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10 August 2020
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced that ZACHARY CLARK, a/k/a “Umar Kabir,” a/k/a “Umar Shishani,” a/k/a “Abu Talha,” pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”). CLARK pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald. CLARK is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Buchwald on February 9, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As he admitted in court today, Zachary Clark pledged allegiance to ISIS and posted calls for attacks on the public and institutions in New York on encrypted pro-ISIS chatrooms. He also posted detailed instructions for carrying out those violent acts. Thanks to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Clark’s efforts to incite deadly violence on behalf of ISIS have been silenced, and he now awaits sentencing for his crimes.”
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said: “Having pledged allegiance to ISIS, Clark provided specific instructions for how to conduct attacks in New York City, instructing others on knifing and bomb-making. We must remain vigilant to the threat of terrorism. We must remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those who threaten our communities because of their support for foreign terrorist organizations.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Today’s plea by Mr. Clark is yet one more example of the resolve of the FBI’s JTTF in New York, and our many law enforcement partners, to protect this city and our citizens from the danger of lone wolf attacks. Many thanks to all of our partners who work side by side with us every day to neutralize threats of this nature.”
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “The defendant, by trying to support a designated foreign terrorist organization, represents the way New York City remains a top terrorist target. I commend the work of the NYPD investigators, the FBI agents, and the prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in bringing this case.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, Complaint, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:
CLARK pledged allegiance to ISIS twice, first in July 2019, to ISIS’s then-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and then in October 2019, to ISIS’s new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Sashemi al-Qurayshi, whom ISIS promoted after al-Baghdadi’s death. Beginning in at least March 2019, CLARK disseminated ISIS propaganda through, among other avenues, encrypted chatrooms intended for members, associates, supporters, and potential recruits of ISIS. CLARK’s propaganda included, among other things, calls for ISIS supporters to commit lone wolf attacks in New York City. For example, on August 3, 2019, CLARK posted instructions about how to conduct such an attack, including directions on how to select an attack target, how to conduct preoperational surveillance, how to conduct operational planning, and how to avoid attracting law enforcement attention when preparing for and conducting the attack. On another occasion, CLARK posted a manual entitled “Knife Attacks,” which stated, among other things, that discomfort at “the thought of plunging a sharp object into another person’s flesh” is “never an excuse for abandoning jihad” and that “[k]nives, though certainly not the only weapon for inflicting harm upon the kuffar [non-believers], are widely available in every land and thus readily accessible.” CLARK urged the participants in encrypted chatrooms to attack specific targets, posting maps and images of the New York City subway system and encouraging ISIS supporters to attack those locations. CLARK’s guidance also included posting a manual entitled “Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom,” which was issued by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and included detailed instructions about constructing bombs using readily available materials.
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CLARK, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Ms. Strauss and Assistant Attorney General Demers praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Ms. Strauss also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gillian Grossman, Matthew Hellman, and Sidhardha Kamaraju are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Jason Denney and Chad Davis of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to conspiring to deal firearms illegally.
Charles A. Slayden Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license before U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2020. In June 2019, Slayden was charged along with co-defendant Levenson Merilus, 29, of Randolph, who pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2020.
According to court documents, Slayden and Merilus conspired to purchase firearms from a licensed dealer and re-sell them for profit to individuals in Boston. In furtherance of this conspiracy, Merilus purchased at least seven guns from a licensed dealer, falsely claiming to be purchasing them for himself.
The charge of conspiring to deal in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Ajo Border Patrol Agent Arrested and Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Carlos Victor Passapera Pinott, 53, of Buckeye, Arizona, was arrested on multiple counts of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Passapera was charged by complaint, and had his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Leslie A. Bowman of the District of Arizona.
According to the complaint:
Passapera is a Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Tucson Sector Ajo Border Patrol Station. On August 9, 2020, at approximately 3:15 AM, Passapera left his residence and drove south to a remote area of the border west of the Lukeville Port of Entry. Passapera then drove to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where he loaded two duffel bags into another vehicle. Law enforcement agents stopped the driver of that vehicle after it left the airport, and searched the duffel bags. The bags contained multiple packages of substances that field tested positive for the characteristics of cocaine (21 kilograms), heroin (1 kilogram), and fentanyl (1 kilogram). The bags also contained approximately 350,000 pills. A sample from the pills field tested positive for the characteristics of fentanyl.
Law enforcement agents took Passapera into custody later that day while executing a search warrant at his residence. During the search, agents found approximately $329,000 in U.S. currency in Passapera’s residence, and an additional $40,000 in the vehicle Passapera used to transport the illegal narcotics.
Convictions for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years, and up to a $10,000,000 fine.
A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges resulted from an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force, the Homeland Security Investigations, NATIVE Task Force in Sells, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 20-02951MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-067_Passapera# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
7 August 2020
Virginia Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $100K in Civil PenaltiesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Partners Pharmacy of Virginia, LLC (“Partners Pharmacy”), located in Richmond, has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from alleged record-keeping violations.
The United States alleged that Partners Pharmacy, a pharmacy that serves long-term care, skilled and assisted living communities, violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to maintain complete and accurate records of controlled substances, failing to document transfers of Schedule II controlled substances, and failing to timely notify the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) of theft or losses of controlled substances.
Under the terms of a parallel administrative resolution, Partners Pharmacy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA under which the pharmacy has agreed to heightened compliance requirements.
“Ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Controlled Substances Act is the first step to avoiding drug diversion,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This office is committed to utilizing all remedies available to stop drug diversion and to working closely with our partners at DEA.”
“This settlement sends a clear message to all pharmacies that it is essential to dispense controlled substances in compliance with DEA’s record keeping requirements,” stated Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Division. “DEA is dedicated to combatting the prescription drug abuse problem in Virginia and throughout the country and to hold all DEA registrants accountable.”
Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to combat the illegal distribution and abuse of controlled substances, including prescription medications. Under the CSA, entities registered with the DEA who purchase, distribute, dispense, transfer, or sell controlled substances must comply with inventory and documentation requirements. Regulations promulgated under the CSA require that each DEA registrant, including pharmacies, maintain complete and accurate records of each substance manufactured, received, sold, delivered, dispensed or otherwise disposed of by the registrant for two years. These requirements play a vital role in ensuring the appropriate handling, accounting, and distribution of controlled substances.
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the DEA’s Washington Division, Richmond District Office.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilene Albala and Robert P. McIntosh. The civil claims settled by this Controlled Substances Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Utica Fentanyl Trafficker Going to PrisonRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Clifford Billins, 41, of Utica, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and heroin, was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who handled the case, stated that between September 2017 and August 2018, the defendant conspired with others to sell fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin. Billins routinely trafficked bulk quantities of illegal narcotics, which were then redistributed to individual drug users in the Rochester and Utica areas.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of the District Attorney Sandra Doorley; and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron D. Singletary.
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Update on Twin Cities Violent Crime Task ForceRead the Press Release
On July 8, 2020, United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the formation of a new Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force (Task Force) in response to an extraordinary spike in gun violence and violent crime across the Twin Cities. The Task Force brought together additional federal and state resources to assist local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals responsible for gun violence in our communities. Over the last 30 days, as a result of the joint efforts of the Task Force, a total of 94 illegal firearms have been taken off the streets and 15 individuals have been charged with federal firearms violations. After evaluating the rate of violence, the resources utilized, and the effectiveness of those resources, U.S. Attorney MacDonald has determined the Task Force will remain operational for an additional 30 days. Beyond that, there will be a continued assessment of the need for a centralized command center to remain in place.
The public may report tips by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) or submit pictures and/or videos at www.fbi.gov/violence.
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn Announces Nearly $1 Million Award to Provide Housing to Victims of Human Trafficking in ColoradoRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn today announces that the state received nearly $1 million from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“These resources are such an important extension of the work that our office and the Department of Justice are doing to fight human trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Dunn. “We work tirelessly to find and prosecute human traffickers, but supporting survivors as they look to rebuild their lives with counseling, new housing, and new employment is equally as important.”
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
The grant went to two organizations – Street’s Hope for $492,750 and Break Free Inc. for $499,993. They will provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. Street’s Hope and Break Free Inc. are among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf
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The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Two Texas Women Plead Guilty to Conspiracy Charges in Transnational Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox announced that two Texas women have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the Eastern District of Texas.
Pamela Sue Hannan, 67, of Sherman, Texas, and Pamela Sue Jennings, 68, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiring with foreign co-conspirators to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business on August 6, 2020 before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.
