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15 June 2020
Canton man indicted for possession of a firearm by a person with a domestic violence convictionRead 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 one-count indictment charging Matthew Paul Slatzer, 36, of Canton, Ohio, with possession of a firearm by a person with a domestic violence conviction.
According to the indictment filed in this matter, on February 2, 2020, the Canton Police Department responded to a call at a bar for an intoxicated male with a gun inside the establishment. The indictment alleges that Slatzer knowingly possessed a .38 caliber revolver. Slatzer is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior domestic violence conviction on October 20, 2010.
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 was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel.
Cambridge Man Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge man was sentenced on Friday, June 12, 2020, in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing two firearms and over 150 rounds of ammunition.
Robert Brito-Pina, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2019, Brito-Pina pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Brito-Pina was arrested in April 2019, and has been in custody since.
Brito-Pina was arrested after the execution of a search warrant at his residence resulted in the seizure of two firearms and over 150 rounds of ammunition. The recovered items included a stolen SCCY Model CPX-1 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition; a Springfield Amory, Model XDM 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition; and an additional 131 rounds of assorted ammunition. Federal law prohibits Brito-Pina from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of a prior felony conviction.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr. made the announcement today.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department of Justice’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Bryant Love Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Bryant Love, 45 years old, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to two counts of Distribution of Cocaine Base, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Love received a sentence of 180 months in prison.
According to documents in the case, on two separate occasion in December of 2016, Love sold cocaine base to a confidential informant in East Chicago, Indiana. On December 20, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Love’s East Chicago residence and seized cocaine base and two firearms. At the time, Love was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang.
On June 2, 2022, Love was resentenced as an Armed Career Offender.
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Bronx Man Charged with 2015 Murder of Nestor SuazoRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Dermot Shea, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), and Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the return today of an Indictment charging DERRICK RICHARDSON, a/k/a “J Rocc,” with the September 19, 2015, murder of Nestor Suazo, 25, in the vicinity of East Tremont Avenue and Clinton Avenue in the Bronx, New York.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Nearly five years ago, Nestor Suazo’s life was senselessly taken. As alleged in the Indictment, Derrick Richardson was one of those responsible for that terrible crime. Now, thanks to the determination of our law enforcement partners at the NYPD and HSI, Richardson faces federal murder charges.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “The ability of investigators to bring about justice for this young man and provide a sense of closure to his family is paramount. The identification and arrest of the suspect in this case was a joint effort that would not have been possible without the collaboration between the NYPD and our law enforcement partners. I thank the U.S. Attorney and the NYPD Detectives and HSI agents involved in this case.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said: “Derrick Richardson is charged with the horrible crime of murdering Nestor Suazo in the Bronx in 2015. As alleged in the indictment, Richardson is a member of the Rollin' 30s Crip, a gang that committed and threatened to commit acts of violence in order to promote its interests. HSI stands united with its law enforcement partners to bring closure to the families of those lost to gang violence by finding and arresting the alleged offenders and seeking justice for their criminal acts.”
As alleged in the Indictment returned today[1]:
RICHARDSON was a member of a racketeering enterprise known as the Rollin’ 30s Crips. In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of the Rollin’ 30s committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder and robbery; they conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics; and they obtained, possessed, and used firearms, including by brandishing and discharging them.
In connection with his membership in the gang, on or about September 19, 2015, RICHARDSON shot and killed Nestor Suazo in the vicinity of East Tremont Avenue and Clinton Avenue in the Bronx, New York.
* * *
RICHARDSON, 27, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison, and murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica K. Fender, Anden Chow, and Jacqueline C. Kelly are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Bradken Inc. pays $10.8 million to settle False Claims Act allegations and enters into deferred prosecution agreementRead the Press Release
Seattle – The Department of Justice announced today that Bradken Inc. (Bradken), a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, has paid $10,896,924 to resolve allegations that Bradken produced and sold substandard steel components for installation on U.S. Navy submarines, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division Jody H. Hunt and U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran for the Western District of Washington. Bradken and Bradken’s former lab director have also been charged criminally.
The United States Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging Elaine Thomas, Bradken’s former Director of Metallurgy, with Major Fraud Against the United States. Thomas will make her initial appearance in federal court in Tacoma on June 30, 2020. Also today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington filed a criminal information charging Bradken with Major Fraud Against the United States. Under a deferred prosecution agreement, Bradken has accepted responsibility for the offense and has agreed to take remedial measures. If Bradken complies with the agreement, the government will dismiss the charge after three years.
According to the court filings, Bradken is the U.S. Navy’s leading supplier of high-yield steel for naval submarines. Bradken’s Tacoma foundry produces castings that prime contractors use to fabricate submarine hulls. The Navy requires that the steel meets certain standards for strength and toughness to ensure that it does not fail under certain circumstances, such as a collision. The court filings allege that, for 30 years, the Tacoma foundry (which was acquired by Bradken in 2008), produced castings that had failed lab tests and did not meet the Navy’s standards. The filings allege that Elaine Thomas, as Director of Metallurgy, falsified test results to hide the fact that the steel had failed the tests. Thomas falsified results for over 200 productions of steel, which represent a substantial percentage of the castings Bradken produced for the Navy. As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, Bradken admitted these allegations.
The court filings state there is no evidence that Bradken’s management was aware of the fraud until May 2017. At that time, a lab employee discovered that test cards had been altered and that other discrepancies existed in Bradken’s records. While Bradken initially disclosed these findings to the Navy, it then made misleading statements suggesting that the discrepancies were not the result of fraud. Bradken admits that these misleading statements hindered the Navy’s investigation and its efforts to remediate the risks presented by Bradken’s fraud.
The civil settlement resolves allegations that some of the castings Bradken produced did not conform to the Navy’s specifications. In addition to the allegations concerning the altered test results, the United States contended that Bradken invoiced shipbuilders for the parts as if they were made to the demanding military specification when they were not, causing the shipbuilders to invoice the Navy for parts that did not meet specifications.
“Bradken placed the Navy’s sailors and its operations at risk. Further, after Bradken’s management discovered the falsified data, they misled the Navy about the scope and nature of the fraud. Government contractors must not tolerate fraud within their organizations, and they must be fully forthcoming with the government when they discover it,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “The Navy has taken extensive steps to ensure the safe operation of the affected submarines. Those measures will result in increased costs and maintenance. Our agreement with the company is aimed at ensuring they improve their procedures and inform their peer companies about how their systems failed to detect the fraud. We hope such steps will improve the military procurement system.”
Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite stated that “U.S. Navy suppliers must meet the very highest standards of quality. Our Sailors and Marines depend upon them to provide the very best equipment thereby enabling the Navy to meet world-wide commitments. While the Navy remains dedicated to maintaining and revitalizing our industrial base, we will aggressively investigate and pursue all possible recoveries from suppliers who do not meet standards.”
The deferred prosecution agreement describes substantial steps taken by Bradken to cooperate with the government’s investigation and overhaul to its quality control and compliance procedures. These steps include entering into a compliance agreement with the Navy, creating new positions devoted to oversight of lab testing and tracking, creating an audit and risk committee to oversee the compliance issues, and implementing of a new lab information system with anti-fraud controls. The company will also publish a detailed account of its missteps in the Casteel Reporter, a trade publication, to educate other government contractors. In addition, Bradken has made changes to the management team in place at the Tacoma Foundry. If Bradken complies with all of the deferred prosecution agreement’s requirements, the government will dismiss the charge after three years.
Bradken is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Kansas City, Missouri, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bradken Ltd. of Newcastle, Australia, which is a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery. Elaine Thomas, 66, is a resident of Auburn, Washington.
The charges contained in the complaint against Thomas 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.
“This settlement demonstrates the commitment of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and our law enforcement partners to hold companies accountable for supplying substandard products, especially products that could impact the Department of Navy (DON) war fighting ability, battlefield superiority and the safety of our Sailors and Marines. NCIS will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to safeguard DON major acquisition programs. The success of the DON war fighting ability is dependent upon a sound and reliable acquisition process” said Charles P. King, Special Agent in Charge, NCIS Northwest Field Office.
“The announced settlement is representative of the law enforcement community's relentless efforts to hold accountable those who engage in unethical business practices that endanger America's warfighters, corrupts the defense procurement process, and inexcusably wastes taxpayer dollars,” said Bryan Denny, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “This case clearly demonstrates that any unscrupulous actions by government contractors and subcontractors will be reviewed and, if appropriate, vigorously investigated by DCIS and its law enforcement partners.”
The civil settlement, deferred prosecution agreement with Bradken, and pending criminal case against Thomas are the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.
