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Friday 12 June 2020
U.S. Attorney Keefe Announces Additional Grants to North Florida Communities to Address COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida,
today announced the award of grants to four law enforcement agencies in the district, with a
combined total of $975,300. Department of Justice grants are awarded to help those agencies respond
to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.The grants – awarded to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, Panama
City Police Department, and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office – are being provided under the
Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by recent stimulus legislation
signed by President Trump. Numerous other communities within the Northern District of Florida are
eligible for funding under the grant program, and the Justice Department is moving quickly to award
grants on a rolling basis, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after
receiving applications.“Throughout the many weeks our district and the nation have been dealing with the threat of
COVID-19, our public safety first responders have worked tirelessly to make sure members of the
public are safe,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “The resources of local agencies have been stretched
thin, and these grant funds will help ease the financial burden on public safety agencies so they
can continue protecting and serving our citizens.”
The grant awards announced include:
• Escambia County Sheriff’s Office: $370,107
• Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office: $127,963
• Panama City Police Department: $73,818
• Tallahassee Police Department: $403,412“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that
even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially
grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the
Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical
resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave
professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”The law establishing the grant program allows jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of
these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime,
purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas, and addressing inmate
medical needs.Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant Program are candidates for receiving the emergency funding. Local units of
government will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.The Office of Justice Programs 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 United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorne ’s Office for
the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.U.S. Attorney Announces over $1.8M in DOJ Grants Related to COVID-19Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that various jurisdictions across the Eastern District of Virginia have recently been awarded over $1.8 million in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grants, to Prince William County ($343,909), City of Richmond ($477,498), City of Virginia Beach ($258,160), City of Newport News ($335,673), City of Hopewell ($34,117), and Fairfax County ($402,297), are available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
“Those on the front lines of the public safety response to the coronavirus have our support, gratitude, and utmost respect,” said Terwilliger. “The Department of Justice provides this funding with significant flexibility, so that state and local departments can use it in the ways that best benefit their officers and their community.”
The grants come on the heels of a separate DOJ grants of nearly $14 million to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services ($10,832,775), City of Petersburg ($98,689), City of Alexandria ($113,197), County of Hanover ($39,736), City of Suffolk ($97,120), Town of Leesburg ($38,812), County of Stafford ($112,153), James City County ($34,507), City of Chesapeake ($386,783), Henrico County ($214,763), Chesterfield County ($185,482), City of Norfolk ($564,663), Manassas City ($41,306), Fredericksburg ($43,658), and Loudoun County ($114,472) announced in May, and to the cities of Portsmouth ($251,760), Hampton ($160,366), and the counties of Arlington ($136,727) York ($45,881) and Spotsylvania ($90,846) announced last week.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program allows States, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Funded projects or initiatives may include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), hiring, supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer), training, travel expenses (particularly related to the distribution of resources to the most impacted areas), and addressing the medical needs of inmates in state, local, and tribal prisons, jails, and detention centers.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Two Pennsylvania men indicted on rioting and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
Justin E. Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Brandon Michael Althof Long, age 23, and Devon Bryce Poland, age 22, both of Erie, Pennsylvania with one count each of conspiracy to riot and cause civil disorder, conspiracy to use fire to commit a felony, interstate travel to riot and transporting any firearm in furtherance of civil disorder.
“Today’s indictment alleges that these two defendants traveled across state lines not to engage in Constitutionally protected free speech, but with the intent to burn and loot downtown Cleveland,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “The men and women of the Justice Department, working with our state and local partners, are committed to holding accountable anyone responsible for the numerous criminal actions that occurred in Cleveland on May 30. This indictment represents the first of such federal charges filed in this district, but they are not expected to be the last.”
“The indictments of Mr. Poland and Mr. Long mark just the beginning of our combined law enforcement effort to identify, locate, and apprehend those who exploited a peaceful protest for their personal, but very short-term, gain,” said FBI SAC Eric B. Smith. “The FBI, along with all of our federal, state, and local partners, will not cease in our efforts to bring those responsible for May 30th's carnage to justice. We continue to review every available photo, video, and social media posting to piece together the violent activity that occurred in Cleveland, and to identify those who had a hand in making it happen."
According to the indictment, on May 30, 2020, Long and Poland drove to the city of Cleveland with the intent to participate in a riot and commit acts of violence. Long and Poland were arrested near the intersection of East 8th Street, an alleyway, and Huron Avenue in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, in possession of a black backpack containing a hammer, two containers of Sterno Firestarter Instant Flame Gel, a can of spray paint and a glass bottle of liquor with a bar-style pour top. A Glock semi-automatic firearm and two magazines loaded with ammunition were also located in their vehicle.
On May 31st, The FBI executed a search warrant on iPhones found in the defendant’s vehicle and reviewed messages between Long and Poland that contain statements that demonstrate an intent by Long and Poland to travel from Pennsylvania to Cleveland, Ohio on May 30, 2020, to participate in, promote, encourage, and aid and abet the criminal riots. In these messages, the defendants discuss bringing with them supplies for an incendiary device, looting and rioting.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan Brown.
Two Niagara County Men Charged with Forcing Undocumented Immigrants to Work in Their Mexican RestaurantRead 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 a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Roberto Montes-Villalpando, 59, of Sanborn, NY, and Abraham Montes, 27, of Lockport, NY, with conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain, harboring an alien for financial gain, and harboring an alien for financial gain and causing serious bodily injury. Abraham Montes is also charged with transporting an alien for financial gain. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, with support from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, stated that according to the indictment, the defendants owned and operated El Cubilete Mexican Restaurant, formerly located at 9400 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls, NY, between December 2014 and late 2018, at which time the restaurant moved to 2050 Cayuga Extension in Niagara Falls. Defendant Montes-Villalpando managed the restaurant, supervised the staff, including wait and kitchen staff, made hiring and firing decisions, and determined payroll. Defendant Montes supervised the kitchen staff of El Cubilete. The kitchen staff included Victims 1, 2, 3, and 4, who were each natives and citizens of Mexico without any legal status in the United States. The victims were employed by the defendants as cooks, food preparers, and dishwashers. In addition, the victims sublet an apartment rented by defendant Montes-Villalpando in Niagara Falls.
Between November 1, 2014, and February 18, 2018, the defendants recruited and hired undocumented foreign nationals who had entered the United States illegally to work for them. Montes-Villalpando and Montes enticed prospective laborers who lived and worked in Ohio, including Victim 1 and Victim 2, to work at El Cubilete by promising better pay and fewer hours. The defendants conspired to obtain the labor and services of Victims 1 through 4 by serious harm and threats of serious harm. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants are accused of causing serious bodily injury to Victim 3.
“As alleged in this indictment, the defendants took advantage of these aliens by using threats and, in at least the case of one victim, physical force, in order to exploit them,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Human trafficking of any sort, including forced labor, will not be tolerated in our great country, and those who seek to inflict such an injustice on another human being will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to investigating and prosecuting all forms of human trafficking, including forced labor,” said Special Agent-in- Charge Kevin Kelly of HSI Buffalo. “Forced labor strips individuals of their basic human freedom and has no place in a modern society or in our community. HSI is proud of the work accomplished in this case with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners.”
“This is a fine example of how the Human Trafficking Task Force is working between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard. “These charges are the result of a detailed investigation and our proof of the commitment that law enforcement has to putting an end to human trafficking in this area.”
The defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, under the direction of Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Region, and the and the Human Trafficking Task Force of the Western District of New York.
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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Two Brooklyn Residents and a Greene County Resident Indicted in Connection with Molotov Cocktail Attacks on NYPD VehiclesRead the Press Release
Two indictments were returned yesterday in federal court in Central Islip, New York, charging Samantha Shader, and co-defendants Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman in connection with their alleged attempts to use improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as “Molotov Cocktails,” to damage and destroy New York City Police Department vehicles during protests this past month.