According to information presented in court, over the course of several years, Hannan and Jennings received funds from romance scam victims and from victims of other fraudulent schemes on behalf of their co-conspirators, who were based outside of the United States. In order to facilitate the scheme, Hannan and Jennings opened bank accounts in the names of businesses which purported to provide legitimate services. In reality, Hannan and Jennings used these businesses as fronts to facilitate the money transmitting scheme. Together, Hannan and Jennings received more than $880,000 from victims of the scheme. Hannan and Jennings transferred the majority of the funds they received to their co-conspirators’ foreign bank accounts.
Hannan and Jennings were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2019.
At sentencing, Hannan and Jennings each face a maximum of 5 years in federal prison. The statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
In October 2017, President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law. The EAPPA’s purpose is to increase the federal government’s focus on preventing elder abuse and exploitation. Subsequently, the Department of Justice launched the Elder Justice Initiative (EJI). Through the EJI, the Department has participated in hundreds of criminal and civil enforcement actions involving misconduct that targeted vulnerable seniors. This past March, the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country. The EJI website contains useful information, including educational resources about prevalent financial scams so you can guard against them.
Last week, the Eastern District of Texas announced plans to develop a new initiative, in partnership with law enforcement, to increase enforcement efforts to combat transnational elder fraud schemes and their extensive networks of associates and money mules who launder the stolen funds.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Sherman Police Department, and the Appleton (Wisconsin) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
Toledo man sentenced for real estate fraud scheme and defrauding U.S. governmentRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Ronald Wilson, age 47, of Vickery, was sentenced by Judge Jack Zouhary to 90 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $3,977,919.39 in restitution with co-defendant Sherri Wilson after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and embezzlement of government property on February 11, 2020.
Additionally sentenced in this matter were Sherri Wilson, age 31, of Vickery, and Murphy Feeny, age 32, of Toledo. Sherri Wilson was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and embezzlement of government property. Murphy Feeny was placed on probation for a term of 3 years after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ordered to pay $32,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, beginning in 2016, Defendants Ronald and Sherri Wilson developed a scheme to recruit investors from around the world who sought to invest in Toledo’s residential real estate market. These investors were told by Ronald and Sherri Wilson that, if they sent the Wilsons money, the Wilsons would purchase properties for the investor, register a limited liability company (LLC) purportedly controlled by the investor, rehabilitate the properties, obtain tenants, and manage rental income on the investors’ behalf.
In actuality, the Wilsons routinely gave themselves control over the subject LLCs, misdirected investor funds, withheld income, took payment for rehabilitation projects, but never completed ordered work, defrauded an insurance company, engaged in “check-kiting,” and even embezzled United States Department of Housing and Urban Development funds meant to benefit low-income tenants in the City of Toledo. Many of the properties involved in this case, including a downtown hotel, have been left derelict and uninhabitable. Tenants of the now-uninhabitable properties –including vulnerable Section 8 recipients – have been unnecessarily displaced as a result of the defendants’ actions.
In sum, Ronald and Sherri Wilson caused millions of dollars in losses to investors, as described in court filings.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Melching and Gene Crawford.
Three registered sex offenders indicted for possessing images of child rape and abuseRead the Press Release
(Seattle) — Three men, all registered sex offenders, were indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing images of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. In each case, the defendant has served prison time for sex offenses against children and are subject to monitoring by federal probation or the Washington State Department of Corrections. All three will be arraigned on the indictments in the next few weeks.
McKENNA DANILO BERNARDO, 23, of Burien, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint on April 30, 2020, following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigation, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Department of Corrections. In 2019, BERNARDO was sentenced in King County Superior Court to fourteen months in prison and three years of probation for possession of child pornography. Under the terms of his probation, BERNARDO’s use of electronic devices is limited and monitored. During a home inspection in February 2019, BERNARDO was found to have unauthorized electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devises revealed that they contained child pornography.
JASON ALLEN LEGG, 44, of Seattle, was charged by criminal complaint on April 30, 2020, with possession of child pornography. LEGG has prior convictions in Georgia (1998) and King County Superior Court (2005). The King County conviction resulted in a ten-year sentence for rape of a child. In November 2018, LEGG’s probation officer received information that LEGG had an unauthorized Facebook page. Further investigation by the probation officer and the Seattle Police Department revealed LEGG had a number of unapproved electronic devices, some of which contained images of child rape and abuse.
DAVID CRAIG MARTIN, 64, of Seattle, was charged by criminal complaint on May 14, 2020, with possession of child pornography. MARTIN has been convicted of multiple sex offenses: Child Molestation 3rd Degree in Pierce County Superior Court (2001); Indecent Exposure in King County Superior Court (2009); Indecent Exposure in King County Superior Court (2015); and Voyeurism in Clark County Superior Court (2016). In late 2019, Google reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an account later linked to MARTIN had uploaded more than 175 images of child pornography. The Seattle Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Department of Corrections investigated and seized unauthorized electronic devices from MARTIN. Forensic analysis by Homeland Security Investigations revealed they contain images of child rape and abuse.
BERNARDO is currently released on federal pretrial supervision. LEGG is in the custody of the Washington State Department of Corrections. MARTIN is detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment, with ten-year mandatory minimum sentences for those with qualifying prior sexual offenses.
The charges contained in the indictment 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 cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in coordination with the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the Washington State Department of Corrections.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
bernardo_indictment_0.pdf legg_indictment_0.pdf martin_indictment_0.pdfThree Men Who Allegedly Used Existing Shell Companies and Prior Fraud Experience to Exploit Covid-19 Relief Programs Charged in South Florida Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Federal prosecutors have charged one Florida man and two Massachusetts men for their alleged participation in a fraud and money laundering-ring established in 2019 to carry out business email compromise-schemes and that defendants used, most recently, to steal close to $2 million from Covid-19 relief programs.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, Kyle A. Myles, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Office of Investigation’s, Atlanta Regional Office, Kevin A. Kupperbusch, U.S. Small Business Administration, Investigations Division (SBA-OIG), Eastern Regional Office, and Dale Forrester, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Cybercrimes Division, made the announcement.
The criminal complaint charges Jimpcy One, of Broward County, Gousman Lemy, of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, and Frantz Guillaume, Jr. a/k/a Sandro Saintfloeur, of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with conspiracy to commit money laundering, bank fraud, and money laundering. The complaint charges One and Guillaume with additional counts of aggravated identity theft and making false statements to a financial institution.
According to the complaint affidavit, unknown co-conspirators of the defendants initiated the scheme around 2019, when they hacked and took control of a business email account. Through false emails that co-conspirators allegedly sent from the hacked account, co-conspirators tricked a separate business, a victim, into wiring over $900,000 into an account that defendants allegedly controlled. Defendants then sought to conceal the origin of this fraudulently obtained money by transferring it among the bank accounts of various shell companies that defendants controlled, according to the affidavit.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States in 2020, defendants allegedly initiated a new fraud scheme using existing shell companies from the email compromise scheme, as well as newly created and reactivated shell companies. Defendants allegedly submitted false and fraudulent loan applications under two U.S. government relief programs authorized by the CARES Act to help small businesses and their employees survive the Covid-19 economic crisis: the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (“EIDL”). In June and July 2020, through false submissions in the names of their shell companies, defendants fraudulently applied for and received close to $2 million in PPP and EIDL funds, according to the affidavit.
Defendants One and Lemy are in custody and had their initial appearances yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt, who sits in Ft. Lauderdale. Defendant Guillaume remains at large. A copy of the criminal complaint and affidavit is attached to this release.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be entirely forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated time after receiving the proceeds and uses a certain amount of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
The EIDL is a U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) program that provides low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDL loans of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to PPP loans, applicants must certify that they meet certain requirements. Companies may use EIDL funds for payroll expenses, sick leave, production costs, and business obligations, such as debts, rent, and mortgage payments. PPP and EIDL loans may not be used for the same expenses.
FBI Miami, USSS Miami, FDIC-OIG, SBA-OIG, SBA-OIG, and TIGTA are handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Watson is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole S. Grosnof is handling asset forfeiture.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information appear on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 20-mj-06325.
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Criminal complaint and affidavitTangipahoa Parish Man Charged for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today that REDIS MCGARY, age 53, a resident of Tangipahoa Parish, was charged in a two-count Bill of Information with possessing with the intent to distribute heroin and with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
MCGARY, if convicted, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of (5) five years of imprisonment and a maximum of (40) forty years imprisonment , a fine of not more than $5,000,000, and a (4) four year term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment on the drug count. MCGARY faces a maximum sentence of (10) ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to (3) three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment on the firearms charge.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Hammond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bayonle Osundare is in charge of the prosecution.
