, age 27, of Youngstown with bribery and providing cell phones and tobacco to inmates at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC) while employed as a Correctional Officer.
According to the indictment, from November 2018 to August 2019, the defendant is accused of accepting electronic payments via a mobile payment application in exchange for smuggling cell phones and tobacco into the NEOCC.
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, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the 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 was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Cleveland Division of FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.
North Suburban Financial Adviser Indicted on Fraud Charges for Allegedly Swindling $450,000 from ClientsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A north suburban financial adviser has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly swindling clients who had sought her assistance in purchasing a new home after foreclosure.
MARY MARTINEZ, also known as Mary Flores, 53, of Glencoe, is charged with ten counts of wire fraud in an indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; William Hedrick, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; Brad Geary, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General in Chicago; Jeffrey A. Monhart, Regional Director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; and Tanya Solov, Director of the Illinois Securities Department of the Illinois Secretary of State. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Stern.
According to the indictment, Martinez owned and operated a number of companies, including Illinois Housing Solutions, America Investment Corporation, and Investor Short Sale Niche, that purported to offer financial services, real estate and mortgage services, and investment opportunities. Martinez advertised on the radio offering to help individuals who had lost their homes through foreclosures to purchase another home and improve their credit.
The charges allege that from 2011 to earlier this year, Martinez made false representations to victims to obtain investment funds, including retirement savings, college funds, and personal savings. Instead of helping victims save money for a down payment on a house, Martinez misappropriated a substantial portion of the victims’ funds to pay her personal and business expenses, including rent payments and retail purchases, the indictment states.
As a result of the scheme, Martinez caused losses to victims of at least approximately $450,000, according to the charges.
The public is reminded that an indictment 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. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison and over $9 Million in Restitution for Drug Rehab Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Jason Gerner, 46, of Shamung, New Jersey, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his role in multiple healthcare fraud schemes as a co-founder of the drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility Liberation Way, which had locations in Yardley, Bala Cynwyd and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,338,607 and ordered to forfeit $444,983.
In August 2019, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role as a founder and operating partner of Liberation Way. An investigation into the operations and management of the facility exposed an array of schemes, including: fraudulently purchasing premium insurance policies on behalf of prospective patients so that Liberation Way could bill for expensive “treatments” that it never provided; using pre-signed medical orders for tests and treatments for patients who were not actually seen or examined by the only doctor employed by Liberation Way; paying a different doctor to sign urine-testing orders for patients who were never seen or examined; shipping those urine samples for testing to laboratories in Florida in order to submit claims that were excessive and medically unnecessary, in order to maximize billing to insurance companies; receiving kickbacks for the insurance payments made to the laboratories for these overly frequent and expensive tests; and conspiring to hide the proceeds of the illegal urine-testing kickback scheme through a series of financial transactions involving payments to various shell companies disguised as consulting payments.
“My Office will not tolerate health care fraud in any form, especially the kind that takes advantage of at-risk patients and exploits their addictions,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Those who think that they can game our health care system -- which is already strained under the weight of an ongoing opioid epidemic -- and prey upon vulnerable people will face the consequences. Gerner will rightly spend years in prison and pay millions of dollars as the result of his criminal conduct.”
“The employees of Liberation Way looked at the opioid epidemic devastating Pennsylvania and saw an opportunity to make a buck off the backs of vulnerable people. Pennsylvanians with substance abuse disorder, who deserved care from Liberation Way, were harmed instead,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done with our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold these scam artists accountable and get justice for the people of Pennsylvania.”
“Gerner and his colleagues operated Liberation Way under the guise of helping addicts get healthy,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “In reality, the only things that benefitted were these fraudsters’ bank balances. Their elaborate, years-long swindle of the health care system victimized vulnerable patients for profit. The FBI is gratified all involved are being held accountable.”
“The U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), works closely with our federal and state law enforcement colleagues to bring to justice those who would, by their criminal activities, tamper with the hard–earned health benefits due the American worker,” said Employee Benefits Security Administration Philadelphia Regional Director Michael Schloss.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Beam Winter and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Labar and Kristy Christ.
Meridian Woman Sentenced Under Project EJECT for Making False Statements to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Kadesha Dashanae Houston, 25, of Meridian, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III, to 36 months’ probation for making false statements to a federal officer during the course of a federal investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On March 22, 2019, the Meridian Police Department began investigating a case involving a convicted felon in possession of several pounds of marijuana and multiple firearms. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Kadesha Dashanae Houston had purchased one of the firearms, a Romarm/Cugir, Draco Model, 7.62x39mm caliber AR style pistol.
ATF agents became involved in the investigation and interviewed Houston in an attempt to find out how a firearm she purchased ended up in the possession of a convicted drug dealer just fifteen days after she purchased it. Houston gave false statements regarding who she purchased the firearm for and why she bought it. When given a chance to retract her false statements in light of other evidence gathered by the ATF, she maintained her false story. It was later discovered that Houston was in a romantic relationship with the convicted felon drug dealer. It is a felony crime to make false statements to a federal law enforcement officer during the course of a federal investigation.
Houston was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 6, 2019. She pled guilty before Judge Jordan on May 21, 2020.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
Media Advisory In-Person and Remote Press ConferenceRead the Press Release
WHEN: Tuesday, August 18, 2020 approximately 4:30 PM (following sentencing hearing)
WHERE: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are giving the press two options to participate. The United States Attorney will host an in-person press conference in the media room of the United States Attorney’s Office following the sentencing hearing. There will also be an opportunity to participate via Webex if you prefer. The address for the in-person event is:
150 Fayetteville Street
Suite 2100
Raleigh, NC 27601
The link to join by Webex is:
https://usao.webex.com/usao/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb0d0e1cadc31d867d6d677fcb682633f
Re: Raleigh Man Sentenced for Human Trafficking
The United States Attorney’s Office announces a press conference and online availability to discuss the sentencing of Brandon Jennings for offenses related to human trafficking. Participants will also discuss ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute these types of crimes. The sentencing hearing for Jennings is Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at 3:45 pm before United States District Judge Louise W. Flannigan.
Jennings was convicted in June 2019 of thirteen counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; and production of child pornography; following a four-day trial in New Bern. More here. Evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that Jennings operated a prostitution ring involving numerous women and children. He typically enticed his victims to work for him with promises of love and money. After they joined him, Jennings ruthlessly manipulated, threatened, and violently assaulted his victims to ensure they would continue prostituting for him. Then he took all of their money. Some victims were minors, and he enticed one of those victims to send an image of child pornography to him.
Credentialed members of the media are invited to participate. Please RSVP by emailing Don Connelly at [email protected]. Let him know your preferred method of participating in this press conference with your RSVP.
MS-13 Gang Member Arrested in El Salvador for Murder on Long IslandRead the Press Release
José Jonathan Guevara-Castro, also known as “Suspechoso” (“Guevara-Castro”), an alleged member of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the “MS-13,” and a fugitive from justice, was arrested on August 13, 2020 in Acajutla, Sonsonate, El Salvador.
Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John J. Durham, Director, Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV); and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest.