The cases are being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla Stahman, Seth Wilkinson, and David Reese Jennings for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington, and Art Coulter of DOJ’s Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch.
bradken_information.pdf bradken_signed_civil_settlement.pdf bradken_dpa.pdf thomas_elaine_m_complaint.pdfBank Robber Who Fled on Lime Electric Scooter Sentenced to 57 MonthsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 15, 2020
SAN DIEGO – Mario Daniel Haro, a United States Citizen who resided in Rosarito, Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution for robbing a Chula Vista bank in 2019.
Haro pleaded guilty on February 3, 2020, admitting that he robbed a San Diego bank by presenting a demand note that threatened the teller. He fled the crime scene on a Lime electric scooter. This was Haro’s second federal conviction for bank robbery. In 2008, Haro was also convicted of robbing a Chula Vista bank in case number 08CR0649-BTM.
“Unfortunately this defendant failed to take advantage of his second chance and committed an additional violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “As this case demonstrates, individuals who reoffend will be investigated, arrested and convicted and usually the sentence will be longer. Hopefully this time the defendant learned a lesson.”
In his plea agreement, Haro admitted that, on October 14, 2019, at approximately 3:00 p.m., he entered the Chase Bank at 2121 Olympic Parkway in Chula Vista, California, and approached a teller window. Haro told the teller he had a gun and presented the teller with a demand note, which read: “I have a GUN! Give me all money. NO INK Packages.” The teller fearing for her life, her co-workers, and the banks patrons’ safety, complied with the demands and provided Haro with approximately $1,000 in cash. After receiving the cash from the victim teller, Haro exited the bank and then fled the scene.
“The FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF), which joins law enforcement personnel and resources, works to swiftly solve cases to prevent series bank robberies like this one,” commented Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Omer Meisel. “The safety of the San Diego community is a priority for the FBI VCTF.”
Brewer commended the prosecutor in this case, AUSA Matthew Brehm, the Chula Vista Police Department and the FBI for their diligent work in this investigation. The Chula Vista Police Department’s spokesperson recognized “the collaboration and cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Attorney’s Office and the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Taskforce that led to the identification, arrest and successful prosecution of bank robbery suspect Mario Haro. The joint efforts by all involved have made for a safer community in Chula Vista and the San Diego region.”
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019 by U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood.
DEFENDANT Case Number 19cr4747-W
Mario Daniel Haro Age: 32 Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bank Robbery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2113(a)
Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Chula Vista Police Department
Bakersfield Man Sentenced for Structuring Synthetic Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Majed Bashir Akroush, aka Magic Mike, 52, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison for conspiring to structure over $700,000 in cash withdrawals from four different bank accounts associated with his internet businesses that sold synthetic marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
His sentencing follows his guilty plea earlier this year. According to court documents, Akroush structured cash withdrawals over a three-year period in amounts just under $10,000 in order to evade the currency transaction report filing requirements. In addition to imposing a prison sentence, the court fined the defendant $7,500 and ordered the forfeiture of the following assets owned by Akroush: real property in Bakersfield, approximately $109,555 seized from five different bank accounts, approximately $199,181 in cash seized from a safe in his residence, approximately $233,460 in cash seized from two safe deposit boxes, and a 1962 Chevrolet Impala worth $200,000.
According to court documents, during the time of the structured cash withdrawals, Akroush operated several internet businesses–Magic Man’s Wholesale, Blue Whale Wholesale, World of Incense, and Blue Bear– that distributed synthetic marijuana to convenience stores, smoke shops, and other customers throughout the country. Although marketed as a legal alternative to marijuana, the products contained illegal drugs that have much more harmful effects than marijuana. Akroush structured the proceeds derived from synthetic drug sales as a means of concealing the illegal nature of his businesses.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Highway Patrol with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Kern County Probation, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen A. Escobar and Henry Z. Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.
This case was designated an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case. The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Atlanta Woman Sentenced to Almost 2 Years in Prison for Making a False Statement to Purchase a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – Crystal Asher Small, 32, of Atlanta, formerly of Hattiesburg and Trinidad, Tobago, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 21months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for making a false statement to purchase a firearm, announced U. S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kurt Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Small was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.
Small made false statements that she was the actual buyer of fifteen (15) firearms from February 2015 through May 3, 2017, at firearms dealers in Gulfport and Hattiesburg. Two of the guns purchased through Small and her accomplices were found at crime scenes in New York City within 9 months. Small pled guilty before Judge Starrett on February 18, 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
Arizona Man Arrested for Marijuana in LuggageRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Armando Antonio Mena of Phoenix, Arizona was arrested June 12, 2020 and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance With the Intent to Distribute.
According to court documents, Mena, age 28, was traveling to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands from San Francisco, California via airline on May 27, 2020 with a checked bag that contained 22 individually wrapped vacuum sealed bags under articles of clothing. The vacuum wrapped bags contained a green leafy substance which tested positive for marijuana and which weighed approximately 10.78 kilograms.
An initial appearance in federal court occurred on June 12, 2020, followed by preliminary and release hearings on June 15, 2020.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.Akron man indicted for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamineRead 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 one-count indictment charging Cody Scott Sharnsky, age 26, of Canton, Ohio with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the indictment filed in this matter, on January 28, 2020, Sharnsky knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 58 grams of methamphetamine.
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 FBI and Akron Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel.
19 Pennsylvanians Indicted in Philadelphia-to-Indiana County Drug Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN – Twelve residents of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and seven residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, money laundering, and unlawful possession of firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. The defendants were arrested last week by federal, state and local law enforcement.
"Methamphetamine. Heroin. Fentanyl. Crack cocaine. This group sold it all, but now they are in jail and out of business," said U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. "Effective operations like this require strong partnerships across federal, state and local levels. We owe much of our success in this significant case to the solid working relationship we have built with Indiana County District Attorney Bob Manzi."
The five-count Indictment, returned on June 3, 2020, named:
Jelahn Williams, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Ellen Blystone, 43, of Marion Center, Pennsylvania;
Malik Byers, 28, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Isaiah Daniels-Wheeler, 24, of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania;
Ahmed Doumbia, 26, of Indiana, Pennsylvania;
Adam Drylie, 26, of Shelocta, Pennsylvania;
James Edwards, 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Haylee Jackson, 26, of Creekside, Pennsylvania;
Romello Johnson-Holland, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Joy McBride, 40, of Hyde, Pennsylvania;
Dayton Melton, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Roger Miller, 33, of Homer City, Pennsylvania;
Michele Monfredi, 47, of Indiana, Pennsylvania;
Gregory Moore, 59, of Indiana, Pennsylvania;
Karl Pollard, 56, of Indiana, Pennsylvania;
Michael Schrecengost, 35, of Shelocta, Pennsylvania;
Taylor Shick, 30, of Marion Center, Pennsylvania;
Tamir Washington-Jenkins, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
Christofer Waters, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Indictment charges all defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, and salts of its isomers, or 500 grams of more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and/or 28 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base in the form commonly known as "crack," and/or 40 grams of more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, from on or about July 5, 2018, and continuing thereafter to on or about May 5, 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The statute calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Jelahn Williams, Malik Byers, Isaiah Daniels-Wheeler, Ahmed Doumbia, Jamed Edwards, Gregory Moore, Karl Pollard, Tamir Washington-Jenkins, and Christofer Waters are charged at Count Two with conspiracy to commit money laundering, July 5, 2018, and continuing thereafter to on or about May 5, 2020. The statute calls for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Jelahn Williams, Ahmed Doumbia, and James Edwards are charged at Counts Three through Five, respectively, with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The statute calls for a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to a criminal complaint filed previously in this case, as part of this investigation investigators have conducted court-authorized Title III interceptions of wire and electronic communications occurring over several telephones known to be used by members of this conspiracy. During the periods of interception, investigators have intercepted communications between the defendants related to the manufacture and/or distribution of crack cocaine and other controlled substances. The criminal complaint contains samples of calls between the named defendants.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Indiana County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, Southwest Pennsylvania Safe Streets Task Force, Indiana Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania assisted in this investigation.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, known as OCDETF. OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
13 June 2020
Texas Bodybuilder Charged with Conspiracy to Sell SteroidsRead the Press Release
A north Texas bodybuilder has been charged with conspiring to sell steroids, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.
Philip Russell Archibald, 29, of Lancaster, was charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Coconspirator Danielle Bocanegra, 30, of Lampasas, was also charged.
“The Northern District of Texas will not tolerate the peddling of steroids in our community. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for helping us dismantle this steroid trafficking ring,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.
According to the complaint, Mr. Archibald, a self-proclaimed bodybuilder and personal trainer, allegedly ran a steroid distribution ring that spanned across north Texas.
In March 2019, agents discovered Mr. Archibald’s fingerprints on a zip-lock baggie filled with steroids, which Ms. Bocanegra sold to an undercover officer for $900, the complaint alleged. They later tracked several packages of steroids sent via the U.S. Postal Service to Ms. Bocanegra’s residence to several USPS kiosks used by Mr. Archibald.