Tampa Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft Related to Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung today sentenced Allan Ferrari (64, Tampa) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft related to passport fraud. Ferrari had pleaded guilty on September 23, 2019.
According to court documents, Ferrari began using his and another person’s identity, R.S.S., approximately 20 years ago. Ferrari used his own identity when he was arrested for various crimes – including grand theft, domestic battery, and other offenses – but used the R.S.S. identity (a clean identity without a criminal history) to obtain a drivers license and a job. Ultimately, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service discovered Ferrari’s double life when he applied for passports, just weeks apart, in both his own name and R.S.S.’s name. When agents arrested Ferrari and searched his home, they found identification documents in Ferrari’s name, R.S.S.’s name, and in the names of approximately seven other individuals.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel George.
St. Simons man indicted for bomb threat to IRS office in New YorkRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A St. Simons Island, Ga., man has been indicted in U.S. District Court on federal charges for allegedly threatening to blow up an IRS office in New York.
Benjamin Stasko, 32, is charged with Willful Threat to Kill Using Firearms or Explosives, and Interstate Transmission of a Threat to Injure, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Threats against the safety and security of our nation’s government offices and their personnel are deadly serious, and our office will work with our law enforcement partners to find and prevent such perpetrators from carrying out their threats,” said U.S. Attorney Christine.
A threat alleging that a pipe bomb had been planted in the Ted Weiss Federal Building in New York was found July 6, posted in a comment on a federal agency’s website and directed toward the Internal Revenue Service. Federal protective police officers with bomb sniffing dogs and officers from the New York Police Department searched the facility and found no explosives. Investigators later located and arrested Stasko in St. Simons.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, the New York Police Department and the Brunswick Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court for failing to register as a sex offender.
Ruben Pagan, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 5, 2021.
Pagan, who was convicted of a sex offense in 2002, moved from Springfield to Providence, R.I. in October 2017. He remained in Providence until March 2018, when he was arrested on a Massachusetts state court warrant charging him with child sexual abuse. Pagan failed to register as a sex offender in Rhode Island, including while the warrant for his arrest was outstanding.
Pagan previously pleaded guilty to rape and abuse of a child and is currently serving a six-year state court prison sentence. Pagan was also convicted of failure to register as a sex offender on two prior occasions in Massachusetts state court.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Springfield Man Indicted on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was indicted yesterday with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana.
Lavon Pemberton, 32, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Pemberton will be arraigned in Worcester federal court on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020.
On May 14, 2020, Pemberton was stopped by law enforcement for speeding on the Massachusetts Turnpike while driving a rented vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery a loaded firearm, thousands of dollars in cash and multiple bags of marijuana. According to the charging documents, Pemberton stated that he intended to sell the marijuana once he reached his destination.
Pemberton was previously convicted in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was on supervised release for that offense at the time of the vehicle stop.
The firearm charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The drug charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, two years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelley D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Seven-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man, and seven-time prior convicted felon, pleaded guilty today to unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, Paul Eric Sherrod Parham, 38, was walking in the area of 36th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Newport News on the evening of September 18, 2019. Parham had outstanding warrants at the time for abduction, larceny, assault and battery, and withholding a credit card belonging to another individual. An individual who knew Parham, and who was aware of Parham’s outstanding warrants, notified Newport News Police of Parham’s precise location. When officers encountered Parham, confirmed his identity and felony status, and began to take him into custody, Parham notified the officers that he was unlawfully carrying a loaded SCCY, CPX-1, 9mm semiautomatic handgun.
Parham pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Parham faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on January 4, 2021. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-009.
Savannah man indicted for aiming laser at police helicopterRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been indicted for pointing a powerful laser at a helicopter being used in a police search.
Antonio Rodrecus Johnson Sr., 45, of Savannah, is charged with one count of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Savannah Police Department officers identified and questioned Johnson on June 22 after the pilot of a Chatham County helicopter, which was being used to assist Savannah Police officers in the search for a fugitive, was repeatedly targeted from the ground by a powerful laser.
Similar lasers have been used during recent violent protests, resulting in eye damage to police officers.
“Interference with police operations is a serious crime, particularly when the consequences could cause debilitating injuries to the officers,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are fortunate that Savannah Police were able to eliminate this threat without injury to either of the officers on board the helicopter.”
“When aimed at an aircraft, a beam of light from a handheld laser can illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding the pilot or pilots of the craft,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It's not a game. It's a federal felony that the FBI and our law enforcement partners take very seriously.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Savannah Police Department with assistance from the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Saltville Man Who Lied About His Own Death Sentenced on Series of Federal Charges including Bankruptcy Fraud, Wire FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – A Saltville, Virginia man, who lied about his own death in order to hide assets from the federal bankruptcy court and later fraudulently assumed the identity of an attorney from Florida to further the scheme, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to 108 months in federal prison, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced.
Russell Geyer, 50, pleaded guilty in May 2020 to one count of contempt of court, one count of bankruptcy fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity fraud.
According to court documents, Geyer admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud the United States Bankruptcy Court through a series of deceptive statements designed to hide assets and maintain control of collateral. These actions included, but were not limited to, repeatedly lying about fake medical conditions, including prostate cancer, bone cancer, cardiac issues, a brain aneurysm, and pneumonia.
On August 30, 2019, the attorney working for Geyer informed the court that he had received an email purportedly from Russell Geyer’s wife, stating that Russell Geyer was dead. In fact, Russell Geyer had sent the email posing as his wife.
At a September 5, 2019 hearing, Mrs. Geyer testified that her husband was alive and that neither she, nor Russell Geyer, had been out of town and in the hospital for the serious medical conditions claimed by the defendant throughout the case.
During the September 5, 2019 hearing, Russell Geyer’s attorney read into the record an email he received from an attorney in Florida indicating that the Florida attorney had sold some of the assets involved in the bankruptcy proceedings without the Geyers’ knowledge. The email further stated that he had complete control of Russell and told him to kill himself. The attorney concluded the email with “I am on a plane out of the country.”
The investigation determined that the Florida attorney whose name was used in the email actually exists but had nothing to do with this case. Instead, Russell Geyer used the Florida attorney’s name and a bogus email account to send these emails without the Florida attorney’s knowledge.
Further investigation revealed that Geyer had assumed the Florida attorney’s identity to fraudulently obtain $70,000 from his own wife. Geyer told his wife that he was going to receive more than $1 million in a settlement from a case that the Florida attorney was handling for him. Geyer said he needed money to pay the attorney’s fees before the money would be released. Geyer then used a bogus email address and an app that disguised his voice to pose as the Florida attorney and to confirm that a settlement was imminent. It was all untrue.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Postal Manager Indicted on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A U.S. Postal employee was indicted yesterday in connection with stealing mail believed to contain controlled substances.
Shawn M. Herron, 44, of Whitman, Mass., was indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of theft of mail by a postal employee. Herron was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in February 2020.
According to court documents, Herron has been employed by the Postal Service since September 2005, most recently as a Manager of Customer Services at the Fall River Post Office (FPO). Prior to this position, he was the Supervisor of Customer Service at the Canton Post Office.
It is alleged that Herron tracked packages he suspected of containing narcotics and, rather than dealing with them appropriately, opened them and stole the contents. Herron profiled priority parcels from Puerto Rico and west coast U.S. states, and parcels flagged by law enforcement as potentially containing illegal narcotics, and then removed them from the U.S Mail stream. Herron tracked the suspected parcels through Postal Service databases and monitored their arrival at the FPO. After their arrival Herron located the parcels and brought them to his personal office space, where he stole the narcotics for distribution.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and up to a $500,000 fine. The charge of theft of mail provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Lelling’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Port Townsend, Washington, man who left overdose victim in car outside hospital emergency room pleads guilty to drug and gun crimesRead the Press Release
(Tacoma) — A Port Townsend, Washington, man who left a heroin overdose victim in a car outside a hospital emergency room pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession charges today, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. ADAM MICHAEL KELLY, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and being a drug user in possession of firearms. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both the prosecution and the defense will recommend a sentence of 66 months in prison. However, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence up to the ten-year maximum allowed by law when KELLY is sentenced on November 2, 2020.
According to the facts in the plea agreement, on March 27, 2019, KELLY and his then-girlfriend left a 43-year-old overdose victim in a car outside the hospital emergency room. They then called the hospital asking staff to check on the victim. The victim died within twenty minutes. Law enforcement traced the phone call to KELLY’s residence. When questioned by police, KELLY admitted that the victim had used drugs in his home, that the victim became unresponsive, and that KELLY had left him at the emergency room entrance when he could not revive him.