The seven-count indictments each charge the defendants with the use of explosives, arson, use of explosives to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and making or possessing a destructive device.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“Amid largely peaceful demonstrations taking place on the night of May 29, 2020, these defendants allegedly hurled Molotov Cocktails at NYPD vehicles without regard for the potentially deadly consequences,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Such criminal acts should never be confused with legitimate protest. Those who carry out attacks on NYPD Officers or vehicles are not protesters, they are criminals, and they will be treated as such.”
“A little more than a week after their arrests, Shader, Mattis, and Rahman have been charged with seven-count indictments in response to their potentially deadly attacks. Their criminal behavior risked lives, destroyed equipment that exists to serve the community, siphoned response resources, and created a threat to those who had every right to safely assemble and express their opinion,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
“Violence, like that alleged here, not only endangers our NYPD officers but threatens the constitutional right of people to peacefully protest. These indictments by our federal partners reflect our joint condemnation of the kind of isolated acts a just society can never tolerate,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
As detailed in court filings in the case against Mattis and Rahman, an NYPD surveillance camera recorded Rahman tossing a Molotov cocktail at an NYPD vehicle parked near the 88th Precinct in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, then fleeing in a tan minivan. Police Officers pursued the minivan and arrested Rahman and Mattis, who was the vehicle’s driver. In the vehicle, the NYPD found several component items for Molotov Cocktails, including a lighter, a bottle filled with liquid suspected to be gasoline and toilet paper, additional bottles and toilet paper, and a gasoline canister.
As detailed in court filings in the case against Shader, a video recorded by a witness captured her igniting a Molotov cocktail and throwing it at an NYPD vehicle occupied by four police officers, shattering two of its windows. Police officers pursued Shader as she attempted to flee and apprehended her at the scene.
The charges in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted on all counts, the defendants face sentences of up to life imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian C. Richardson and Jonathan Algor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
COLINFORD MATTIS
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkUROOJ RAHMAN
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-203 (BMC)
SAMANTHA SHADER
Age: 27
Catskill, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-202 (DLI)
Toledo man indicted for using a firearm in a crime of violenceRead the Press Release
Justin. E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Juarvez Whitfield Neeley, 22, of Toledo with interference with commerce by threats or violence and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and in retaliation of a crime of violence.
According to the criminal complaint filed in this matter, On March 29, 2020, officers with the Toledo Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Summit Market on 3740 North Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio. Upon arrival, officers identified two victims that had been shot. The victims claimed that two armed men entered the store and one of the men, later identified as Neeley, approached the counter, demanded money and ultimately shot both victims.
A Toledo Police Officer and numerous tips received identified one of the unknown suspects as Juarvez Whitfield Neeley. On May 15, 2020, Neeley was placed into custody without incident by the United States Marshals Service. The second suspect remains at large.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and the Toledo Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew D. Simko.
Three Columbia Men Charged with Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Three Columbia, Missouri, men were charged in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Boone County, Missouri.
Keveon Martez Johnson, 36, his brother, Marcus Johnson, 34, and Marcus Seawood, 38, were charged in separate but related criminal complaints filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Today’s complaints alleges that all three men participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Boone County from Dec. 17, 2019, to June 11, 2020.
According to affidavits filed in support of the federal criminal complaints, the Columbia Police Department utilized a confidential source to make two controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl from Keveon Johnson. The confidential source identified Marcus Johnson as a “runner” for Keveon Johnson who shows up to complete the narcotics transactions.
Investigators used another confidential source to purchase heroin from Seawood, the affidavits say. When the confidential source arrived for the transaction, Keveon and Marcus Johnson were in the vehicle with Seawood during the exchange.
Federal agents utilized a third confidential source, who had purchased heroin from Keveon Johnson on multiple occasions, to make four controlled purchases of heroin from Keveon Johnson and his associates in May 2020. On three occasions, the affidavits say, the confidential source purchased approximately six grams of heroin from Keveon Johnson for $450. On the fourth occasion, the affidavits say, the confidential source purchased approximately 12 grams of heroin from Keveon Johnson for $875.
On Thursday, June 11, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Keveon Johnson’s residence. Inside the pocket of a jacket in the master bedroom closet officers found a plastic bag that contained approximately 153 grams of heroin. In the same pocket, officers found $4,000. Inside the pocket of another jacket officers found a bag that contained approximately 15 grams of heroin.
Keveon and Marcus Johnson and Seawood were taken into custody on separate traffic stops on Thursday, June 11. At the time of his arrest, Marcus Johnson was in possession of approximately three grams of heroin.
The charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases are being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly. They were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.
Three Charged in $180 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment against three individuals for their alleged involvement in various schemes to defraud Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance companies, and their conspiracy to launder the proceeds has been unsealed today. The conduct allegedly resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
Mitchell “Chad” Barrett, 54, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, David “Jason” Rutland, 41, of Bolton, Mississippi, and Thomas “Tommy” Shoemaker, 56, of Rayville, Louisiana were charged on May 27, 2020, in the Southern District of Mississippi.
The indictment alleges that between September 2011 and January 2016, Barrett, Rutland, and Shoemaker conspired to and engaged in a scheme to defraud numerous health care benefit programs of more than $180 million, including more than $50 million from federal healthcare programs. Using several pharmacies, including Gluckstadt Special Care Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, World Health Industries Inc., Opus Rx LLC, and Rx Pro Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, the defendants, as alleged, fraudulently formulated, dispensed, shipped, and billed insurance companies for compound medications in the form of topical creams and capsules, some of which contained controlled substances.
To further facilitate their scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, the defendants allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to solicit and pay kickbacks and bribes to marketers, physicians, other medical providers, and beneficiaries to refer, prescribe, and receive prescriptions for medically unnecessary compound medications. The defendants also allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to launder the proceeds of their fraudulent activity by concealing the proceeds they obtained and conducting monetary transactions of a value greater than $10,000, including the purchase of numerous assets, such as real estate, luxury automobiles, a three-carat diamond, and other high-priced goods.
The charges announced today target alleged schemes billing Medicare, TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families) and private insurance companies for medically unnecessary compounded medications.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, DCIS, and IRS-CI. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General also assisted with the case. Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen, Amanda Wick, and Steven Brantley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with the support and assistance of Trial Attorney Dustin Davis of the Fraud Section.
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.
Three Charged in $180 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment against three individuals for their alleged involvement in various schemes to defraud Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance companies, and their conspiracy to launder the proceeds has been unsealed today. The conduct allegedly resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
Mitchell “Chad” Barrett, 54, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, David “Jason” Rutland, 41, of Bolton, Mississippi, and Thomas “Tommy” Shoemaker, 56, of Rayville, Louisiana were charged on May 27, 2020, in the Southern District of Mississippi.
The indictment alleges that between September 2011 and January 2016, Barrett, Rutland, and Shoemaker conspired to and engaged in a scheme to defraud numerous health care benefit programs of more than $180 million, including more than $50 million from federal healthcare programs. Using several pharmacies, including Gluckstadt Special Care Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, World Health Industries Inc., Opus Rx LLC, and Rx Pro Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, the defendants, as alleged, fraudulently formulated, dispensed, shipped, and billed insurance companies for compound medications in the form of topical creams and capsules, some of which contained controlled substances.
To further facilitate their scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, the defendants allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to solicit and pay kickbacks and bribes to marketers, physicians, other medical providers, and beneficiaries to refer, prescribe, and receive prescriptions for medically unnecessary compound medications. The defendants also allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to launder the proceeds of their fraudulent activity by concealing the proceeds they obtained and conducting monetary transactions of a value greater than $10,000, including the purchase of numerous assets, such as real estate, luxury automobiles, a three-carat diamond, and other high-priced goods.