“Guevara’s arrest more than 2,000 miles away from Long Island where he allegedly participated in the brutal murder of a young man more than four years ago, is a testament to the commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to bringing members of the MS-13 gang to justice for their crimes,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “There is no place to hide, here or abroad, and neither distance nor the passage of time will offer any safe harbor to criminals from our mission to eradicate violent gangs from the Eastern District of New York.”
Mr. DuCharme expressed his grateful appreciation to the investigators and analysts of El Salvador’s Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) Centro Antipandillas Transnacional (CAT) unit, who are assigned to the Transnational Anti-Gang (TAG) Unit, a task force of Salvadoran police officers receiving financial and technical assistance from the FBI and State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, for their outstanding assistance and collaboration in locating and apprehending this fugitive. Additionally, Mr. DuCharme expressed sincere thanks to the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office (NCDAO), as well as to the members of the FBI Baltimore Field Office/Annapolis Resident Agency, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), for their partnership in this case.
Guevara-Castro is charged in a 24-count indictment, along with seven other MS-13 members, with racketeering offenses, murder and narcotics trafficking. In particular, Guevara-Castro is charged with participating in the murder of 20-year-old Kerin Pineda, who was believed to be a member of the 18th Street gang, one of MS-13’s principal rivals. Pineda’s murder was committed as a joint venture between two different subgroups, or “cliques,” of the MS-13 operating on Long Island: the Hollywood Locos Salvatruchas (“Hollywood”) clique, of which Guevara-Castro was an alleged member; and the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (“Sailors”) clique. On May 21, 2016, MS-13 members, armed with machetes, lured Pineda to a secluded wooded area near the Merrick-Freeport border, where he was surrounded and violently attacked. Pineda’s machete-mutilated corpse was then buried in a hole that had been dug the day before. Pineda’s corpse was recovered more than one year later.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant and his co-defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Guevara-Castro faces up to life in prison.
This indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States, comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the largest and most violent street gang on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 60 murders in the Eastern District of New York, and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI, the NCPD, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, the Suffolk County Probation Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
This investigation was carried out in partnership with Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). In August 2019, Attorney General Barr created JTFV to carry out the recommendations of the MS-13 subcommittee formed under the Attorney General’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, which was the result of President Trump’s February 2017 Executive Order directing the Departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, such as MS-13, and restore safety for the American people. The principal purpose of JTFV is to coordinate and lead the efforts of the Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement agencies against MS-13 in order to dismantle the group.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci and Megan E. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Jared Rosenblatt of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
The Defendant:
JOSE JONATHAN GUEVARA-CASTRO (also known as “Suspechoso”)
Age: 25
Acajutla, Sonsonate, El Salvador; formerly of Roosevelt, New York, and Annapolis, MarylandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-251 (JFB)
Lynnwood, Washington, couple connected to massive fentanyl seizure charged with drug and gun crimes in federal courtRead the Press Release
(Seattle) — A Lynnwood, Washington, couple arrested in late July on Snohomish County drug possession charges is now charged federally following a lengthy undercover investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JOSE L. CASABLANCA, 38, and JESSIE N. CRUZ, 37, are charged by a federal criminal complaint which details a lengthy undercover investigation which began in March 2020. The pair made their initial appearance on the complaint today.
The criminal complaint details how two detectives with the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF) posed as drug and gun buyers to gather information about the pair’s drug trafficking activity. The undercover detectives made purchases of heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills from CASABLANCA and CRUZ. They also purchased a fully automatic firearm, judged an illegal machine gun, and other firearms from the pair. CASABLANCA is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms, so the two discussed how CRUZ transported the guns to the sale location so that CASABLANCA would not be caught with a firearm.
CRUZ and CASABLANCA confided to the undercover detectives where they had hidden a massive amount of fentanyl in their Lynnwood home. On the day they were arrested at a regional airport, they met with yet another undercover officer who was posing as someone who could get them access to a pill press to make fentanyl tainted pills from their large stash of the potentially deadly drug. A court-authorized search warrant at the Lynnwood home resulted in the seizure of large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, multiple firearms, and ammunition, as well as body armor.
At the time of their arrest law enforcement searched the Maserati the couple used in their drug trafficking activities and found both narcotics and a firearm.
CASABLANCA is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms due to his prior convictions for robbery and burglary (Snohomish County 2006) and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (Snohomish County 2011). CASABLANCA and CRUZ are both charged with three additional federal felonies: possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Being a felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years in prison. Given the drug quantities, the drug counts are punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison. The use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime results in an additional five-year sentence to run consecutive to the drug trafficking term.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force and the United States Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.
casablanca_and_cruz_complaint.pdfLower Burrell Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Possession of a Fentanyl and Tramadol MixtureRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to five years’ imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on her conviction of possession with intent to distribute a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Amber Doller-Smith.
According to information presented to the court, Doller-Smith was involved in a traffic stop on September 13, 2018, conducted by police officers from Lower Burrell and New Kensington. A canine unit was summoned to the scene and alerted to a purse located on the vehicle’s front seat. The police searched the purse and found numerous pills and Doller-Smith’s bankcard. Doller-Smith subsequently informed the officers she had heroin concealed on her person. Laboratory analysis revealed that the substance consisted of a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol and had a net weight of 46.53 grams.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Leo Ivory prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lower Burrell Police Department, and the New Kensington Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Doller-Smith.
Louisiana Man to Federal Prison for Sexually Enticing an Iowa ChildRead the Press Release
Christopher Ray White, 23, from Lettsworth, Louisiana, pled guilty and was sentenced August 12, 2020, to more than 10 years in federal prison for enticing a minor.
Evidence showed that White utilized Omegle and iMessage to communicate with the victim between June 22, 2018, and June 27, 2018. The victim told White they were only 12 years old. After learning the victim’s age, White requested to see the victim’s genitals. White later sent photos of his erect penis to the victim and videos of himself masturbating and encouraged the victim to do the same.
White was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. White was sentenced to 126 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. White is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and investigated by Iowa Department of Criminalistics Investigations, and Spirit Lake Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4073.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Los Angeles, California Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edward Shontel Beattie, age 47, of Los Angeles, California was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, and 5 years of supervised release for Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”).
The Indictment alleged that on or about August 5, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Methamphetamine kills. It is a deadly drug that reaches its victims by way of members of drug trafficking organizations who care only about their profits. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in partnership with the DEA, this defendant will not be sending drug proceeds to his bosses and the life-destroying poisonous product will not reach our communities.”
“This sentence sends a message to those who use Oklahoma highways to feed the drug addicted and line the pockets of criminal organizations,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Division, which covers the State of Oklahoma. “The DEA and our steadfast Oklahoman law enforcement partners will identify, investigate, and prosecute those to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jarrod Leaman represented the United States.
Long Island Woman Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LISA REID, 47, of Amityville, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for victimizing dozens of individuals in an identity theft and credit card fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between February 2015 and January 2017, Reid was involved in a scheme to defraud credit card companies and their customers by fraudulently taking over credit card accounts and, using those accounts, making unauthorized purchases from high-end retailers.
