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18 June 2020
Department of Justice Launches Civil Rights Reporting PortalRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The Department of Justice has announced the launch of the Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report a civil rights violation. This tool is now available in addition to direct contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island.
“The department is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all people in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal will make it easier for the public to connect with us, which in turn makes us more effective at upholding these important rights. I encourage the public to use this portal to report civil rights violations.”
“We take seriously our obligation to ensure that everyone’s civil rights are protected,” said United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman. “Without hesitation or favor every allegation of a civil rights violation brought to this office’s attention is carefully scrutinized. The Civil Rights Reporting Portal is one more step that ensures that the public can quickly and efficiently contact the Department of Justice.”
The new Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at https://www.civilrights.justice.gov/ – will consolidate over 30 unique reporting pathways. The portal will dramatically ease the burden on victims of civil rights violations to identify the proper reporting channel. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is also available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
Individuals can continue to report civil rights violations locally to the United States Attorney’s Office via email at [email protected] or by calling (401) 709-5010.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov. When appropriate, the Civil Rights Division staff will refer complainants to other agencies that are responsible for handling specific types of complaints.
Individuals who believe they are a victim of criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years
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Department of Justice Announces Launch of Civil Rights Reporting PortalRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced the launch of the Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report a civil rights violation.
“The department is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all people in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal will make it easier for the public to connect with us, which in turn makes us more effective at upholding these important rights. I encourage the public to use this portal to report civil rights violations.”
The new Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at civilrights.justice.gov – will consolidate over 30 unique reporting pathways. The portal will dramatically ease the burden on victims of civil rights violations to identify the proper reporting channel. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is also available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of civil rights violations should contact the department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Dallas, Texas Man Sentenced to 150 Months for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Thomas Decker, age 28, of Dallas, Texas was sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment, and 3 years of supervised release for Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). The charges arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the District 22 District Attorneys Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Indictment alleged that on January 16, 2019 the defendant knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The investigation began on January 16, 2019 in Durant when the defendant led officers on a vehicle pursuit with speeds reaching in excess of 130 miles per hour before the Durant Police Department terminated the pursuit. Later the same night the defendant led an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper on another high-speed chase beginning near Roff, Oklahoma, and ending near Ada. During the second pursuit, the defendant discarded a package later confirmed to contain methamphetamine. The car driven by the defendant, which had been stolen from the Dallas area, contained a large quantity of U.S. currency.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “We are all aware of the danger and tragedy methamphetamine has inflicted upon communities throughout the United States. The drug brings horrific consequences to users, their families, and society. The drug itself is not the sole source of the danger related to methamphetamine. Drug dealers will go to great lengths to protect their product, profit, and freedom. Sometimes that involves violence and death, or, as in this case, putting untold numbers of people at risk avoiding apprehension.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Distribution CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn today announced that Bjoern Rene Pacot, age 30, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced to serve 130 months (over 10 years) in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime as well as possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. The sentence was pronounced by Chief U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer. The defendant appeared at the sentencing hearing remotely in custody and was remanded at the hearing’s conclusion. The Denver Field Division of the ATF joined in today’s announcement.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, on January 24, 2019, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) received a call about a suspicious truck and trailer parked at Sportsman's Warehouse in Colorado Springs, blocking traffic. Officers arrived and the defendant, who was in the driver’s seat, and a passenger were sleeping in the truck. The truck and trailer were stolen. Officers approached the vehicle to wake the parties. They told the defendant to open the door. The defendant refused to get out, resisted officers, and attempted to drive away. Officers immediately noticed that the defendant had a holstered 9mm handgun on his hip. After a brief struggle with police, the defendant was arrested.
Police searched the defendant and the stolen truck, and found:
- A 9mm handgun with 15 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber, $848 in cash, and a black mask, all on the defendant's person;
- Methamphetamine and heroin, with some of the heroin in a lock box on the driver's side floorboard;
- Methamphetamine in a container and in a small plastic bag in the center console;
- Plastic baggies on the passenger side floor;
- Digital scales;
- A 9mm long rifle with laser sight and 15 rounds found in the magazine under the rear seat of the truck, but within reach of the driver seat.
In total, police found approximately 22 grams of heroin and 26.4 grams of methamphetamine in the stolen vehicle. The 9mm handgun on defendant's hip was previously stolen in a burglary. Cell phone records from phones and a tablet found in the vehicle revealed text conversations where the defendant discussed possessing guns and selling narcotics. The defendant also discussed previously selling narcotics in post-arrest jail visitations. The narcotics were tested and it was determined that the methamphetamine was at least 97% pure.
On August 5, 2019, while Pacot was on bond for the January 24, 2019 matter, CSPD officers contacted him at an address regarding a stolen motorcycle. The homeowner allowed the officers to enter the residence to contact and speak with the defendant. When the officer contacted the defendant, the defendant put a 9mm gun to his own head and said "back up, back up." After an extended stand-off, officers exited the house and obtained arrest and search warrants for the defendant and the home. Police then re-entered the house, and the defendant was arrested with 1.8 grams of methamphetamine in his left front pant pocket. Officers also recovered the gun Pacot held to his head.
“Drug trafficking is a serious crime. Doing it with weapons is even more so, which is why the sentence here is both significant and appropriate,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn. “This is a great result for the people of Colorado Springs.”
“The hard work of the Colorado Springs Police Department resulted in the success of this investigation,” said David Booth, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Denver Field Division. “Our law enforcement partnerships are one of our greatest resources to combat violent crime.”
This case was investigated by the ATF with substantial assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dunn.
Chatham County added to Atlanta/Carolinas regional High Intensity Drug Trafficking AreaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Chatham County has been added to the Atlanta-Carolinas Region High Intensity Drug Trafficking area (HIDTA) in an effort to assist in the community’s fight against drug trafficking.
The designation, by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), means Chatham County will gain access to additional federal resources to coordinate local efforts to fight drug trafficking and abuse, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Chatham is the first county in Georgia outside the metro Atlanta area to be included in an HIDTA.
“Being named as part of HIDTA will provide a significant boost to law enforcement in combatting deadly drugs such as opioids and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “These additional resources will be used to disrupt the flow of drugs in the greater Savannah area, and hold accountable those who would distribute poison in our communities.”
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. Chatham joins the Atlanta/Carolinas HIDTA, which includes multiple counties in the Atlanta area, and in South and North Carolina. The grant program is administered by the ONDCP, with significant support from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“This additional HIDTA designation will create a focus on new areas affected by drug trafficking. Through the HIDTA program, law enforcement officials enhance collaboration and engage in a coordinated drug enforcement effort that exploits drug-related crimes.” ONDCP Director Jim Carroll said. “As President Trump and First Lady Trump have made clear, we cannot stand for the flow of deadly drugs coming into our communities, which often leads to substance use disorder and violence. It’s imperative that we continue to support and enable communities to be safe and healthy.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “The HIDTA program will advance Chatham County’s efforts to reduce the influence of drug distribution organizations on the community, therefore reducing other violent crimes. The goal is simply to diminish the illegal drug market by dismantling violent drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, through law enforcement coordination.”
Funding for new HIDTAs currently is being finalized for congressional appropriation.
Cass County Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Federal Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A 41-year-old Hughes Springs, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Oscar Dean Davis pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2020, to conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.
According to information presented in court, Davis was the leader of an illegal drug distribution network responsible for obtaining multiple-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from a Mexican-based supplier and selling them throughout East Texas. Davis admitted to acquiring large numbers of firearms, including pistols, rifles, and high-caliber weapons, and transporting them to the U.S.-Mexico border as a medium of exchange for methamphetamine. Finally, Davis admitted to directing others to use money services businesses to wire transfer proceeds from methamphetamine sales to his supplier in Mexico.
Seventeen other individuals have previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in the drug and firearms trafficking organization. Stephanie Bennett Mata, 35, of Daingerfield, Gary O'Neal Gibson, 62, of Henderson, Felix Antonio Jaime, 37, of Mt. Pleasant, Charlie Jake Porter, 34, of Marietta, Tony King, 41, of Daingerfield, and Gerald Wayne Furlow, 55, of Hughes Springs, each pleaded guilty to possessing or conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Raymond Danny Moore, 43, of Avinger, Jennifer Michelle Kirkham, 39, of Jena, Louisiana, Donna Gail Sertuche, 53, of Hughes Springs, Jamie Nicole Browning, 40, of Gilmer, Joshua Nickie Soto, 35, of Leesville, Johnny Duayne Tucker, 52, of Hughes Springs, and James Drakeford Scholl, 41, of Naples, pleaded guilty to either unlawfully obtaining firearms from licensed dealers or transporting firearms to the U.S.-Mexico border in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. Christina Felipe, 37 of Hughes Springs, Nohemi Aniceto, 39, of San Diego, California, Randall Dean Harper, Jr., 42, of Daingerfield, and Angelica Arreola, 28, of El Paso, have pleaded guilty to conduct including transferring or transporting money from the U.S. to Mexico.
This case is the result of a two-year joint investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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.