The charges announced today target alleged schemes billing Medicare, TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families) and private insurance companies for medically unnecessary compounded medications.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, DCIS, and IRS-CI. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General also assisted with the case. Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen, Amanda Wick, and Steven Brantley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with the support and assistance of Trial Attorney Dustin Davis of the Fraud Section.
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.
Texas man charged for impeding law enforcement during protestRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 32-year-old resident of Austin has been taken into custody on charges of civil disorder, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Travis Glendon Martin III is set to make his appearance at 2:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo. He is charged in a criminal complaint filed June 5.
According to the charges, authorities had been engaged in the lawful performance of their duties May 29 during a protest in Houston related to the death of George Floyd. The protest allegedly involved multiple acts of violence at the hands of many which resulted in damage to property and injury to peaceful protesters and others.
Some law enforcement personnel were assigned to control pedestrian traffic and prevent their entrance to Interstate-45, according to the charges. During this time, Martin allegedly lowered his shoulder and rammed one of the officers in an attempt to break through the police line and enter the interstate.
Officers attempted to gain control of Martin who had been exhibiting passive resistance by placing his arms underneath his body as he lay on the ground, according to the complaint. Martin’s actions allegedly impeded law enforcement as another individual was able to remove a traffic cone and throw it at the officers while they attempted to take Martin into custody.
The complaint further alleges that Martin’s actions emboldened others to commit similar acts. During his arrest, yet another person then threw traffic cones at the officers which further obstructed, delayed and adversely affected commerce up the ramp and onto the interstate, according to the charges.
Civil disorder involves the commission of any act or attempt to obstruct, impede or interfere with a fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the performance of official duties which adversely affects commerce.
If convicted, Martin faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Texas Man Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Houston man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute up to 15 kilograms of cocaine and conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between June 2014 and November 2016, Naleth Vongsengchanh, 51, engaged in a conspiracy to traffic kilogram quantities of cocaine to the Virginia region for redistribution and to launder the proceeds. In the beginning of the conspiracy, Vongsengchanh resided in the Virginia region and sold cocaine locally before moving to Houston. Beginning in January 2015, Vongsengchanh began providing other individuals with kilogram quantities of cocaine to be couriered from Texas to the Virginia region by car.
Additionally, Vongsengchanh and his spouse, Oksana Vovk, utilized numerous bank accounts to launder the drug proceeds stemming from the cocaine trafficking. One of the utilized accounts was for an illegitimate business known as Stylish Traveler LLC through which Vongsengchanh and Vovk laundered over $78,000. In addition to the laundering of the proceeds, Vongsengchanh received payment for cocaine via other individuals transporting bulk cash currency for him and Vovk from the Virginia region to Texas.
Vongsengchanh is a career offender with a lengthy criminal history to include felony convictions for voluntary manslaughter while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and two convictions for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Voyk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to over two years in prison.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Russian Roulette. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark Herring, Attorney General for Virginia; Nick Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel James Morris, Vienna Chief of Police; Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field; Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Michael L. Brown, Alexandria Chief of Police; and M. Jay Farr, Arlington County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney General Karolina Klyuchnikova prosecuted 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-33.
Tampa Man Indicted for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Rossonno Borders, Jr. (22, Tampa) with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Borders faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Borders that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
According to the
indictment , on or about February 5, 2020, in the Middle District of Florida, Borders knowingly possessed a firearm and five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Borders had been previously convicted of grand theft, a third-degree felony, on or about June 1, 2017. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
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 and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Syracuse Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bruce A. Wakker, age 65, of Syracuse, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged with attempting to entice or coerce a child.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The criminal complaint alleges that between November 15, 2019 and June 11, 2020, Wakker exchanged sexually explicit text messages with an undercover investigator who was posing as both a 9-year-old girl and the adult mother of the girl. On several occasions, Wakker directly instructed the girl how to use various sexual objects and aids he purchased and mailed to her and her mother. Earlier this month, Wakker discussed meeting the girl and her mother. On June 11, Wakker traveled from his residence in Syracuse to New York Mills, New York, to meet with them. Wakker was encountered by law enforcement and arrested.
Wakker appeared today for an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, who scheduled Wakker’s detention hearing for June 17. Wakker will remain detained pending that hearing.
This charge filed against Wakker carries a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, including investigators from the Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey Brown and Rachel Williams.
Anyone who wants to provide law enforcement with information about the defendant should contact the FBI Albany Field Office at (518) 465-7551.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, Prouect Safe Childgood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better located, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/.
St. Thomas Airport Traveler Sentenced for Possession of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Aubrey Meyers, 64, was sentenced yesterday on his conviction for possession of cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Meyers previously pled guilty to the charge on January 21, 2020. In his plea agreement, he admitted that, on or about October 27, 2019, at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, he possessed five small clear plastic bags containing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Court records indicate that Meyers was a ticketed passenger onboard a Spirit Airlines flight destined for Orlando, Florida when a routine search of his luggage identified the five plastic bags containing approximately 136 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.
District Court Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller sentenced Meyers to time served and a one-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Sleeper.Springfield Man Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was charged yesterday in federal court in Springfield with child pornography offenses.
Ross Lopata, 32, was charged in a criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography. Lopata was detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield yesterday.
The complaint alleges that between June 2019 and June 11, 2020, Lopata received and possessed child pornography.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Dakota Man with Long Criminal History Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A felon and drug user who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced June 11, 2020, to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Dennis Ray Wynn, 46, from Jefferson, South Dakota, received the prison term after a February 18, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and illegal drug user.
Evidence presented by the United States at the detention, change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed on June 29, 2018, a traffic stop, led to the discovery of $4,650 in cash and admissions regarding the possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. A search warrant executed at Wynn’s home located the methamphetamine and marijuana and a Jimenez Arms semiautomatic .22 caliber pistol among other things.
Wynn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wynn was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 6-month term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4071. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Victor Fossett, age 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2020, to bank robbery and to violating the conditions of his federal supervised release, in connection with three bank robberies he committed in March 2019.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Baltimore; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department, and Chief Lisa Myers of the Howard County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, between March 13 and March 18, 2019, Fossett robbed three banks—in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County—stealing a total of more than $8,000. Fossett was on federal supervised release at the time of the robberies, having previously sustained three federal convictions for bank robbery—the last of which resulted in a sentence of 151 months in federal prison. In each robbery, Fossett entered the bank and wrote a note on a deposit slip announcing the robbery and demanding cash. Fossett then approached a teller and gave them the note. After stealing cash from the teller, Fossett fled the bank in his blue Mini Cooper car.
Specifically, on March 13, 2019, Fossett robbed the M&T Bank in the 300 block of Baltimore Street in Baltimore. On March 14, 2019, Fossett robbed the PNC Bank located in the 6200 block of Washington Boulevard in Elkridge, and on March 18, 2019, Fossett robbed the PNC Bank located in the 700 block of Frederick Road in Catonsville.
On March 19, 2019, officers with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police located Fossett traveling southbound on I-895 towards Howard County in his blue Mini Cooper car. Law enforcement had already obtained an arrest warrant for Fossett, so they conducted a traffic stop and ultimately arrested him. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant on Fossett’s vehicle and recovered clothing and other items worn during the bank robberies as well as $3,923 in cash in the car’s glovebox—which was bank robbery proceeds.
Fossett faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the bank robbery charge and a maximum of two years in prison for violating his supervised release. 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. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for September 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County Police Departments for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who is prosecuting the case.
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Second Arrest Made for the Arson of Fayetteville’s Historic Market HouseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A second suspect was arrested for taking part in the arson of Fayetteville’s Market House after an otherwise peaceful demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, turned violent, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced.
ATF special agents and local law enforcement arrested Andrew Garcia-Smith, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, after Garcia-Smith was released from a hospital due to burn injuries sustained as a result of his involvement in the arson. Garcia-Smith is charged by complaint with one count of maliciously damaging property owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance. Garcia-Smith made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II.