In July 2019, agents followed Mr. Archibald from his residence to a local post office, where he allegedly mailed a priority mail flat rate box. Pursuant to a federal search warrant, the agents seized the parcel and sent the contents to the USPIS Forensic Laboratory, which identified 64 red capsules containing oxandralone, a known steroid compound.
On June 8, 2020, agents also searched Mr. Archibald’s residence, where they found steroids and multiple firearms, prosecutors told the Court.
At Mr. Archibald’s detention hearing, prosecutors argued that the defendant posed a threat to the community, noting that the defendant, who has been tied publicly with the anti-government Boogaloo movement, used his social media accounts to advocate vigilante “guerrilla warfare” against the National Guardsman patrolling Black Lives Matter protests. In a recent Facebook post, he claimed to be “hunting Antifa” and threatened to “kill” looters. The Court granted the government’s motion and ordered Mr. Archibald detained pending trial.
“Drug trafficking and violence go hand in hand. Whether we are talking about Mexican Cartels and methamphetamine or illegal steroids and vigilantes, all pose a real threat to the safety and security of our Nation,” stated Steven S. Whipple, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Houston Division. “DEA, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, remain especially focused on bringing to justice those drug traffickers who use, or threaten to use violence in any way or for any purpose.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nations mail system from illegal use,“ said Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division. “This includes ensuring individuals like Mr. Archibald do not use the U.S. Mail as a tool to distribute controlled substances to our communities. We remain steadfast in our resolve to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities and of the U.S. Postal Service.“
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. These defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, both Mr. Archibald and Ms. Bocanegra face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Austin Field Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Houston Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany H. Eggers and Rebekah Ricketts are prosecuting the case.
12 June 2020
Worcester Man Charged with Being a Felon in PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was charged today with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Steven Dillon, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dillon will make his initial appearance in federal court in Worcester next week.
According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 25, 2019, Dillon was arrested by law enforcement in Worcester after brandishing a sawed-off shotgun in an apartment while arguing with teenaged residents. Police found the shotgun and ammunition in a bedroom used by Dillon, who was previously convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Woonsocket Barber Sentenced for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket barber who admitted to preparing and selling crack cocaine in and around his barbershop, among other places, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.
In March 2019, members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force opened an investigation into the alleged drug dealing of Jason Simpson, 34, and two other men, James Ruth, 31, and Sean Breton, 27. The investigation included electronically monitored controlled purchases of more than 41 grams of crack cocaine.
According to information presented to the court, on July 2, 2019, agents and officers executed a court-authorized search of Simpson’s barbershop and seized a 9mm pistol and two pistol magazines with ammunition. The seized items were found hidden inside a printer.
Simpson pleaded guilty on October 9, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Simpson to 60 months incarceration to be followed by four years supervised release.
Simpson’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.
James Ruth pleaded guilty on October 22, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, and four counts of distribution of cocaine base. He was sentenced on February 6, 2020, to 77 months in federal prison.
Sean Breton pleaded guilty on November 8, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. He is awaiting sentencing.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Sandra R. Hebert.
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Wausau Man First to Plead Guilty and Be Sentenced in Large Methamphetamine OperationRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Meng Xiong, 26, Wausau, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to five years in prison for distributing methamphetamine. Xiong pleaded guilty to this charge on March 10, 2020.
Meng Xiong was convicted of distributing methamphetamine as part of a larger methamphetamine conspiracy that existed, conservatively, from November 12, 2018 through June 13, 2019, in the Wausau, Wisconsin area. It is believed that the leader of the conspiracy was bringing pounds of methamphetamine into the Wausau area from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Law enforcement agents seized almost five pounds of methamphetamine in connection with this case, though agents believe the conspiracy was responsible for well over ten pounds flowing into the Wausau area.
Xiong was charged with distributing methamphetamine that he purchased from the leader of the conspiracy on two occasions, though he had been involved with the leader of this drug-trafficking operation for several years. Conservatively, Xiong’s relevant conduct included over 90 grams of methamphetamine. While this is Meng Xiong’s first federal conviction, he was on criminal supervision in Wisconsin when he committed this offense.
Meng Xiong and ten other individuals were charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in September 2019 for their roles in this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Meng Xiong is the first to plead guilty and be sentenced.
The charge against Meng Xiong was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force; Marathon County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; Wausau Police Department; Everest Metro Police Department; and Wisconsin State Patrol. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper.
VA Employee Sentenced for Orchestrating $19 Million Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Joseph Prince, age 61, of Aurora, Colorado was sentenced yesterday to serve 192 months (16 years) in federal prison for health care fraud, conspiracy, payment of illegal kickbacks and gratuities, money laundering, and conflict of interest charges. Prince was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay $18,777,134.68 in restitution to the Veteran’s Health Administration. Prince, who appeared at the sentencing hearing free on bond, was remanded at the hearing’s conclusion.
According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Prince was one of two Case Management Liaisons for the VA’s Spina Bifida (SB) Health Care Benefits Program. The program covers the medial needs of children of certain veterans of the Korea and Vietnam wars with SB. Acting as a subject matter expert working in a Denver call center, Prince spoke with health care providers and SB beneficiaries or their families regarding their health care needs and reimbursement for care under the program.
As the architect of an elaborate conspiracy based on a fictional VA home health program the defendant invented, Prince recruited friends and family members to open “home health agencies” knowing they lacked the necessary medical licenses or credentials to bill the VA for SB beneficiaries’ home health services. The defendant directed every aspect of the home health agencies; no changes were made to business operations without his knowledge, review, and approval.
Further, with direct access to the SB beneficiaries and their family members, Prince identified himself to them as the one in charge of the fictional program. He represented that he had the authority on behalf of the VA to approve family members as home health care providers for the SB beneficiaries, even though the caregivers had no specific training certifications. He told these family members to sign up as contractors with “vetted” home health agencies, which were those companies owned by his friends and family. The defendant then directed the completion and submission to the VA of fraudulent and inflated claims for home health services by unapproved providers through unlicensed home health companies.
A written plan of care from a medical professional was required for a beneficiary to receive home health benefits under the SB program. In furtherance of his scheme to defraud, Prince would often pre-populate the number of hours the beneficiary was eligible for home health care on a physician’s written plan before submitting the plan for the physician’s signature. Then when speaking to the beneficiaries, Prince would instruct them to submit logs reflecting the maximum hours of plan service even when beneficiaries said they did not or could not provide that many hours of service, often presenting false information to the beneficiaries about what they were permitted to bill for under the program.
The defendant instructed the home health companies regarding how much to charge the VA for the fraudulent claims, directing them to keep approximately 80% of the paid amount for the company and send just 20% to the caregiver family member. When beneficiaries questioned the disparity between the caregiver’s pay and the agency’s pay on statements of benefits, Prince lied about agency expenses incurred to operate the home health entities.
Between June, 2017 and June, 2018, Prince referred approximately 45 SB beneficiaries to the sham home health entities. During that time, the home health entities submitted fraudulent claims totaling over $20 million to the VA, and approximately $18 million of that was paid out to five home health entities from the SB Health Care Benefits Program. Prince benefited from the scheme through payments to one of the companies owned by his wife, and from kickbacks paid to him by two of the agencies. As part of his agreement with these two, Prince received kickbacks of 50% of the VA payments for each beneficiary after expenses. Prince received approximately $1.5 million in kickbacks from two of the home health entities between December, 2017 and June, 2018.
As a federal government employee, Prince unlawfully used his public office to benefit himself and receive illegal kickbacks and gratuities.
“The defendant stole from taxpayers and from a program designed to help those who served our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn. “The defendant will be spending a substantial amount of time in prison because of his fraudulent behavior.”
“Our nation’s veterans deserve the best healthcare and services available provided by honest public servants,” said Gregg Hirstein, Special Agent in Charge, VA Office of Inspector General. “This sentencing underscores VA OIG’s commitment to protecting American taxpayers from corrupt federal employees using their position for financial gain.”
“Mr. Prince exploited his inside knowledge of the VA’s Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program for personal gain, victimizing a program designed for a group in need of extra assistance,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Andy Tsui. “As this sentence shows, IRS-Criminal Investigation will identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud government programs designed to support our country’s citizens.”
“Bribery and corruption pose a fundamental threat to our governmental agencies and the public’s confidence in them,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “Joseph Prince’s actions took a significant toll on our community’s trust in the Office of Veteran’s Affairs and its pocketbooks, siphoning away money that could be used for resources beneficial to those who need it most, our veterans who served our country. The sentence today reflects the tremendous effort in this joint investigation by the FBI, IRS and VA-OIG with prosecution by the Colorado United States Attorney’s Office as we sought justice for our selfless veterans and to hold accountable those who selfishly abuse their authority.”