Davis was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 10, 2018 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
Career Offender Is Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Tristan August Fleming, 32, of Hendersonville, N.C., was sentenced to 13 years in prison on drug charges. In addition to the prison term imposed, Fleming was ordered to serve five years under court supervision upon completion of his prison term.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Charlotte, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
Court records show that, in May 2018, Belgian Customs Officers intercepted a package addressed to “Taylor McKnight” that contained suspected narcotics, including MDMA, cocaine, ketamine, and LSD. Law enforcement determined that the address on the package was that of a packing and shipping business located in Asheville. After retrieving the illegal substances, law enforcement in the United States arranged a controlled delivery of the package. On June 11, 2018, Fleming entered the shipping business in Asheville and claimed the package. Law enforcement arrested Fleming shortly thereafter. Following a search of his vehicle, law enforcement located drugs in a hidden compartment in Fleming’s vehicle, a wallet containing multiple fraudulent driver’s licenses, and other drug paraphernalia. Elsewhere in the vehicle, law enforcement recovered thousands of dosages of LSD, and $1,020 in drug proceeds.
On October 22, 2019, Fleming pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Based on multiple prior drug trafficking convictions, Fleming was sentenced as a career offender.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked HSI and USPIS for leading the investigation, and commended the North Carolina Highway Patrol for their assistance with this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
California Man Is Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced that Jihoon Sun, 48, of California, was sentenced to 75 months in prison and three years of supervised release for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. presided over yesterday’s sentencing hearing and also ordered Sun to pay $235,438 as restitution.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to information contained in court documents and court proceedings, from November 2016 to May 2017, Sun and his co-conspirators used multiple victims’ stolen identities to execute a bank fraud scheme and to defraud several financial institutions. Court records show that Sun and his co-conspirators stole the identities of legitimate bank account holders, including holders of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and used the stolen account holders’ identities to fraudulently obtain funds from the financial institutions through cash advances and cashiers’ checks. To perpetuate the fraud, Sun and others obtained fraudulent forms of identification in the identity victims’ names, including fake drivers’ licenses, fake paystubs, and fake proofs of insurance. Sun and his co-conspirators then deposited the stolen funds into other bank accounts, established using the stolen identities of another set of identity theft victims. These “straw accounts” were controlled by the conspirators, and were used to convert the funds to cash at bank branches located in Mecklenburg County. In this manner, the co-conspirators stole or attempted to steal more than $290,000 in cash and cashiers’ checks.
On July 2, 2019, Sun pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked USPIS for their investigation of this case and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Buffalo Man Going to Prison for Conspiring to Sell Crack Cocaine with His WifeRead 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 Jermaine Ellison, 33, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, was sentenced to serve 82 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah Lenihan, who handled the case, stated that between November 2015 and January 26, 2017, the defendant conspired with his wife, Tasheka Stalling, to distribute cocaine base. During a portion of the time period of the conspiracy, as of August 2016 the defendant was serving a sentence of imprisonment for a New York State drug charge. While in prison, he communicated with his wife to continue the narcotics distribution.
Tasheka Stalling was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton; the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Acting Sheriff Michael Filicetti; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy; and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), under the direction of Chief George Gast.
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Bronx, New York, Man Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A federal grand jury today indicted an individual with ties to a drug-trafficking organization for possessing nearly 1 kilogram of heroin with intent to distribute in Ocean County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Luis Payano-Perez, 36, of the Bronx, New York, was charged with one count of possession of 100 grams or more of heroin with intent to distribute. Payano-Perez was previously charged by criminal complaint in November 2018. He will be arraigned on a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
In early November 2018, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), confidential informant provided information that Payano-Perez was prepared to sell the source a large volume of heroin on the evening of November 8, 2018, in the parking lot of the Wawa convenience store in Tuckerton, New Jersey.
In the days before Nov. 8, 2018, Payano-Perez and the confidential informant arranged for the quantity and price of the heroin to be sold, as well as the date, time and location of the planned transaction. On Nov. 8, 2018, Payano-Perez met with two confidential government informants at the Wawa parking lot in order to sell them approximately one kilogram of heroin. Law enforcement officers converged on the Wawa parking lot and arrested Payano-Perez. A subsequent search of Payano-Perez’s vehicle uncovered a bag containing nearly one kilogram of heroin.
The charge against Payano-Perez carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of HSI Atlantic City, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina in Newark; and the Tuckerton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Olsen, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Boden of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Conspiring to Sell Stolen Goods and for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – James Edward Bender, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal conspiracy and tax fraud charges.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
According to his guilty plea, from 2014 through August 2019, Bender controlled three eBay accounts, in the names of HiddenGemFurniture (HGF), EddiesAffordableGear (EAG), and AffordableGoodies4You (AG). EAG and AG offered sports-related merchandise for sale, including jerseys and shirts. Bender also used, operated, and controlled related PayPal accounts.
Bender admitted that beginning in 2014 he agreed to allow a good friend, SC1, who lived in Texas and Colorado, as well as SC2, a relative of SC1 who lived in Berlin, Maryland, to use Bender’s eBay accounts to sell goods and merchandise after eBay had suspended SC1’s account due to security concerns. From May 2014 through August 2019, Bender and SC1 conspired to engage in transactions to sell goods and merchandise which they knew had been previously stolen, using Bender’s eBay and PayPal accounts.
As detailed in the plea agreement, in furtherance of the fraud scheme, Bender and SC1 repeatedly deceived online platforms such as Amazon, eBay, as well as the manufacturers and distributors, as to the source of the goods and merchandise being sold by Bender and SC1. More than $3 million of these goods and merchandise had been stolen, including more than $125,000 of iPods that had been stolen from a New Mexico school district and intended for underprivileged children. In 2018, SC1 and Bender sold more than $550,000 of goods and merchandise that had been stolen from a Delaware FedEx facility. As part of his participation in the fraud scheme, Bender received more than $10,000 per year from the eBay sales of stolen goods and merchandise.
Bender further admitted that he filed false tax returns for the tax years 2014 through 2018, falsely inflating the gross receipts and cost of goods sold of Bender's businesses. In each of these years, Bender reported as his gross receipts amounts that had actually been generated by SC1's sales through his eBay stores, and reported as his cost of goods sold the difference between gross receipts and the amount SC1 paid him for the use of his eBay stores. As a result, Bender engaged in significant misstatements on his tax returns for each year. Bender also subscribed to additional false information on his tax returns, including overstating his postage expenses. In total, Bender stipulates that he failed to pay the United States an additional $36,518 in taxes due and owing for the tax years 2014 to 2018.
Bender faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy and a maximum of three years in federal prison for tax fraud. 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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the IRS-Criminal Investigation and HSI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Paul A. Riley, who are prosecuting the case.
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Attorney Licensed in New Jersey and New York Charged with Marijuana OffensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A grand jury brought a five-count indictment today against a Granite Bay resident, charging him with conspiracy to transport marijuana and concentrated cannabis oil in his Learjet, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Manish Patel, 33, is an attorney licensed in New Jersey and New York. According to court documents, between Feb. 27, 2017, and June 13, 2019, Patel allegedly conspired to fly marijuana and concentrated cannabis oil (tetrahydrocannabinol or TCH) from California across the country in his private airplane.
In May and June 2019, search warrants were executed at three locations that resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,400 pounds of marijuana contraband and $400,000 in cash. One of the locations searched was a warehouse being used as a laboratory to manufacture concentrated cannabis, where over 980 pounds of processed marijuana and over 50 pounds of concentrated cannabis were seized.
According to the criminal complaint, in January 2017, Patel is alleged to have paid $345,000 in cash for the Learjet. In August 2018, agents stopped Patel and several associates at an executive airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico and seized $80,000 in cash. When investigators searched the Learjet again in June 2019, it contained over 180 pounds of dried marijuana and over 18 pounds of THC. The flight plan for the Learjet showed that it was scheduled to fly to Colorado, then Illinois, and then New Jersey.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office, the El Dorado District Attorney’s Office, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Khasigian and Vincenza Rabenn are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Patel faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of up to 40 years in prison and a fine up to $5 million for the conspiracy to distribute marijuana and THC and possession with intent to distribute marijuana charges. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for possession with intent to distribute THC. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Akron man twice convicted for domestic violence indicted for possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio has returned a two-count indictment charging Michael D. McCullough, age 44, of Akron with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person with a domestic violence conviction.
“Prosecuting individuals who unlawfully possess a firearm with a domestic violence conviction has been a priority for the Northern District during my tenure,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Last year, the District charged 17 defendants with possession of a firearm while prohibited by the Violence Against Women Act. We will continue to prosecute these types of cases as statistics show that domestic violence offenders with a firearm are far more likely to use it against their spouse or law enforcement.”
According to the indictment, on March 12, 2020, the defendant illegally possessed a .380 caliber pistol with previous felony convictions. McCullough is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of drug abuse and aggravated drug trafficking in 1995 in the Court of Common Pleas of Summit County, domestic violence, a misdemeanor, in 1997 in the Municipal Court of Akron, and a second charge of domestic violence, a felony, in 2006 in the Court of Common Pleas of Summit County.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal 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 ATF and Akron Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Damoun Delaviz.