Police obtained a search warrant for KELLY’s home and found a sophisticated drug lab in the basement with pill presses, lab equipment, vent hoods, and over 75 pounds of Schedule III controlled substances, primarily steroids. Records seized at the lab indicate KELLY had a lucrative business selling and shipping illegal steroids across the country.
In addition to the drug lab, KELLY had a wide variety of firearms, silencers, and tactical gear. In the lab, KELLY had a .40 caliber Glock fitted with a silencer. In his bedroom, he had six guns, including two Glock handguns, a Bersa .22 caliber, a Winchester shotgun, a Remington 700, and a Bushmaster AR-15. A second silencer was found in the bedroom. Law enforcement seized a variety of ammunition, as well as a tactical vest.
As an admitted drug user, it is illegal for KELLY to possess firearms. When KELLY was arrested, he had both heroin and methamphetamine in his possession.
KELLY is currently serving a 68-month state sentence for controlled substance homicide, a charge arising out of this same investigation. As part of a global resolution of the state and federal charges, the parties will recommend that the federal sentence run concurrent to the state sentence. KELLY has been in custody since his arrest on March 28, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Port Townsend Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from other local and federal law enforcement agencies.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Dreher.
Plano, Texas Man Sentenced to 6 Months Imprisonment, 6 Months at Halfway House for Transmitting Threatening CommunicationRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stanley Colin Moldenhauer, age 39, of Plano, Texas was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment, 6 months at a halfway house and 3 years of supervised release for Transmitting a Threatening Communication in Interstate Commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c), The charges arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Indictment alleged that on or about May 4, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant, did knowingly and willfully transmit in interstate commerce, communications containing a threat to injure a person.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Threatening to injure others is not only unnecessary and wrong, it is illegal. The defendant now has a clear understanding of such. I hope others who might be inclined to make threats will make better decisions than he did.”
“Today's sentencing is a reminder that communicating a threat is a serious crime and will not be tolerated,” said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Oklahoma City Field Office. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate individuals who threaten violence against tribal nation facilities."
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 Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
Perry County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on July 30, 2020, John Shover, age 58, of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane to 292 months’ imprisonment for using a minor to produce child pornography.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Shover previously pleaded guilty to production of child pornography between January 2017 and March 2018. Judge Kane’s sentence includes a period of supervised release of 10 years following Shover’s jail term as well as a $5,000 assessment pursuant to the Justice of Victims of Trafficking Act.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police-Newport Station. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea B. Schinnour and James T. Clancy prosecuted the case.
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."
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Owner of Illegal Massage Parlor Sentenced to 400 Months in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of OMAR KASHAKA TAYLOR a/k/a “Shaka,” 46, to 400 months in prison for sex trafficking two victims, including one minor victim. TAYLOR, who was convicted on all counts by a federal jury on February 5, 2019, was sentenced today before Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Omar Taylor is a coercive sex trafficker who pursued and exploited vulnerable victims for his own financial profit,” said United States Attorney Erica MacDonald. “The 400-month sentence handed down today is appropriate in light of the trauma Mr. Taylor inflicted upon his victims.”
“Today’s sentencing will hopefully close a painful chapter in the lives of the survivors of Mr. Taylor’s heinous actions,” said Tracy J. Cormier, HSI St. Paul special agent in charge. “We’re confident that this significant sentencing will empower others, who are facing similar circumstances to come forward, knowing that they will be fully supported and that their captors will face justice.”
As proven at trial, from August 2017 through March 2018, TAYLOR, a registered sex offender, operated an illegal massage business out of his northeast Minneapolis residence. TAYLOR recruited several young women and girls, at times targeting Native American and First Nation women and girls, to work in his illicit massage business and then, through force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion, caused them to perform commercial sex acts in exchange for money for his own financial benefit. TAYLOR used Backpage.com to solicit prospective clients by posting advertisements with photos of the victims, offering massage services that would include commercial sex acts.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force, and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Manda M. Sertich and Michelle E. Jones prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
OMAR KASHAKA TAYLOR, a/k/a “Shaka,” 46
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Sex trafficking of a minor, 1 count
- Sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, 2 counts
- Commission of a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 400 months in prison
- 25 years of supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Operation Legend Has Contributed to 32 Arrests and the Seizure of 27 Firearms in MilwaukeeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that local and federal law enforcement officers have made 32 arrests and recovered 27 firearms since the mid-July commencement of Operation Legend in Milwaukee. Those arrested include individuals alleged to have committed firearms-related offenses as well as fugitives wanted for violent crimes, including homicide, armed robbery, and recklessly endangering safety.
Resources from Operation Legend have also contributed to federal charges against 8 defendants for firearm-related crimes in Milwaukee, including charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, lying to federally licensed firearms dealer, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Some of these charges stemmed from conduct and investigations that began before Operation Legend but were aided by the additional resources brought by Operation Legend.
“Operation Legend reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to work collaboratively with state and local partners to make Milwaukee a safer city for all of its residents,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “By bringing to justice the shooters, the drug traffickers, and those who carry illegal firearms, we will reduce the levels of violence in our neighborhoods.”
Last week, United States Attorney Krueger held a press conference to explain that Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic, and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. In addition to Milwaukee, Operation Legend is now underway in Kansas City, Chicago, Albuquerque, Detroit, and Cleveland. This week saw the expansion of Operation Legend into both Memphis and St. Louis.
In Milwaukee, Operation Legend is bringing over $12 million in funding for state and local law enforcement agencies to support violent crime reduction efforts. Operation Legend also entails bringing to Milwaukee 25 to 30 federal investigators from these four Justice Department agencies: the FBI, DEA, ATF, and United States Marshals Service. These investigators are joining the work already underway by existing joint federal, state and local task forces focused on combatting violent crime.
Ten of those federal investigators are assigned to work in Milwaukee temporarily to provide immediate assistance, and the others are being assigned over the coming year to Milwaukee permanently to provide long-term assistance.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Operation LeGend Results in 59 More Arrests, Including Seven More Murder SuspectsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced today that 59 additional arrests have been made in the past week by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend, for a total of 156 arrests since the start of the operation.
Pastor Darron Edwards welcomed U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison to a meeting with about 20 local pastors at United Believers Community Church to discuss Operation LeGend.Among those arrested since Aug. 1, new federal charges have been filed against six defendants, for a total of 17 new federal cases in Operation LeGend. All of the new federal defendants were charged with firearms-related crimes. Four of the six new defendants were charged with being felons in possession of firearms. One defendant was charged with heroin trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm. One defendant was charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit armed robberies at several local businesses.
Among the remaining 53 arrests in the past week, 35 were fugitives with either state or federal warrants for their arrest. The remaining 18 non-fugitive arrests were referred for prosecution in state court. Seven arrests were for homicides, for a total of 12 homicide arrests under Operation LeGend. Other offenses cited in the arrests included assault (including non-fatal shootings), drug trafficking, illegally possessing firearms, robbery, bank robbery, child molestation, sexual assault, possessing stolen property and possessing stolen firearms.
U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison met with a group of pastors this week to discuss Operation LeGend, listen to their concerns, and respond to their questions.In addition to the arrests, in the past week agents and officers seized 17 firearms (for a total of 52 firearms seized during Operation LeGend); a number of stolen vehicles and motorcycles; 210 THC cartridges; quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana; and $52,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is not able to track cases that are referred for prosecution in state court. The following defendants have been charged in federal court in the past week:
Terrell L. Releford, felon in possession of a firearm; Dustin M. Jordan, felon in possession of a firearm; Zackory Phillips, felon in possession of a firearm; Travis J. Pipes, heroin trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; Dylan Pruett, felon in possession of a firearm; Chase M. Murphy, armed robbery conspiracy, armed robbery, brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.
Previously reported federal defendants:
Monty Ray, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm; Steven Younce, felon in possession of a firearm, meth trafficking, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; Daniel Briscoe, methamphetamine trafficking, heroin trafficking; Leamandreal Dorsey, felon in possession of a firearm; Shannon Walz, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition; Maricela Lozano, carjacking, using a firearm during a crime of violence; Gary Dorch, felon in possession of a firearm; Patricia Nelson, felon in possession of a firearm; Bobby Lynn King, felon in possession of a firearm; Logan Tanner Laws, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm; Michael Glen Zeigers, felon in possession of a firearm; Nelson, King, Laws, and Zeigers are co-defendants also charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, money laundering, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
A group of local pastors met with U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison this week at United Believers Community Church to discuss Operation LeGend.
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.Onalaska Felon Sentenced to 69 Months for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Green, 39, Onalaska, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 57 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon, and an additional 12 months for revocation of his federal supervised release. This prison term will be followed by two years of supervised release.