As part of her scheme, Reid used publicly available information to obtain phone numbers for individuals living in affluent areas. She then called her victims pretending to be a representative of a credit card company and claiming that the company needed information about their account. The victims then provided Reid with their account information, including credit card numbers and passwords. Reid then contacted the credit card company, pretending to be the victim. After providing all of the requested security information, she added a new phone number and address to the account. The address was typically an abandoned or foreclosed property near her home in New York. Reid then used the compromised credit card accounts to order merchandise from high-end retailers and had the merchandise shipped to an address that she had previously added to the credit card account. After Reid, or a “runner,” retrieved the merchandise, she sold it at a pawnshop or to another individual.
Through this scheme, Reid stole the identities of more than 50 individuals, most of whom were senior citizens, and used their credit card information to purchase more than $1 million in merchandise. Victim credit card companies successfully thwarted approximately $3.8 million worth of Reid’s attempted purchases.
Judge Shea ordered Reid to pay restitution in the amount of $1,009,235.69.
On December 20, 2016, federal agents executed a search warrant at Reid’s residence and also attempted to arrest Reid. Investigators learned that Reid had fled to Florida where she committed another fraudulent credit card purchase of a $50,500 Cartier watch using a compromised account.
Reid has been detained since her arrest on February 5, 2017.
On November 7, 2017, Reid pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
In October 2010, Reid was convicted in the Eastern District of Kentucky of federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft offenses, and was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. The convictions stemmed from a similar credit card takeover scheme that also defrauded victims of approximately $1 million.
Reid, who was on supervised release during her most recent criminal conduct, may face additional penalties in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Greenwich Police Department and Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, which included the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the Shelton, Stamford, Hartford and Norwalk Police Departments. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Leader and Two Co-Conspirators of Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Are Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced to prison the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking ring and his two co-conspirators today, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
William Andrew Reel, II, 40, of Bessemer City, N.C., was ordered to serve 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Reel pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Kateland Dawn Myers, 25, of Bessemer City, N.C., was sentenced to 151 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Myers pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Matthew Lloyd Thomas, 32, of Dallas, N.C. was ordered to serve 151 months in prison, and five years of supervised release. Thomas previously pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearings, from at least September 2018 to March 2019, Reel conspired with others to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine from Georgia into North Carolina, which Reel, Myers, and Thomas then distributed locally in Gaston County and elsewhere. Court records show that Reel, assisted by Myers and Thomas, was responsible for trafficking at least 30 kilograms of methamphetamine. Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized methamphetamine, three firearms, and more than $ 64,171 in drug proceeds.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the DEA and the Gaston County Police Department for handling the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Latin King Gang Member Sentenced to 87 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Mark Toney, 41, of Schererville, Indiana, and a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings street gang, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 87 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, Toney was a member of the Latin Kings street gang for most of his adult life, including being a local leader of Hammond Latin Kings for a period of time. He possessed firearms, ordered other members to shoot at rivals, and sold cocaine and marijuana as a member of the gang. Factors affecting Toney’s sentence were his leadership role and his involvement in the distribution of between 3.5 and 5 kilograms of cocaine by the Latin Kings.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, also provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.
Justice Department Settles Claim Against California-Based Staffing Company for Favoring Temporary Visa Workers over U.S. WorkersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it signed a settlement agreement with AllianceIT, a provider of IT staffing services based in Pleasanton, California. This is the tenth settlement under the Civil Rights Division’s Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, which is aimed at targeting, investigating, and taking enforcement actions against companies that discriminate against U.S. workers in favor of temporary foreign visa workers.
The settlement resolves a claim that AllianceIT discriminated against U.S. workers by posting a job advertisement specifying a preference for “ONLY OPT’s who can work” using a W-2 tax form. Optional Practical Training (OPT) permits foreign students holding an F-1 visa to engage in temporary employment related to the student’s major area of study.
“Companies cannot place U.S. students at a disadvantage for job opportunities by advertising a hiring preference for foreign students with visas,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce the law to ensure that employers are held accountable whenever they discriminate against U.S. students or other U.S. workers because of their citizenship.”
Based on its investigation, the department concluded that AllianceIT posted a job advertisement aimed exclusively at non-U.S. citizens with a specific type of temporary visa. The Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from discriminating in hiring by preferring candidates with temporary work visas over U.S. workers. Under the INA, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship, immigration status or national origin at any stage of their hiring process, including the posting of job advertisements, regardless of whether it affects the final hiring outcome.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, AllianceIT will train its employees on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, change its policies and procedures to comply with this law, and be subject to two years of department monitoring, including providing regular reports to the department.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) has reached numerous settlements under the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, and employers have distributed or agreed to pay a combined total of more than $1.2 million in back pay to affected U.S. workers and civil penalties to the United States. These settlements involve employers that discriminated in their use of the H-1B, H-2A, H-2B and F-1 visa programs.
IER is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits, among other things, citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar; email [email protected]; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
The Civil Rights Division wants to hear about civil rights violations. Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations through the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; or discrimination in the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin; or retaliation can file a charge or contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.
Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Selling MethRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Richard S. Dean, 44, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams of methamphetamine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of $10,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a drug trafficking associate of co-defendant Douglas Beardsley. During the conspiracy, Dean would go over to Beardsley’s residences on Linden and Forest Avenues in Jamestown several times a week and pick up ounces of methamphetamine and grams of heroin to sell for Beardsley. At times, Beardsley would “front” the narcotics to the defendant to sell. Dean and Beardsley would often communicate about their drug trafficking, including through their Facebook accounts.
On January 6, 2019, local law enforcement observed a suspicious male, later identified as the defendant. Dean became evasive and ran from officers. Shortly thereafter, the defendant was taken into custody and arrested on an outstanding warrant. Dean was transported to the Jamestown City jail where a subsequent search revealed that he possessed methamphetamine, heroin, plastic baggies, a digital scale, and Dimethyl Sulfone, a common cutting agent for methamphetamine. On March 21, 2019, the defendant pleaded guilty in Chautauqua County Court to Criminal Possession Controlled Substance-5th: Intent To Sell and Criminal Sale Controlled Substance-5th Degree.
Charges remain pending against Douglas Beardsley. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The federal 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Timothy Jackson.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 23, 2020, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Interagency Issues Advisory on Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft SystemsRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an advisory guidance document to help non-federal public and private entities better understand the federal laws and regulations that may apply to the use of capabilities to detect and mitigate threats posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations.
The “Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft Systems” (the “Advisory”) provides a brief overview of various provisions of the U.S. criminal code enforced by DOJ, as well as federal laws and regulations related to aviation safety and efficiency, transportation and airport security, and the radiofrequency spectrum administered respectively by the FAA, DHS, and FCC.
“As the number of drones in our airspace continue to rise, it is unsurprising that the availability of counter-drone technologies has likewise increased,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Because these technologies may be presented for sale without a full discussion of important legal requirements, this Advisory steps forward to provide an outline of the relevant legal landscape. By encouraging a common understanding of potentially applicable laws, the Advisory can help foster responsible industry growth and promote public safety.”