21-year sentence imposed for multiple armed robberies of businesses in the Gainesville and metro-Atlanta areasRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. – Ricky Eugene Reid has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for the armed robbery of five businesses and the attempted armed robbery of a sixth business.
“Reid’s ten month crime spree terrorized the employees of the businesses he robbed,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “The collective efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners secured his apprehension, culminating in his convictions and this lengthy prison sentence.”
“Mr. Reid’s sentence is appropriate but it will never erase the fear and anguish felt by his victims,” said Arthur Peralta, Special Agent in Charge of ATF in Atlanta. “Mr. Reid had no compassion for the people he terrorized and threatened to shoot, as is the case in many robbery cases. We must come together as a community to promote the idea that crime is not the answer.”
“This is a prime example of how fluid communication and teamwork can result in success. Our community, our officers, and our investigators displayed outstanding courage and perseverance during critical times of the investigation. The formation of professional relationships between all agencies played a vital role in Reid’s arrest. I am proud of all the collaborative efforts and teamwork involved to make our community a safer place,” said Jay Parrish, Chief of Police, Gainesville Police Department.
“The Gwinnett County Police Department is committed to ensure violent crimes are fully investigated to ensure a successful prosecution. Gwinnett Police detectives worked tirelessly alongside several other jurisdictions to help bring this violent offender to justice. The collaborative efforts in working with the United States Attorney’s Office, the ATF and other jurisdictions, ensures these violent offenders are taken off the streets so our neighborhoods and communities are safe,” said Maj. Chris Smith, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Section, Gwinnett County Police Department.
“Ricky Reid terrorized numerous victims in multiple jurisdictions across Northeast Georgia. His arrest and criminal convictions are the direct result of the strong relationships we strive to maintain with our community members and law enforcement partners, both locally and federally. This lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate these types of heinous criminal acts,” said Lt. Todd Templeton, Criminal Investigation Division, Oakwood Police Department.
“The arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Reid is an excellent example of leveraging the resources of local and federal law enforcement to remove a truly dangerous individual from society for many years,” said Billy J. Grogan, Chief of Police, Dunwoody Police Department.
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between August 26, 2018, and June 7, 2019, Ricky Reid engaged in a crime spree during which he robbed four department stores, a pizza store, and attempted to rob a fifth department store. While robbing the four department stores, Reid fired a gun multiple times through the front door window, shattering the glass (store employees were in the immediate direction and area of where Reid fired). Reid pointed a gun at employees during each of the robberies and forced them to empty their cash registers. During one robbery, he pursued a store manager at gunpoint who was running away with bank bags from the register and told her “stop” or “I’ll shoot.”
Reid was eventually captured on June 7, 2019, as he was preparing to rob a sixth department store in Buford, Georgia. When law enforcement searched Reid’s vehicle, agents located a firearm inside the vehicle as well as ammunition and black clothing consistent with what Reid wore during his prior armed robberies. Agents eventually learned that Reid was previously employed at one of the department stores.
Ricky Eugene Reid, 34, of Oakwood, Georgia, was sentenced on June 11, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story to 21 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $16,342.42. Reid was convicted of these charges on December 4, 2019, after he pled guilty to multiple counts of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.Former Assistant U.S. Attorney William McKinnon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel R. Boatright prosecuted this case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Gainesville Police Department, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Oakwood Police Department, the Dunwoody Police Department and the Johns Creek Police Department investigated this case.
This case was brought as a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney Generals mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
17 June 2020
Veteran’s Affairs Respiratory Therapist charged with stealing COVID-19 related medical supplies and selling them on eBayRead the Press Release
Seattle - A 41- year-old Bonney Lake, Washington, man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Seattle with theft of government property for his scheme to profit by stealing and selling respiratory support equipment from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. GENE WAMSLEY was employed as a Respiratory Therapist at VAMC until he was placed on leave from VAMC on June 9, 2020. WAMSLEY made his initial appearance on the criminal complaint today in Seattle.
“Right now respiratory support equipment is critical in medical care for those suffering with COVID-19 infections. To steal and sell equipment needed to care for our veterans is a shocking betrayal,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began in January 2020 when VAMC reported two bronchoscopes missing from the hospital. A third bronchoscope was reported missing in April 2020. Staff at the VAMC had noticed bronchoscopes listed for sale on eBay from a seller in Bonney Lake, Washington. The investigation linked the sale of three bronchoscopes to WAMSLEY. A further review of eBay records revealed WAMSLEY had sold five ventilators in March and April 2020. Three ventilators were found to be missing from VMAC during the same time period. EBay records reveal a variety of other respiratory support equipment sold by the account linked to WAMSLEY. Administrators at VAMC confirmed the items were used in the respiratory therapy department.
Law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at WAMSLEY’s home on June 9, 2020. Medical supplies and eBay sales records were seized in the search.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Theft of government property is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
wamsley_complaint.pdfUnited States Department of Justice Announces Launch of Civil Rights Reporting PortalRead the Press Release
A new online tool designed to help the public report civil rights violations
United States Attorney for the Virgin Islands, Gretchen C.F. Shappert, announced that earlier this week, the United States Department of Justice launched its new Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report civil rights violations.
“The department is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all people in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal will make it easier for the public to connect with us, which in turn makes us more effective at upholding these important rights. I encourage the public to use this portal to report civil rights violations.”
The Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at civilrights.justice.gov – consolidates over 30 unique reporting pathways. The portal dramatically eases the burden on victims of civil rights violations to identify the proper reporting channel. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is also available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year. Members of the public will find it easier to tell their story, submit their report, and receive guidance on what to expect next. The new form is designed to help the Civil Rights Division receive information needed to process reports efficiently. Based upon users’ answers, the form routes reports to the most appropriate team in the Civil Rights Division. The teams will read and review every report, in order to determine how best to proceed.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov. When appropriate, the Civil Rights Division staff will refer complainants to other agencies that are responsible for handling specific types of complaints.
According to U.S. Attorney Shappert, “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal is a user-friendly reporting platform that will enable federal prosecutors and agents to identify and respond to alleged civil rights violations. The range of federal civil rights protections is very broad and includes voting, housing and land use, lending and credit, public accommodations, education,
employment, policing, prisons and jails, disability rights, service-member rights and more. The Portal helps the Department to more easily hear from and respond to victims of civil rights violations from across the country”. Shappert noted that the Department’s Civil Rights Division receives approximately 100,000 contacts from the public each year regarding potential civil rights violations. “The need for more effective reporting opportunities is great, which is why Department personnel worked for over a year to design a more streamlined reporting process,” she said.
Shappert also emphasized that individuals who believe they are a victim of a criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
United States Attorney’s Office Honors Emanuel AME Church Victims on Fifth Anniversary of ShootingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina honors the memory and legacy of the nine innocent lives lost five years ago on June 17, 2015, during the massacre at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
“We will never forget the impact of this horrific crime upon the victims, survivors, family members, and the Mother Emanuel AME Church,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “Now, more than ever, their response of love and peace continues to reverberate throughout our state and country. Our office is honored by the privilege of having walked with the survivors and family members as we sought justice on their behalf. They will forever remain in our hearts.”
The victims of the killing included the church’s senior pastor and eight of his parishioners:
- The Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41
- Cynthia Graham Hurd, 54
- Susie Jackson, 87
- Ethel Lance, 70
- Rev. DePayne Middleton, 49
- Tywanza Sanders, 26
- Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74
- Rev. Sharonda Singleton, 45
- Myra Thompson, 59
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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.
U.S. Attorney McSwain Announces Charges Against Philadelphia Woman for Arson of Two Philadelphia Police Cars During ProtestsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal, 33, of Philadelphia, PA has been charged by criminal complaint for the arson of two Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) vehicles.
The defendant is currently in federal custody and had her initial appearance in federal court yesterday. The government will be filing a motion for the defendant to be detained pending trial.
Following peaceful protests in the early afternoon of May 30, 2020 in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, civil unrest began to unfold later that afternoon in Philadelphia that resulted in widespread looting, burglary, arson, destruction of property, and other violent acts.
On that day, two vehicles, one PPD sedan (number 2514) and one PPD sport utility vehicle (number 1612), were parked on the north side of City Hall in Philadelphia. During the violent episodes that began around City Hall that afternoon, Blumenthal allegedly set fire to both vehicles. According to the complaint, various videos taken at the scene captured the defendant wearing protective goggles and gloves, taking a flaming piece of wooden police barricade from the rear window of the PPD sedan that was already on fire, and then shoving the flaming wood into the PPD SUV that was not on fire. Within minutes, the PPD SUV was also completely engulfed in flames. As result of the fires, both PPD vehicles were destroyed.
“We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office fully support the First Amendment right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition their government. But torching a police car has nothing to do with peaceful protest or any legitimate message. It is a violent and despicable act that will be prosecuted in this District to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Anybody who engaged in such acts can stand by to put your hands behind your back and head to federal prison. We are coming for you.”