Co-conspirator and long-time friend Roland Vaughn pled guilty to paying an illegal gratuity to a public official on August 1, 2019, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Moore on June 25, 2020. Additional friends Glenn Beach and Catherine Beach each pleaded guilty to paying an illegal gratuity to Prince and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2020.
Prince was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on June 21, 2018, and was found guilty by a trial jury on March 12, 2020. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore.
This case was investigated by VA’s Office of the Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the FBI.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna K. Edgar and Hetal J. Doshi.
United States Attorney's Office District of Arizona May 2020 Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
I. Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
92 individuals were charged in May with illegal reentry
A. 86 of those 92 individuals had previously been convicted of non-immigration criminal offenses in the U.S.
Of the 86 individuals with non-immigration criminal records:
1. 23 had violent crime convictions, including:
1 individual had a homicide conviction
5 individuals had sex offense convictions
9 individuals had domestic violence convictions2. 13 had property crime convictions
3. 20 had DUI convictions
4. 51 had drug crime convictions
B. 39 of those 92 individuals had been deported three or more times
II. Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
9 individuals were charged in May with alien smuggling
III. Illegal Entry (Criminal Consequence Initiative) (8 U.S.C. 1325)
0 individuals were charged in May with illegal entry on the CCI calendar
Criminal conviction information based on preliminary criminal history reports provided by the arresting agency.
These numbers represent United States Attorney's Office prosecutions only. These numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
*The Department of Homeland Security instituted a policy in late March of expeditiously returning aliens who illegally enter the United States rather than detaining them. The decreased number of individuals presented to this Office for prosecution coincides with the implementation of that policy and other COVID-19 related border restrictions.
*The April Immigration and Border Crimes Report that was issued on May 19 failed to include an additional charge of alien smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324). The total number should have been 15 individuals rather than 14 individuals.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-057_May Immigration and Border Crimes Report
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.United States Announces $425,000 Settlement with Allentown Beauty School for Allegedly Falsifying Federal Student Financial Aid ClaimsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Metro Beauty Academy, LLC (“MBA”) has agreed to pay $425,000 to resolve allegations that the school falsely sought federal student aid for students ineligible to receive such aid.
MBA is a private, for-profit beauty school with its principal office and campus located in Allentown, PA. Since May 2007, MBA has operated various educational and technical programs, such as cosmetology, esthetics, and massage therapy. MBA offers financial aid to its students through various federal financial aid programs, including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Family Education Loans. To receive federal financial aid funds, MBA entered into a program participation agreement with the United States Department of Education. The Department of Education conditions MBA’s receipt of federal financial aid upon compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (“Title IV”).
The settlement resolves allegations raised by a whistleblower pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act and resolves the findings of the Department of Education’s program review. An investigation by the United States Attorney’s office focused on allegations that from January 2009 through December 2013, MBA knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted claims for federal student financial aid that were false because the students were ineligible to receive such aid. Specifically, the United States alleges that the students did not have a high school diploma or equivalent at the time they enrolled at MBA, as required by Title IV. In some cases, the United States contends that MBA staff created fake diplomas for students, or encouraged students to obtain false credentials from “diploma mills.”
“When schools agree to participate in the Title IV federal financial aid program, they must comply with regulations designed to ensure that qualified students have access to higher education,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “When a school receives financial educational assistance for ineligible students, it is unfair not only to other educational institutions that comply with the regulations, but also to the students attending the non-compliant school who may find themselves unqualified for employment and saddled with debt.”
In accordance with the settlement agreement, MBA will make total payments of $425,000. Included in that amount are payments to the federal government for losses associated with the federal student financial aid program, and to the whistleblower pursuant to the False Claims Act.
This settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, private citizens, called relators, are permitted to bring lawsuits on behalf of the United States and obtain a portion of the government’s recovery. The False Claims Act also permits the government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, which occurred in this case. The qui tam complaint was filed by Brian J. McCormick of Ross Feller Casey, LLP in Philadelphia. “We thank the relator and relator’s counsel for their invaluable contribution in this case. Without information from citizens like the relator, detecting fraud and conserving government program funds would be much more difficult,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.
The government’s resolution of this matter illustrates its emphasis on combating fraud on student financial aid programs and other grant fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. This case was investigated by the Department of Education Federal Student Aid Office and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General. It is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey L. B. Smith, with assistance from Auditor Dawn Wiggins, and Fraud Investigator Jeffrey Braun.
The case is captioned United States of America, ex rel. Tracy L. Donmoyer v. Metro Beauty Academy, LLC., Civ. A. No. 14-4540 (E.D. Pa.). The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
U.S. Attorney Keefe Announces Additional Grants to North Florida Communities to Address COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, today announced the award of grants to four law enforcement agencies in the district, with a combined total of $975,300. Department of Justice grants are awarded to help those agencies respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grants – awarded to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, Panama
City Police Department, and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office – are being provided under the
Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. Numerous other communities within the Northern District of Florida are eligible for funding under the grant program, and the Justice Department is moving quickly to award grants on a rolling basis, aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.“Throughout the many weeks our district and the nation have been dealing with the threat of
COVID-19, our public safety first responders have worked tirelessly to make sure members of the public are safe,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “The resources of local agencies have been stretched thin, and these grant funds will help ease the financial burden on public safety agencies so they can continue protecting and serving our citizens.”
The grant awards announced include: • Escambia County Sheriff’s Office: $370,107
• Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office: $127,963
• Panama City Police Department: $73,818
• Tallahassee Police Department: $403,412“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the
Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”The law establishing the grant program allows jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, distributing resources to hard-hit areas, and addressing inmate medical needs.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant Program are candidates for receiving the emergency funding. Local units of government will receive direct awards separately according to their jurisdictions’ allocations.The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims, and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorne ’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.U.S. Attorney Announces over $1.8M in DOJ Grants Related to COVID-19Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that various jurisdictions across the Eastern District of Virginia have recently been awarded over $1.8 million in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grants, to Prince William County ($343,909), City of Richmond ($477,498), City of Virginia Beach ($258,160), City of Newport News ($335,673), City of Hopewell ($34,117), and Fairfax County ($402,297), are available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
“Those on the front lines of the public safety response to the coronavirus have our support, gratitude, and utmost respect,” said Terwilliger. “The Department of Justice provides this funding with significant flexibility, so that state and local departments can use it in the ways that best benefit their officers and their community.”
The grants come on the heels of a separate DOJ grants of nearly $14 million to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services ($10,832,775), City of Petersburg ($98,689), City of Alexandria ($113,197), County of Hanover ($39,736), City of Suffolk ($97,120), Town of Leesburg ($38,812), County of Stafford ($112,153), James City County ($34,507), City of Chesapeake ($386,783), Henrico County ($214,763), Chesterfield County ($185,482), City of Norfolk ($564,663), Manassas City ($41,306), Fredericksburg ($43,658), and Loudoun County ($114,472) announced in May, and to the cities of Portsmouth ($251,760), Hampton ($160,366), and the counties of Arlington ($136,727) York ($45,881) and Spotsylvania ($90,846) announced last week.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”
The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program allows States, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Funded projects or initiatives may include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), hiring, supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer), training, travel expenses (particularly related to the distribution of resources to the most impacted areas), and addressing the medical needs of inmates in state, local, and tribal prisons, jails, and detention centers.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Two Pennsylvania men indicted on rioting and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
Justin E. Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Brandon Michael Althof Long, age 23, and Devon Bryce Poland, age 22, both of Erie, Pennsylvania with one count each of conspiracy to riot and cause civil disorder, conspiracy to use fire to commit a felony, interstate travel to riot and transporting any firearm in furtherance of civil disorder.
“Today’s indictment alleges that these two defendants traveled across state lines not to engage in Constitutionally protected free speech, but with the intent to burn and loot downtown Cleveland,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “The men and women of the Justice Department, working with our state and local partners, are committed to holding accountable anyone responsible for the numerous criminal actions that occurred in Cleveland on May 30. This indictment represents the first of such federal charges filed in this district, but they are not expected to be the last.”
“The indictments of Mr. Poland and Mr. Long mark just the beginning of our combined law enforcement effort to identify, locate, and apprehend those who exploited a peaceful protest for their personal, but very short-term, gain,” said FBI SAC Eric B. Smith. “The FBI, along with all of our federal, state, and local partners, will not cease in our efforts to bring those responsible for May 30th's carnage to justice. We continue to review every available photo, video, and social media posting to piece together the violent activity that occurred in Cleveland, and to identify those who had a hand in making it happen."
According to the indictment, on May 30, 2020, Long and Poland drove to the city of Cleveland with the intent to participate in a riot and commit acts of violence. Long and Poland were arrested near the intersection of East 8th Street, an alleyway, and Huron Avenue in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, in possession of a black backpack containing a hammer, two containers of Sterno Firestarter Instant Flame Gel, a can of spray paint and a glass bottle of liquor with a bar-style pour top. A Glock semi-automatic firearm and two magazines loaded with ammunition were also located in their vehicle.