The Advisory has been issued at a time when the commercial demand for UAS detection and mitigation is high, but the authority to use those capabilities is far from clear. To date, Congress has given limited authority to only four federal Departments – Defense, Energy, Justice, and Homeland Security – to engage in UAS detection and mitigation activities, notwithstanding certain otherwise potentially applicable federal criminal laws. The Departments and Agencies issuing the Advisory do not have the authority to approve non-federal public and private use of UAS detection or mitigation capabilities, nor do they conduct legal reviews of commercially available products’ compliance with those laws.
The Advisory urges entities to take the advice presented in this Advisory seriously – to consult with counsel and think carefully about the functionality of individual detection or mitigation systems, the way the system operates, and the way the system will be used. A thorough understanding of how a system functions and the applicable law is necessary to ensure that, if UAS detection and mitigation technologies are employed, they will be used effectively, responsibly, and legally.
Although the Advisory is an important discussion of potentially applicable federal law and regulations in this space, it cautions that additional state or local laws may apply, and that entities should further consider the impacts such technology could have on privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights.
The Advisory can be found at /media/1084061/dl?inline.
Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington woman has pled guilty to drug and gun crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Elizabeth Leighton Mullins, 46, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
“Getting illegal drugs off the streets of Huntington was a top priority of mine since becoming United States Attorney. We have left no stone unturned and the results speak for themselves,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Great work by the Huntington Police Department and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West in stopping this gun-toting drug dealer.”
Mullins admitted that on February 13, 2019, in a residence at 1352 Charleston Ave. in Huntington, she possessed plastic baggies containing approximately 69 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol, and a loaded Ruger LCP II .380 caliber pistol. Mullins later admitted that the methamphetamine was hers and that she intended to sell it. Mullins also admitted that she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine which prevented her from possessing the firearms. Mullins faces a maximum of 20 years in prison when sentenced on November 16, 2020.
The Huntington Police Department and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is handling the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00203.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Green Island Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Arthur Gurbey, age 48, of Green Island, New York, pled guilty on August 12 to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2020 before Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. Gurbey faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
As part of his guilty plea, Gurbey admitted that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with a person he believed to be a 15-year old girl, whom he attempted to meet in person in Saratoga County, on November 27, 2018. He also admitted to using his cellphone to receive images and videos of child pornography. A forensic review of Gurbey’s phone revealed that it contained over 100 image and video files depicting the sexual abuse of children
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. Powers.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Four charged as felon in possession of a firearm in ClevelandRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has indicted four individuals in the Cleveland area on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. These are separate cases and are not related.
Diante Colthirst, age 30, of Cleveland, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Colthirst is charged with the alleged illegal possession of a 9mm pistol on March 2, 2020. Colthirst is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of attempted felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under disability and felonious assault and aggravated robbery in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF with the help of Orange Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.
Alaric Holloway, age 30, of Lorain, was indicted on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Holloway is charged with the alleged illegal possession of a 9mm pistol on February 26, 2020, and spent shell casing ammunition on May 25, 2020. Holloway is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of intimidation, drug trafficking, felonious assault and domestic violence in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI with the help of Lorain Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.
Samuel James McCrimon Jr., age 29, of Cleveland, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. McCrimon is charged with the alleged illegal possession of 9mm semi-automatic pistol on June 10, 2020. McCrimon is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of burglary in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and felonious assault in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF with the support of the United States Marshal Service (USMS) Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Kane.
Cedric Roberson, age 52, of North Olmsted, was indicted on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person with a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction. Roberson is charged with the alleged illegal possession of a .32 caliber revolver on May 8, 2020. Roberson had previously been convicted of Domestic Violence in 2008, 2013 and 2019 in Cuyahoga and Lorain County Common Pleas Courts. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI with the help of the Elyria Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.
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.
Former Tennessee State University Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison in Student Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – August 17, 2020 – A former Tennessee State University (TSU) employee was sentenced Friday to 32 months in federal prison for fraudulently receiving and misappropriating more than $84,500 in student loan payments, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Renauld Clayton, 32, of Nashville, was indicted in May of last year on charges of student loan fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He pleaded guilty in February and admitted that during 2014-2015, while employed in the admissions office of TSU, he obtained the personal identifying information of TSU students and others and applied for student loans in their names. When the funds were received, Clayton diverted the money to his own use and others and deposited more than $60,000 of the funds to bank accounts that he controlled.
U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson also ordered Clayton to pay $84,506.00 in restitution
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service, following an internal audit by TSU. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Beth Myers and Kathryn W. Booth are prosecuting the case.
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Former HR Director Pleads Guilty, Facing $118k Payback of Stolen FundsRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – The former human resources director for Oconee County, Georgia has admitted to stealing taxpayer money in a complicated paycheck scheme, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Sherry Turner-Seila, 52, of Panama City Beach, Florida, formerly of Watkinsville, Georgia, entered a guilty plea today to one count aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal. The defendant faces a mandatory two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year supervised release. In addition, the signed plea agreement states that both parties agree the defendant owes $118,451.80 in restitution to Oconee County. Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2020. There is no parole in the federal system.
Turner-Seila was employed as the Human Resources Director for Oconee County. As such, she was one of the few employees with access to the County’s payroll system, which transferred funds directly from the county bank account to the bank accounts of county employees. From July 6, 2016 to July 5, 2019, Turner-Seila concocted a scheme where she would use that access to temporarily change a former employee’s direct deposit information to her own personal bank account’s direct deposit information. In all, Turner-Seila stole $118,451.80 from Oconee County taxpayers.
“The defendant used her position and access to systematically steal money from Oconee County taxpayers—a deception she kept up over many years. Theft of the public trust is a serious offense, and our office will prosecute those who use their positions of power for illegal gains,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for investigating this case.”
"This was a methodical plan by Turner-Seila to knowingly steal money from the tax payers of Oconee County," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Public corruption is a priority for the FBI and we continue to work with our local and federal partners to protect our citizens against officials who abuse their positions of trust."
"We are pleased with the swift work by the US Attorney's Office and FBI. This case was a serious matter to many county employees and their families. We are very pleased with the guilty plea,” said Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Leary prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Former Deputy Jailer Sentenced to 48 Months for Violating the Civil Rights of an InmateRead the Press Release
A former Shelby County Deputy Jailer, William Anthony Carey, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. VanTatenhove to serve 48 months in federal prison for violating the civil rights of an inmate in his custody.
According to Carey’s guilty plea agreement, Carey worked as a Deputy Jailer at the Shelby County Detention Center in Shelbyville, Kentucky. During one of his shifts, Carey solicited Corey Lynn Hopper, 30, an inmate, to assault another inmate. Carey told Hopper about a personal vendetta Carey had against the other inmate, and asked Hopper to “take care of” him. That night, while the inmate slept, Hopper beat him, punching and kicking the inmate multiple times. The assault left the victim with severe facial fractures and missing teeth.
“The duty of correctional officers is to uphold the law and protect the people within their care,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “These actions are not only illegal and morally wrong, they go against the oath this officer took when he entered the job. This division will continue to work to protect the civil rights of all Americans, and vigorously prosecute those who violate them.”
“Excessive and unreasonable force perpetrated by, or directed by, a member of law enforcement is disgraceful and criminal,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “It undermines what our system of justice stands for and it damages the integrity of law enforcement. We have a distinct responsibility to combat it with all the tools available to us. Everyone is entitled to be free of this despicable conduct. I want to commend the FBI for their work in successfully investigating this case, bringing some sense of justice to the victim of this conduct.”