“During the past several weeks, multitudes of people peacefully and lawfully exercised their First Amendment right to protest,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. “However, there were individuals who chose to use the protests as an opportunity to engage in criminal activity. Some of these individuals’ actions were malicious, destructive, and could have resulted in critical injuries to others. We are privileged to have worked, and will continue to work, with our partners in law enforcement to investigate, identify and hold accountable the persons who committed these unlawful acts.”
“Our communities deserve to be safe from these types of violent crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Schmidt. “Everybody deserves to be safe from violent criminals utilizing dangerous methods to destroy our neighborhoods and property. ATF will always work with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and arrest the criminals who choose to use arson to commit their crimes and terrorize the public.”
“Masses of people took to the streets of Philadelphia on May 30, exercising their right to peacefully protest,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “They were there to send a message in which they truly believed. Sprinkled among the crowd, though, were agitators, whose sole purpose was to commit crimes and cause chaos. As alleged, Blumenthal came prepared for just that, carrying out these arsons that destroyed property and put many lives at risk. Sadly, such acts also hijacked the message of the day’s demonstrators, whose calls for change were obscured for a time by the smoke from all those fires. Working with our law enforcement partners, the FBI is committed to bringing to justice those responsible for violent acts during the otherwise peaceful protests in Philadelphia.”
“Homeland Security Investigations fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference, including through peaceful assembly and protest,” said Brian A. Michael, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Philadelphia. “Unfortunately, a number of protestors enticed violence that resulted in destruction of property throughout the City of Philadelphia. In instances like these, HSI works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure those who inflict damage that impacts the safety and security of our community are held accountable.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of eighty years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia Fire Marshal's Office, with assistance from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Keefe Encourages North Floridians to Use New Online Portal to Report Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe today encouraged residents across the Northern District of Florida to utilize a new Department of Justice online portal to report potential violations of individuals’ civil rights. The nationwide Civil Rights Reporting Portal, unveiled this week, will make it easier for the public to report civil rights violations by eliminating confusion over how Americans should report violations.
“Until now, there have been more than 30 different pathways for citizens to report suspected civil rights violations, and this new tool will ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe, who oversees activities in the 23 counties of the
Northern District of Florida. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding the civil rights of every person, and making it easier for the public to report suspected violations will in turn make it easier for us to pursue cases.”The Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at civilrights.justice.gov – will dramatically ease the burden on victims to identify the proper reporting channel for civil rights violations. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov. When appropriate, the
Civil Rights Division staff will refer complainants to other agencies that are responsible for handling specific types of complaints.The Department of Justice has an entire division dedicated to defending civil rights nd pursuing violations, and Keefe’s office has attorneys working with the Civil Rights Division.
Individuals who believe they are a victim of criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
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 New Department of Justice Civil Rights Reporting PortalRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank today joined the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice in announcing a new Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report a civil rights violation.
“The department is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all people in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal will make it easier for the public to connect with us, which in turn makes us more effective at upholding these important rights. I encourage the public to use this portal to report civil rights violations.”
“Any Mainer who believes that their civil rights have been violated can report the violation using the new Civil Rights Reporting Portal,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “The Portal will increase our awareness of such issues and improve our ability to vindicate violations of these fundamental rights.”
The Department, through the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, enforces a number of federal laws that protect people from discrimination in a variety of settings based on their race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, familial status and other characteristics.
The new Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at www.civilrights.justice.gov – will consolidate over 30 unique reporting pathways. The portal will dramatically ease the burden on victims of civil rights violations to identify the proper reporting channel. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is also available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
If you believe that you or someone else has experienced unlawful discrimination, you can learn how to report a civil rights violation by visiting www.civilrights.justice.gov.
Federal law imposes criminal penalties for certain civil rights violations, including misconduct by law enforcement officers, hate crimes and human trafficking. If you believe that you are the victim of a criminal violation of your civil rights, please contact your local FBI office.
Two-Month Armed Bank Robbery Spree Results in Three Life SentencesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DWAYNE EDWARD RASMUSSEN, 56, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to three life sentences for committing three bank robberies in Oklahoma City and Chickasha, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
"We will continue to bring charges against perpetrators of violence who violate federal law," said U.S. Attorney Downing. "Through this case and others like it, the Department of Justice is deterring future violence, protecting those in our communities, and safeguarding the integrity of financial systems in the United States. We hope that today’s sentence serves as a reminder to folks to think twice before robbing a federally insured bank."
"Bank robbery is a serious violent crime which is aggressively investigated," said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Oklahoma City Field Office. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work closely together to defend our communities against those who commit violent crime."
On December 4, 2019, Rasmussen was charged by superseding indictment with four counts of bank robbery. According to evidence at trial, Rasmussen robbed three banks in the course of two months. Mark Drew Wilson, Rasmussen’s accomplice for the robberies, testified to driving the getaway vehicle and the preparation for each robbery. Evidence at trial also showed that Rasmussen wore gloves and disguised his appearance to avoid apprehension during the commission of the robberies. Bank surveillance video and identifications by bank employees also tied Rasmussen to each bank robbery. In the robberies, Rasmussen used the same terminology demanding "100s and 50s," and threatened, "That’s not enough. Give me all your money." During the trial, evidence showed it appeared Rasmussen used a firearm during the commission of the bank robberies.
On January 23, 2020, after a six-day jury trial, the jury found Rasmussen guilty of three counts of bank robbery. The jury acquitted him on one bank-robbery count.
Today, U.S. District Judge Robin J. Cauthron sentenced Rasmussen to life in prison on each of the three bank robbery counts. In announcing the sentence, Judge Cauthron noted the impact on victims of Rasumssen’s conduct. Judge Cauthron also ordered that those three sentences run concurrent to each other. Judge Cauthron also ordered Rasmussen to pay $37,784.00 in restitution, joint and several with the restitution imposed against Mark Drew Wilson, the getaway driver. On February 26, 2020, Wilson was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI—Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Yukon Police Department, and the Chickasha Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wilson D. McGarry and Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to court filings for further information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Two Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty to Timeshare Telemarketing ScamRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS –JESUS ADRIAN LEDESMA BERNAL, a/k/a JSS, age 31, and JULIO CESAR RIVERA ROJAS, a/k/a JCP, age 32, both residents and citizens of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo of the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.
As detailed in the factual basis and superseding bill of information, the defendants, from at least January 1, 2016, to the present, conspired together and with others to commit wire fraud in connection with a telemarketing scheme that targeted and victimized persons in the United States, Canada and South America. As part of the elaborate scheme, the conspirators made unsolicited phone calls to owners of resort timeshare properties to induce them into paying fees associated with the bogus sale of their property. The defendants misrepresented the existence of a buyer for their timeshare and solicited money from the victims to facilitate the sale. They solicited the timeshare owners to enter into agreements to sell their timeshares and pay for alleged “closing costs” with electronic wire transfers from banking institutions within the United States to Mexican banks. There were no interested buyers, the closings did not occur, and the timeshares were not resold. Instead, the conspirators simply pocketed the advanced fees. Of the U.S. victims, 40 were age 60 and older and the total estimated loss is at least $10,000,000.
The defendants, who are all based in Mexico, operated under the business names Planet Travel and Newport International Investments, and at other times used the following business names: Advance Travel INC, All American Real Estate, American International Investment Group, Bear Claw Travel, Best Investment Services, Champion Properties, Closing Source LLC, Equity Closing Services Group, Global Offshore Services, NSC Holding, Peach Title, Sandia Title, Travel and Acquisitions, Travel Innovations, Travel Plus Acquisitions, Travel Right, and World Travelers, Inc. All of these domain websites have been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice.
ROJAS, who was an accountant with the criminal organization, admitted that he was aware of victim losses of at least $4 million USD, while BERNAL, as telemarketer, admitted to being responsible for victim losses of $127,000 USD. Sentencing will be on July 15, 2020 for BERNAL and on September 16, 2020 for ROJAS, at which time both defendants face a maximum sentence of five (5), a fine of up to $250,000. and three years of supervised release.
This case is the product of an extensive and ongoing investigation by special agents of Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Paige O’Hale are prosecuting the case.
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Two Ashtabula men indicted on illegal drug and firearms chargesRead 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 separate indictments against two men in the Ashtabula area on charges of illegal drug and firearm possession. These are separate cases and are not related.
William Campany, age 35, of Ashtabula was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on October 29, 2019, Campany possessed a .40 caliber pistol. Campany is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous sexual battery conviction in 2010 in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.
Joseph Kelsey, Sr., 45, of Ashtabula, was charged on a three-count indictment with felon in possession of firearms, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the indictment, on October 9, 2019, Kelsey possessed two semiautomatic pistols and intended to distribute at least 5 grams of methamphetamine. Kelsey is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous conviction of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs in 2005 in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF and Crime Enforcement Agency of Ashtabula County. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.
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.
Trenton Man Arrested for Attempting to Ignite Police Vehicle During Trenton ProtestsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man was charged today with attempting to ignite a marked police vehicle during the recent violent outburst in Trenton following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Earlja J. Dudley, 27, of Trenton, was arrested by special agents of the FBI and is charged by complaint with one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance, and one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle used in and affecting interstate commerce. Dudley will make his initial appearance this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd, who died on May 25, 2020, while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. Floyd’s death, and the ensuing protests, have drawn national media attention. Although the May 31 protest in Trenton was peaceful earlier in the day, violence erupted later. A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to riot, smashing store fronts, looting stores, and attacking multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street. Dudley is the second defendant to be charged with federal arson offenses from those protests.