According to the complaint, on May 30, 2020, several individuals set fire to the Market House in downtown Fayetteville. During the period of civil unrest, a Facebook Live video showed a male with long hair pulled into a bun, later identified as Garcia-Smith, picking up a bottle of burning liquid and throwing it into the Market House’s door. As Garcia-Smith threw the bottle, a portion of the burning liquid spilled back onto him, causing his hair and clothes to catch on fire. ATF special agents later identified Garcia-Smith as the suspect from the video when he reported to a local hospital with burn injuries shortly after the violent protest.
The count charged in the criminal complaint carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven (7) years, a maximum potential penalty of forty (40) years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD), and FPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Rhoades and J.D. Koesters of the U.S. Attorney's Office’s Criminal Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Seattle man pleads guilty to illegal possession of a dozen firearms including assault riflesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 67-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. PARK QUAN was arrested July 29, 2019, after FBI agents investigating one of his roommates in connection with a data theft served a search warrant on his home and discovered a cache of weapons. QUAN has remained in custody since his arrest. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will recommend a four-year prison sentenced when QUAN is sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 8, 2020.
According to records filed in the case, agents investigating the data theft were sweeping the residence for safety when they observed numerous firearms in a bedroom used by QUAN. Agents applied for and got a second judicially-authorized search warrant and began collecting the firearms. The cache of weapons included four semi-automatic handguns, six semi-automatic rifles, two of them assault rifles, and two additional rifles. At least one of the semi-automatic rifles was loaded. Law enforcement also seized a variety of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, flare launchers, some containers of explosive powder, and two bump stocks, which QUAN claimed to have purchased before the devices were outlawed.
QUAN has a 1983 federal conviction in Washington for being a felon in possession of explosives and a 1991 federal conviction in Texas for possessing an unregistered machine gun. QUAN also has a military court-martial conviction for soliciting the theft of military weapons. Due to those convictions, QUAN is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Andrew Friedman.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A Firearm and Selling CocaineRead 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 Miguel Gonzalez-Adams, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and an $8,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who is handling the case, stated that on January 31, 2020, United States Postal Inspectors obtained a search warrant for a priority mail package that was sent from Puerto Rico to the defendant’s residence in Rochester. The package contained over two kilograms of cocaine. The cocaine was removed from the package and replaced with sham cocaine. Postal Inspectors then conducted a controlled delivery of the package to Gonzalez-Adams’ residence.
On February 3, 2020, once the defendant accepted delivery of the package, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Gonzalez-Adams’ residence. Officers found the opened package on the first floor of the house. The defendant was located in an upstairs bedroom with $2,435 in cash and a cell phone that displayed the tracking information for the cocaine package. Officers also recovered a loaded AR-15 style rifle, along with an additional 162 rounds of ammunition for that weapon.
Gonzalez-Adams was previously convicted in 1999 of felony crimes in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. As a result, he is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Kevin M. Henderson; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick D. Phelan; the Webster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Rieger; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2020, at 9:15 am before Judge Siragusa.
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Registered Sex Offender in Pensacola Arrested for New Federal Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Steven J. McLendon, 36, of Pensacola, was arrested this morning on federal
charges related to the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. McLendon
is a registered sex offender in the state of Florida stemming from prior convictions for lewd and
lascivious conduct with a minor and child pornography in 2007. Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today after McLendon
made his initial appearance in federal court in Pensacola.The allegations against McLendon stem from a months long investigation by the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement in Pensacola. The charges allege that from February through June, 2020, McLendon
was utilizing peer to peer software to distribute and receive child pornography in Pensacola. Upon
the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Pensacola this week, law enforcement is
alleged to have seized multiple pieces of digital evidence containing child pornography. This
includes a device McLendon is alleged to have attempted to hide in his refrigerator.“Protecting the children of our community against those who would do them harm is a difficult and
serious task. My office is grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to
rescue children from online sexual exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.“FDLE’s Cyber Squad began this investigation in March and found child pornography involving young
children being victimized,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “McLendon is already on
Florida’s Sex Offender Registry and I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our cyber squad
agents.”McLendon, because of his prior convictions, faces the following enhanced penalties if convicted:
• Distribution of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years
in prison;
• Receipt of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years in
prison;
• Possession of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in
prison; and
• Forfeiture of his all the electronics used to commit the offenses.The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security
Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the North
Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of federal
criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a
fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt at trial.The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern
a, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Previously convicted felon from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal drug and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Selmonio Davis, 34, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on June 11 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to his plea agreement, Davis possessed methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine at his apartment when police executed a search warrant at the location on June 6, 2019. Davis also possessed other materials and drug paraphernalia to assist him in preparing the drugs for distribution. Davis also possessed a semiautomatic handgun to further his drug trafficking crimes. Davis could not lawfully possess this firearm based on previous felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and false imprisonment.
Davis is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces 108 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.
Port Richey Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Drug Dealing and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Angelo Salvarezza (38, Port Richey) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
Salvarezza had pleaded guilty on February 12, 2020.
According to court documents, Salvarezza was an illegal narcotics dealer in a residential neighborhood in Port Richey, Florida. From his own residence, Salvarezza sold a confidential source (CS) methamphetamine on three different occasions. In total, Salvarezza sold the CS 4 ounces of methamphetamine for $2,400.
On February 12, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Salvarezza’s residence. During that search, they located approximately 152.2 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, three handguns, various ammunition, and $6,367, all in Salvarezza’s bedroom.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety—one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Philadelphia Woman Caught on Turnpike with 80,000 Stamp Bags of HeroinRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA –A Philadelphia woman has been charged federally with possession with intent to distribute heroin, United States Attorney Scott Brady announced today.
Fiordaliza Rodriguez Reyes, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is charged by complaint with knowingly and intentionally possessing with intent to distribute, heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, on June 11, 2020. Reyes was taken into custody Thursday evening and made her appearance in United States District Court in Pittsburgh today.
According to the complaint, on June 11, 2020, at approximately 11:07 am, Troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Safe Highways Initiative through Effective Law Enforcement and Detection (SHIELD) Unit, seized from Rodriguez Reyes’ vehicle approximately 1,600 bricks, or approximately 80,000 stamp bags of suspected heroin, which is the equivalent of approximately 800 grams of heroin. The suspected heroin field-tested positive for the controlled substance. Rodriguez Reyes was traveling along the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to an address in the Wilkinsburg area of Pittsburgh.
The count charged in the criminal complaint carries a minimum potential penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison as well as a fine not to exceed $5,000,000.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case for the government.
The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Perry Man Sentenced for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Michael Williams, 34, of Perry, Florida, has been sentenced to serve
13½ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple offenses related to armed drug
trafficking. When he was arrested, Williams was found in possession of several firearms,
methamphetamine, marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia. The sentence was announced by
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.“Working together, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies have removed a
serious and dangerous drug criminal from the streets of the community,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe.