“Because corrections officers have a critical public safety responsibility, the FBI is committed to vigorously pursue civil rights and color of law violations. Through the Kentucky Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force, FBI Louisville will continue to aggressively investigate any public official that abuses those they have been sworn to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown, FBI Louisville Field Office.
For his role in the assault, Carey pleaded guilty in March 2019 to willfully depriving an inmate of his right to be free from unreasonable force while acting under color of law. Upon his release, Carey will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Hopper also pleaded guilty in January 2020 to aiding and abetting a person acting under color of law in willfully depriving an inmate of his right to be free from unreasonable force. Hopper was sentenced on July 15, 2020, receiving 120 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Under federal law, both Hopper and Carey must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the Public Corruption/Civil Rights Task Force of the Louisville Field Division of the FBI. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins and Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section.
Former Deputy Jailer Sentenced to 48 Months for Violating the Civil Rights of an InmateRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A former Shelby County Deputy Jailer, William Anthony Carey, 31, was sentenced Monday, to 48 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. VanTatenhove, for violating the civil rights of an inmate in his custody.
According to Carey’s guilty plea agreement, Corey Lynn Hopper, 30, and another inmate were incarcerated together at the Shelby County Detention Center, in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Carey, a Deputy Jailer at the time, told Hopper about a personal vendetta he had against the other inmate, and asked Hopper to “take care of” him. That night, while the inmate slept, Hopper and several others beat him, punching and kicking the inmate multiple times. The assault left the victim with severe facial fractures and missing teeth.
Hopper pleaded guilty to his role in the assault, in January 2020, pleading to aiding and abetting a person acting under color of law in willfully depriving an inmate of his right to be free from unreasonable force. Carey pleaded guilty to his role in the assault in March 2019.
Hopper was sentenced on July 15, 2020, receiving 120 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Upon his release, Carey will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years. Under federal law, both must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences.
“The duty of correctional officers is to uphold the law and protect the people within their care,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “These actions are not only illegal and morally wrong, they go against the oath this officer took when he entered the job. This division will continue to work to protect the civil rights of all Americans, and vigorously prosecute those who violate them.”
“Excessive and unreasonable force perpetrated by, or directed by, a member of law enforcement is disgraceful and criminal,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “It undermines what our system of justice stands for and it damages the integrity of law enforcement. We have a distinct responsibility to combat it with all the tools available to us. Everyone is entitled to be free of this despicable conduct. I want to commend the FBI for their work in successfully investigating this case, bringing some sense of justice to the victim of this conduct.”
“Because corrections officers have a critical public safety responsibility, the FBI is committed to vigorously pursue civil rights and color of law violations. Through the Kentucky Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force, FBI Louisville will continue to aggressively investigate any public official that abuses those they have been sworn to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown, FBI Louisville Field Office.
Assistant Attorney General Dreiband; U.S. Attorney Duncan; and James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the Public Corruption/Civil Rights Task Force of the Louisville Field Division of the FBI. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins and Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section.
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Former CIA officer arrested and charged with espionageRead the Press Release
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was arrested on August 14, 2020 on a charge that he conspired with another former CIA officer to communicate classified information up to the Top Secret level to intelligence officials of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Criminal Complaint containing the charge was unsealed this morning.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division Alan E. Kohler Jr., and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office Eli S. Miranda made the announcement.
“The trail of Chinese espionage is long and, sadly, strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues, their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “This betrayal is never worth it. Whether immediately, or many years after they thought they got away with it, we will find these traitors and we will bring them to justice. To the Chinese intelligence services, these individuals are expendable. To us, they are sad but urgent reminders of the need to stay vigilant.”
“The charges announced today are a sobering reminder to our communities in Hawaii of the constant threat posed by those who seek to jeopardize our nation’s security through acts of espionage,” said U.S. Attorney Price. “Of particular concern are the criminal acts of those who served in our nation’s intelligence community, but then choose to betray their former colleagues and the nation-at large by divulging classified national defense information to China. My office will continue to tenaciously pursue espionage cases.”
“This serious act of espionage is another example in a long string of illicit activities that the People’s Republic of China is conducting within and against the United States,” said Assistant Director Kohler. This case demonstrates that no matter the length or difficulty of the investigation, the men and women of the FBI will work tirelessly to protect our national security from the threat posed by Chinese intelligence services. Let it be known that anyone who violates a position of trust to betray the United States will face justice, no matter how many years it takes to bring their crimes to light.”
“These cases are very complicated and take years if not decades to bring to a conclusion,” said Special Agent in Charge Miranda. “I could not be more proud of the work done by the men and women of the FBI’s Honolulu Division in pursuing this case. Their dedication is a reminder that the FBI will never waiver when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of our nation.”
Ma is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Shanghai, China. According to court documents, Ma began working for the CIA in 1982, maintained a Top Secret clearance, and signed numerous non-disclosure agreements in which he acknowledged his responsibility and ongoing duty to protect U.S. government secrets during his tenure at CIA. Ma left the CIA in 1989 and lived and worked in Shanghai, China before arriving in Hawaii in 2001.
According to court documents, Ma and the other former CIA officer (identified as co-conspirator #1) conspired with each other and multiple PRC intelligence officials to communicate classified national defense information over the course of a decade. The scheme began with three days of meetings in Hong Kong in March 2001 during which the two former CIA officers provided information to the foreign intelligence service about the CIA’s personnel, operations, and methods of concealing communications. Part of the meeting was captured on videotape, including a portion where Ma can be seen receiving and counting $50,000 in cash for the secrets they provided.
The court documents further allege that after Ma moved to Hawaii, he sought employment with the FBI in order to once again gain access to classified U.S. government information which he could in turn provide to his PRC handlers. In 2004, the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office hired Ma as a contract linguist tasked with reviewing and translating Chinese language documents. Over the following six years, Ma regularly copied, photographed and stole documents that displayed U.S. classification markings such as “SECRET.” Ma took some of the stolen documents and images with him on his frequent trips to China with the intent to provide them to his handlers. Ma often returned from China with thousands of dollars in cash and expensive gifts, such as a new set of golf clubs.
According to court documents, in Spring 2019, over the course of two in-person meetings, Ma confirmed his espionage activities to an FBI undercover employee Ma believed was a representative of the PRC intelligence service, and accepted $2,000 in cash from the FBI undercover as “small token” of appreciation for Ma’s assistance to China. Ma also offered to once again work for the PRC intelligence service. On August 12, 2020, during a meeting with an FBI undercover employee before arrest, Ma again accepted money for his past espionage activities, expressed his willingness to continue to help the Chinese government, and stated that he wanted “the motherland” to succeed.
Ma will make his initial appearance before a federal judge later today or tomorrow in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. He is charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, or death, if convicted. The maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. In the event Ma is convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson and Trial Attorneys Scott Claffee and Steve Marzen of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
Former CIA Officer Arrested and Charged with EspionageRead the Press Release
Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was arrested on Aug. 14, 2020, on a charge that he conspired with a relative of his who also was a former CIA officer to communicate classified information up to the Top Secret level to intelligence officials of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Criminal Complaint containing the charge was unsealed this morning.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division Alan E. Kohler Jr., and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office Eli S. Miranda made the announcement.