A bystander video that was posted publicly to a social media platform captured an individual, later identified as Dudley, wearing a tank top and baseball cap with the Roman numerals “XIV” in red lettering, along with distinctive green, black, and white sneakers. The video recorded Dudley and another individual standing in front of a marked Trenton Police Department vehicle and opening its hood. The video then recorded another individual joining Dudley and lighting an object that Dudley was holding over the exposed engine well of the police vehicle. Dudley placed the burning object into the engine well of the vehicle and moved away from it. Shortly thereafter, flames are visible on the video rising from the engine well of the vehicle. Law enforcement obtained photographs of Dudley posted on social media wearing, on other occasions, a tank top and baseball cap with Roman numerals “XIV” in red lettering, and distinctive green, black, and white sneakers, all of which matched the articles of clothing that Dudley was wearing in the video.
Both counts charged in the criminal complaint carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. He also thanked officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Sheilah Coley; and troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, under the direction of Jared M. Maples, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Michelle Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Tyler C. King, age 31, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty today to obstruction of justice for a scheme to falsify evidence during his federal criminal trial.
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).
As part of his guilty plea today, King admitted to obstructing justice by falsifying evidence for use in his November 2019 trial in Albany. The 5-day trial ended on November 8 with King being convicted of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, computer fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with his hacking of a New York-based technology company. In court today, King admitted that he provided doctored evidence to his attorney that was then used during the trial, in an attempt to influence the trial’s outcome in his favor.
King faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on October 6, 2020. 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.
King will be sentenced on August 11, 2020 in connection with his trial convictions. He faces at least 2 years in prison for those convictions.
This case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
Team Telecom Recommends that the FCC Deny Pacific Light Cable Network System’s Hong Kong Undersea Cable Connection to the United StatesRead the Press Release
Team Telecom today recommended to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), based on national security concerns, that the FCC partially deny the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) subsea cable system application, to the extent it seeks a direct connection between the United States and Hong Kong.
Team Telecom, which is formally known as the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (or the Committee), further recommended that the FCC grant the portions of PLCN’s application seeking to connect the United States, Taiwan, and the Philippines, which do not have any People’s Republic of China (PRC) based ownership and are separately owned and controlled by subsidiaries of Google LLC and Facebook, Inc., on the condition that the companies’ subsidiaries enter into mitigation agreements for those respective connections. On April 8, 2020, the FCC granted Google’s request for Special Temporary Authority (STA) to commercially operate the segment of PLCN connecting the United States and Taiwan for six months, based on obligations set forth in a Provisional National Security Agreement between Google and the U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense.
As submitted to the FCC, the PLCN application would have allowed for the highest capacity subsea cable connection between the United States and Asia and been the first direct connection between the United States and Hong Kong. This raised national security concerns, because a significant investor in the PLCN is Pacific Light Data Co. Ltd., a Hong Kong company and subsidiary of Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co. Ltd. (Dr. Peng Group), the fourth largest provider of telecommunications services in the PRC.
The Committee’s recommendation was based on:
- The current national security environment, including the PRC government’s sustained efforts to acquire the sensitive personal data of millions of U.S. persons, the PRC government’s access to other countries’ data through both digital infrastructure investments and recent PRC intelligence and cybersecurity laws, and changes in the market that have transformed subsea cable infrastructure into increasingly data-rich environments that are vulnerable to exploitation;
- Concerns about PLCN’s PRC-based owners, Dr. Peng Group and Pacific Light Data, including Dr. Peng Group’s relationship with PRC intelligence and security services and its obligations under PRC intelligence and cybersecurity laws, questions about Dr. Peng Group’s compliance with U.S. laws and regulations stemming from separate acquisitions involving U.S. telecommunications assets, and Pacific Light Data’s connections to PRC state-owned carrier China Unicom; and
- Concerns that PLCN would advance the PRC government’s goal that Hong Kong be the dominant hub in the Asia Pacific region for global information and communications technology and services infrastructure, which would increase the share of U.S. internet, data, and telecommunications traffic to the Asia Pacific region traversing PRC territory and PRC-owned or -controlled infrastructure before reaching its ultimate destinations in other parts of Asia.
Subsea fiber optic cable systems form the backbone of global communications and carry most of the world’s internet, voice, and data traffic between continents. In recent years, subsea cable systems have become increasingly critical, connecting global data centers and expanding interconnections.
PLCN’s high capacity and low latency would encourage U.S. communications traffic crossing the Pacific to detour through Hong Kong before reaching intended destinations in other parts of the Asia Pacific region. The Committee’s recommendation specified that it was not in U.S. national security or law enforcement interests to approve subsea cables landing in PRC territory when the PRC government has previously demonstrated the intent to acquire U.S. persons’ data. The recommendation also explained that PLCN’s proposed Hong Kong landing station would expose U.S. communications traffic to collection by the PRC. Such concerns have been heightened by the PRC government’s recent actions to remove Hong Kong’s autonomy and allow for the possibility that PRC intelligence and security services will operate openly in Hong Kong.
The Committee also noted that PLCN’s proposed Hong Kong connection was only one of several pending applications seeking direct connections between the United States and Hong Kong, which would raise similar concerns.
The Committee was established pursuant to Executive Order 13913 and is led by the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Foreign Investment Review Section. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense are fellow members of the Committee. More information concerning the Committee’s recommendation is available on the FCC’s International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), under Docket Number SCL-LIC-20170421-00012. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration filed the recommendation on behalf of the Committee.
Tallahassee Man Sentenced for Possession of A Firearm by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencing of Willie Powell, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida. Powell has been sentenced to serve 15 years in federal prison after being convicted at a jury trial of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Powell qualified for sentencing under the Armed Career Criminal Act because of multiple prior convictions for drug distribution charges, including prior federal convictions from 2012.
Powell was initially stopped by the Tallahassee Police Department for traffic infractions and officers learned that Powell did not have a valid license. Following a positive canine alert, indicating the presence of drugs in the car, officers discovered PIHP (a substituted cathinone, sometimes referred to as “bath salts”), drug paraphernalia including baggies, sifters, and a scale, a stolen laptop, and a stolen firearm with an extended magazine.
“Working together, the Tallahassee Police Department and federal agencies have removed a dangerous 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.”
Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain prosecuted the case, which was jointly investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, with laboratory assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.“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.”
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.Staples Man Charged in Minneapolis Police Third Precinct ArsonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal criminal complaint against BRYCE MICHAEL WILLIAMS, 26, charging him with conspiracy to commit arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct. WILLIAMS, who was arrested on June, 16, 2020, made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.
According to the allegations in the complaint, on the night of May 28, 2020, the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was overrun and heavily damaged due to vandalism and arson. Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) identified multiple separate fires had been started in the building. Investigators were able to identify WILLIAMS in surveillance video footage from the Third Precinct. WILLIAMS, wearing a mask, a baseball cap, and a hooded sweatshirt, can be seen in the video standing near the entrance of the Third Precinct holding a Molotov cocktail while other individuals attempt to light the wick.
According to the allegations in the complaint, ATF investigators also reviewed videos that were posted on WILLIAMS’s TikTok account on May 28 and 29, 2020. In one of the videos, WILLIAMS can be seen standing in front of the burning Third Precinct building wearing clothing consistent with the clothing WILLIAMS was wearing in the Third Precinct surveillance video. In another video, WILLIAMS’s face is clearly visible and he appears to be in close proximity to the Third Precinct building.
The ATF and FBI urge the public to report suspected arson, use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information specifically related to the Third Precinct fire or other business fires in the Twin Cities can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com. In addition to fires, the FBI is looking for people who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Staples Police Department, the Todd County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and David P. Steinkamp.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Information:
BRYCE MICHAEL WILLIAMS, 26
Staples, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
St. Mary's County Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $409,000 in Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Victor Demattia, age 64, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to theft of government property, for stealing more than $400,000 in Civil Service Retirement benefits and Social Security benefits.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General; and Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Thomas W. South of the Office of Personnel Management – Office of Inspector General.
According to Demattia’s plea agreement, from February 2009 through June 2018, Demattia stole monthly Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension payments and Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefit (RIB) payments intended for his mother after her death, resulting in a loss to the United States Government of $409,421.
Specifically, at the time of his mother’s death, she was receiving CSRS pension payments from OPM and RIB payments from SSA by direct deposit to a joint account held by Demattia and his mother. When his mother died, Demattia did not notify SSA or OPM of her death, and as a result, SSA and OPM continued to make monthly deposits into the joint bank account. Demattia admitted that he withdrew the CSRS and RIB funds each month, typically by checks he endorsed, payable to himself or to his now-defunct medical transport business, Patriot Medical Transport.