On May 31st, The FBI executed a search warrant on iPhones found in the defendant’s vehicle and reviewed messages between Long and Poland that contain statements that demonstrate an intent by Long and Poland to travel from Pennsylvania to Cleveland, Ohio on May 30, 2020, to participate in, promote, encourage, and aid and abet the criminal riots. In these messages, the defendants discuss bringing with them supplies for an incendiary device, looting and rioting.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan Brown.
Two Niagara County Men Charged with Forcing Undocumented Immigrants to Work in Their Mexican RestaurantRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Roberto Montes-Villalpando, 59, of Sanborn, NY, and Abraham Montes, 27, of Lockport, NY, with conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain, harboring an alien for financial gain, and harboring an alien for financial gain and causing serious bodily injury. Abraham Montes is also charged with transporting an alien for financial gain. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, with support from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, stated that according to the indictment, the defendants owned and operated El Cubilete Mexican Restaurant, formerly located at 9400 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls, NY, between December 2014 and late 2018, at which time the restaurant moved to 2050 Cayuga Extension in Niagara Falls. Defendant Montes-Villalpando managed the restaurant, supervised the staff, including wait and kitchen staff, made hiring and firing decisions, and determined payroll. Defendant Montes supervised the kitchen staff of El Cubilete. The kitchen staff included Victims 1, 2, 3, and 4, who were each natives and citizens of Mexico without any legal status in the United States. The victims were employed by the defendants as cooks, food preparers, and dishwashers. In addition, the victims sublet an apartment rented by defendant Montes-Villalpando in Niagara Falls.
Between November 1, 2014, and February 18, 2018, the defendants recruited and hired undocumented foreign nationals who had entered the United States illegally to work for them. Montes-Villalpando and Montes enticed prospective laborers who lived and worked in Ohio, including Victim 1 and Victim 2, to work at El Cubilete by promising better pay and fewer hours. The defendants conspired to obtain the labor and services of Victims 1 through 4 by serious harm and threats of serious harm. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants are accused of causing serious bodily injury to Victim 3.
“As alleged in this indictment, the defendants took advantage of these aliens by using threats and, in at least the case of one victim, physical force, in order to exploit them,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Human trafficking of any sort, including forced labor, will not be tolerated in our great country, and those who seek to inflict such an injustice on another human being will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to investigating and prosecuting all forms of human trafficking, including forced labor,” said Special Agent-in- Charge Kevin Kelly of HSI Buffalo. “Forced labor strips individuals of their basic human freedom and has no place in a modern society or in our community. HSI is proud of the work accomplished in this case with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners.”
“This is a fine example of how the Human Trafficking Task Force is working between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard. “These charges are the result of a detailed investigation and our proof of the commitment that law enforcement has to putting an end to human trafficking in this area.”
The defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, under the direction of Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Region, and the and the Human Trafficking Task Force of the Western District of New York.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Two Brooklyn Residents and a Greene County Resident Indicted in Connection with Molotov Cocktail Attacks on NYPD VehiclesRead the Press Release
Two indictments were returned yesterday in federal court in Central Islip, New York, charging Samantha Shader, and co-defendants Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman in connection with their alleged attempts to use improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as “Molotov Cocktails,” to damage and destroy New York City Police Department vehicles during protests this past month.
The seven-count indictments each charge the defendants with the use of explosives, arson, use of explosives to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and making or possessing a destructive device.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“Amid largely peaceful demonstrations taking place on the night of May 29, 2020, these defendants allegedly hurled Molotov Cocktails at NYPD vehicles without regard for the potentially deadly consequences,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Such criminal acts should never be confused with legitimate protest. Those who carry out attacks on NYPD Officers or vehicles are not protesters, they are criminals, and they will be treated as such.”
“A little more than a week after their arrests, Shader, Mattis, and Rahman have been charged with seven-count indictments in response to their potentially deadly attacks. Their criminal behavior risked lives, destroyed equipment that exists to serve the community, siphoned response resources, and created a threat to those who had every right to safely assemble and express their opinion,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
“Violence, like that alleged here, not only endangers our NYPD officers but threatens the constitutional right of people to peacefully protest. These indictments by our federal partners reflect our joint condemnation of the kind of isolated acts a just society can never tolerate,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.
As detailed in court filings in the case against Mattis and Rahman, an NYPD surveillance camera recorded Rahman tossing a Molotov cocktail at an NYPD vehicle parked near the 88th Precinct in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, then fleeing in a tan minivan. Police Officers pursued the minivan and arrested Rahman and Mattis, who was the vehicle’s driver. In the vehicle, the NYPD found several component items for Molotov Cocktails, including a lighter, a bottle filled with liquid suspected to be gasoline and toilet paper, additional bottles and toilet paper, and a gasoline canister.
As detailed in court filings in the case against Shader, a video recorded by a witness captured her igniting a Molotov cocktail and throwing it at an NYPD vehicle occupied by four police officers, shattering two of its windows. Police officers pursued Shader as she attempted to flee and apprehended her at the scene.
The charges in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted on all counts, the defendants face sentences of up to life imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian C. Richardson and Jonathan Algor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
COLINFORD MATTIS
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkUROOJ RAHMAN
Age: 31
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-203 (BMC)
SAMANTHA SHADER
Age: 27
Catskill, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-202 (DLI)
Toledo man indicted for using a firearm in a crime of violenceRead the Press Release
Justin. E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Juarvez Whitfield Neeley, 22, of Toledo with interference with commerce by threats or violence and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and in retaliation of a crime of violence.
According to the criminal complaint filed in this matter, On March 29, 2020, officers with the Toledo Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Summit Market on 3740 North Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio. Upon arrival, officers identified two victims that had been shot. The victims claimed that two armed men entered the store and one of the men, later identified as Neeley, approached the counter, demanded money and ultimately shot both victims.
A Toledo Police Officer and numerous tips received identified one of the unknown suspects as Juarvez Whitfield Neeley. On May 15, 2020, Neeley was placed into custody without incident by the United States Marshals Service. The second suspect remains at large.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and the Toledo Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew D. Simko.
Three Columbia Men Charged with Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Three Columbia, Missouri, men were charged in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Boone County, Missouri.
Keveon Martez Johnson, 36, his brother, Marcus Johnson, 34, and Marcus Seawood, 38, were charged in separate but related criminal complaints filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Today’s complaints alleges that all three men participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Boone County from Dec. 17, 2019, to June 11, 2020.
According to affidavits filed in support of the federal criminal complaints, the Columbia Police Department utilized a confidential source to make two controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl from Keveon Johnson. The confidential source identified Marcus Johnson as a “runner” for Keveon Johnson who shows up to complete the narcotics transactions.
Investigators used another confidential source to purchase heroin from Seawood, the affidavits say. When the confidential source arrived for the transaction, Keveon and Marcus Johnson were in the vehicle with Seawood during the exchange.
Federal agents utilized a third confidential source, who had purchased heroin from Keveon Johnson on multiple occasions, to make four controlled purchases of heroin from Keveon Johnson and his associates in May 2020. On three occasions, the affidavits say, the confidential source purchased approximately six grams of heroin from Keveon Johnson for $450. On the fourth occasion, the affidavits say, the confidential source purchased approximately 12 grams of heroin from Keveon Johnson for $875.
On Thursday, June 11, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Keveon Johnson’s residence. Inside the pocket of a jacket in the master bedroom closet officers found a plastic bag that contained approximately 153 grams of heroin. In the same pocket, officers found $4,000. Inside the pocket of another jacket officers found a bag that contained approximately 15 grams of heroin.
Keveon and Marcus Johnson and Seawood were taken into custody on separate traffic stops on Thursday, June 11. At the time of his arrest, Marcus Johnson was in possession of approximately three grams of heroin.
The charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases are being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly. They were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.
Three Charged in $180 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment against three individuals for their alleged involvement in various schemes to defraud Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance companies, and their conspiracy to launder the proceeds has been unsealed today. The conduct allegedly resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
Mitchell “Chad” Barrett, 54, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, David “Jason” Rutland, 41, of Bolton, Mississippi, and Thomas “Tommy” Shoemaker, 56, of Rayville, Louisiana were charged on May 27, 2020, in the Southern District of Mississippi.
The indictment alleges that between September 2011 and January 2016, Barrett, Rutland, and Shoemaker conspired to and engaged in a scheme to defraud numerous health care benefit programs of more than $180 million, including more than $50 million from federal healthcare programs. Using several pharmacies, including Gluckstadt Special Care Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, World Health Industries Inc., Opus Rx LLC, and Rx Pro Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, the defendants, as alleged, fraudulently formulated, dispensed, shipped, and billed insurance companies for compound medications in the form of topical creams and capsules, some of which contained controlled substances.
