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20 May 2020
Los Angeles-Area Nursing School Agrees to Comply with Federal Law by Allowing Deaf Students to Attend Its Training ProgramsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Angeles Institute, a for-profit nursing school based in Artesia, has agreed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by allowing individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to enroll. As part of a settlement agreement with the United States, the school also agreed to provide auxiliary aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication to these students.
The settlement, which was finalized today, resolves allegations that Angeles Institute denied a prospective student admission to its nursing assistant program because he is deaf. The ADA prohibits public accommodations, including private educational institutions like Angeles Institute, from denying access to their programs or services to individuals with disabilities.
Under the settlement agreement, Angeles Institute must:
- modify its policies to clarify that prospective students cannot be denied admission because of a disability;
- provide interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services free of charge when necessary to ensure effective communication with students and prospective students;
- modify its courses if necessary to ensure they are accessible to individuals with disabilities;
- appoint an ADA Coordinator to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the school’s programs and services; and
- pay $10,000 to the complainant and a $5,000 civil penalty to the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Nickell of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section handled this matter.
Angeles Institute fully cooperated with the government’s investigation.
This year marks the ADA’s 30th anniversary. The Department of Justice plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Dylan D. Dahlgren, 27, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 19 years and seven months in federal prison by Chief United States District John M. Gerrard for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. Following the prison term, Dahlgren will serve five years on supervised release.
In August of 2019, narcotics investigators received information indicating that a package containing 10 pounds of methamphetamine was being sent to Dahlgren through the mail. U.S. Postal Inspectors found a package addressed to the home of one of Dahlgren’s relatives in Lincoln and scheduled for delivery on August 15, 2019. The package was mailed from California and was big enough to contain 10 pounds of methamphetamine. The package was seized and searched. It contained five packages of methamphetamine, containing at least 1,600 grams of methamphetamine actual. On August 16, 2019, investigators made a controlled delivery of the package, containing one of the five packages of methamphetamine, to Dahlgren at the Lincoln residence of his relative. Dahlgren was arrested. The house was searched, and the package was found inside the residence.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Lexington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Lexington man, Lamar Van Williams, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday, to trafficking fentanyl, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew A. Stinnett.
Williams admitted that on July 23, 2019, he was in possession of a digital scale and 23 grams of fentanyl, items he tried to discard while fleeing from the Lexington Police.
Williams was indicted in December 2019.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kiebler.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2020. He faces up to 30 years in prison for the drug trafficking charge. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a focused enforcement effort that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
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.
— END —Koreatown Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges after Coercing Minor Girls to Send Him Sexually Explicit ImagesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Koreatown man today pleaded guilty to two child exploitation charges for convincing teenage girls to send him sexually explicit images, and then coercing victims to send more with threats of publishing the images he initially obtained.
Francisco Sanchez, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.
In a plea agreement filed in United States District Court, Sanchez admitted that he used websites and computer applications to “meet” minor girls. From 2014 through September 2016, Sanchez used the pseudonym “Eddie Nash” to pose as a teenage boy and develop romantic relationships with his victims so that he could obtain sexually explicit images and videos from them. In some cases, Sanchez convinced his victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video chats, which allowed him to take pornographic screen shots of the minors. In other cases, Sanchez threatened to commit suicide to coerce the victims into sending him pictures or videos.
After obtaining sexually explicit images from the girls, Sanchez threatened to publish or otherwise expose the victims if they did not send additional images or videos.
Sanchez “intentionally targeted girls that he knew to be suicidal or despondent, because [he] believed they would be easier to manipulate and control,” Sanchez admitted in the plea agreement.
While Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts – related to victims who were 13 and 14 – he admitted in his plea agreement that he victimized another five teenage girls.
Sanchez further admitted that he cyberstalked two victims – which included threatening to make one girl “internet famous” by publishing child pornography depicting her – and that he distributed child pornography on a peer-to-peer file sharing network.
Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15 by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee.
Each charge of production of child pornography carries a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
After he is released from prison, Sanchez will be required to register as a sex offender.
This matter was investigated by the FBI and the Los Angeles Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Damaris Diaz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, and Julia S. Choe of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
Justice Department Sues Jackson Township over Restrictions on Religious Schools and Housing that Target Orthodox Jewish CommunityRead the Press Release
NEWARK, NJ – The Justice Department today announced that it filed a lawsuit against Jackson Township, New Jersey, and the township planning board alleging they implemented zoning ordinances that intentionally restrict the operation of religious schools and housing associated with such schools, including religious boarding schools known as yeshivas, required by the Orthodox Jewish community.