On March 5, 2019, during an interview conducted by agents of the SSA Office of Inspector General and OPM Office of Inspector General, Demattia admitted that he spent his mother’s RIB and CSRS payments after her death. He stated that he knew he was not entitled to the money, but spent the fund to cover expenses for his failing business such as payroll, fuel, receivables, and other operating expenses, as well as on personal expenses through debit card purchases after the closure of his business.
In total, Demattia stole $369,018 from OPM and $40,403 from SSA after his mother’s death. As part of his plea agreement, Demattia will be required to forfeit and to pay a money judgment in the amount of $409,421.
Demattia faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government property. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. As part of his plea agreement, the government has agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than 18 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte has scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the SSA Office of Inspector General and OPM Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davio, who is prosecuting the case.
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Springfield Man Indicted on Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was indicted today by a federal grand jury on child pornography offenses.
Ross Lopata, 32, was indicted today on four counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Lopata was previously charged by criminal complaint on June 12, 2020.
The indictment alleges that between 2018 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as 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.
Solicitor General Noel Francisco Announces Departure from Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
Solicitor General of the United States Noel Francisco announces his departure from the Department of Justice, effective as of July 3, 2020.
“Solicitor General Noel Francisco has represented the United States superbly before the Supreme Court for the past three Terms,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Arguing before the Court 17 times on behalf of the federal government, he has been a principled and persuasive advocate on issues ranging from the separation of powers to religious liberty to vigorous enforcement of federal immigration law. His skilled advocacy has been instrumental to historic victories on behalf of the President’s national security authority, the free speech rights of public employees, and property owners’ access to federal courts, among many other significant accomplishments. Away from the courtroom, he has been a steady and respected leader for the Office of the Solicitor General, a wise counselor to me and others in the Executive Branch, and a good friend. I am grateful for his tireless service to his country and the Department of Justice, and I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“It has been the honor of my professional career to serve as the Solicitor General of the United States,” said Solicitor General Noel Francisco. “Representing the United States before the Supreme Court is one of the greatest jobs in the law and an opportunity for which I am deeply grateful. I am proud of the significant success the Office of Solicitor General has had in advancing the rule of law of in our great nation alongside the dedicated men and women at the Department of Justice — some of the finest lawyers I have known.”
Since his appointment in 2017, Noel Francisco has served over three Supreme Court Terms as Solicitor General and has represented the United States before the nation’s highest court in more than 150 merit cases.
Under Solicitor General Francisco’s leadership, the United States consistently and successfully advocated in support of our nation’s core Constitutional principles including religious liberty, separation of powers, first amendment freedoms and enforcement of immigration laws. Over the course of his impressive tenure as Solicitor General, Francisco argued before the Supreme Court 17 times. Significant victories include:
- Trump v. Hawaii: upholding the President’s restrictions on travel from countries that present national-security risks.
- Janus v. AFSCME: holding that the First Amendment prohibits requiring public employees who decline to join a union to pay union dues (overruling a 1977 decision, Abood v. Detroit Bd. of Education).
- Kisor v. Wilkie: significantly limiting judicial deference to agency interpretations of their own regulations while retaining such deference in core applications.
- Knick v. Township of Scott: allowing property owners to bring claims for government takings in federal court without first suing in state court (overruling a 1985 decision, Williamson County Regional Planning Comm’n v. Hamilton Bank).
- Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm’n: concluding that Colorado violated the Free Exercise Clause in enforcing its antidiscrimination law against a baker who declined on religious grounds to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding.
In overseeing federal litigation, Solicitor General Francisco made strategic use of emergency motions to defend important federal programs against improper nationwide injunctions. To that end, the government obtained relief from the Supreme Court on major immigration initiatives, including the travel proclamation, restrictions on asylum abuses, allocation of funds to build a border wall, and revisions to the definition of a public charge. As a result of these successes, some lower courts have begun to curb the erroneous use of nationwide injunctions.
The Office of the Solicitor General and entire Department of Justice thank Solicitor General Francisco’s service and leadership.
Seymour Theater to Make Changes to Comply with Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with 165 Main Street, Inc., doing business as the Strand Theater in Seymour, to resolve allegations that the theater facility is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).
The settlement agreement resolves an ADA complaint filed by an individual with disabilities alleging that the Strand Theater’s facility is not fully accessible for individuals with physical disabilities. The theater is in the process of making the changes required by the settlement agreement, which include remediating the designated accessible entrance, adding accessible signage, remediating the accessible toilet room, ensuring accessible wheelchair seating, and acquiring assistive listening devices for use by theater patrons.
Under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of “public accommodation,” including theaters, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability. The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities. The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.
U.S. Attorney Durham noted the cooperation of the owners of the Strand Theater for their cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and their commitment to addressing the issues raised by the ADA investigation without litigation.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica H. Soufer of the District of Connecticut in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced the launch of the Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report a civil rights violation. The new Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at www.civilrights.justice.gov – will consolidate over 30 unique reporting pathways. The portal will dramatically ease the burden on victims of civil rights violations to identify the proper reporting channel. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is also available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of civil rights violations should contact the department by visiting www.civilrights.justice.gov. Those who believe they are a victim of criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
Readout from Attorney General William P. Barr’s Meeting with the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of JusticeRead the Press Release
On June 16, 2020, Attorney General William P. Barr met with the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice to discuss the current status of their progress regarding their final report due October 2020. The Attorney General and the commissioners also discussed the way the commission could address key tenets of the President’s recent Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, promulgated yesterday.
The Attorney General tasked the commission with forging ahead with their existing work, and asked them to look at three areas of the President’s Executive Order in tandem. Attorney General Barr said three points in the Executive Order must be prioritized: Certification, Databases, and Social Problems.
Work on certification would explore ways to incorporate a standardized certification process across law enforcement, acknowledging that the certification requirements will have to be flexible, given disparities in size and resources between urban, rural, and tribal agencies. Developing a database would allow agencies to report use of excessive force into a uniform system accessible by all law enforcement agencies. Rethinking the law enforcement response to social problems would delve into the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse and identify ways to fund social service providers who could reduce the burden of social service calls on law enforcement.
While the commission’s work to date has been focused on other issues in law enforcement outside the scope of yesterday’s executive order, the commissioners will meld the thinking of their existing work by the points addressed in the Executive Order on Safe Policing.
The commission will continue to hold hearings as it stays on course to produce a final report for the Attorney General and the President in October 2020. Upcoming topics will include the use of force, culture, and community engagement. Meanwhile, Commissioners are available to provide the Attorney General, at his request, with feedback on implementation of the Executive Order on Safe Policing.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on June 15, 2020, by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
Christopher Yellow Eagle, age 40, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison. Yellow Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2017. He pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine on December 18, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy beginning around the summer of 2014. Yellow Eagle obtained methamphetamine from multiple sources that he then distributed in Rapid City, Kyle, and Wanblee, South Dakota. In total, Yellow Eagle distributed between 1.5 to 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Yellow Eagle frequently possessed firearms during his drug dealing activities. On August 24, 2017, Yellow Eagle was arrested after fleeing from law enforcement. Because he has prior felony convictions for drug distribution offenses, Yellow Eagle was deemed a “career offender.”
“This defendant was a major methamphetamine dealer both in Rapid City and the Pine Ridge Reservation for years,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The Badlands Task Force is a model of true inter-governmental, law enforcement teamwork and all of its officers should be congratulated on this historic arrest, conviction, and sentence.”
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Badlands Task Force has agency members from the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Yellow Eagle was immediately returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
RI Businessman Charged with Running Elaborate Scheme to Defraud AmazonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The former owner of an East Providence automobile transport company who is awaiting sentencing in federal court for fraudulently obtaining more than $400,000 from various financial institutions and using the stolen personal identifying information of another person to continue to illegally operate his auto hauling business after being ordered to shut down for safety violations, was arrested and charged today with allegedly executing an elaborate scheme to defraud Amazon.
It is alleged in court documents that Michael Chaves, 40, former owner of CAT Inc., executed a scheme to defraud Amazon through fraudulent transactions and theft of inventory through falsely represented returns. It is alleged that Chaves ordered thousands of products from Amazon and replaced the original products with lesser value replacements, often items different than the ones he originally ordered, before returning the packages to Amazon for refunds.
According to court documents, since March 2017, Chaves has held approximately 30 Amazon customer accounts under various names and email addresses. Over this time period, Chaves’ accounts placed approximately 10,795 orders totaling approximately $713,970.78, most of which have been refunded based on Chaves’ return of the items purchased. Chaves received a total of approximately $643,324.04 in concessions or refunds on approximately 7,450 orders, including nearly approximately 7,200 items that were physically returned to Amazon. Many of the returned items were sent back in the original packaging in an attempt to deceive Amazon’s incoming inspection process. Amazon’s standard inspection process flagged approximately 149 of the returned items as potentially fraudulent, valued at $23,872.89.
According to court documents, while investigating Chaves’ fraudulent activities associated with his now defunct automobile transport company, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General agents executed a court-authorized search of Chaves’ home and business. At the business location, agents observed many opened and unopened Amazon packages and packaging materials. The room containing these items appeared to be a packing area for Amazon returns. The room contained a wide-ranging variety of items such as televisions, incense, European wall plugs (some for phone chargers), computer parts, small electronics, and a significant quantity of auto parts. At a later date, a United Parcel Service (UPS) driver told investigators that he would stop at Chaves’ business location every day delivering Amazon packages and picking up returns, often times dropping off an Amazon package one day and picking up the same package the next day as a return back to Amazon.