To further facilitate their scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, the defendants allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to solicit and pay kickbacks and bribes to marketers, physicians, other medical providers, and beneficiaries to refer, prescribe, and receive prescriptions for medically unnecessary compound medications. The defendants also allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to launder the proceeds of their fraudulent activity by concealing the proceeds they obtained and conducting monetary transactions of a value greater than $10,000, including the purchase of numerous assets, such as real estate, luxury automobiles, a three-carat diamond, and other high-priced goods.
The charges announced today target alleged schemes billing Medicare, TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families) and private insurance companies for medically unnecessary compounded medications.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, DCIS, and IRS-CI. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General also assisted with the case. Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen, Amanda Wick, and Steven Brantley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with the support and assistance of Trial Attorney Dustin Davis of the Fraud Section.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Three Charged in $180 Million Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment against three individuals for their alleged involvement in various schemes to defraud Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance companies, and their conspiracy to launder the proceeds has been unsealed today. The conduct allegedly resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Cyndy Bruce of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
Mitchell “Chad” Barrett, 54, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, David “Jason” Rutland, 41, of Bolton, Mississippi, and Thomas “Tommy” Shoemaker, 56, of Rayville, Louisiana were charged on May 27, 2020, in the Southern District of Mississippi.
The indictment alleges that between September 2011 and January 2016, Barrett, Rutland, and Shoemaker conspired to and engaged in a scheme to defraud numerous health care benefit programs of more than $180 million, including more than $50 million from federal healthcare programs. Using several pharmacies, including Gluckstadt Special Care Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, World Health Industries Inc., Opus Rx LLC, and Rx Pro Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, the defendants, as alleged, fraudulently formulated, dispensed, shipped, and billed insurance companies for compound medications in the form of topical creams and capsules, some of which contained controlled substances.
To further facilitate their scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, the defendants allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to solicit and pay kickbacks and bribes to marketers, physicians, other medical providers, and beneficiaries to refer, prescribe, and receive prescriptions for medically unnecessary compound medications. The defendants also allegedly conspired to and engaged in a scheme to launder the proceeds of their fraudulent activity by concealing the proceeds they obtained and conducting monetary transactions of a value greater than $10,000, including the purchase of numerous assets, such as real estate, luxury automobiles, a three-carat diamond, and other high-priced goods.
The charges announced today target alleged schemes billing Medicare, TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families) and private insurance companies for medically unnecessary compounded medications.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, DCIS, and IRS-CI. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General also assisted with the case. Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen, Amanda Wick, and Steven Brantley of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn Van Buskirk of the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case with the support and assistance of Trial Attorney Dustin Davis of the Fraud Section.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Texas man charged for impeding law enforcement during protestRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 32-year-old resident of Austin has been taken into custody on charges of civil disorder, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Travis Glendon Martin III is set to make his appearance at 2:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo. He is charged in a criminal complaint filed June 5.
According to the charges, authorities had been engaged in the lawful performance of their duties May 29 during a protest in Houston related to the death of George Floyd. The protest allegedly involved multiple acts of violence at the hands of many which resulted in damage to property and injury to peaceful protesters and others.
Some law enforcement personnel were assigned to control pedestrian traffic and prevent their entrance to Interstate-45, according to the charges. During this time, Martin allegedly lowered his shoulder and rammed one of the officers in an attempt to break through the police line and enter the interstate.
Officers attempted to gain control of Martin who had been exhibiting passive resistance by placing his arms underneath his body as he lay on the ground, according to the complaint. Martin’s actions allegedly impeded law enforcement as another individual was able to remove a traffic cone and throw it at the officers while they attempted to take Martin into custody.
The complaint further alleges that Martin’s actions emboldened others to commit similar acts. During his arrest, yet another person then threw traffic cones at the officers which further obstructed, delayed and adversely affected commerce up the ramp and onto the interstate, according to the charges.
Civil disorder involves the commission of any act or attempt to obstruct, impede or interfere with a fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the performance of official duties which adversely affects commerce.
If convicted, Martin faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Texas Man Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Houston man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute up to 15 kilograms of cocaine and conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between June 2014 and November 2016, Naleth Vongsengchanh, 51, engaged in a conspiracy to traffic kilogram quantities of cocaine to the Virginia region for redistribution and to launder the proceeds. In the beginning of the conspiracy, Vongsengchanh resided in the Virginia region and sold cocaine locally before moving to Houston. Beginning in January 2015, Vongsengchanh began providing other individuals with kilogram quantities of cocaine to be couriered from Texas to the Virginia region by car.
Additionally, Vongsengchanh and his spouse, Oksana Vovk, utilized numerous bank accounts to launder the drug proceeds stemming from the cocaine trafficking. One of the utilized accounts was for an illegitimate business known as Stylish Traveler LLC through which Vongsengchanh and Vovk laundered over $78,000. In addition to the laundering of the proceeds, Vongsengchanh received payment for cocaine via other individuals transporting bulk cash currency for him and Vovk from the Virginia region to Texas.
Vongsengchanh is a career offender with a lengthy criminal history to include felony convictions for voluntary manslaughter while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and two convictions for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Voyk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to over two years in prison.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Russian Roulette. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark Herring, Attorney General for Virginia; Nick Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel James Morris, Vienna Chief of Police; Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field; Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Michael L. Brown, Alexandria Chief of Police; and M. Jay Farr, Arlington County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney General Karolina Klyuchnikova prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-33.
Tampa Man Indicted for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Rossonno Borders, Jr. (22, Tampa) with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Borders faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Borders that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
According to the
indictment , on or about February 5, 2020, in the Middle District of Florida, Borders knowingly possessed a firearm and five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Borders had been previously convicted of grand theft, a third-degree felony, on or about June 1, 2017. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Syracuse Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bruce A. Wakker, age 65, of Syracuse, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged with attempting to entice or coerce a child.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The criminal complaint alleges that between November 15, 2019 and June 11, 2020, Wakker exchanged sexually explicit text messages with an undercover investigator who was posing as both a 9-year-old girl and the adult mother of the girl. On several occasions, Wakker directly instructed the girl how to use various sexual objects and aids he purchased and mailed to her and her mother. Earlier this month, Wakker discussed meeting the girl and her mother. On June 11, Wakker traveled from his residence in Syracuse to New York Mills, New York, to meet with them. Wakker was encountered by law enforcement and arrested.
Wakker appeared today for an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, who scheduled Wakker’s detention hearing for June 17. Wakker will remain detained pending that hearing.
This charge filed against Wakker carries a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, including investigators from the Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey Brown and Rachel Williams.
Anyone who wants to provide law enforcement with information about the defendant should contact the FBI Albany Field Office at (518) 465-7551.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, Prouect Safe Childgood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better located, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/.
St. Thomas Airport Traveler Sentenced for Possession of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Aubrey Meyers, 64, was sentenced yesterday on his conviction for possession of cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Meyers previously pled guilty to the charge on January 21, 2020. In his plea agreement, he admitted that, on or about October 27, 2019, at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, he possessed five small clear plastic bags containing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Court records indicate that Meyers was a ticketed passenger onboard a Spirit Airlines flight destined for Orlando, Florida when a routine search of his luggage identified the five plastic bags containing approximately 136 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.
District Court Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller sentenced Meyers to time served and a one-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Sleeper.Springfield Man Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was charged yesterday in federal court in Springfield with child pornography offenses.
Ross Lopata, 32, was charged in a criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography. Lopata was detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield yesterday.
The complaint alleges that between June 2019 and June 11, 2020, Lopata received and possessed child pornography.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Dakota Man with Long Criminal History Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A felon and drug user who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced June 11, 2020, to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Dennis Ray Wynn, 46, from Jefferson, South Dakota, received the prison term after a February 18, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and illegal drug user.
Evidence presented by the United States at the detention, change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed on June 29, 2018, a traffic stop, led to the discovery of $4,650 in cash and admissions regarding the possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. A search warrant executed at Wynn’s home located the methamphetamine and marijuana and a Jimenez Arms semiautomatic .22 caliber pistol among other things.
Wynn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wynn was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 6-month term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4071. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Victor Fossett, age 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2020, to bank robbery and to violating the conditions of his federal supervised release, in connection with three bank robberies he committed in March 2019.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Baltimore; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department, and Chief Lisa Myers of the Howard County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, between March 13 and March 18, 2019, Fossett robbed three banks—in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County—stealing a total of more than $8,000. Fossett was on federal supervised release at the time of the robberies, having previously sustained three federal convictions for bank robbery—the last of which resulted in a sentence of 151 months in federal prison. In each robbery, Fossett entered the bank and wrote a note on a deposit slip announcing the robbery and demanding cash. Fossett then approached a teller and gave them the note. After stealing cash from the teller, Fossett fled the bank in his blue Mini Cooper car.