The investigation in this case stems from a shooting that occurred in West Salem, Wisconsin, on October 26, 2019. Green was identified as a suspect in that shooting, and on October 31, 2019, officers executed a search warrant at his residence where they located a firearm and ammunition consistent with that used in the shooting. Green is facing state charges for his alleged participation in the shooting.
At the time Green possessed the firearm, he was serving a term of supervised release in connection to a 2006 federal conviction in the Western District of Wisconsin for the theft of 38 firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Judge Peterson revoked that supervision and sentenced Green to the additional 12 months.
In sentencing Green, Judge Peterson noted that Green’s possession of a firearm was aggravated because of his history of gun crime, which was made more serious by the fact he was on supervised release at the time. He noted that the crime was even further aggravated because he found by a preponderance of the evidence that Green possessed the firearm in connection to the shooting, and that Green posed a danger to the public.
The charge against Green was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Salem Police Department, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus.
Newport News Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False ReturnRead the Press Release
A Newport News, Virginia, tax preparer pleaded guilty today to aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Angela C. Harper owned At Ease Tax Services, a tax preparation business that she operated from her home and hotel rooms in the Newport News area. Between 2014 and 2018, Harper falsified tax returns by claiming fraudulent credits and deductions on behalf of her clients in order to inflate the refunds paid to the clients by the IRS. Harper did not sign these returns as the paid preparer, thereby making it appear that the clients themselves had prepared the returns. She also did not provide copies of the returns to clients even when they specifically requested them.
U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 4, 2021. At sentencing, Harper faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Terwilliger commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Francine Davis and Assistant Chief Michael C. Boteler of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the Division’s website.
New Jersey Broker Sentenced to Prison for “Cherry-Picking” SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former New Jersey broker was sentenced today in federal court in Newark for defrauding his clients by engaging in a multi-year “cherry-picking” scheme that netted nearly $800,000. The defendant was originally indicted in the District of Massachusetts before the case was transferred to New Jersey.
Michael Bressman, 63, of Montville, N.J., formerly of FCG Advisors and FCG Wealth Management of Chatham, N.J., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Katharine S. Hayden to two years in prison and 18 months of supervised release. Bressman was also ordered to pay restitution of $793,680 and to forfeit that same amount. In June 2019, Bressman pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of investment advisor fraud.
Bressman was originally indicted in the District of Massachusetts on Sept. 11, 2018, and the case was transferred to New Jersey pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 21 on Nov. 8, 2018.
Bressman misused his access to an omnibus or “allocation” account to obtain nearly $800,000 in illicit trading profits over a six-year period ending in February 2018. He used the allocation account to place trades and cherry-picked profitable trades, which he then transferred to his own account and the account of family members, while placing unprofitable trades in other customers’ accounts.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Securities and Exchange Commission in New York provided significant assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Howard, Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the District of New Jersey, prosecuted the case.
Multiple firearms-related indictments continue Project Guardian's collaborative law enforcement initiativeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Nine defendants have been indicted by a U.S. District Court grand jury on federal charges including illegal possession of firearms.
All of the indictments target previously convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“Identifying and removing gun criminals from our communities is a key component of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice initiative to fight gun crime,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target offenders who illegally possess and use firearms.”
Those named in the federal indictments include:
- Terry Key, 33, of Jesup, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Key was arrested in January after an investigation by the Jesup Police Department led to a search of his motel room in which drugs and firearms were found. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to life in prison.
- Reginald Terry, a/k/a “Pete,” 37, of Jesup, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, MDMA and Cocaine; Distribution of Heroin; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Terry was arrested in November 2019 when Jesup Police searched his motel room and found drugs and firearms, including a pistol, an SKS rifle and an AR-15 rifle. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to life in prison.
- Khallid Marquese Wright, 24, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wright, who was stopped in February by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies for questioning in an unrelated case, was found in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- John Thomas Barnes III, 32, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Barnes was arrested in March when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in his vehicle during a traffic stop. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Kinsey Lanier Jackson, 50, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jackson was charged in February after Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in his pocket during a traffic stop. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Shaquaries Alexis Kimble, 25, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Kimble was arrested in February after a he was found in possession of a pistol by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating a report of a stolen weapon. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Zachary Brent Sadler, 27, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Sadler was charged by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in October 2019 after he pawned a handgun. When he later returned to repurchase the gun, the purchase was denied during a background check. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Damien Lamont Wimberly, 40, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wimberly initially was found in possession of a firearm at a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office traffic checkpoint, and was later arrested when he was determined to be a convicted felon. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Larry Jackson III, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jackson was arrested in July 2019 by Savannah Police officers investigating reports of gunshots found him in possession of a pistol. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This inter-agency collaboration and the resulting indictments goes a long way towards addressing gun violence by removing from our streets firearms and those willing to obtain them illegally and potentially use them,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the ATF.
The cases are investigated under Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for prosecuting crimes.
In addition to the ATF, agencies involved in investigation of the cases include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Jesup Police Department, the Savannah Police Department, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being investigated for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms; Alejandro V. Pascual IV; Joshua S. Bearden; Patricia G. Rhodes; and Frank M. Pennington II.
Monroeville Man Sentenced in Marriage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A resident of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation and a $5,000 fine on his conviction of conspiracy charges related to marriage fraud and visa fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Makhan Singh, 53.
According to information presented to the court, from in and around 2011 through in and around October of 2018, Makhan Singh conspired with his brother, Rajinder Singh, and United States citizen Dawn Haroulakis, to knowingly facilitate or enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws. The court was further advised that Makhan Singh offered to pay Ms. Haroulakis if she would marry his brother so that Rajinder, a native and citizen of India, could obtain legal permanent residency in the United States. Ms. Haroulakis agreed to the sham marriage, and Makhan Singh then made payments of more than $15,000 to Ms. Haroulakis in exchange for her marriage to Rajinder Singh.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christy C. Wiegand and Brendan McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Haroulakis, in connection with the Pittsburgh Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF). The DBFTF is a multi-agency partnership established to focus on high-impact criminal investigations involving the use of fraudulent documents in furtherance of immigrations benefit applications and petitions, financial fraud, criminal work-site enforcement, and public benefits fraud. The Pittsburgh DBFTF consists of the following agencies: Homeland Security Investigations, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, US Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service, US Department of Agriculture- Office of the Inspector General, US Department of Labor- Office of the Inspector General, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
Minneapolis Man Charged with Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a criminal complaint charging DESHAWN TYRONE BRAZIEL, 35, with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. A preliminary and detention hearing on this charge is scheduled for August 10, before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright, in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and affidavit, on May 21, 2020, law enforcement received information that BRAZIEL was seen at a store that has an upper apartment unit accessible from the inside of the store. BRAZIEL had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and was a suspect in a shooting that occurred in Minneapolis on April 16, 2020. Law enforcement officers conducting physical surveillance observed BRAZIEL exit the property and enter the driver's side of a BMW that was parked nearby. Law enforcement officers approached BRAZIEL and placed him under arrest. At the time of his arrest, BRAZIEL was wearing a backpack. Law enforcement located a loaded, Springfield XD 9mm pistol, 94 ecstasy pills, BRAZIEL’s credit card, and other items including a digital scale in the backpack. Because BRAZIEL has prior felony convictions, including a previous conviction for a drive-by shooting in 2006, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
This case was brought as part of the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, a multi-agency effort that brings together additional federal and state resources to assist local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals responsible for gun violence in the Twin Cities. For more information about the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/united-states-attorney-announces-new-twin-cities-violent-crime-task-force.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Ethen is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
DESHAWN TYRONE BRAZIEL, 35
Minneapolis, Minn.
Charges:
- Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Loaded Firearm While Trafficking Drugs and Fleeing from PoliceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 6, 2020, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Ronald J. Payne (age: 34) to six years’ imprisonment and two years’ supervised release after Payne pled guilty to Possessing a Firearm during and in relation to Drug Trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to court records, on June 5, 2019, Milwaukee police officers attempted to pull Payne over for a traffic offense but Payne took off in his truck, leading officers on a high-speed chase through a residential area until he stopped and fled on foot while carrying a loaded .38-caliber handgun. Officers pursued and ordered him to drop the gun. Payne tossed the gun as he fell to the ground, and officers quickly arrested him and secured the gun. On his person and in his truck, Payne possessed cash and distribution-sized quantities of marijuana. Payne was a two-time convicted felon and admitted that he was a drug dealer and not a drug user. Investigation revealed that Payne also possessed two 9-mm pistols at his home and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Payne had been previously convicted of robbery and drug dealing and served time in state prison.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://go.usa.gov/xpBrs.