“Our agencies are committed to using our resources in partnership with local law enforcement to
assist them however we can to enhance public safety.”Williams was arrested by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office on an outstanding warrant for
failure to appear in state court. During this encounter with Williams and his girlfriend, deputies
observed methamphetamine and a firearm. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies located over two
ounces of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia used for the sale of methamphetamine including
baggies and scales, and four firearms, including a TEC-DC9 with two high capacity magazines.“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting
the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Daryl McCrary. “This sentencing is another example
that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”“I am proud of the hard work and the thorough investigation conducted by the Lafayette County
Sheriff's Office,” said Sheriff Lamb. “I am also proud of our partnerships we have with our Federal
Partners. This combined effort has led to bringing this individual to justice. His days of peddling
poison and possessing illegal firearms are over.”Williams pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine,
possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm and
ammunition by a convicted felon. Williams had multiple prior convictions for weapons and drug
charges. This sentencing followed a joint investigation by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office
and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with laboratory assistance from the
Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States At orney’s Office, Northern District
of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Palm Bay Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced three individuals for possessing device-making equipment used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards. Cassandra S. Ulysse (28, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, Wilson Sidney Joseph Ash (31, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, and Herly Pierre Ulysse (25, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison. All three individuals had pleaded guilty in February 2020. A fourth co-defendant, Dwight R. Cunningham (35, Palm Bay), who was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 13, 2019, for possession of device-making equipment, possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices, and aggravated identity theft, is a fugitive and has not yet been arrested.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2018, officers from the Palm Bay Police Department obtained a search warrant to search a residence in Palm Bay, where Cassandra S. Ulysse, Herly Pierre Ulysse and Ash had been living. While searching the residence, officers located a credit card printer, a card embosser, several credit card skimming and encoding devices, several counterfeit Florida ID cards, and a number of counterfeit credit cards. The counterfeit credit cards were manufactured using stolen identities and stolen credit card numbers.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Palm Bay Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Ontario County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Stealing More Than $750,000 from Her EmployerRead 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 Karen Owens, 55, of Phelps, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was employed by Finger Lakes Conveyors, Inc. (FLC) as its Director of Finance from 2003 to 2017. Owens had authority to write and issue checks from FLC's banking account at Five Star Bank to FLC's vendors and creditors in order to pay legitimate business expenses. The defendant also had an obligation to record the details of each check she wrote and issued on behalf of FLC timely and accurately - including check date, check number, and payee - in FLC's QuickBooks accounting records.
Between June 2, 2011, and August 24, 2017, the defendant wrote and issued approximately 394 checks payable to herself from FLC's Five Star Bank account. Owens deposited the checks into an account which she owned and over which she had control. In addition, between August 30, 2010, and August 24, 2017, the defendant wrote and issued approximately 162 checks payable to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank from FLC's Five Star Bank account as payments on Chase Bank credit card accounts belonging to the defendant and her husband. In order to conceal some of the fraudulent and unauthorized checks, Owens failed accurately to record the checks in FLC's QuickBooks accounting record; instead, she falsely recorded the checks as payment for legitimate business expenses.
Owens wrote checks totaling more than $750,000.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2020, before Judge Geraci.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Terrence Sayers, age 26, was sentenced in federal court on June 12, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, for the receipt and distribution of child pornography. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Sayers to 96 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Following Sayers’s term of imprisonment, he will begin a 15-year term of supervised release. Sayers pleaded guilty to the offenses on February 14, 2020.
On May 20, 2014, Sayers utilized his Gmail account to receive 32 images of child pornography. The images included prepubescent minors. On March 24, 2015, Sayers utilized the same Gmail account to distribute various images of child pornography. Sayers distributed the images by sending them to other individuals over the internet using the Gmail account. The images included prepubescent minors.
On October 24, 2017, a search warrant was conducted on Sayers’s Gmail account which he had used to receive and distribute the images of child pornography. More than 500 images and videos of child pornography were located on the account.
Sayers is currently in custody in Nebraska state prison based on a 2017 conviction for arson in the first degree. Sayers’s federal sentence shall run consecutively to his state sentence and shall begin when his state sentence ends.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigations.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Adam Scott Barnes, 26, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for production of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Barnes to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Barnes will serve a 10-year term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
In September 2019, federal agents began investigating after receiving a report that a Dropbox user had uploaded approximately 596 images and videos of suspected child pornography. Agents executed a search warrant at Barnes’s residence and seized several electronic devices, including Barnes’s cell phone. Barnes admitted to receiving and viewing child pornography. When agents began to review the images and videos on Barnes’s cell phone, they determined that at least one image and one video depicted child pornography that had been produced in Barnes’s residence with Barnes’s cell phone. The six-year-old victim identified Barnes as the person who had produced the image and video. After his arrest, Barnes admitted to producing child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Norwich Man on Federal Supervised Release Charged with Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Norwich Police Chief Patrick J. Daley announced that ANTOINE WALKER, 40, of Norwich, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with firearm and controlled substances offenses.
Walker appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was ordered detained.
As alleged in the complaint, on June 10, 2020, Norwich Police conducting a drug trafficking and murder investigation executed a court-authorized search of Walker’s residence. Officers searched the garage at the residence and found approximately 130 grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately 88 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, nearly two pounds of suspected marijuana, items used to process and package drugs for street sale, and a loaded .38 Special Smith and Wesson revolver. A search of the residence revealed approximately 15 grams of suspected crack cocaine together with a digital scale. Walker was arrested on state charges at that time.
It is further alleged Walker is a previously convicted felon and, in October 2013, he was sentenced in Southern District of New York to 80 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for armed robbery and bank robbery offenses. Walker is currently on federal supervised release.
The complaint charges Walker with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He may also face enhanced penalties based on the quantity and type of drugs seized, his alleged prior convictions, and if he is found in violation of the conditions of his supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Norwich Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret M. Donovan and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.
New York Man Convicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Jose Munoz Perdomo, 24, formerly of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Perdomo was sentenced for a term of 14 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release with special conditions. He will also be required to pay $52,587.31 in restitution, to be paid joint and several with codefendant, Melissa Carmona Valenzuela, who will be sentenced at a later date. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jose Munoz Perdomo and his co-defendant, Melissa Carmona Valenzuela, traveled through the state of Colorado and subsequently in Nebraska perpetrating a fraudulent scheme against Verizon Wireless. It was part of the scheme that the conspirators used stolen personal identifying information, including an individual’s name and social security number, to create Verizon Wireless accounts. Once a Verizon account was created, Valenzuela was made an authorized user on the account and she would access the account to purchase electronic devices and accessories. The conspirators traveled to different Verizon stores/retailers, and at each Verizon store/retailer, they would purchase or attempt to purchase phones, tablets, smart watches, and accessories as an authorized user on an account. It was part of the scheme that Valenzuela continued to access a specific Verizon account for purchase financing until the maximum financing amount had been reached at which time, she would begin using a new fraudulently created Verizon account using another stolen identity. These purchases would then be financed through the Verizon account and the balance would be billed to the false account causing financial loss to Verizon.
Pursuant to this scheme, Verizon Wireless suffered a loss of more than $40,000 which can be attributed to Perdomo and Valenzuela’s conduct throughout Nebraska and Colorado. Further investigation has revealed that Perdomo had played a role in this same scheme in additional states including Washington as well.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced that DARREN M. MARTIN (“MARTIN”), age 44, of Madisonville, pled guilty on June 9, 2020 in federal court before U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry to Count 1 of an Indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and 1347.
According to the Indictment, MARTIN was a licensed pharmacist in the State of Louisiana who owned Willow Pharmacy, Inc. (“Willow”), which was located in Madisonville, Louisiana. Between 2012 and 2015, Willow operated as a closed-door pharmacy that was in the business of mixing and filling prescriptions for compounded medications that were reimbursed by health care benefit programs, including Blue Cross & Blue Shield (“Blue Cross”). In 2012, MARTIN, on behalf of Willow, executed a provider agreement with CVS Caremark (“CVS”), a pharmacy benefit manager for Blue Cross. Under the terms of the agreement, Willow agreed to collect copayments from Blue Cross-covered patients and further agreed that it would not waive a copayment unless authorized by CVS to do so.