The complaint alleges that the township passed two ordinances, and the planning board applied those ordinances in a manner that discriminated against the Orthodox Jewish community, in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Both ordinances expressly prohibit dormitories throughout Jackson, making it impossible for religious boarding schools such as Orthodox Jewish yeshivas to establish there. Although Jackson passed these ordinances to prevent dormitories anywhere in Jackson, the planning board has since approved, without requiring a variance, the plans for two nonreligious projects with dormitory-type housing.
“Religious discrimination has no place in our society and runs counter to the founding principles of our nation,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. “No religious community should ever face unlawful barriers or be singled out for inferior treatment. This complaint reflects our continued commitment to combat discrimination and unequal treatment.”
“Using zoning laws to target Orthodox Jewish individuals for intentional discrimination and exclude them from a community is illegal and utterly incompatible with this Nation’s values,” Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, said. “Let me be clear. The Department of Justice will use the full force of its authority to stop such anti-Semitic conduct and prevent its recurrence.”
The complaint also alleges that the township and planning board enacted the ordinances with respect to religious dormitories against a backdrop of extreme animus by Jackson residents and township decision makers toward the Orthodox Jewish community and a movement by residents to keep Orthodox Jewish community members from settling in Jackson. The complaint alleges that the township and planning board’s actions towards the Orthodox Jewish community violate RLUIPA’s non-discrimination and equal terms provisions, as well as the FHA.
RLUIPA is a federal law that protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative, which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship
In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Religious Liberty Task Force. The Task Force brings together department components to coordinate their work on religious liberty litigation and policy, and to implement the Attorney General’s 2017 Religious Liberty Guidance.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339 or the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the U.S. Attorney's civil rights complaint portal or the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website. Information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Horan Florio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Unit, and Trial Attorney Beth Frank, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section.
Justice Department Recognizes Florida Detectives with Missing Children’s Child Protection AwardRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today honored six detectives of the Child Exploitation Unit of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Daytona Beach, Florida, for their investigation that resulted in the timely arrest of a child sexual predator and pornographer. The suspect, who admitted to victimizing at least three children, was with young children at the time of his arrest.
The detectives received the Missing Children’s Child Protection Award, which was announced as part of the 37th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day. This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to protecting children from abuse or victimization.
“The quick thinking and actions of these detectives resulted in the rescue of two little children — in a matter of hours — from the control of an evil person,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “No longer will this man be able to exploit and hurt them, or other children. The Department of Justice applauds these officers’ successful work to bring him to justice.”
The officers recognized are:
- Detective Chastity Burke
- Detective Dennis Miller
- Detective Keith Earney
- Detective Jason Turner
- Detective Ruben Escobar
- Detective Eugene Mefford
On May 30, 2019, the North Florida ICAC Task Force informed the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office that a suspect had approached an individual online about participating in sexual activities with very young children. The suspect said he would be alone with his nieces, ages 3 and 4, on May 31. The detectives used the suspect’s screen name to identify and locate him, and to execute a search warrant at the residence. Within six hours, they found the suspect with the children and identified them as subjects in a disturbing video. The suspect’s phone revealed hundreds of pornographic images and videos, and the detectives arrested him for child molestation and possession of child pornography.
“The vigilance of this law enforcement unit proves there is a critical need for dedicated and timely investigative work in the fight to stop those who would hurt children, society’s most defenseless,” said Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp. “The Justice Department commends the Child Exploitation Unit of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for bringing this sex offender to justice and for its commitment to stopping further child victimization.”
The department also recognized three other law enforcement officers in Wisconsin and Louisiana, as well as a school bus driver from Florida, for their efforts to find missing children and bring child sexual predators and child pornographers to justice. The department declared Elliana Conrad, a fifth-grader at the Antonia Crater Elementary School in Newberg, Oregon, winner of the 2020 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19, the in-person ceremony to honor the recipients has been canceled. Instead, this website features information about the awardees and statements from Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp.