According to court documents, currently Chaves has six active Amazon accounts. The majority of Chaves’ purchases and returns consist of auto and commercial motor vehicle parts. Chaves also purchased and returned many other non-vehicle related items, including, but not limited to; electronics including cellular telephones and televisions, household items including chandeliers, closet organizers, lawn sheds, lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners. Most of these items were returned in an unsellable condition.
According to court documents, Chaves’ schemes would, at times, include replacing an original product purchased with a substitute product which, at first glance, appeared similar to the original purchase. Other returns were placed in boxes to represent the approximate weight of the original product. Among the examples cited in court documents of purchases and fraudulent returns include Chaves having ordered a commercial truck tire and sending back two pieces of wood; Chaves having ordered Apple Air Pod Pros and returning an unopened package of mini light bulbs; Chaves ordering a vehicle suspension joint and returning an oil filter wrench; and Chaves ordering a stabilizer bar link kit and returned in its place doggie treats.
Chaves was arrested today by U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division agents, with the assistance of East Providence Police, on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud and mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the Region II U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Kristina O'Connell, and East Providence Police Chief William Nebus.
Chaves appeared today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Patricia A. Sullivan and was ordered detained in federal custody pending a possible preliminary hearing.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chaves is currently on pretrial supervision while awaiting sentencing, having pleaded guilty in August 2019 to falsification of US DOT records, aggravated identity theft, five-counts of bank fraud, two-counts of wire fraud, and tax evasion. The charges were brought in connection with the investigation into Chaves having falsified US DOT safety records at his trucking company, using the personal identification of another person to continue to run the transport company after it was ordered closed, fraudulently securing $400,000 in financing, and having taken numerous steps to evade paying personal income taxes to the IRS.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
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Previously convicted felon faces federal firearm charge for shooting rifle out apartment window near Albuquerque High SchoolRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Roy Thundercloud, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, appeared in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 15 for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the complaint, Thundercloud allegedly committed the offense on May 31. Thundercloud allegedly fired several shots out the window of his apartment near Albuquerque High School with an AK-47 rifle. Thundercloud also allegedly confronted four people in the parking lot of his apartment complex and tried to intimidate them by firing a shot into the air. Thundercloud eventually surrendered after police responded to the scene and attempted to secure the area and detain him.
Thundercloud also allegedly posted a video on Instagram showing him shooting a rifle out a bedroom window. Thundercloud also allegedly possessed ammunition for the rifle including shell casings for discharged rounds. The rifle was manufactured in Serbia. Thundercloud could not lawfully possess the rifle or ammunition based on previous felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, burglary, child abuse and aggravated driving while intoxicated.
Thundercloud is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on June 17. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives Task Force and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease is prosecuting the case.
Plaquemine Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing over $450,000 in a Fraudulent Social Security Benefits SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Donald Daigle, age 63, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, to twelve months and one day in federal prison following his conviction for fraudulently obtaining disability payments from the Social Security Administration. The Court further sentenced Daigle to two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea in November 2019, Daigle falsely claimed he was disabled and unable to work as a result of a 1998 automobile accident. He also admitted that from June 2002 through October 2018, on numerous occasions he concealed and failed to disclose to the Social Security Administration that he built, opened and ran daily operations as a small business owner, Duck’s Quick Stop and Pizza, in Plaquemine, Louisiana until it closed in 2009. Thereafter, Daigle failed to disclose that he performed work as a commercial truck driver and as a forklift operator employed at a chemical plant. He further admitted that, as a result of his fraudulent scheme, he knowingly and illegally collected $457,460 in payments to which he was neither entitled nor eligible. As part of his sentence, Daigle has been ordered make full restitution to the Social Security Administration
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “I commend the efforts of our prosecutor and our partners at the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General for bringing this defendant to justice. Social programs are designed for those in our society who legitimately need help. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning that my office will vigorously pursue those who game the system.”
This investigation was conducted by the Dallas Field Division of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III.
Owners of Groveland Companies Sentenced for Defrauding Government Contracting ProgramsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three men were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conspiracy to defraud the United States and mail fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain government contracts.
Frank Apicella, 63, of Groveland, Mass.; Michael Sforza, 59, of Alpharetta, Ga.; and James Apicella, 37, of Kingston, N.H., were sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to two years of probation, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $300,000 each. In addition, Frank Apicella and Michael Sforza were also ordered to each pay a $300,000 fine. The defendants pleaded guilty in February 2020 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of mail fraud.
Beginning in 2011 the defendants used Tactical Office Solutions (TOS), a company run by James Apicella, as a front to bid on government contract work that was set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) companies. Although the contracts were bid on and awarded to TOS through SDVOSB and HUBZone set-aside programs, TOS never performed the work. Rather, the work was actually mostly performed by a company called FENS, which was owned and operated by Frank Apicella and Michael Sforza, and which was not eligible to compete for contracts through the set-aside programs.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Christopher F. Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, Northeast Field Office; Luis Hernandez, Special Agent in Charge of the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, New England Regional Office; and Michael Conner, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Army, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, Criminal Investigation Command, made the announcement. The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Annapurna Balakrishna of Lelling’s Civil Division prosecuted the case.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced James Vanscoyk today to a term of imprisonment of 90 months. Vanscoyk will serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from the Bureau of Prisons. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Vanscoyk, 42, was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. In February 2019, law enforcement was tipped off that Vanscoyk was distributing methamphetamine in the Omaha metropolitan area. On February 19, 2019, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of one pound of methamphetamine from Vanscoyk. In order to complete the transaction, Vanscoyk and a cooperating source traveled from Vanscoyk’s residence in Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to meet with Vanscoyk’s supplier, Jason Paul Rodriguez, a/k/a “Chico”. Vanscoyk then brokered the deal for the pound of methamphetamine between Rodriguez and the cooperating source.
Rodriguez, the leader of the conspiracy, was prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. On March 12, 2020, Rodriguez was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 360 months.
The case was primarily investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha Police Department.
Ohio County man sentenced to 10 years for firearm chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Marius Brown, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months incarceration for a firearm charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Brown, age 40, was found guilty of one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” after a bench trial in February 2020. Brown, having previously been convicted of a felony, possessed a .40 pistol in Ohio County in October 2017.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Ocala Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of A Destructive DeviceRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Tommy Lee Holt (26, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered destructive device in the form of an incendiary bomb. Holt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Holt was indicted on February 26, 2020.
According to the plea agreement, on November 5, 2019, Holt manufactured eight incendiary bombs (Molotov cocktails) using glass bottles filled with gasoline. After illegally manufacturing the devices, Holt brought them to a branch of the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families in Marion County. Once there, he lit the wicks on the destructive devices and unsuccessfully attempted to throw one at the building. When apprehended by police, Holt had a lighter clenched in his right hand and his clothing wreaked of gasoline.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
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.
Nine Pharmacists Charged for Role in $12.1 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Nine pharmacists were charged in three separate indictments unsealed last week for their alleged participation in a $12.1 million health care fraud scheme executed in Detroit and southern Ohio.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan, Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Region and Special Agent in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office made the announcement.
Auday Maki, 66, of Northville, Michigan, was charged with three counts of health care fraud. Hassan Abdallah, 49, of Sterling Heights, Michigan; Raef Hamaed, 50, of Scottsdale, Arizona; Tarek Fakhuri, 47, of Windsor, Canada; Kindy Ghussin, 45, of Greene County, Ohio; Balhar Singh, 57, of Butler County, Ohio; and Ali Abdelrazzaq, 44, of Sterling Heights, Michigan were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. In addition, Abdallah and Abdelrazzaq were each charged with three counts of health care fraud and Fakhuri with two counts of health care fraud. Finally, Hassan Khreizat, 40, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan; and Nofal Cholag, 41, of Macomb, Michigan were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and four counts of health care fraud.
The three indictments were filed in the Eastern District of Michigan. Maki, Hamaed, Ghussin, Singh, Abdelrazzaq, Cholag, and Khreizat appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony P. Patti in the Eastern District of Michigan. Abdallah appeared today in the Eastern District of Michigan before Judge Patti.
The nine defendants are licensed pharmacists and/or owners of pharmacies in Michigan and Ohio: Eastside Pharmacy Inc. (Eastside), Harper Drugs Inc. (Harper Drugs), Wayne Campus Pharmacy LLC (Wayne Campus), Universal Pharmacy LLC (Universal) and City Drugs Pharmacy Inc. (City Drugs), each located in the Detroit metro area, and Heartland Pharmacy LLC (Heartland) and Heartland Pharmacy 2 LLC (Heartland 2), which are located in Ohio.
The indictments allege that, using the pharmacies, the defendants billed Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) for prescription medications that were neither purchased nor dispensed. The indictments further allege that the defendants billed Medicare and Medicaid for medications that were often medically unnecessary and for some medications that were purportedly dispensed to deceased beneficiaries after their dates of death.