“The trail of Chinese espionage is long and, sadly, strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues, their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “This betrayal is never worth it. Whether immediately, or many years after they thought they got away with it, we will find these traitors and we will bring them to justice. To the Chinese intelligence services, these individuals are expendable. To us, they are sad but urgent reminders of the need to stay vigilant.”
“The charges announced today are a sobering reminder to our communities in Hawaii of the constant threat posed by those who seek to jeopardize our nation’s security through acts of espionage,” said U.S. Attorney Price. “Of particular concern are the criminal acts of those who served in our nation’s intelligence community, but then choose to betray their former colleagues and the nation-at large by divulging classified national defense information to China. My office will continue to tenaciously pursue espionage cases.”
“This serious act of espionage is another example in a long string of illicit activities that the People's Republic of China is conducting within and against the United States,” said Alan E. Kohler Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. “This case demonstrates that no matter the length or difficulty of the investigation, the men and women of the FBI will work tirelessly to protect our national security from the threat posed by Chinese intelligence services. Let it be known that anyone who violates a position of trust to betray the United States will face justice, no matter how many years it takes to bring their crimes to light.”
“These cases are very complicated and take years if not decades to bring to a conclusion,” said Eli Miranda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Honolulu Division. “I could not be more proud of the work done by the men and women of the FBI's Honolulu Division in pursuing this case. Their dedication is a reminder that the FBI will never waiver when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of our nation.”
Ma is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong. According to court documents, Ma began working for the CIA in 1982, maintained a Top Secret clearance, and signed numerous non-disclosure agreements in which he acknowledged his responsibility and ongoing duty to protect U.S. government secrets during his tenure at CIA. Ma left the CIA in 1989 and lived and worked in Shanghai, China before arriving in Hawaii in 2001.
According to court documents, Ma and his relative (identified as co-conspirator #1) conspired with each other and multiple PRC intelligence officials to communicate classified national defense information over the course of a decade. The scheme began with three days of meetings in Hong Kong in March 2001 during which the two former CIA officers provided information to the foreign intelligence service about the CIA’s personnel, operations, and methods of concealing communications. Part of the meeting was captured on videotape, including a portion where Ma can be seen receiving and counting $50,000 in cash for the secrets they provided.
The court documents further allege that after Ma moved to Hawaii, he sought employment with the FBI in order to once again gain access to classified U.S. government information which he could in turn provide to his PRC handlers. In 2004, the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office hired Ma as a contract linguist tasked with reviewing and translating Chinese language documents. Over the following six years, Ma regularly copied, photographed and stole documents that displayed U.S. classification markings such as “SECRET.” Ma took some of the stolen documents and images with him on his frequent trips to China with the intent to provide them to his handlers. Ma often returned from China with thousands of dollars in cash and expensive gifts, such as a new set of golf clubs.
According to court documents, in spring 2019, over the course of two in-person meetings, Ma confirmed his espionage activities to an FBI undercover employee Ma believed was a representative of the PRC intelligence service, and accepted $2,000 in cash from the FBI undercover as “small token” of appreciation for Ma’s assistance to China. Ma also offered to once again work for the PRC intelligence service. On August 12, 2020, during a meeting with an FBI undercover employee before arrest, Ma again accepted money for his past espionage activities, expressed his willingness to continue to help the Chinese government, and stated that he wanted “the motherland” to succeed.
Ma will make his initial appearance before a federal judge tomorrow in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. He is charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted. The maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. In the event Ma is convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson and Trial Attorneys Scott Claffee and Steve Marzen of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
Former Butler Resident Played Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Ricardo Glenn was convicted of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Glenn, age 28, formerly of Butler and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville. Judge Colville scheduled sentencing to occur on December 17, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Yvonne M. Saadi and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Butler County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force led the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
Former Bucks County Youth Basketball Coach Sentenced to 20 Years for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that James Hardcastle, 42, of Bensalem, PA, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, 20 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $75,000 in fines by United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert for multiple child exploitation offenses stemming from his conduct at an over-night basketball tournament in Wildwood, New Jersey and at his home in Bensalem.
In June 2016, Hardcastle transported three minor boys, ages 15, 16 and 16, as their coach to Wildwood, New Jersey to participate in a basketball tournament, and shared a motel room with them in which there was no shower curtain. The defendant installed a USB drive containing a hidden camera in a power outlet in the bathroom and surreptitiously filmed each of the minors taking showers. Previously, in June and July 2015, the defendant also attempted to videotape two minors in a bathroom using a hidden camera while the minors were visiting his home in Bensalem. The defendant pleaded guilty in December 2019 to three counts of transporting minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of attempted production of child pornography.
“This defendant took advantage of his position of trust as a youth basketball coach to exploit children for his own satisfaction,” U.S. Attorney McSwain said. “This is heinous and reprehensible behavior that deserves the serious punishment that was meted out today. My Office will continue to prioritize the protection of children from such predation.”
“The boys James Hardcastle victimized will never forget their trusted coach’s betrayal,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “He used his relationship with them for his own gratification, setting them up for his illicit secret recordings. The FBI will never stand by when we learn of the sexual exploitation of children. Such predators need to be taken off the street so they can’t harm anyone else.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department Special Victims Unit and the Bensalem Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.
Florence Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - A Florence, Kentucky, man, Jeffery Pollard Jr., 26, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Pollard’s plea agreement, on January 30, 2020, law enforcement stopped a car with Pollard as a passenger. During the traffic stop, law enforcement saw a handgun, which was loaded, on top of a black bag. The bag contained 21.84 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale. Pollard admitted that the methamphetamine and handgun belonged to him, and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Pollard was indicted in March 2020.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Police Chief Robert Nader, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Covington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Harris.
Pollard is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20. He faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
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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Elizabethton Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On August 14, 2020, Anthony Layton Moody, 27, of Elizabethton, was sentenced by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
Moody plead guilty to one count of an indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography. Moody was sentenced to 168 months in prison, followed by 20 years’ supervised release. Moody was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to the victims. Moody will be required to register with the sex offender registry in any state in which he resides, works, or attends school, and comply with special sex offender conditions during the supervised release.
In November 2019, a federal search warrant was executed at Moody’s home after information was provided to the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about child pornography images and videos being downloaded at the residence. During the search, over 1,500 images of child pornography were found on Moody’s computer and cellular phone. Many of the images depicted the sexual victimization of infants and toddlers. During questioning, Moody admitted to possessing child pornography and stated that he had been downloading and viewing child pornography for some time. Moody also admitted to distributing and trading child pornography to hundreds of individuals over the course of a year.
The criminal indictment resulted from investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. This investigation was led by HSI Special Agent Travis Carrier.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Parker represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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El Departamento de Justicia resuelve acusaciones contra una compañía de contrataciones con sede en California por dar preferencia a trabajadores con visas temporales sobre trabajadores en este país.Read the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha firmado un acuerdo conciliatorio con AllianceIT, un proveedor de servicios de contratación en el ámbito de la informática cuya sede se encuentra en Pleasanton, California. Este representa el décimo acuerdo al amparo de la Iniciativa para la Protección de Trabajadores en los EE. UU. de la División de Derechos Civiles. Su meta es enfocarse en, investigar a y tomar medidas de aplicación de la ley contra compañías que discriminen a trabajadores en este país a favor de trabajadores extranjeros con visas temporales.