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 is located at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Justice Department Observes National Missing Children’s DayRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced awards to nine courageous individuals, which include law enforcement officers from Wisconsin, Louisiana and Florida, as well as a school bus driver from Florida, for their efforts in finding missing children and bringing child sexual predators and child pornographers to justice.
“The Department of Justice is proud to honor the law enforcement officers and private citizens who showed courage, presence of mind, and an unwavering commitment to protecting children from dangerous predators,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “We thank these heroes, whose actions made it possible to bring to justice those who attempted to exploit our most innocent and vulnerable citizens.”
“The safety, indeed the very lives, of our nation’s children depend on constant vigilance by skilled professionals and citizens willing to keep a watchful eye on the young people in their charge,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The honors we confer on these exceptional individuals come with our highest respect and our deepest gratitude.”
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children’s Day in memory of 6-year-old Etan Patz, who disappeared while walking to his bus stop in lower Manhattan on May 25, 1979. National Missing Children’s Day honors his memory as well as those children still missing. Etan’s killer was convicted in February 2017 for the 1979 murder, but the case remains active with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children because his body was never found.
Today’s announcement is part of the 37th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day. Due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19, the in-person ceremony to honor the recipients has been canceled. Instead, this website features information about the awardees and statements from Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Administrator Caren Harp.
“The vigilance of these law enforcement officers demonstrates the crucial need for dedicated and timely investigative work in stopping those who would hurt children,” said OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp. “We applaud them for returning the missing children, holding sex offenders accountable and stopping further child victimization.”
The recipients of this year’s awards are honored with the following:
Attorney General’s Special Commendation: This commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts and significant investigative or program contributions of an Internet Crimes Against Children task force or affiliate agency, or an individual assigned to either.
- Recipients: Criminal Investigation Director Matthew Joy, Commander of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Appleton, Wisconsin, and Special Agent in Charge Jesse Crowe, Supervisor of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the Western District of Wisconsin. Director Joy and SAC Crowe led an urgent search of a house and located a missing 14-year-old girl. She had been transported across state lines by a suspected child molester with whom she had been chatting online. The man received a sentence of 11 years and 3 months in federal prison.
Missing Children’s Citizen Award: This award honors the extraordinary efforts of private citizens for their unselfish acts to recover missing or abducted children safely.
- Recipient: Ms. JoAnn Donovan of Punta Gorda, Florida. When a 15-year-old girl with special needs did not board the school bus that picked her up at her foster home, she was reported missing. As part of their investigation, officers interviewed Ms. Donovan, the bus driver, who told police that the girl had recently been talking on her cell phone with her biological mother, from whose custody she had been removed. An alert yielded a photo of the girl and her mother passing through a tollbooth in another state. Police returned the girl to her foster family unharmed just one day after she went missing, and her mother will spend two years in jail.
Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children.
- Recipient: Senior Inspector Gerald Dysart of the U.S. Marshals Service, New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Dysart provided the expertise and guidance for Operation Empty Nest in Atlanta, Georgia, which recovered 16 missing children over a span of two weeks. Among the recovered were children who were victims of sex trafficking, exploitation, and sexual and physical abuse.
Missing Children’s Child Protection Award: This award honors the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who made a significant investigative or program contribution on behalf of missing, abused or victimized children.
- Recipients: Detectives Chastity Burke, Dennis Miller, Detectives Keith Earney, Jason Turner, Ruben Escobar and Eugene Mefford, all of the Child Exploitation Unit at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Daytona Beach, Florida. The six detectives rescued two child victims within six hours of executing an emergency search warrant. The suspect was found with the preschool girls, with whom he had appeared in a disturbing video provided to the detectives. A forensic examination of the suspect’s phone showed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography. He was arrested for child molestation and possession of child pornography.
The Department also recognized Elliana Conrad, a fifth-grader at the Antonia Crater Elementary School in Newberg, Oregon, winner of this year’s National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
In 2019, the FBI’s National Crime Information Center included 421,394 entries for missing children. Additional information about National Missing Children’s Day is available online.
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.
Justice Department Honors Wisconsin Task Force Director and Special Agent for Capture of Child MolesterRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today awarded the Attorney General’s Special Commendation to Criminal Investigation Director Matthew Joy, Commander of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Appleton, Wisconsin, and Special Agent in Charge Jesse Crowe, Supervisor of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the Western District of Wisconsin. In January 2019, Director Joy and SAC Crowe led an urgent search to locate a missing 14-year-old girl who had been transported across state lines by a suspected child molester with whom she had been chatting online. The perpetrator was arrested, convicted, and is now serving a sentence of 11 years and 3 months in federal prison.