This case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Tim Funnell prosecuted the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Media Advisory:Virtual Press Conference to Discuss Sentencing of Jeremy Kozak for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and the Dangers of Online Sexual PredatorsRead the Press Release
On August 10, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., Jeremy Kozak will be sentenced following his conviction for attempted enticement of a minor. Kozak, age 39, attempted to entice his victim, a 13 year-old girl, to engage in sexual activity. Kozak communicated with the victim online. Law enforcement took control of the victim’s account after Kozak attempted to entice her. An undercover officer continued to communicate with Kozak. Kozak eventually drove from Nebraska to Iowa for a meeting he thought would be with the victim. Instead, law enforcement was at the meeting and arrested him. Kozak faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life in prison.
On August 10, 2020, at 4:00 p.m., representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office, the Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office, the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will hold a virtual press conference. The purposes of the press conference will be to announce Kozak’s sentence and to discuss the dangers online sexual predators pose, particularly in a time when children are online more than ever.
Event Details
When: August 10, 2020
Where: Virtual Press Conference via WebEx
Time: 4:00 p.m.
A press release and interview opportunities will be available.
In order to participate, you must RSVP in advance and no later than 12:00 p.m. on August 10, 2020. After you RSVP, you will be provided with details on how to join the press conference via WebEx. To participate, please RSVP by sending an email to Tony Morfitt at [email protected] or calling 319-731-4025.
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Massachusetts General Hospital Enters Agreement with U.S. Attorney’s Office to Better Ensure Equal Access for Individuals with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office entered an agreement today, under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to resolve allegations that MGH denied a patient with cystic fibrosis eligibility for a lung transplant because he was being treated with a prescription medication for opioid use disorder (OUD).
At the time MGH evaluated the patient to determine if he was eligible to receive a transplant, the patient was actively participating in a supervised rehabilitation program and not engaged in the illegal use of drugs. Because the patient was being treated with prescription medication to treat his OUD, MGH rejected him for consideration for a transplant and failed to further evaluate him in accordance with its standard transplant consideration process, including consultation with appropriate specialists.
When the patient was able to receive a lung transplant at a different hospital in another state, his mother, who was needed to provide support after the procedure, was required to leave her job and move from her Massachusetts home to be near the transplant hospital while the patient recovered from surgery. The distance from home, family and community caused them both considerable financial and emotional distress.
Under the agreement, MGH will: implement a non-discrimination policy stating that MGH will not unnecessarily deny or limit treatment for individuals on the basis of disability, including OUD, or the use of medication to treat OUD; provide ADA training to medical staff involved in decisions about transplants; and provide the patient and his mother $250,000 in monetary relief for their emotional distress and out of pocket expenses.
“By cooperating and doing the right thing, MGH is eliminating barriers to addiction treatment and fulfilling the promise of the ADA: full access to medical services, regardless of disability,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. The Justice Department will continue to use its enforcement and technical assistance tools to eliminate unlawful discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dorchak of Lelling’s Civil Rights Unit with Senior Trial Attorney Alyse Bass of the Justice Department’s Disability Rights Section.
The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2015 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-ma/civil-rights.
Man who threatened to kill ex-girlfriend and her minor children sentenced to 8 years for illegal possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Brian Jones, 30, Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. Jones previously pleaded guilty to charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
“During these challenging times, Indianapolis has seen an increase in domestic violence, murders, and shootings.” said Minkler. “I commend IMPD and ATF for getting Mr. Jones off our streets and into a federal prison before the results of his pattern of criminal behavior became more tragic.”
On May 7, 2019, IMPD responded to a 911 call for help from a residence located at 4006 Independence Drive, Indianapolis. When officers arrived, they were met by the visibly upset and frightened female victim. She said that her ex-boyfriend, Brian Jones, had arrived at her residence uninvited. She allowed Jones into the residence because she was fearful of him forcing his way in. She further stated that Jones had a small bag with him when he entered and then he went to sleep.
When Jones woke up, he became upset and accused her of taking his cell phone. Jones had a firearm with him and pointed it at her and threatened to kill her and the children. She was able to sneak downstairs to call 911 and meet police. Officers later discovered that Jones had exited the residence at some point. Officers located a firearm and small amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana in a small blue bag that Jones arrived with.
Jones is not legally permitted to own or possess a firearm because he has more than eight felony convictions, including a previous federal conviction for illegally possession a firearm. His convictions include three firearms convictions, trafficking in controlled substances, and participating in a criminal gang. The evidence at the sentencing hearing revealed that Jones pointed a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun at his ex-girlfriend and threatened to kill her and her two minor children. Jones currently also faces pending violations of Ohio state parole and violations of his supervised release from the Southern District of Ohio.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
“Keeping guns out of the hands of serious violent felons is a critical part of the IMPD’s efforts to address violence,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor. “We will continue working alongside U.S. Attorney Minkler and the ATF to secure federal convictions for those who illegally-possess firearms and make Indianapolis a safer community.”
“No one, especially children, should live in fear of another. Domestic violence will not be tolerated. My hope is Mr. Jones’ victims can now live and sleep better, knowing he will not be able to threaten them, “ stated Roland H. Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus Field Division . “When convicted felons choose to knowingly possess and use firearms to threaten or bring harm to citizens, agents will pursue any and all available charges to quickly remove the offender from the community. ATF continues to display its full commitment to keeping the Indianapolis community safe through our partnership with the USAO and IMPD.”
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela S Domash, who prosecuted this case for the government, Jones must also serve two years of supervised release after his prison sentence.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those who commit serious firearms offenses. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 2.2)
Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Washington, D.C. man pleaded guilty today to knowingly providing false information to a federal firearm licensee (FFL) in order to purchase multiple firearms.
“Hudson’s criminal conduct perfectly encapsulates the dangerous problem of illegally purchased firearms being trafficked in Virginia,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “In this case, there were two firearms found in the possession of convicted felons who were prohibited from owning a firearm. This created a major risk for our communities. We will continue to bring justice against those who perpetuate this dangerous trafficking and threaten to put our communities in danger.”
According to court documents, Marquette Hudson, 26, purchased eight firearms from or through two FFLs within the Eastern District of Virginia. To purchase these firearms, Hudson was required by law to fill out an ATF Form 4473 truthfully, to include providing his current residential address. However, on each occasion, Hudson listed his current residence as an address in Arlington when he did not live in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Police in Washington, D.C. later recovered six of the firearms purchased by Hudson from the Virginia FFLs, including two firearms recovered from convicted felons.
Hudson pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly making a false statement or representation of information required to be kept by an FFL when purchasing a firearm. Hudson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on Dec. 11. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas U. Murphy, II and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Hallmark are prosecuting the case
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-168.
Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing Ten RiflesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Ethan Erhardt, 37, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in federal court today to making a straw purchase of ten semi-automatic rifles, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
According to court documents, on February 16, 2019, Erhardt straw purchased firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Henderson, Nevada, for another individual. He purchased ten semi-automatic rifles for approximately $88,000, using money obtained from the individual. At the time of purchase, Erhardt completed a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form representing that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, despite knowing that he would be providing the firearms to the other individual.
This case was the product of an investigation by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Clarkson is prosecuting the case.
Erhardt is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan on November 13, 2020. The maximum statutory penalty for the illegal acquisition of a firearm is ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the ATF when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
For more information about Project Guardian, visit https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-william-p-barr-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan.
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Lexington Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in International Money Laundering Scheme Involving Non-Approved DrugsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lexington doctor and his wife, who works as his office manager, were charged in an international money laundering scheme involving importing illegal drugs.
Rahim Shafa, 62, and Nahid “Nina” Tormosi Shafa, 62, were each indicted on one count of international money laundering conspiracy. Shafa was also indicted on three counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, three counts of importing merchandise contrary to law and one count of receiving and delivering misbranded drugs with an intent to defraud and mislead. The defendants will make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester this afternoon.
“In order to make money, the defendants allegedly circumvented mandatory FDA drug inspections and took advantage of vulnerable patients who sought to escape addiction through legitimate treatment,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
“Distributing illegally imported prescription drugs of unknown origin and ingredients instead of FDA-approved drugs places the U.S. public health at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey J. Ebersole, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and bring to justice those who attempt to subvert FDA requirements, which are designed to ensure the safety and quality of drugs distributed to American consumers.”