El acuerdo resuelve una acusación de que AllianceIT había discriminado a trabajdores en este país al publicar una oferta de trabajo indicando una preferencia por «ÚNICAMENTE PERSONAS CON OPT que puedan trabajar» utilizando un formulario impositivo W-2. La Capacitación Práctica Optativa (OPT, por sus siglas en inglés) permite a estudiantes extranjeros con visa F-1 tener un empleo temporal que esté relacionado con el área de estudio principal del estudiante.
«Las compañías no pueden perjudicar a los estudiantes estadounidenses en lo que se refiere a las oportunidades laborales al anunciar una preferencia por contratar a estudiantes extranjeros con visa», afirmó Eric Dreiband, el Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles. «El Departamento de Justicia se dedicará plenamente a la aplicación de la ley con el fin de garantizar que los empleadores rindan cuentas cuando discriminan a estudiantes estadounidenses o trabajadores en este país por motivos de su ciudadanía».
Con base en su investigación, el Departamento concluyó que AllianceIT había publicado una oferta de trabajo buscando exclusivamente a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. con un tipo específico de visa temporal. La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) prohíbe que los empleadores discriminen en los procesos de contratación dando preferencia a candidatos con visas temporales de trabajo sobre trabajadores en este país. Conforme la INA, a los empleadores queda prohibido discriminar a trabajadores por motivos de la ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen de ellos en cualquiera de las fases del proceso de contratación, lo que incluye la publicación de ofertas de trabajo, independientemente de si tal discriminación afecta el resultado final de la contratación.
Según los términos del acuerdo, AllianceIT capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA, cambiará sus políticas y procedimientos para que cumplan con esta ley y se someterá a los requisitos de supervisión por parte del Departamento durante dos años, lo que incluye la entrega de informes rutinarias al Departamento.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados («IER», por sus siglas en inglés) ha llegado a numerosos acuerdos bajo la Iniciativa para la Protección de Trabajadores en Este País y empleadores han distribuido o acordado distribuir un total combinado de más de 1,2 millónes de dólares por concepto de pagos retroactivos a trabajadores afectado en este país y sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos. Estos acuerdos implican empleadores que discriminaron en su uso de los programas de visa de H-1B, H-2A, H-2B y F-1.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación con base en el estatus de ciudadanía y la nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; las prácticas documentales injustas; las represalias o la intimidación.
Para más información sobre protecciones contra la discriminación en el empleo, llame a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llame a la línea directa para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); inscríbase a un seminario en línea gratuito; envíe en correo electrónico a [email protected]; o visite las páginas web de la IER en inglés y español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
La División de Derechos Civiles quiere enterarse de más vulneraciones de derechos civiles. Miembros del público pueden informarnos de posibles vulneraciones de derechos civiles mediante el portal de declaraciones de la División de Derechos Civiles.
Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido sometidos a: discriminación por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; discriminación en el proceso de la verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) con base en su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen; o represalias pueden presentar una denuncia o llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores para pedir ayuda.
Descargue el acuerdo conciliatorio
Department of Justice Publishes Proposed Regulations Articulating the Registration Requirements for Sex Offenders under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice has published proposed regulations that provide a clear and comprehensive statement of sex offenders’ registration requirements under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA requires convicted sex offenders to register in the states in which they live, work, or attend school, and it directs the Attorney General to issue regulations and guidelines to implement SORNA.
“SORNA is a crucial public safety measure,” said Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy Beth A. Williams. “The proposed regulations will further Congress’s and the Department’s shared goal of ensuring that convicted sex offenders are accounted for under the law. These regulations will enhance the enforcement of registration and notification across the country and ensure that information about sex offenders in the community is available to law enforcement and the public.”
Congress enacted SORNA as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 to strengthen the nation’s sex offender registration programs, which exist in every state, and to ensure that sex offenders are effectively tracked as they move among jurisdictions. SORNA includes requirements regarding the sex offenses for which registration is required and the information sex offenders must provide to registration authorities; reporting of changes in, and periodic verification of, residence and other information; and the required duration of registration for sex offenders in different classes. SORNA also requires sex offenders to report travel abroad, which addresses the global concern over international sex tourism and trafficking.
The proposed regulations’ clear and comprehensive statement of registration obligations under SORNA will promote the effective enforcement of SORNA’s requirements. By these means, the proposed regulations will further SORNA’s objective of protecting the public from sex offenders by establishing a comprehensive national system for the registration of such offenders.
The proposed regulations are available here.
Defendant Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin from California to Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Jose Alfredo Molina-Guerrero, 28, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 76 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin from California to Las Vegas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Molina-Guerrero pleaded guilty on January 13, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count each of possession with intent to distribute heroin and to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Molina conspired with others to distribute heroin and methamphetamine from California to Las Vegas. On or about July 24, 2019, Molina brought approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine and one kilogram of heroin to Las Vegas to sell to another individual. In the trunk of the vehicle in which Molina was a passenger, law enforcement found: (a) 20 bags each containing approximately one pound of methamphetamine; and (b) one package containing one kilogram of brown and black tar heroin.
The charges resulted from an investigation by the DEA.
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Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - A Cincinnati man, Dontez Justice, 33, pleaded guilty in federal court Friday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to possession with intent to distribute over five grams of methamphetamine.
According to Justice’s plea agreement, on October 17, 2019, a cooperating source working with DEA arranged a purchase of methamphetamine from Justice. In his plea agreement, Justice admitted that he was en route to deliver the methamphetamine when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and found the methamphetamine. The methamphetamine seized from Justice was confirmed to be 26.3 grams of actual methamphetamine.
Justice further admitted in his plea agreement that he has two prior drug trafficking convictions, having previously been convicted of trafficking in cocaine in Campbell and Kenton counties.
Justice was indicted in February 2019.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jeffrey T Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard.
Justice is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20. He faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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Charleston, Ill., Man Charged with Child Sex Crimes, Ordered to Remain in CustodyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long today cited the extreme danger to the community posed by defendant James L. Williams, 39, of Charleston, Ill., and granted the government’s request that Williams remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Williams, of the 500 block of N. 7th St., made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, Aug. 14, following his arrest on an indictment that charges him with sexual exploitation of children to produce sexually explicit images from January 2017 to Nov. 22, 2019. In addition, Williams is charged with distribution and possession of child pornography.
During today’s detention hearing, the government proffered additional facts about the defendant and his alleged conduct in requesting that Williams remain in custody. The government alleged that Williams extorted multiple minors in Illinois and other states to produce child pornography. To gain access to girls as young as 10, Williams allegedly impersonated a female minor on social media sites, including Facebook and Snap Chat. Williams then coerced minors to produce child pornography of themselves and distributed the images to others. The government alleged that Williams extorted girls to give him additional images by threatening to share the images with others, and that on at least four occasions, Williams distributed the images to others. Williams also allegedly engaged in sexually graphic chats with other minors and discussed meeting them for sexual activity.