The announcement is part of the 37th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day. This special commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts and significant investigative or program contributions of an Internet Crimes Against Children task force or affiliate agency, or an individual assigned to either.
“Director Joy and SAC Crowe are the epitome of persistence and commitment in law enforcement,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice congratulates them on their tireless efforts to bring this child molester to justice, and we stand with the public safety professionals of Wisconsin in their work to protect America’s children.”
“The fierce dedication and determination of Director Joy and SAC Crowe helped bring a sexual predator to justice and rescue a young girl from almost certain harm,” said Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp. “We applaud their efforts and thank them for their courage and bravery.”
The department also recognized seven law enforcement officers from Louisiana and Florida, as well as a school bus driver from Florida, for their efforts to find missing children and bring child sexual predators and child pornographers to justice. The department declared Elliana Conrad, a fifth-grader at the Antonia Crater Elementary School in Newberg, Oregon, winner of the 2020 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19, the in-person ceremony to honor the recipients has been canceled. Instead, this website features information about the awardees and statements from Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Justice Department Honors Louisiana Marshal with Missing Children’s Law Enforcement AwardRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today awarded Deputy U.S. Marshal Gerald Dysart with the Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award. Mr. Dysart, who is based in New Orleans, led an operation to recover 16 at-risk children over a period of two weeks.
Announcement of the honor is part of the 37th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day. The Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children.
“Senior Inspector Dysart exemplifies persistence and commitment in law enforcement,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice congratulates him on his tireless efforts to bring these children home, and we stand with our nation’s federal officers in their work to protect America’s youth.”
Mr. Dysart provided the expertise and guidance that, over several months, forged Operation Empty Nest in April 2019. The Atlanta, Georgia, operation recovered missing children who were victims of sex trafficking, exploitation, and sexual and physical abuse. It involved the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit, Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Forces, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Mr. Dysart’s involvement began in 2016, when he started the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit, following passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Without additional staff or funding, he built the unit using existing resources and developed a training curriculum used nationwide. In collaboration with NCMEC, Dysart helped recover 500 critically missing children in just the past two years.
“Senior Inspector Dysart used his extensive experience to prepare and direct the highly successful Operation Empty Nest,” says Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp. “The Department of Justice praises his expertise and collaborative abilities, which made possible the rescue of 16 children — among our society’s most vulnerable — from evil people who would do them harm.”
The department also recognized eight other law enforcement officers from Wisconsin and Florida, as well as a school bus driver from Florida, for their efforts to find missing children and bring child sexual predators and child pornographers to justice. The department declared Elliana Conrad, a fifth-grader at the Antonia Crater Elementary School in Newberg, Oregon, winner of this year’s National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19, the in-person award ceremony has been canceled. Instead, this website features information about the awardees and statements from Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan and OJJDP Administrator Harp.
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 is located at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Justice Department Honors Florida Bus Driver for Return of Missing ChildRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today presented Ms. JoAnn Donovan with the Missing Children’s Citizen Award. Ms. Donovan, a school bus driver from Punta Gorda, Florida, helped locate a 15-year-old girl with special needs who was reported missing when she did not board the bus at her foster home. This award honors the extraordinary efforts of private citizens for their unselfish acts to recover missing or abducted children safely, and comes during the 37th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day.
In an interview with the officers investigating the case of the missing child, Ms. Donovan reported that the girl had recently been talking on her cell phone with her biological mother, from whose custody she had been removed. A tip yielded a video camera picture taken of the child and her mother in a car passing through a tollbooth in another state. Police returned the girl to her foster family unharmed just one day after she went missing. Her mother will spend two years in jail.
“The compassion and loyalty that Ms. Donovan encompasses demonstrate the positive impact that ordinary citizens can have on the lives of those around them,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice applauds her efforts, along with those of the law enforcement officials who searched for the girl and brought her home safely.”
“Ms. Donovan’s dedication to and awareness of the children she transports made all the difference in this case,” said Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp. “We would like to congratulate her and the officers involved for quickly finding and returning this child to her foster family.”