Specifically, on March 13, 2019, Fossett robbed the M&T Bank in the 300 block of Baltimore Street in Baltimore. On March 14, 2019, Fossett robbed the PNC Bank located in the 6200 block of Washington Boulevard in Elkridge, and on March 18, 2019, Fossett robbed the PNC Bank located in the 700 block of Frederick Road in Catonsville.
On March 19, 2019, officers with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police located Fossett traveling southbound on I-895 towards Howard County in his blue Mini Cooper car. Law enforcement had already obtained an arrest warrant for Fossett, so they conducted a traffic stop and ultimately arrested him. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant on Fossett’s vehicle and recovered clothing and other items worn during the bank robberies as well as $3,923 in cash in the car’s glovebox—which was bank robbery proceeds.
Fossett faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the bank robbery charge and a maximum of two years in prison for violating his supervised release. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for September 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County Police Departments for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who is prosecuting the case.
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Second Arrest Made for the Arson of Fayetteville’s Historic Market HouseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A second suspect was arrested for taking part in the arson of Fayetteville’s Market House after an otherwise peaceful demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, turned violent, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced.
ATF special agents and local law enforcement arrested Andrew Garcia-Smith, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, after Garcia-Smith was released from a hospital due to burn injuries sustained as a result of his involvement in the arson. Garcia-Smith is charged by complaint with one count of maliciously damaging property owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance. Garcia-Smith made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II.
According to the complaint, on May 30, 2020, several individuals set fire to the Market House in downtown Fayetteville. During the period of civil unrest, a Facebook Live video showed a male with long hair pulled into a bun, later identified as Garcia-Smith, picking up a bottle of burning liquid and throwing it into the Market House’s door. As Garcia-Smith threw the bottle, a portion of the burning liquid spilled back onto him, causing his hair and clothes to catch on fire. ATF special agents later identified Garcia-Smith as the suspect from the video when he reported to a local hospital with burn injuries shortly after the violent protest.
The count charged in the criminal complaint carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven (7) years, a maximum potential penalty of forty (40) years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD), and FPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Rhoades and J.D. Koesters of the U.S. Attorney's Office’s Criminal Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Seattle man pleads guilty to illegal possession of a dozen firearms including assault riflesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 67-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. PARK QUAN was arrested July 29, 2019, after FBI agents investigating one of his roommates in connection with a data theft served a search warrant on his home and discovered a cache of weapons. QUAN has remained in custody since his arrest. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will recommend a four-year prison sentenced when QUAN is sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 8, 2020.
According to records filed in the case, agents investigating the data theft were sweeping the residence for safety when they observed numerous firearms in a bedroom used by QUAN. Agents applied for and got a second judicially-authorized search warrant and began collecting the firearms. The cache of weapons included four semi-automatic handguns, six semi-automatic rifles, two of them assault rifles, and two additional rifles. At least one of the semi-automatic rifles was loaded. Law enforcement also seized a variety of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, flare launchers, some containers of explosive powder, and two bump stocks, which QUAN claimed to have purchased before the devices were outlawed.
QUAN has a 1983 federal conviction in Washington for being a felon in possession of explosives and a 1991 federal conviction in Texas for possessing an unregistered machine gun. QUAN also has a military court-martial conviction for soliciting the theft of military weapons. Due to those convictions, QUAN is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Andrew Friedman.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing A Firearm and Selling CocaineRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Miguel Gonzalez-Adams, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and an $8,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who is handling the case, stated that on January 31, 2020, United States Postal Inspectors obtained a search warrant for a priority mail package that was sent from Puerto Rico to the defendant’s residence in Rochester. The package contained over two kilograms of cocaine. The cocaine was removed from the package and replaced with sham cocaine. Postal Inspectors then conducted a controlled delivery of the package to Gonzalez-Adams’ residence.
On February 3, 2020, once the defendant accepted delivery of the package, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Gonzalez-Adams’ residence. Officers found the opened package on the first floor of the house. The defendant was located in an upstairs bedroom with $2,435 in cash and a cell phone that displayed the tracking information for the cocaine package. Officers also recovered a loaded AR-15 style rifle, along with an additional 162 rounds of ammunition for that weapon.
Gonzalez-Adams was previously convicted in 1999 of felony crimes in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. As a result, he is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Kevin M. Henderson; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick D. Phelan; the Webster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Rieger; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2020, at 9:15 am before Judge Siragusa.
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Registered Sex Offender in Pensacola Arrested for New Federal Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Steven J. McLendon, 36, of Pensacola, was arrested this morning on federal charges related to the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. McLendon is a registered sex offender in the state of Florida stemming from prior convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor and child pornography in 2007. Lawrence Keefe, United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today after McLendon made his initial appearance in federal court in Pensacola.The allegations against McLendon stem from a months long investigation by the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement in Pensacola. The charges allege that from February through June, 2020, McLendon was utilizing peer to peer software to distribute and receive child pornography in Pensacola. Upon the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Pensacola this week, law enforcement is alleged to have seized multiple pieces of digital evidence containing child pornography. This includes a device McLendon is alleged to have attempted to hide in his refrigerator.“Protecting the children of our community against those who would do them harm is a difficult and serious task. My office is grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to rescue children from online sexual exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said.
“FDLE’s Cyber Squad began this investigation in March and found child pornography involving young children being victimized,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Jack Massey. “McLendon is already on
Florida’s Sex Offender Registry and I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our cyber squad agents.”McLendon, because of his prior convictions, faces the following enhanced penalties if convicted: • Distribution of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison; • Receipt of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison; • Possession of Child Pornography – A mandatory minimum of 10 years up to a maximum of 20 years in prison; and
• Forfeiture of his all the electronics used to commit the offenses.The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security
Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the North
Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern a, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Previously convicted felon from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal drug and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Selmonio Davis, 34, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on June 11 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to his plea agreement, Davis possessed methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine at his apartment when police executed a search warrant at the location on June 6, 2019. Davis also possessed other materials and drug paraphernalia to assist him in preparing the drugs for distribution. Davis also possessed a semiautomatic handgun to further his drug trafficking crimes. Davis could not lawfully possess this firearm based on previous felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and false imprisonment.
Davis is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces 108 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.
Port Richey Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Drug Dealing and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Angelo Salvarezza (38, Port Richey) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
Salvarezza had pleaded guilty on February 12, 2020.
According to court documents, Salvarezza was an illegal narcotics dealer in a residential neighborhood in Port Richey, Florida. From his own residence, Salvarezza sold a confidential source (CS) methamphetamine on three different occasions. In total, Salvarezza sold the CS 4 ounces of methamphetamine for $2,400.
On February 12, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Salvarezza’s residence. During that search, they located approximately 152.2 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, three handguns, various ammunition, and $6,367, all in Salvarezza’s bedroom.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety—one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Philadelphia Woman Caught on Turnpike with 80,000 Stamp Bags of HeroinRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA –A Philadelphia woman has been charged federally with possession with intent to distribute heroin, United States Attorney Scott Brady announced today.
Fiordaliza Rodriguez Reyes, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is charged by complaint with knowingly and intentionally possessing with intent to distribute, heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, on June 11, 2020. Reyes was taken into custody Thursday evening and made her appearance in United States District Court in Pittsburgh today.
According to the complaint, on June 11, 2020, at approximately 11:07 am, Troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Safe Highways Initiative through Effective Law Enforcement and Detection (SHIELD) Unit, seized from Rodriguez Reyes’ vehicle approximately 1,600 bricks, or approximately 80,000 stamp bags of suspected heroin, which is the equivalent of approximately 800 grams of heroin. The suspected heroin field-tested positive for the controlled substance. Rodriguez Reyes was traveling along the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to an address in the Wilkinsburg area of Pittsburgh.
The count charged in the criminal complaint carries a minimum potential penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison as well as a fine not to exceed $5,000,000.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case for the government.
The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Perry Man Sentenced for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Michael Williams, 34, of Perry, Florida, has been sentenced to serve
13½ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple offenses related to armed drug trafficking. When he was arrested, Williams was found in possession of several firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia. The sentence was announced by
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.“Working together, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies have removed a serious and dangerous drug criminal from the streets of the community,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe.
“Our agencies are committed to using our resources in partnership with local law enforcement to assist them however we can to enhance public safety.”Williams was arrested by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in state court. During this encounter with Williams and his girlfriend, deputies observed methamphetamine and a firearm. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies located over two ounces of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia used for the sale of methamphetamine including baggies and scales, and four firearms, including a TEC-DC9 with two high capacity magazines.