A trial date of Oct. 13, 2020, has been scheduled before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm.
If convicted, the statutory penalty for each of the two counts charged of sexual exploitation of a child is a minimum 15 years in prison and up to 30 years. For each of the three counts of distribution of child pornography, the penalty is five to 20 years in prison; and for possession of child pornography (one count) the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. Each of the counts carries a fine of up to $250,000, special assessments of $5,000 per count under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and $17,000 to $50,000 per count under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Charleston Police Department.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Cabell County Man Sentenced for Defrauding ChurchRead the Press Release
Wrote Nearly $500,000 in Checks on Church Account for Personal Benefit
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Cabell County man was sentenced to 33 months in prison for a federal fraud crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Robert Dale Adkins, 76, of Ona, previously pled guilty to a mail fraud scheme. Adkins also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $487,488.92.
“Stealing is one thing, but stealing almost half a million dollars from a church is both remarkable and tragic,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “This man betrayed the trust of the church and its parishioners for six years by padding his personal bank account with the church’s money.”
From at least 2012 until approximately December 2018, Adkins was the treasurer for the Antioch Baptist Church, located near Ona. As treasurer, Adkins had access to the church’s checking account and was authorized to sign checks from that account on behalf of the church. While serving as treasurer, Adkins wrote and signed checks on the church’s account for his own benefit. Those checks went to pay personal creditors as well as for personal items. Adkins wrote the checks without the church membership’s knowledge or approval, and without the knowledge or approval of any church board member. Adkins would then mail the checks to pay his personal creditors. Adkins wrote approximately $487,488.92 in unauthorized checks on the church’s account for his personal use.
The West Virginia State Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00012.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
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Brentwood Man Convicted of Purchasing Military Hand Grenades in First Federal Jury Trial in New Hampshire Since the Covid-19 Pandemic BeganRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Daniel Musso, age 56, of Brentwood, was found guilty on Friday of four counts of receiving and possessing unregistered firearms (fragmentation grenades) and one count of receiving explosive material after a week-long federal jury trial, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to the evidence presented during the trial, beginning in the summer of 2015, Musso engaged in a series of efforts to obtain ammunition and military weapons and explosives, including military hand grenades. After Musso told a firearms dealer about his desire to obtain these items, the FBI arranged for Musso to be introduced to an undercover agent who told Musso that he could obtain illegal hand grenades. During two meetings with the undercover agent in January 2016, Musso reiterated his desire to obtain hand grenades and other illegal military weapons and explosives. Musso explained that he was part of a group that was seeking to bring forth the “original constitution” and that he and his associates were seeking to obtain military weapons and explosives to “take our country back.” Musso was arrested on January 27, 2016, after he purchased four military hand grenades from the undercover agent in Seabrook.
Hand grenades are destructive devices that are unlawful to possess unless they are registered under the National Firearms Act. Musso previously argued that the grenades were not destructive devices because the FBI had made their fuses inoperable for safety purposes in the undercover operation. Although a district judge initially agreed with Musso, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed that decision, clearing the way for this matter to be tried by a jury.
Musso was taken into custody after the verdict. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
This trial was the first jury trial conducted in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire since court operations were limited in response to the pandemic in March. The court adopted a series of health and safety protocols for the jury and all other participants in the trial. Those in the courtroom wore masks, maintained social distancing, and took other steps to limit the risk of virus exposure and transmission.
“I am grateful to the members of the jury who agreed to perform their important civic duty during this challenging time,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The jury’s dedication to justice ensured that this defendant received a fair trial despite the difficulties presented by the current pandemic. The defendant’s frightening efforts to obtain military hand grenades posed a substantial risk to public safety. Thanks to the excellent investigative work of the FBI, this dangerous scheme was thwarted and the public was protected from potential violence.”
“Daniel Musso bought four grenades and asked our undercover agent to illegally sell him additional military grade weapons and explosives as part of a frightening plan to defend his version of what our government should be. If it were not for the concerned citizen who caught wind of his plan and came forward to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, these deadly weapons could have ended up in the wrong hands,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case is a true testament that the adage, ‘if you see something, say something,’ really does work.”
“This arrest demonstrates the outstanding partnership between the Seabrook Police Department, FBI and the ATF. It demonstrates the commitment we share together to interdict these dangerous hand grenades which are an instrument of extreme violence and the criminals that compromise the safety of our communities” ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly. D. Brady.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seabrook Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John S. Davis and Matthew T. Hunter.
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Alien Sentenced for Illegal Reentry of an Aggravated FelonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Eduardo Aguilar-Arellano, 35, of Mexico, illegally present in the United States and residing in Johnston County, North Carolina, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. On February 11, 2020, Aguilar-Arellano pled guilty to one count of illegal reentry of an aggravated felon.
According to court documents, Aguilar-Arellano, was excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on April 28, 2015, at El Paso, Texas, after having been convicted of Second Degree Rape, an aggravated felony, on April 8, 2008, in the Superior Court of Johnston County, North Carolina.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Diaz prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00458-FL.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
14 August 2020
Youngstown man indicted for bomb threat to courthouseRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a two-count indictment charging Larese Kenneth Allen, Sr., 25 of Youngstown with making a bomb threat and as a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on or about June 1, 2020, the Municipal Court of Youngstown, Ohio received a phone call from an unknown caller to the clerk’s office. The caller is alleged to have spoken with a court clerk and claimed to be “coming from Cleveland to blow-up your courthouse.” Following the threat, all employees of the Municipal Court of Youngstown were immediately evacuated and the Youngtown Police Department’s Bomb Squad was dispatched and conducted a sweep of the Municipal Court. No bomb was found.
An investigation subsequently determined that the defendant was the one who had placed the phone call. During an interview with law enforcement, the defendant allegedly admitted to placing the June 1st phone call to the Municipal Court of Youngstown to delay upcoming criminal proceedings.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.
Waterbury Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DESNY SOSA-HERNANDEZ, 41, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2019, law enforcement arranged two controlled purchases of cocaine in Bridgeport from Sosa-Hernandez and his co-conspirator, Edgard Martinez. On March 20, 2019, after investigators coordinated the purchase of 300 grams of cocaine from Sosa-Hernandez and Martinez, Martinez drove from his residence in Tolland to pick up Sosa-Hernandez at his residence in Waterbury. The pair then intended to drive together to Bridgeport to consummate the drug transaction. When Martinez arrived at Sosa-Hernandez’s residence, investigators apprehended Martinez and Sosa-Hernandez and seized a brown paper bag containing 300 grams of cocaine inside Martinez’s vehicle. A subsequent search of Sosa-Hernandez’s residence revealed shoeboxes containing a total of $18,111 in cash, and a search of Martinez’s residence revealed a .45 caliber handgun, a quantity of cocaine, and items used to process and package narcotics.
On November 6, 2019, Sosa-Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine.
Sosa-Hernandez, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 16.
Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. On May 29, 2020, he was sentenced to 29 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) and Milford Police Department. The Task Force includes participants from the Connecticut State Police and the Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford and Bridgeport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.