The department also recognized nine law enforcement officers from Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Florida for their efforts to find missing children and bring child sexual predators and child pornographers to justice. The department declared Elliana Conrad, a fifth-grader at the Antonia Crater Elementary School in Newberg, Oregon, winner of the 2020 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19, the in-person ceremony to honor the recipients has been canceled. Instead, this website features information about the awardees and statements from Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator Caren Harp.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Township of Jackson, New Jersey, and the Township's Planning Board for Zoning Restrictions that Target the Orthodox Jewish CommunityRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it filed a lawsuit against the township of Jackson and the township’s planning board, alleging that they violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by targeting the Orthodox Jewish community through zoning ordinances restricting religious schools and barring religious boarding schools.
“Using zoning laws to target Orthodox Jewish individuals for intentional discrimination and exclude them from a community is illegal and utterly incompatible with this Nation’s values,” said Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Let me be clear. The Department of Justice will use the full force of its authority to stop such anti-Semitic conduct and prevent its recurrence.”
“Religious discrimination has no place in our society and runs counter to the founding principles of our nation,” said Craig Carpenito, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. “No religious community should ever face unlawful barriers or be singled out for inferior treatment. This complaint reflects our continued commitment to combat discrimination and unequal treatment.”
The complaint, filed in the District of New Jersey, alleges that the township passed ordinances 03-17 and 04-17 and the planning board applied those ordinances in a manner that discriminated against the Orthodox Jewish community. Both ordinances expressly prohibit dormitories throughout Jackson, making it impossible for religious boarding schools such as Orthodox Jewish yeshivas to operate there. Although Jackson passed these ordinances to prevent dormitories anywhere in Jackson, the planning board has since approved, without requiring a variance, the plans for two nonreligious projects with dormitory-type housing.
The complaint further alleges that the township and planning board enacted the ordinances against a backdrop of extreme animus by some Jackson residents and township decision makers toward the Orthodox Jewish community and a movement by residents to keep Orthodox Jewish individuals from settling in Jackson. The complaint alleges that the township and planning board’s actions towards the Orthodox Jewish community violate RLUIPA’s non-discrimination and equal terms provisions, as well as the FHA.
RLUIPA is a federal law that protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative, which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship.
In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Religious Liberty Task Force. The Task Force brings together department components to coordinate their work on religious liberty litigation and policy, and to implement the Attorney General’s 2017 Religious Liberty Guidance.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339 or the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website. More information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php.
Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced May 20, 2020, to 8 years in federal prison.
Michael Wayne Holton, 33, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 9, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Holton was previously convicted of contraband in a correctional facility and domestic abuse assault, both in the Iowa District Court for Cerro Gordo County.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed Holton admitted that on June 22, 2019, he grabbed a gun, a Taurus 9mm, from another person while outside of Kingz Lounge in Fort Dodge, Iowa and shot the gun multiple times near a crowd of people.
Holton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Holton was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year 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 being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Department of Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3050. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Hallows Pleads Not Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography in Felony Information Filed in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Timothy James Hallows, age 62, of Kaysville, pleaded not guilty to possession of child pornography during an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City Friday.
The charges, filed May 8, 2020, allege Hallows possessed material containing an image of child pornography involving a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for June 30, 2020, at 3 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead. Hallows is in federal custody.
Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Davis County Attorney’s Office have worked together to determine the best venue to prosecute the case. Those discussions resulted in the filing of the Felony Information last week. This coordination happens regularly in child exploitation cases because of the significant penalties available in the federal system. Law enforcement officers working these cases are often members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which allows them to work seamlessly with prosecutors in either venue.
“These are cases that motivate all prosecutors because they involve the victimization and exploitation of children,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today. “My office regularly partners with the Office of the Davis County Attorney on child exploitation cases such as this one, as we do with other county attorney offices throughout the state. Together, we seek the best court system to achieve justice for child victims and their families.”
“State court prosecutors and law enforcement officers are experienced and accomplished in developing cases. Unfortunately, and all too often, inadequate state court sentences fail to deliver measured justice that matches the seriousness of the offenses. Federal court convictions can typically bring more appropriate sentences for those who would collect images of sexual violence against children. In this case, state and federal law enforcement partners jointly determined that federal court offered a more appropriate venue for prosecution,” Huber said.