The indictments allege that the defendants received over $12.1 million due to fraudulent claims they submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, and BCBS. In particular, the indictments allege that, from 2010 to 2019, Medicare and Medicaid paid Abdallah, Hamaed, Fakhuri, Ghussin, Singh, and Abdelrazzaq, through Eastside, Harper Drugs, Heartland, Heartland 2, and Wayne Campus, approximately $6.9 million for drugs that the pharmacies did not have sufficient inventory to dispense.
From January 2013 to January 2016, Medicare, Medicaid, and BCBS allegedly paid Cholag and Khreizat, through Universal, approximately $1.5 million for drugs that the pharmacy did not have sufficient inventory to dispense. From January 2011 to February 2018, Medicare and Medicaid allegedly paid Maki, through City Drugs, approximately $3.7 million for drugs that the pharmacy did not have sufficient inventory to dispense. The indictments further allege that the defendants received significant funds from their participation in these schemes.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated this case with assistance from the Michigan HHS-OIG. Trial Attorney Howard Locker of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section investigated the case, and Trial Attorney Claire Sobczak is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
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.
Newark Parking Authority Employee Admits to Narcotics Distribution and Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man today admitted being a felon in possession of two firearms, and to distributing heroin and cocaine base (crack), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Aughkay L. Green, a/k/a “K-Boogie,” 49, of Newark, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to a three-count indictment charging him with possession of heroin and cocaine base (crack) with intent to distribute and with being a felon in possession of numerous firearms and ammunition.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 12, 2017, Green sold 25 bricks – later determined to be 38 grams – of heroin to “Individual 1,” for $1,200. On March 22, 2017, Green sold Individual 1 48.9 grams of crack cocaine for $2,250. Green was under law enforcement surveillance and observed to be dressed in his Newark Parking Authority uniform.
On April 1, 2017, Green, accompanied by an unidentified male associate, met Individual 1 in Irvington, New Jersey, where Green’s associate provided Individual 1 with: (1) a Smith and Wesson Model 21 .44 caliber handgun; (2) a Smith and Wesson Model 15 .38 handgun, and (3) 50 rounds of hollow-point .44 caliber ammunition marked “44 REM MAG FC.” Green’s associate received $1,360 from Individual 1, and subsequently provided Green with proceeds from the sale and discussed using these proceeds for the purchase of narcotics.
The count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute carries a statutory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison. The count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The count of possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski in Newark; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, under the direction of Director Jared M. Maples; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction on Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction on Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean C. Sovolos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shane C. Evans, 44, Shafer, Minnesota, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 66 months in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it in northern Wisconsin.
Evans was arrested in May 2019 after a traffic stop in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Police found more than 107 grams of methamphetamine and a scale used to weigh controlled substances inside the truck in which Evans was riding. Photographs and text messages in Evans’ cellular phone further connected him to trafficking the methamphetamine in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
In sentencing Evans, Judge Peterson considered Evans’s past criminal history, including the fact that he was under state supervision at the time he was dealing the methamphetamine in Wisconsin.
The charge against Evans was the result of an investigation conducted by the Rice Lake Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson.
Mexican National Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Mexican national has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for trafficking nearly a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.
On June 12, 2020, Roberto Rodriguez-Salinas, 39, of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to two 57 month sentences that will run concurrently for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, on March 28, 2018, Mr. Rodriguez-Salinas transferred a black bag containing United States currency to another person that knew his money was drug proceeds. Mr. Rodriguez-Salinas admitted that he intended the money to be transferred from the United States to individuals in Mexico.
Court documents further reflect that on March 30, 2018, Mr. Rodriguez-Salinas was stopped by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, deputies found Mr. Rodriguez-Salinas in possession of approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, a firearm, and $115,931. Mr. Rodriguez-Salinas admitted that the money seized by authorizes was derived from the sale and distribution of the cocaine.
According to agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the cocaine found in Mr. Rodriguez-Salinas vehicle had a street value ranging from $192,000 to $208,000 in the Dallas, Texas area.
Fourteen individuals have been indicted in this case. Two defendants are fugitives and one defendant is pending trial. Co-defendant, Marcus Morones, was previously sentenced to a term of 41 months confinement in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dallas Police Department. Assistance in this case was also provided by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal and Rachel Jones are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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 illegal drug supply.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Document FraudRead the Press Release
A man who used a false identification document and someone else’s social security number was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Antonio De La Cruz, age 55, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea today to one count of unlawful use of an identification document.
During the guilty plea portion of the hearing, De La Cruz admitted he used someone else’s Social Security number and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed employment and tax forms in December 2016 at a business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On the employment application, De La Cruz falsely claimed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The Alien Registration number on the “green card” was issued to another person. On March 6, 2020, immigration agents arrested De La Cruz at his place of employment in Cedar Rapids.
De La Cruz was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. De La Cruz was sentenced to 104 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
De La Cruz is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-22.
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Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Illegally Reentering USRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marco Roblero-Velasquez, 35, a citizen of Mexico who was living in Abbotsford, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to six months incarceration for illegally reentering the United States. Roblero-Velasquez pleaded guilty to this charge on February 14, 2020.
Roblero-Velasquez was arrested in Lincoln County, Wisconsin on December 8, 2019 for third offense operating under the influence, operating a motor vehicle while revoked, and possession of THC. Prior to this most recent offense, Roblero-Velasquez had been returned to the country of Mexico on five prior occasions.
The charge against Roblero-Velasquez was the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of the case has been handled by U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison Following Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on June 16, 2020, Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Ricardo Quinones, 26, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, to 36 months in prison following his guilty plea to knowingly and intentionally using a cellular phone to commit the drug felonies of possession with intent to distribute heroin and attempted distribution of heroin.
According to court records, in 2018 and 2019, Quinones sold bulk quantities of heroin/fentanyl to Vermont buyers. The buyers would travel from Vermont to Holyoke, Massachusetts to meet with Quinones and purchase the opioids. During two transactions in July 2018, Quinones sold a cooperator a total of 1,800 bags of heroin/fentanyl for $5,400. Then, in June 2019, Quinones arranged to sell a different cooperator 2,000 bags of suspected heroin for $6,000. Quinones was arrested when he arrived at the arranged meeting location for that transaction, and he has been in federal custody since that time.
United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their collaboration on this investigation. She stated: “As this case demonstrates, we are relentless in our efforts to stem the flow of deadly narcotics into Vermont from source cities like Holyoke. Our law enforcement partners at all levels are united in pursuit of this goal. There will be serious consequences in the form of jail time for dealers who profit from the suffering of addicted Vermonters and the struggles of their families and communities.”
The United States was represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Cate. Quinones was represented by Michael L. Desautels, Federal Public Defender.
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.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to seven years in federal prison for firearm offensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mikko Sekiya, 38, of Albuquerque, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on June 15 to seven years in prison for theft of a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer, possession of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A jury convicted Sekiya of these charges on Nov. 7, 2019. According to the evidence at trial and other public court records, Sekiya stole a handgun from a firearms dealer in Albuquerque on Jan. 2, 2018. He asked a salesperson to look at the gun and then ran from the store without paying. Sekiya possessed the stolen firearm on Jan. 11, 2019 when police stopped him for driving a pickup truck previously reported stolen from a dealership in Albuquerque. Sekiya was prohibited from possessing firearms based on previous convictions for shooting at a dwelling or occupied building.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S Attorney Timothy D. Trembley prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Autotrader Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for his role in orchestrating an Autotrader fraud scheme that caused over $575,000 in losses to the victims.
According to court documents, John Baron Royal, 51, advertised high-end, luxury vehicles for sale on Autotrader.com, including Range Rovers, Mustangs, BMWs, and Mercedes-Benz SUVs. Royal used aliases to advertise the vehicles for sale and to extract payment for the vehicles from his victims. Ultimately, Royal failed to provide the victims with the vehicles. Unwitting victims agreed to purchase the vehicles from Royal who promised that he would have the vehicles shipped to the victims’ desired locations. To conceal his role in the fraud, Royal used a number of aliases, supplied his accomplices with burner phones, and used technology to disguise his voice. When the victims complained about not receiving the vehicles, Royal and others at Royal’s direction, sent a series of lulling communications to the victims to convince them that delivery of their respective vehicles was imminent. Royal also directed one of his co-conspirators to impersonate other individuals to communicate with the victims about delivery of a 2015 Range Rover.
In addition to these fraudulent misrepresentations, Royal sent pictures to the victims of fake and fraudulent documentation leading the victims to believe that Royal owned the vehicles for sale when, in fact, Royal did not own the vehicles. To further conceal his role in the fraud, Royal directed a number of other individuals to open bank accounts in the name of shell entities to receive the victims’ funds. Royal’s fraud was detected after he and an associate falsely reported a vehicle stolen to the Leesburg Police Department. After fraudulently reporting the vehicle stolen, Royal and his associates immediately left their residence in Leesburg and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Intended losses to the victims were more than $575,000.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew S. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office; Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office; and Gregory C. Brown, Leesburg Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamar K. Walker 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. 1:19-cr-252.