According to the Indictment, in or around June 2014, CVS notified Willow that Willow was the subject of an audit. At around the same time, to conceal the fact that Willow had not collected copayments for the claims at issue in the audit, Willow, through MARTIN, contracted with Joseph L. Wiley, II (“Wiley”) of Monroe, Louisiana and his company Affordable Medication Solutions, LLC (“AMS”). The purpose of the contract was to make it appear that Willow collected the copayments at issue in the CVS audit through AMS, a purported secondary payer. Between 2014 and 2015, as it conducted its audit, CVS requested information from Willow substantiating that AMS collected copayments on behalf of Willow for $567,710.39 worth of claims at issue in the CVS audit. In 2019, Wiley pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Mississippi to one count of attempt and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
In actuality, according to the Indictment, AMS never collected copayments for Willow. Had CVS known that Willow had not collected copayments from Blue Cross-covered patients, it would have terminated Willow’s provider agreement. To conceal the fact that Willow had not collected copayments, Wiley created false documents, including copies of backdated checks and remittance advices, for certain of the claims at issue purporting to show that AMS collected copayments for Willow and sent those documents to MARTIN. Despite knowing that AMS had not collected copayments for Willow, MARTIN caused false statements to be made to CVS indicating that AMS had collected copayments for the claims at issue in the CVS audit for Willow.
The Court set sentencing in this matter for September 8, 2020. MARTIN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a maximum $250,000 fine, three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn McHugh with the assistance of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
New Bedford Man Sentenced for Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A New Bedford man who admitted to participating in the delivery of more than an ounce of crack cocaine in Rhode Island in February 2018 was sentenced on Thursday to 42 months in federal prison.
Chanel Williams, 41, previously admitted to the court that, following Facebook communications with an individual in Pawtucket seeking crack cocaine, he and another New Bedford man traveled to Pawtucket on February 13, 2018, to deliver the drugs. Williams admitted to the court that he remained inside the vehicle he drove to Pawtucket while Jordan Fernandes, 30, went inside a residence to deliver the drugs.
The delivery was electronically monitored by members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force and Providence Police.
Williams pleaded guilty on December 4, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base. At sentencing on Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Williams to 42 months in federal prison to be followed by five years supervised release.
Williams’ sentence is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and Providence Police Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.
Jordan Fernandes, who pleaded guilty on February 3, 2020, to two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, three counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, is awaiting sentencing.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Helen H. Lee and Terrence P. Donnelly.
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Moss Point Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison Under Project EJECT for Illegally Possessing a Sawed-Off Shotgun as a FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Paul Leon Heathcoe, 53, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 120 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a sawed-off shotgun, announced S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorm with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
On July 21, 2018, a woman arrived at the emergency room of a hospital in Jackson County and informed law enforcement that Heathcoe had assaulted her and was in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. The victim required staples to her head and told law enforcement Heathcoe kept her with threats to her children and sexually assaulted her in addition to breaking a golf club over her head.
Heathcoe is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. As a result, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Heathcoe and a search warrant for his residence. Upon executing the search warrant, deputies discovered a shotgun with a barrel measuring a little over 12 inches and an overall length of approximately 19 inches. Both the stock and the barrel had been cut off. Law enforcement also found a modified holster that Heathcoe used to wear the shotgun around the house, according to the victim.
At sentencing, Judge Ozerden found U.S. Sentencing Guideline enhancements for kidnapping, sexual assault and aggravated assault. Heathcoe’s guideline range exceeded 120 months, but the statutory cap for the charge was 10 years. Heathcoe was also sentenced to 3 years of post-release supervision and a $4000 fine.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
Monona Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Child Pornography Charges & Secretly Recording MinorsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Scott T. Blood, 49, Monona, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 12 years in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. This prison term will be followed by a 20-year term of supervised release. Blood pleaded guilty to these charges on March 11, 2020.
On July 30, 2019, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the Blood’s home in Monona. Numerous electronic devices were seized from the home, which were later analyzed. On the defendant’s phone, agents found hundreds of Kik messages between the defendant and other people. Some of the conversations were with adults with whom he discussed his sexual interest in minors. Others were with minors from whom he obtained child pornography.
Agents also found numerous sexually explicit images of other minors that were filmed with a camera that Blood hid in a smoke detector. Based on these surreptitious recordings, Judge Peterson indicated that the 12-year sentence was warranted because the secret recordings were such a grotesque invasion of the victims’ privacy.
The charges against Blood were the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Monona Police Department, and Mount Horeb Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Guns OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Javier Ochoa-Anaya, 49, residing in Denair, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to the plea agreement, Ochoa received a shipment of 54 kilograms of methamphetamine on Sept. 3, 2019. Ochoa enlisted the aid of co-defendant Victoria Rodriguez, to assist him in weighing and packaging the methamphetamine. On Sept. 5, 2019, agents seized the methamphetamine during a search of Ochoa’s vehicle. In addition, agents seized a cooler stored with the methamphetamine that contained 1 kilogram of cocaine, five loaded firearms, a bullet proof vest, several high capacity magazines, a substance used to dilute the drugs, and a digital scale.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit, composed of agents from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, Stanislaus County Probation, and Ceres Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen A. Servatius is prosecuting the case.
Ochoa is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine for the drug offense and a mandatory five-year consecutive term on the firearms charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Victoria Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and is scheduled for sentencing on June 19, 2020.
Man from Las Cruces, New Mexico sentenced to 8 months in prison for impersonating U.S. MarshalRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Aaron Tyler Stroud, 39, of Las Cruces, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Las Cruces on June 10 to eight months and 12 days in prison for false personation of an officer or employee of the United States.
According to public court documents, Stroud committed the offense in Doña Ana County on Sept. 29, 2019. He approached an officer from the Las Cruces Police Department who was responding to a report of domestic violence. Stroud claimed to be an officer of the U.S. Marshal Service. He was wearing a shirt with “U.S. Marshal” printed on it. Stroud also carried a radio, a false badge, and a holstered firearm. He said he routinely patrolled the area. Stroud had previously intervened in the domestic dispute by pretending to be a deputy Marshal and pointing his gun at the man and woman involved in the dispute.
Stroud will receive credit for time already served in custody. He also must serve a two-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment.
The United States Marshal Service and Las Cruces Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl prosecuted the case.
Man Convicted in State Court of Pimping and Drug Offenses Sentenced to a Consecutive 21 Months’ Imprisonment in Federal Prison for a Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
A man from Minnesota was sentenced June 10, 2020 to more than two years in federal prison.
Ahmed Hassan, age 26, from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota received the prison term after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence at his change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed between December 2018 and April 2019, Hassan was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and knowingly possessed two guns and ammunition on two separate occasions. Hassan came to the attention of law enforcement during their investigation of the defendant’s other felony criminal activity, which included pimping and controlled substance violations. He was convicted in state court for those charges and sentenced to state prison. Upon his release from state prison, he must serve his federal firearms sentence.
Hassan was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hassan was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The federal sentence was imposed consecutive to the state sentence, so defendant must complete his state prison term first.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hassan is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from our Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4038.
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Man Arrested for Threatening to Burn Down African American ChurchRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A North Carolina man was arrested today on a charge related to his alleged threat to burn down an African American church in Virginia Beach.
John Malcolm Bareswill, 63, who lives in Catawba, North Carolina, and works in Virginia Beach, is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court today in Norfolk at 2 p.m.
According to court documents, Bareswill allegedly called a Virginia Beach church with a predominantly African American congregation, made racially derogatory remarks, and threatened to set the church on fire. The threatening call was placed on June 7, several days after one of the church’s leaders took part in a public prayer vigil and peaceful demonstration for George Floyd.
“Our office takes seriously any threat to the lives and well-being of our fellow citizens,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Threats meant to silence or intimidate people because of their race or religion, like the one allegedly made here, have our highest priority. “No one should be made to fear for their safety or the safety of their church for speaking out, and we will seek justice for victims of those who allegedly violate that right.”
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, on June 7, a church member informed the Virginia Beach Police Department that between approximately 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m, a male caller had called the church’s land line telephone. According to witnesses, the call was placed on speakerphone and overheard by two adult members of the church and also several children. The caller stated words to the effect of “you [racial slur] need to shut up”, and threatened to set fire to the church.