Federal judges consider a number of factors when imposing a sentence for possession of child pornography. They include the number of images, use of a computer, distribution of the images, the defendant’s abuse of a position of trust to conceal the offense, the ages of the children in the images, the defendant’s criminal history, the nature and circumstances of the offense, and the characteristics of the defendant. Multiple counts do not change the sentence because the court is aware of each image possessed by the defendant regardless of how many counts are charged.
As a part of sentencing in a case, prosecutors will ask the judge to impose a term of supervised release for the defendant following the completion of their sentence. In child exploitation cases, it can be up to life with a minimum of five years. (There is no parole in federal court cases.)
A Felony Information is not a finding of guilt. A defendant charged in a Felony Complaint is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.
Franklin, Tennessee-Based Rinova Settles Allegations of Fraudulent Operations of Former Pain MD ClinicsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – May 20, 2020 – Franklin, Tennessee-based Rinova The Wellness Group, PC has settled the United States’ allegations that Medicare overpaid Rinova for claims that were non-payable due to fraudulent misrepresentations, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee. The government alleged that Rinova misrepresented that it had provided services, when they were actually a continuation of services by the suspended company Pain MD, LLC.
In 2019, Rinova, led by former Pain MD physician Ben Johnson, acquired certain Tennessee assets of Pain MD clinics and leased other Virginia assets of Pain MD clinics. At the time, Medicare contractors had suspended all payments to Pain MD, based on credible allegations of fraud. Rinova obtained new Medicare payment numbers, which according to the United States, amounted to an attempt to evade the Medicare payment suspension of Pain MD, so that Rinova could improperly obtain Medicare reimbursements while operating Pain MD’s Tennessee and Virginia pain clinics using the same Pain MD employees, clinics, locations, and patients.
The Medicare contractor suspended payments to Rinova in June 2019 and revoked Rinova’s billing privileges in September 2019. Rinova has now ceased its operations and no longer operates any pain clinics in Tennessee or elsewhere.
The settlement resolves the government’s claims that it overpaid Rinova for all of its services. Under the settlement agreement, Rinova waived its claim to $379,961 in suspended Medicare payments, forfeited $49,112, and paid an additional $53,151. The settlement has a total value of $482,224.
The matter was handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (TBI MFCU) and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Bowden McIntyre represented the United States.
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Former Senior U.S. Navy Employee Charged for Role in Bribery Conspiracy and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
The former Director of Operations of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command Office in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK) was charged in a complaint filed today in connection with his alleged participation in a bribery conspiracy and alleged lying to federal investigators.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge David Bell of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) Far East Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office made the announcement.
Xavier Fernando Monroy, 62, a U.S. citizen, was charged in a complaint filed in the District of Columbia with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, one count of bribery, one count of false statements, and one count of obstruction of justice.
The affidavit in support of the complaint alleges that Monroy engaged in a conspiracy to commit bribery with Sung Yol “David” Kim, the owner of DK Marine, a ROK-based company that provided ship husbanding services to the U.S. Navy, and James Russell Driver III, a former civilian U.S. Navy cargo ship captain, in connection with the provision of husbanding services for Driver’s ship during a December 2013 port visit in Chinhae, ROK. In order to steer the ship’s husbanding services business to DK Marine, Driver sought, and Kim conveyed, Monroy’s directions on how to circumvent appropriate Navy procedures.
According to the affidavit, Monroy also provided Kim with confidential and other proprietary, internal U.S. Navy information. In exchange for the steering of business and the provision of such information, Kim paid bribes to Monroy, including cash, personal travel expenses, meals and alcoholic beverages, and the services of prostitutes. The affidavit further alleges that in July 2019, Monroy repeatedly lied to DCIS and NCIS during a voluntary interview.
Driver pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery for his role in March 2019 before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow of the Eastern District of Michigan. Kim pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery for his role on May 1, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith of the Eastern District of Michigan.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
NCIS and DCIS investigated the case. Trial Attorney Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former New Bedford Man Resentenced for 2013 Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former resident of New Bedford was resentenced today in federal court for a 2013 armed bank robbery.
David A. Frates, 41, was resentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 84 months in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $1,098. Frates was originally sentenced in July 2016 to 11 years in prison after he was classified as a career offender. In 2018, Frates’s classification as a career offender was vacated by the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and he was ordered resentenced.