According to the indictment, Shafa was a psychiatrist who owned and operated Novel Psychopharmacology in Milford and Natick and Tormosi Shafa was the office manager. From approximately January 2008 through January 2018, Shafa and Tormosi Shafa engaged in an international money laundering scheme to purchase naltrexone pellet implants, disulfiram pellet implants and disulfiram injections from Hong Kong. Disulfiram is used to treat alcohol dependence and naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. Disulfiram and naltrexone are approved by the FDA in certain forms; however, the forms of the drugs that Shafa and Tormosi Shafa allegedly purchased are not approved by the FDA. Shafa and Tormosi Shafa offered these drugs for sale to patients of Novel.
It is further alleged that Shafa engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by falsifying shipping documents to make the packages containing the drugs shipped from Hong Kong to Shafa in Massachusetts look like lawful imports. For example, packages containing naltrexone pellet implants were falsely declared as ‘plastic beads in plastic tubes’ in shipping documents.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that all medical providers properly follow healthcare rules and regulations,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Boston Regional Office. “I appreciate the partnership with the Massachusetts U.S Attorney's Office in identifying and prosecuting this type of fraud.”
The charges of money laundering and money laundering conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to defraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of importing merchandise contrary to law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of receiving and delivering a misbranded drug with an intent to defraud and mislead provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Lelling; FDA-OIC SAC Ebersole; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; HHS-OIG SAC Coyne; and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Leader of conspiracy that manufactured illegal drugs on an industrial scale sentenced to 20 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Georgia man who operated an industrial-scale illegal pill-manufacturing operation has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, representing the final sentence among the major members of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Walker Christian Forrester, 25, of Loganville, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Forrester, who pled guilty to a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and marijuana), also must serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“The criminals in this drug trafficking conspiracy distributed massive amounts of dangerous illegal drugs, including deadly synthetic opioids, on the streets of Georgia and beyond through the Dark Web,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies did outstanding work in investigating and shutting down these manufacturers of misery and bringing them to justice.”
Other defendants in the conspiracy also pled guilty and have been sentenced:
- Kolbie Hadden Watters, 23, of Augusta, Ga., was sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He also must serve five years of supervised release after completion of his term.
- Jonathan Britt Lester, 23, of Loganville, Ga.; was sentenced to 210 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and marijuana), followed by five years of supervised release.
- Morgan McKenzie Slaton, 23, of Hoschton, Ga., was sentenced to three years’ probation for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Alprazolam), followed by years of supervised release.
Another defendant in the case, Armand Sananda Saedi, 28, of Atlanta, Ga., is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Alprazolam).
According to court documents and testimony, the co-defendants participated in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2016 that imported large amounts of drugs purchased with cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, used industrial-grade machinery to manufacture pills, and sold the drugs on the Dark Web and throughout Georgia. At its peak, the operation produced as many as 200,000 pills per month, yielding profits of up to $18,000 per month.
In addition to profiting from drug sales, Forrester testified that a Canadian drug trafficker paid him $10,000 per month to receive packages of Fentanyl shipped from China and then reship it to addresses in Canada and elsewhere. That trafficker is under federal indictment in the Northern District of Georgia.
Forrester first came to the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration around Sept. 2017 after he purchased an industrial-grade pill press. Two months later, Forrester, Watters and a juvenile were arrested on state charges in Harlem, Ga., in November 2017 after a traffic stop in which Harlem police officers found more than 5,200 counterfeit Xanax pills, marijuana and a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.
Watters and Lester also face state charges in Walton County of felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of Chase David Loffler, 25, whose body was found buried in the backyard of Lester’s Loganville home in April 2018. The two are accused of beating and suffocating Loffler, a suspected co-conspirator, and burying his body in a shallow grave.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “Drug Trafficking knows no boundaries and is driven by greed and power. These guilty pleas should serve as a reminder to drug traffickers that DEA and its law enforcement partners will expend the necessary resources to dismantle, disrupt and destroy those who distribute poison throughout our communities. Many thanks to the collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who made this investigation a success.”
“This sentencing ends an exhaustive investigation that stopped a conspiracy that compounded an epidemic that is killing our citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The lengthy sentences received by Forrester and three other defendants in this case serve as an example of the FBI and our law enforcement partners commitment to end the opioid crisis.”
“These criminals’ days of selling poison, destroying lives and spreading violence are over,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to bring an end to this criminal organization that profited by flooding the community with dangerous drugs. “
“The illegal manufacture and distribution of opioids can result in overdoses and deaths, fueling the national opioid crisis,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “The FDA remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle illegal prescription drug manufacturing and distribution networks, including those that import illicit raw materials from overseas to make counterfeit drugs, and misuse the internet to distribute those drugs with reckless disregard of the risk to public health and safety.”
“This is yet another case of individuals distributing poison in our communities,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Illegal drug distribution continues to plague our communities, leaving catastrophic physical, emotional, and financial effects. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to follow the money trail and work with our law enforcement partners to eradicate illegal drug distribution operations and protect our communities, even if it leads to the Dark Web.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harlem Department of Public Safety.
The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes.
Humboldt Man Receives Maximum Sentence of 10 Years for Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Taylor Cunningham, 25, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in Court, on June 7, 2019, agents with the 28th Judicial District Drug Task Force utilized a confidential source to arrange the purchase of approximately one ounce of methamphetamine (ICE) from Cunningham, who agreed to meet the confidential source at the Humboldt Lake parking lot. Once the defendant pulled into the parking lot, agents activated the blue lights on their vehicles and attempted to stop the vehicle. Cunningham immediately tried to evade the agents in his truck. He then jumped from the driver’s door of the vehicle while it was still moving.
Agents pursued Cunningham on foot, giving him verbal commands to stop. They observed a brown hand bag in his hands while running. Law enforcement then utilized a less lethal weapon known as the Taser; Cunningham stopped and started turning towards the agents. As he arrived partially turned towards the agents, they observed Cunningham pull a black firearm from his waist band. At this time, an agent deployed his Taser at Cunningham, striking him in the right arm, causing him to drop his firearm and fall to the ground. Cunningham was then taken into custody. One agent sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Agents located and seized a loaded Glock Model 19 9 mm pistol with a magazine that held 15 9 mm bullets; the firearm was found beside Cunningham on the ground. Agents also located and seized an extra fully-loaded 30 round magazine, a bag of methamphetamine weighing approximately 21 grams, and a set of digital scales. A search of the brown bag Cunningham was carrying revealed another three bags of methamphetamine weighing approximately 39.5 grams. Also seized were approximately 407 Xanax pills, 46 Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine pills (approximate total weight of 16.5 grams), one ecstasy pill, two morphine pills, seven unidentifiable pills and $3,301 on Cunningham’s person.
After taking Cunningham into custody, agents verified that he was previously convicted of felony burglary in Humboldt, TN on September 15, 2017, and was therefore prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition.
On August 4, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Cunningham to the maximum statutory sentence available, 120 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "As a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and drugs, Cunningham presented a danger to public safety and to law enforcement in multiple ways. The statutory maximum sentence imposed in this case removes him from the community, and makes West Tennessee a safer place. Felon+gun+drugs=a maximum federal prison sentence that achieves justice by providing proper punishment without the sanctuary of parole."
This case was investigated by the 28th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Hickory Man Is Sentenced to Nine Years for Trafficking Narcotics on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Travis Justin Stout, 36, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release for drug trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute narcotics on the Dark Web. The sentencing was held on Thursday, August 6, 2020.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas, Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Thurman Whisnant of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to information contained in filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, in 2016, law enforcement began investigating Stout for trafficking narcotics in the greater Hickory area. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Stout was purchasing narcotics, including MDMA (Ecstasy), methamphetamine, amphetamine, and marijuana, on the Dark Web, using various forms of cryptocurrency. Court records show that Stout also used the Dark Web to traffic narcotics throughout the United States and internationally, including on the AlphaBay Market, and stored the drug proceeds in multiple virtual currency wallets. Stout trafficked narcotics from the Netherlands and Belgium, among other locations, in this conspiracy.
In handing down Stout’s sentence, Judge Bell stated this was an extremely sophisticated international drug trafficking case, involving the Dark Web, and noted this sentence will deter others from completing similar sophisticated Dark Web crimes.