“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Daryl McCrary. “This sentencing is another example that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”
“I am proud of the hard work and the thorough investigation conducted by the Lafayette County
Sheriff's Office,” said Sheriff Lamb. “I am also proud of our partnerships we have with our Federal
Partners. This combined effort has led to bringing this individual to justice. His days of peddling poison and possessing illegal firearms are over.”Williams pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Williams had multiple prior convictions for weapons and drug charges. This sentencing followed a joint investigation by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with laboratory assistance from the
Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States At orney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.Palm Bay Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced three individuals for possessing device-making equipment used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards. Cassandra S. Ulysse (28, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, Wilson Sidney Joseph Ash (31, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, and Herly Pierre Ulysse (25, Palm Bay) was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison. All three individuals had pleaded guilty in February 2020. A fourth co-defendant, Dwight R. Cunningham (35, Palm Bay), who was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 13, 2019, for possession of device-making equipment, possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices, and aggravated identity theft, is a fugitive and has not yet been arrested.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2018, officers from the Palm Bay Police Department obtained a search warrant to search a residence in Palm Bay, where Cassandra S. Ulysse, Herly Pierre Ulysse and Ash had been living. While searching the residence, officers located a credit card printer, a card embosser, several credit card skimming and encoding devices, several counterfeit Florida ID cards, and a number of counterfeit credit cards. The counterfeit credit cards were manufactured using stolen identities and stolen credit card numbers.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Palm Bay Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Ontario County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Stealing More Than $750,000 from Her EmployerRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Karen Owens, 55, of Phelps, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was employed by Finger Lakes Conveyors, Inc. (FLC) as its Director of Finance from 2003 to 2017. Owens had authority to write and issue checks from FLC's banking account at Five Star Bank to FLC's vendors and creditors in order to pay legitimate business expenses. The defendant also had an obligation to record the details of each check she wrote and issued on behalf of FLC timely and accurately - including check date, check number, and payee - in FLC's QuickBooks accounting records.
Between June 2, 2011, and August 24, 2017, the defendant wrote and issued approximately 394 checks payable to herself from FLC's Five Star Bank account. Owens deposited the checks into an account which she owned and over which she had control. In addition, between August 30, 2010, and August 24, 2017, the defendant wrote and issued approximately 162 checks payable to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank from FLC's Five Star Bank account as payments on Chase Bank credit card accounts belonging to the defendant and her husband. In order to conceal some of the fraudulent and unauthorized checks, Owens failed accurately to record the checks in FLC's QuickBooks accounting record; instead, she falsely recorded the checks as payment for legitimate business expenses.
Owens wrote checks totaling more than $750,000.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2020, before Judge Geraci.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Terrence Sayers, age 26, was sentenced in federal court on June 12, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, for the receipt and distribution of child pornography. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Sayers to 96 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Following Sayers’s term of imprisonment, he will begin a 15-year term of supervised release. Sayers pleaded guilty to the offenses on February 14, 2020.
On May 20, 2014, Sayers utilized his Gmail account to receive 32 images of child pornography. The images included prepubescent minors. On March 24, 2015, Sayers utilized the same Gmail account to distribute various images of child pornography. Sayers distributed the images by sending them to other individuals over the internet using the Gmail account. The images included prepubescent minors.
On October 24, 2017, a search warrant was conducted on Sayers’s Gmail account which he had used to receive and distribute the images of child pornography. More than 500 images and videos of child pornography were located on the account.
Sayers is currently in custody in Nebraska state prison based on a 2017 conviction for arson in the first degree. Sayers’s federal sentence shall run consecutively to his state sentence and shall begin when his state sentence ends.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigations.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Adam Scott Barnes, 26, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for production of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Barnes to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Barnes will serve a 10-year term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
In September 2019, federal agents began investigating after receiving a report that a Dropbox user had uploaded approximately 596 images and videos of suspected child pornography. Agents executed a search warrant at Barnes’s residence and seized several electronic devices, including Barnes’s cell phone. Barnes admitted to receiving and viewing child pornography. When agents began to review the images and videos on Barnes’s cell phone, they determined that at least one image and one video depicted child pornography that had been produced in Barnes’s residence with Barnes’s cell phone. The six-year-old victim identified Barnes as the person who had produced the image and video. After his arrest, Barnes admitted to producing child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Norwich Man on Federal Supervised Release Charged with Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Norwich Police Chief Patrick J. Daley announced that ANTOINE WALKER, 40, of Norwich, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with firearm and controlled substances offenses.
Walker appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was ordered detained.
As alleged in the complaint, on June 10, 2020, Norwich Police conducting a drug trafficking and murder investigation executed a court-authorized search of Walker’s residence. Officers searched the garage at the residence and found approximately 130 grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately 88 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, nearly two pounds of suspected marijuana, items used to process and package drugs for street sale, and a loaded .38 Special Smith and Wesson revolver. A search of the residence revealed approximately 15 grams of suspected crack cocaine together with a digital scale. Walker was arrested on state charges at that time.
It is further alleged Walker is a previously convicted felon and, in October 2013, he was sentenced in Southern District of New York to 80 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for armed robbery and bank robbery offenses. Walker is currently on federal supervised release.
The complaint charges Walker with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He may also face enhanced penalties based on the quantity and type of drugs seized, his alleged prior convictions, and if he is found in violation of the conditions of his supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Norwich Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret M. Donovan and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.
New York Man Convicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Jose Munoz Perdomo, 24, formerly of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Perdomo was sentenced for a term of 14 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release with special conditions. He will also be required to pay $52,587.31 in restitution, to be paid joint and several with codefendant, Melissa Carmona Valenzuela, who will be sentenced at a later date. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jose Munoz Perdomo and his co-defendant, Melissa Carmona Valenzuela, traveled through the state of Colorado and subsequently in Nebraska perpetrating a fraudulent scheme against Verizon Wireless. It was part of the scheme that the conspirators used stolen personal identifying information, including an individual’s name and social security number, to create Verizon Wireless accounts. Once a Verizon account was created, Valenzuela was made an authorized user on the account and she would access the account to purchase electronic devices and accessories. The conspirators traveled to different Verizon stores/retailers, and at each Verizon store/retailer, they would purchase or attempt to purchase phones, tablets, smart watches, and accessories as an authorized user on an account. It was part of the scheme that Valenzuela continued to access a specific Verizon account for purchase financing until the maximum financing amount had been reached at which time, she would begin using a new fraudulently created Verizon account using another stolen identity. These purchases would then be financed through the Verizon account and the balance would be billed to the false account causing financial loss to Verizon.
Pursuant to this scheme, Verizon Wireless suffered a loss of more than $40,000 which can be attributed to Perdomo and Valenzuela’s conduct throughout Nebraska and Colorado. Further investigation has revealed that Perdomo had played a role in this same scheme in additional states including Washington as well.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced that DARREN M. MARTIN (“MARTIN”), age 44, of Madisonville, pled guilty on June 9, 2020 in federal court before U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry to Count 1 of an Indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and 1347.
According to the Indictment, MARTIN was a licensed pharmacist in the State of Louisiana who owned Willow Pharmacy, Inc. (“Willow”), which was located in Madisonville, Louisiana. Between 2012 and 2015, Willow operated as a closed-door pharmacy that was in the business of mixing and filling prescriptions for compounded medications that were reimbursed by health care benefit programs, including Blue Cross & Blue Shield (“Blue Cross”). In 2012, MARTIN, on behalf of Willow, executed a provider agreement with CVS Caremark (“CVS”), a pharmacy benefit manager for Blue Cross. Under the terms of the agreement, Willow agreed to collect copayments from Blue Cross-covered patients and further agreed that it would not waive a copayment unless authorized by CVS to do so.
According to the Indictment, in or around June 2014, CVS notified Willow that Willow was the subject of an audit. At around the same time, to conceal the fact that Willow had not collected copayments for the claims at issue in the audit, Willow, through MARTIN, contracted with Joseph L. Wiley, II (“Wiley”) of Monroe, Louisiana and his company Affordable Medication Solutions, LLC (“AMS”). The purpose of the contract was to make it appear that Willow collected the copayments at issue in the CVS audit through AMS, a purported secondary payer. Between 2014 and 2015, as it conducted its audit, CVS requested information from Willow substantiating that AMS collected copayments on behalf of Willow for $567,710.39 worth of claims at issue in the CVS audit. In 2019, Wiley pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Mississippi to one count of attempt and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
In actuality, according to the Indictment, AMS never collected copayments for Willow. Had CVS known that Willow had not collected copayments from Blue Cross-covered patients, it would have terminated Willow’s provider agreement. To conceal the fact that Willow had not collected copayments, Wiley created false documents, including copies of backdated checks and remittance advices, for certain of the claims at issue purporting to show that AMS collected copayments for Willow and sent those documents to MARTIN. Despite knowing that AMS had not collected copayments for Willow, MARTIN caused false statements to be made to CVS indicating that AMS had collected copayments for the claims at issue in the CVS audit for Willow.
The Court set sentencing in this matter for September 8, 2020. MARTIN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a maximum $250,000 fine, three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn McHugh with the assistance of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.