On Sept. 24, 2013, Frates, who was masked and armed with what appeared to be a semi-automatic firearm, entered a branch of the St. Anne’s Credit Union in New Bedford. Once inside, Frates approached a teller, pointed the firearm at the teller and demanded the bank’s money. The teller complied with Frates demands and he exited the bank. The bank’s surveillance cameras and witness interviews identified Frates as a possible suspect. On Oct. 1, 2013, law enforcement recovered items involved in the robbery, including a black BB gun. Frates was later located and arrested for the robbery.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Fugitive Who Fled to Cambodia Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit ArsonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Jason Gusoff, 44, of Richboro, Pennsylvania entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit arson. United States District Judge C. Darnell Jones II presided over the guilty plea hearing in Philadelphia via video teleconference.
The defendant purchased his business, California Tanning Salon, in November 2007. For the approximately nine months that the defendant owned and operated the business, it was never profitable. The business expenses exceeded the revenue generated, and Gusoff could not make the required lease payments. On July 21, 2008, Gusoff directed his co-conspirator to set fire to the business with the intent to destroy it. After the fire, Gusoff submitted requests for payment to the business’ insurance company while making materially false representations that he was not responsible for the loss caused by the fire. These lies resulted in the defendant receiving $105,486 from the insurance company.
A federal grand jury returned an Indictment against Gusoff in February 2011. Prior to his scheduled trial in September 2011, Gusoff fled the United States using his brother’s passport. In February 2019, due to the coordinated efforts of the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Cambodian Police, the defendant was arrested in Cambodia and returned to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to answer for his crimes. The co-conspirator, who was severely burned while committing the arson and hospitalized as a result, pled guilty in 2011 and has since served his sentence.
“Gusoff has a brazen disrespect for the law – and for human life. He is lucky that no one died during this fire,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “He put people’s safety at risk, stole insurance money, and when faced with the consequences of his actions, fled the country. If you are charged in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a federal offense, it does not matter if you flee to the other side of the world. We will find you and hold you accountable for your actions.”
“Acts of arson are dangerous crimes and threaten the community. ATF is committed to keeping the public safe from those who maliciously set these fires,” said Donald Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Philadelphia Field Division. “We appreciate the assistance of our federal and international partners in getting the defendant back to the States to face these charges, and the dedication and tenacity of our personnel in the Arson and Explosives Task Force.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanine Linehan, the Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal Prison Inmate Sentenced for Participating in Assault of Fellow InmateRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Deon McElrathbey, a federal inmate, was sentenced to serve an additional 54 months in prison for aiding and abetting an assault with a dangerous weapon on a fellow inmate. McElrathbey was one of three inmates from the Federal Correctional Institute in Florence, Colorado who assaulted a fellow inmate. The FBI joined in today’s announcement.
According to the plea agreement and facts presented in the case, on June 7, 2018, McElrathbey saw an inmate getting assaulted with a shank. McElrathbey and another inmate joined in the assault. McElrathbey grabbed the victim, threw him on the ground and began kicking him. Another assailant stabbed the victim while McElrathbey was kicking him. The victim was stabbed in the head, face, and torso, which resulted in ten puncture wounds. The victim was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.
“It was important to prosecute this case because inmates need to know that violence in federal prisons will not be tolerated, and when there is violence, that there will be consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Dunn.
"Today’s lengthy sentence of Deon McElrathbey should send a strong message to those who engage in violent criminal activities within our correctional facilities,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “We extend our appreciation to the Bureau of Prisons and United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence and hard work in this investigation.”
In addition to McElrathbey, two other inmates were involved in the assault and sentenced previously. Yusuf Jones was sentenced to 57 months and Lance Lee was sentenced to 30 months.
This case was investigated by the FBI. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Spencer.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to Additional Year in Prison for Possession of Narcotics at Federal Prison in Butner, North CarolinaRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal inmate incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner was sentenced to 12 months in prison and an additional two-year term of supervised release for possession of the opiate buprenorphine, a Schedule III narcotic commonly referred to by the brand name Suboxone. The 12-month term of imprisonment is in addition to, and consecutive to, his current term of imprisonment, and the two-year term of supervised release is in addition to and consecutive to his 3-year term of supervised release on his current sentence.
According to court documents, while Aaron Trujillo, 57, was serving a federal sentence for multiple bank robbery convictions, he was found in possession of multiple sublingual film strips containing buprenorphine. The Bureau of Prisons’ investigation also revealed a large cache of stamps and a debt ledger suggesting that he was involved in the sale and distribution of buprenorphine for several months.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Agents investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bredenberg prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00429-BO.