Stout is currently in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Murray thanked HSI in Charlotte, USPIS, and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sanjeev Bhasker and Seth Johnson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Healthcare Bookkeeper Ordered to Pay $321k in Restitution, Prison Time for Defrauding Former Valdosta EmployerRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – The former bookkeeper for a Valdosta, Georgia physical therapy business was ordered to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to her former employer and was sentenced to 41 months in prison for bank fraud, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
Heather Nicole Gray, 33, of Norman Park, Georgia was sentenced on Thursday, August 6 by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts bank fraud in September 2019. Gray was also ordered by Judge Sands to pay $321,000 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the stipulation of fact, Ms. Gray began doing financial work for Sutherland Physical Therapy, Inc. (SPT), in Valdosta, Georgia in September 2014 as an employee of Quick Consulting of Adel. In her capacity as bookkeeper, Ms. Gray also had access to the financials for Sutherland Yoga Studio, LLC (SYS). Ms. Gray was hired directly by SPT three years later, in September 2017. Very shortly after beginning work with SPT, in December 2014, Ms. Gray began to make automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments via the internet and mobile access from two bank accounts belonging to SPT without authorization, to pay-off credits cards that she and her ex-husband used. In August 2017, her scheme intensified when she began creating fraudulent checks without authorization, using SPT bank accounts, payable to herself or her ex-husband. She used several methods to hide her scheme, including removing pages of the monthly bank account statement that showed unauthorized checks written to her from the office and changing the “payee” field in the QuickBooks system from her name to a named legitimate expense to hide the true payee, herself. Ms. Gray made a total of 317 fraudulent payments enriching herself or her ex-husband from SPT and SYS accounts until her fraud was discovered in April 2018. In all, the fraud totaled $321,854, including $4,971.62 lost by SYS and $316,882.38 lost by SPT.
“Our office will protect small businesses and banks from theft and fraud by pursuing white collar criminals, and seeking justice on behalf of victims,” said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney. “The victims in this case trusted this defendant to keep their books. The defendant betrayed that trust by stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Thanks to the excellent work of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Secret Service, this defendant is held accountable for her conduct and faces years in federal prison.”
“The United States Secret Service along with our local law enforcement partners remain committed to aggressively investigating those responsible for stealing from our local business communities in South Georgia,” said Clint Bush, Resident Agent-In-Charge of the Albany, Georgia Secret Service Office. “These types of crimes have a far reaching affect not only on the small business owners but also on their employees and families who rely on these jobs to bring income and money into our local communities.”
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers 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.
Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VICTOR PERDOMO, also known as “Domi,” 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force launched an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was selling large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in Hartford. Julio Oliveras, also known as “Cuzzo Jay,” was identified as the leader of the organization. The investigation, which included approximately six months of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Oliveras and his associates supplied distribution quantities of narcotics to several Hartford-area drug dealers and used multiple locations in Hartford to process, store and distribute narcotics. Perdomo was a supplier of heroin and fentanyl to Oliveras.
Perdomo, Oliveras and other members of the organization were arrested on July 19, 2018. On that date, investigators executed 10 search warrants and seized approximately 2.7 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of heroin, approximately 500 grams of crack cocaine, 100 grams of cocaine, eight firearms, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, cash, and other evidence of narcotics trafficking activity. The drugs and firearms were found at a stash house Oliveras maintained, a storage unit he rented, and the residences of his associates.
On August 2, 2018, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Perdomo, Oliveras and 14 co-defendants with various offenses.
Perdomo has been detained since his arrest. On October 21, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Perdomo, a citizen of the Dominican Republic lawfully residing in the U.S., faces immigration proceedings at the conclusion of his prison term.
Oliveras pleaded guilty to narcotics and firearm offenses and, on January 15, 2020, was sentenced to 186 months of imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Connecticut Department of Correction, and the East Hartford, New Britain, Newington and West Hartford Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser announced today that ANIBAL LEONEL LOPEZ-DIAZ (“LOPEZ-DIAZ”), age 38, pled guilty today and was sentenced by Judge Carl Barbier to credit for time served on a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) & 1326(b)(1). LOPEZ-DIAZ has been in jail since February of this year. The hearing was conducted by video conference because of the COVID-19 situation. He faces deportation once again.
According to the indictment, LOPEZ-DIAZ reentered the United States after he was previously deported on February 28, 2007. LOPEZ-DIAZ faced a maximum sentence of (10) ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of (3) three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.
Grovetown men named in separate indictments alleging possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two Grovetown men have been charged in separate federal indictments alleging possession of child pornography.
Jordan Logan, 35, and Johnathan Malone, 22, have been indicted by a U.S. District Court Grand Jury on one count each of Possession of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, followed by registration as a sex offender and a period of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Cyber exploitation of children is at epidemic levels, and we commend our law enforcement partners for their diligence in finding those who would engage in such abhorrent behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We likewise will be diligent in prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
In both of these cases, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) received information that led to online investigations and subsequent searches that found illegal images on devices in possession of the defendants.
“This indictment illustrates the hard work of law enforcement to investigate crimes against children,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “The GBI is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that child sexual exploitation cases are aggressively pursued. We are especially grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication to prosecute these cases.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases were investigated by the GBI and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara Lyons.
Grayson County Man Arrested for Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A 48-year-old Denison, Texas man has been arrested for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
David Pettigrew was arrested on August 6, 2020, for transporting child pornography.According to court documents, Pettigrew came to the attention of law enforcement officials through referrals sent by two electronic surveillance providers and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Those referrals identified a computer user who uploaded suspected child pornography onto their online platforms. On August 6, 2020, Homeland Security Investigations agents executed federal search warrants at Pettigrew’s residence and the Denison Church of the Nazarene, after which, agents arrested Pettigrew.
If convicted, Pettigrew faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
Any members of the public with information about this case or possible victims are urged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 1-800-804-3547 or their local law enforcement.
This case is being 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 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 Project Safe Childhood.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa J. Miller and Jay Combs.
It is important to note that a complaint, arrest, or indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Grand Island Man Arrested, Charged with Multiple Drug and Gun ChargesRead 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 David Montemage, 37, of Grand Island, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, maintaining a drug involved premises, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $500,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Bish, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 5, 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, executed the search warrant at a residence on Blue Pointe Lane on Grand Island. During the search of the residence, investigators recovered a .22 caliber rifle; 28 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition with magazines; approximately 1.88 kilograms of marijuana; marijuana and THC based products; several large plastic vacuum seal type packages containing marijuana residue; several small plastic bags containing marijuana; a digital scale; $7,480 in cash; and marijuana smoking pipes.
Investigators believe Montemage, who was arrested at the conclusion of the search warrant execution, has been involved in the trafficking and distribution of drugs for over 10 years.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; Border Patrol, under the direction of Chief Patrol Agent Eduardo Payan; Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy; the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Acting Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.
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.
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Getaway Driver Sentenced to 5 years for Role in Armed Business RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On February 7, 2020, Arkiest Young, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted Hobbs Act business robbery. Young has now been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for his role in the violent crime. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on January 3, 2018, two men entered the Circle K at 6565 Mt. Moriah, brandishing firearms and demanding money, one wearing blue latex gloves. One suspect also pointed a handgun at a customer who was already inside the business. The customer was armed, and fired at the suspects. As the suspects fled the business, they returned fire at the customer. A witness reported that the two suspects were driven away in a red or maroon cube-like vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, a shooting victim was dropped off at Delta Medical Hospital, who claimed he was shot in a drive-by shooting. Memphis Police Officers responded to both scenes, compared surveillance video from the Circle K with clothing from the individual at Delta Medical, and identified Davonte Gary, 21, as one of the robbery suspects.
As officers were executing a search warrant at suspect Cortez Young’s apartment, a red Chevrolet HHR, which could be described as a cube-like vehicle, arrived on the scene, occupied by Arkiest Young. The HHR had been reported stolen. Officers found a handgun and a box of blue latex gloves inside the HHR. Arkiest Young was taken into custody, waived his Miranda rights, and admitted to driving the HHR and dropping off Gary at Delta Medical Hospital on January 3.
Charges against Devonte Gary are still pending. Cortez Young, 23, has already pleaded guilty to this business robbery and other robbery and firearms offenses, and will be sentenced later this year.
On August 6, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Arkiest Young to 60 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Armed business robbery that harms store owners and threatens customers must be dealt with swiftly and certainly. That means holding all parties to the crime accountable, including getaway drivers and others who aid and abet such brazen violence. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force has dramatically increased the clearance rate of armed business robbery cases, and because of their quick response and outstanding investigation in this case, these violent offenders will be rightly incapacitated and punished."
The Memphis Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force investigated this case.
U.S. Attorneys Kevin Whitmore and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling to Alabama with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Georgia man pled guilty today to traveling to Alabama with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Alabama James G. Hernandez.
William Park Winston, 35, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke to one-count of travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual contact. According to court documents, the defendant drove from Georgia to Alabama for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 15 year old girl. He reserved an Airbnb in Huntsville and arranged for an Uber to transport the girl from her residence to him. The Uber driver became concerned for the minor and called 911.
U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, along with Huntsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney R. Leann White and Mary Stuart Burrell are prosecuting the case.