“The FBI’s highest priority is protecting the communities we serve,” said Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Division. “We take all threats of violence seriously and will respond quickly to intervene, working with our law enforcement partners to keep Hampton Roads safe. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report threats or suspicious activities immediately to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at https://www.fbi.gov/tips.”
Bareswill is charged with making a telephonic threat to use fire to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual, or unlawfully to damage or destroy a building. If convicted, Bareswill faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Division, Tony Zucaro, Jr., Acting Chief of the Virginia Beach Police Department, and David Hutcheson, Chief of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bosse 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. 2:20-mj-230.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Man Arrested for Sextortion Scheme Involving Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Warrenton man was arrested today for his alleged role in a sextortion scheme involving minor children.
According to court documents, Filippo Parlagreco, 35, allegedly sought and obtained via a social media application sexually explicit images of an 11-year-old minor, threatened to disseminate the images if the minor did not produce more, and then shared sexually explicit images of the minor with others via encrypted messaging applications. As alleged in the complaint, law enforcement identified the minor victim after another minor victim notified the police that the defendant had posted photos of her undressed on a social media application without her consent, and demanded additional images from her as a condition of taking the photos down.
Parlagreco is charged with sexual exploitation of children. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendelynn Bills is prosecuting the case.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, composed of FBI agents and local, state and federal partners.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-mj-155.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Lorain man indicted for robbery of credit unionRead the Press Release
Justin. E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury in Cleveland has returned a one-count indictment charging Travone D. Edwards, age 26, of Lorain with one count of interference with commerce by means of robbery.
According to the criminal complaint filed in this matter, on February 28, 2020, a lone suspect, later identified as Edwards, entered the GenFed Financial Credit Union (GFCU) located on Oberlin Ave in Lorain, Ohio. Edwards gave a note to the bank teller demanding that the teller “Put all 50’s and 100’s in the bag, don’t say anything, make a scene, or call the police or I will shoot”. The teller complied, and Edwards fled the scene. Edwards was later identified during the ensuing investigation and was arrested on April 17, 2020, by the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force on multiple outstanding warrants.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI with the help of Lorain Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on June 8 was:
Richard Morris Little Nest, 29, a transient, on charges of possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Little Nest faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Little Nest was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-44.
Christopher Michael Emter, 41, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Emter faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Emter was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-43.
Appearing on June 9 was:
Anthony Dwayne Boldt, 43, of Glendive, on charges of production of child pornography, possession of child porn and attempted witness tampering. If convicted of the most serious crime, Boldt faces a minimum mandatory 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine plus a $5,000 special assessment and five years to life of supervised release. Boldt was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-35.
Appearing on June 10 was:
Chad Henry Swoboda, 36, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession, and false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, Swoboda faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Swoboda was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-47.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on June 9 was:
Rhonda Lee Mueller, 60, of Bozeman, on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Mueller faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. The U.S. Postal Service, Missouri River Drug Task Force and FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-08.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston and pleading not guilty on June 9 was:
Joshua Patrick Vanatta, 30, of Bainville, on charges of possession of ammunition by a felon, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm without a serial number. If convicted of the most serious crime, Vanatta faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Vanatta was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-39.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Hudson Man Indicted for Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Charles Poole (47, Hudson) with one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted on all counts, Poole faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Poole that the United States intends to forfeit two cellphones possessed by Poole and alleged to have been used in the commission of these offenses.
According to the
indictment , between October 2019 and January 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported several CyberTips involving the receipt and distribution of child pornography over Facebook, between user “charlie.poole.14” and another unidentified user. Using IP addresses provided by Facebook, as well as account information for “charlie.poole.14,” law enforcement identified the user as Poole.On April 29, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Poole’s residence and discovered hundreds of images of child pornography on his devices, including an image he had produced. Law enforcement determined that the image depicted an approximately 12-year-old girl known to Poole.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
This is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.
Hartford Man Admits Distributing PCPRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORGE OQUENDO, also known as “G,” 35, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP).
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2019, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department received information that Oquendo was distributing a large quantity of packaged and liquid PCP from his Wilson Street residence. Investigators subsequently made a controlled purchase of PCP from Oquendo at his residence. On May 22, 2019, investigators attempted to arrest Oquendo after he drove to a parking lot on Prospect Avenue in West Hartford. When multiple law enforcement vehicles closed in on Oquendo, he quickly accelerated, struck and damaged one police vehicle, drove across the parking lot, and then smashed his car into a second law enforcement vehicle that was blocking the exit to Prospect Avenue. A task force officer who occupied the second police vehicle was injured in the crash and briefly lost consciousness. Oquendo was apprehended and placed under arrest shortly thereafter.
At the time his arrest. Oquendo possessed a clear plastic bag containing smaller zip lock bags, each containing a black leaf substance soaked in PCP. A subsequent search of Oquendo’s residence revealed approximately 50 grams of black leaves soaked in PCP, more than seven grams of liquid PCP, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and approximately $14,000 in cash.
Oquendo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on September 9, 2020, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Oquendo has been detained since his federal arrest on May 31, 2019.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Guilty Pleas in A Multitude of Meth, Heroin and Illegal Gun Cases in AthensRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – Seven defendants charged in various illegal firearm and high-volume drug cases admitted their guilt during change of plea hearings this week in Athens federal court.
The following defendants entered guilty pleas in separate cases on illegal gun charges before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Wednesday: Anthony Holloway, 28, of Athens, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Curioki Hyche, 32, of Athens, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and Emilio Flentall, 31, of Athens, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm. All three defendants face a statutory penalty of ten years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 19, 2020. The following defendants entered guilty pleas on drug charges before Judge Royal on Wednesday: Justin Clouse, 38, of Watkinsville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to intent to distribute methamphetamine in excess of 50 grams and faces a minimum ten years to a maximum life term in prison; Maquilia Jones, 20, of Athens, pleaded guilty to distribution of crack cocaine and faces a minimum five years to a maximum forty years in prison; and Mechelle Morris, 45, of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a minimum ten years to a maximum life term in prison. All three defendants will be sentenced on August 19, 2020. Rickshun Willingham, 33, of Athens, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin in excess of 100 grams, cocaine base in excess of 280 grams and methamphetamine in excess of 50 grams. Willingham faces a minimum ten years to life in prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to crack down on high-level drug cases and remove weapons from the hands of convicted felons. It is a priority of this office to decrease the illegal drug trade and violent crime across our district,” said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “I want to thank our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to making our communities safer for all residents.”
This gun cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The gun cases are also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/archives/projectguardian.
All three gun cases were investigated by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. The North East Georgia Regional Drug Task Force also participated in the investigation of Hollway and Flentall. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Easterling is prosecuting the gun cases for the Government. The Willingham and Jones cases were investigated by the FBI, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Georgia State Patrol and Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. The Morris case was investigated by the DEA, Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, Tazewell Police Department, Tennessee, City of Middlesboro, Kentucky Police Department and the collaboration of District Attorney’s Office in Tazewell, Tennessee. The Clouse case was investigated by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett is prosecuting the drug cases 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.
Guilty Pleas and SentencesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, several defendants pled guilty and others were sentenced in the District Court of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
- On June 2, 2020, Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López held a hearing during which defendant Xavier Rivera-Natal plead guilty to possessing a fully loaded machinegun at his home in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. On March 27, 2019, pursuant to a locally issued search warrant, PRPD found the machinegun and four additional fully loaded ammunition magazines (total of 16 rounds in machinegun, 48 rounds in the magazines). Defendant also had one black and beige imitation rifle. Defendant has been in federal custody since the day of the offense. The case was investigated by local and federal agents from Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Murphy was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 2, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernández sentenced Alba Nydia Valentín-Rivera to a term of imprisonment of time already served (approximately 20 months and nine days) and a five-year term of supervised release for possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, specifically a quantity of heroin weighing at least 20 grams but less than 40 grams, in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. On September 24, 2018, PRPD agents went to El Carmen Public Housing Project to arrest a separate individual, but instead found Valentín-Rivera and co-defendant, Gilberto Antonio Martínez-Pagán, in an apartment owned by Valentín-Rivera. PRPD agents recovered large quantities of heroin, marijuana, cocaine base (also known as crack), cocaine, a digital scale, drug ledgers, drug packaging and distribution paraphernalia, approximately $2,300 cash, two machinegun conversion devices, a semiautomatic Glock pistol, and over 300 rounds of firearm ammunition in various calibers, from the apartment. Co-defendant Martínez-Pagán also plead guilty and is pending sentence, currently set for August 18, 2020. Valentín-Rivera has been in federal custody since the day of the offense. The case was investigated by local and federal agents from PRPD and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Murphy was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 3, 2020, District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Luis Alberto Germosen-Crisotomo to time served (roughly five months) of imprisonment, and three years of supervised release for the fraudulent use of a counterfeit Dominican Republic passport and U.S. visa issued under the name of another individual. Shortly before his sentencing hearing, Germosen had pled guilty to one count of Fraudulent Use of Visas, Permits and Other Documents. The case was investigated by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Normary Figueroa was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 4, 2020, Héctor Luis Mares-Valles pled guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a known convicted felon. Mares-Valles could be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years. Mares-Valles was arrested pursuant to a state search warrant where they found inside a residence a Glock pistol, and a total of 103 rounds of ammunition. This case was investigated by ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pedro R. Casablanca was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 5, 2020, Carlos Zalduondo-Díaz plead guilty to possessing a machinegun while being a prohibited person (felon). The charges stem from a confidential tip that alerted Aibonito PRPD officers of shots fired from a Toyota vehicle and provided them with the vehicle’s description. The information was quickly transferred to other agents who were able to detain the vehicle and seize the firearm. Defendant faces a maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment. The case was investigated by ATF and PRPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanette Collazo-Ortiz was in charge of the prosecution of the case. Prosecution was made possible by the citizen who alerted law enforcement and because of the prompt response of the PRPD agents.
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Grand Prairie Man Sentenced to 57 Months for $2.8 Million Tax Preparation SchemeRead the Press Release
A Grand Prairie man was sentenced 57 months in federal prison for his role in a more than $2.8 million tax return preparation scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Oma Michel Ungu, 61, pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiring and aiding in the preparation of a false tax return. He was sentenced Tuesday morning by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.
“When our tax laws are ignored, especially by those trained as professionals, everyone loses,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of our tax system by giving taxpayers confidence that everyone plays by the same rules. Tax return preparers who exploit their clients and the tax system to file fraudulent returns will be prosecuted and held accountable for their criminal conduct.”
“Return preparer fraud is a priority for IRS Criminal Investigation and we have committed many resources to investigating and prosecuting cases just like these," said Kevin Caramucci, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. "Taxpayers should be selective in choosing a return preparer, and have confidence knowing that person will prepare accurate tax returns and safeguard their financial information."
According to plea papers, between 2013 and 2016, Mr. Ungu admitted that Super Professional Tax Services, which he owned and operated, prepared and filed false tax returns on behalf of its clients. Mr. Ungu admitted he personally prepared a tax return in 2015 that claimed that one of his clients had significant unreimbursed business expenses which provided the client a with substantial reduction in his taxable income. Mr. Ungu knew the client was not entitled to claim a deduction for unreimbursed business expenses.
A former employee of Mr. Ungu, Robert Poteet previously pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent tax returns in January 2019 and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
The defendants are jointly and severally liable for more than $2.8 million in restitution.
The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. Allen is prosecuting this case.
Grand Island Man Convicted for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Steven G. Peterson, 41, formerly of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced On June 11, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. Peterson was sentenced to 90 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release with special conditions, to be concurrent with the undischarged term imposed in Count I of the Superseding Indictment. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay $4,000.00 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
On April 24, 2018, a search and seizure warrant was executed at Peterson’s residence in Grand Island, Nebraska for any electronic devices that may contain child pornography. Numerous devices were seized from his residence. A forensic examination of the devices were performed and three of the devices belonging to Peterson were found to contain child exploitive materials. More than 591 image files and 6 videos containing child pornography were discovered on his laptop computer. The files on the laptop included content portraying the sexual abuse and exploitation of infants or toddlers.
Approximately 328 child exploitive materials were located on Peterson’s tablet device. The materials on the tablet included videos portraying sadistic sexually explicit acts involving teenagers as well as photographs of children as young as three engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Approximately 53 images and 6 videos displaying child pornography were located on his phone. The content on the phone included materials portraying children as young as infants engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The user information for these three devices indicated that they were in the possession and control of Peterson.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Grand Island Police Department.
Getaway Driver in McDonald's Robbery Sentenced to Three Years in 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 Juwan Baldwin, 27, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford for his role in the December 28, 2018, robbery of a local McDonald’s restaurant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who handled the case, stated that in the early morning hours of December 28, 2018, the defendant drove co-defendants Malik Lott and Lavon Wims to the McDonald’s restaurant at 1701 East Avenue in Rochester, knowing that Lott and Wims were going to rob the restaurant. Baldwin stayed in the car while Lott and Wims entered the restaurant where Wims held a knife to the throat of a McDonald’s employee. Wims then dragged the employee to the cash register and then to the safe, demanding money. At the same time, Lott displayed what appeared to be a handgun to another McDonald’s employee. Wims and Lott left McDonald’s with the stolen cash and were picked up by Baldwin, who drove them home.
Lavon Wims and Malik Lott were previously convicted and sentenced.The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton; and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary.
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Four Mexican Nationals Charged with Transporting More Than 2,100 Kilograms of Marijuana Aboard Panga Boat to Goleta BeachRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Four Mexican nationals today were named in a federal grand jury indictment charging them with possessing and intending to distribute more than 2,100 kilograms (4,700 pounds) of marijuana, which they allegedly transported on a fishing boat that landed on a Santa Barbara County beach.
The indictment returned this afternoon charges four men, all of Sinaloa, Mexico, with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison:
- Alejo Garcia-Moreno, 54;
- Benito Garcia-Moreno, 59, Alejo Garcia-Moreno’s brother;
- Mario Sainz-Aranzubia, 44, a cousin of Alejo and Benito Garcia-Moreno; and
- Benny Zazueta-Sainz, 28, Sainz-Aranzubia’s nephew.
According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in this matter, on the evening of March 11, a law enforcement airplane observed an open-bowed fishing vessel known as a “panga boat,” loaded with suspected narcotics and traveling toward Goleta. The four defendants later were identified as being the boat’s crewmembers.
The panga boat landed at Hollister Ranch Beach in Goleta at approximately 1:15 a.m. on March 12, the affidavit states. In addition to the crew members on the panga boat that officers aboard the airplane previously observed, law enforcement saw 14 additional individuals on the beach, as well as two other people on a hill who appeared to be conducting counter-surveillance of law enforcement activity, according to the affidavit. Once the boat landed, the 14 non-crew members on the beach offloaded bales of marijuana from the boat and moved the bales to multiple vehicles waiting nearby, according to court documents.
Law enforcement entered Hollister Ranch Beach around 3 a.m. and the suspected narcotics traffickers scattered and fled. Officers pursued the suspects and arrested a total of 21 people, including the four defendants named in today’s indictment. The other 17 people were released.
Following the arrests, law enforcement recovered a total over 200 bales of marijuana from the panga boat, the Hollister Ranch Beach area, and the van, according to statements made in court. In total, the four defendants are charged with possessing with intent to distribute 2,138.5 kilograms (4,714.6 pounds) of marijuana, according to the indictment.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, California Highway Patrol, and the United States Coast Guard investigated this matter.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamari Buxton of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.