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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.
Eugene Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A convicted felon from Eugene was sentenced to federal prison today for illegally possessing a 20-gauge shotgun, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.
Delano Franklin Oscar, Jr., 58, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of December 14, 2018, Lane County Sheriff deputies identified a parked car as reported stolen. They discovered Oscar asleep in the vehicle’s front passenger seat with a 20-gauge shotgun shell near his feet. The deputies searched the vehicle and found a loaded 20-gauge pump-action shotgun, a small baggy of methamphetamine, and a glass pipe. The shotgun had been reported stolen in October 2017. Oscar was arrested without incident.
On January 16, 2019, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Oscar with felon in possession of ammunition and a firearm. On January 29, 2020, he pleaded guilty to both charges.
As part of his plea agreement, Oscar agreed to voluntarily abandon his interest in the shotgun seized by investigators.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Pamela Paaso, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
The 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.
Elma Man Sentenced for Lying on an ATF Firearms FormRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Polak, 48, of Elma, New York, who was convicted of knowingly causing a licensed firearms dealer to fail to make an appropriate entry in required firearms transfer records, was sentenced to serve one year probation by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who handled the case, stated that in 2017, the defendant won two rifles in a charity raffle. On January 11, 2018, a six month restraining order was issued against Polak in Buffalo Family Court. Later, on the same day the restraining order was issued, the defendant went to The Gun Locker LLC to fill out paperwork related to him taking possession of the two rifles he previously won. When completing an ATF Firearms Transaction Record form 4473, Polak was asked “Are you subject to a court order restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening your child or intimate partner or child of such partner?” The defendant inaccurately marked “NO” on the form, and then dated and signed the form, which includes a warning that it is a federal crime to answer “NO” if the buyer is subject to a restraining order.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
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Dominican National Sentenced for Identity Theft and Stealing MassHealth BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national formerly residing in Lawrence was sentenced today for Social Security and benefit fraud.
Cesar Franco Lara, 37, was sentenced during a videoconference before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 20 months in prison and ordered to pay $3,468 in restitution to MassHealth. Franco Lara will also face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In January 2020, Franco Lara pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of Social Security number and one count of theft of government money. Pursuant to a plea agreement that was accepted by the Court today, the government dismissed one count of aggravated identity theft after the defendant was sentenced.
On Aug. 5, 2016, Franco Lara applied for a Massachusetts identification card using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a United States citizen born in Puerto Rico. On Aug. 18, 2016, he used that Massachusetts identification card to apply for and receive nearly $3,500 of MassHealth benefits in the U.S. citizen’s name. In an effort to determine the true identity of the defendant, law enforcement found a non-immigrant visitor visa application bearing the defendant’s photograph and fingerprints. This application was refused by the Department of State in 2015.
When arrested on federal charges, Franco Lara had on him a MassHealth ID card in the U.S. citizen’s name. His fingerprints were found to be a match of the fingerprints on file from the refused visa application.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement today. HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, a specialized investigative group comprised of various local, state and federal agencies, conducted this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Weinstein and David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was charged yesterday with illegal reentry of a previously deported alien.
Eddy Arias Tejada, 45, was charged today by Information with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Arias is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
According to the charging documents, Arias was deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic on March 7, 2017. Sometime after his March 2017 removal, Arias illegally reentered the United States. On or about Aug. 15, 2019, Arias was encountered in Quincy, Mass.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $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 and Todd Lyons, Acting Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm as a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Mylon Mayfield, 22, of Omaha, was sentenced today to 21 months in the Bureau of Prisons for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm by United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. He will also serve 3 years of supervised release following his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
On July 15, 2019, Omaha Police Officers responded within minutes to a report of shots fired in the Spencer West Housing Projects at North 28th and Spencer Streets. The officers came upon suspects matching the description provided by dispatch. Based on answers by Mayfield and his evasive movements, officers suspected Mayfield was armed and dangerous. Upon their search, officers recovered a loaded Ruger LCR that Mayfield was concealing and possessing illegally as a prior felon. At the time of his arrest, Mayfield was on federal supervised release for transferring a firearm to a prohibited person. Mayfield was sentenced to an additional 12 months on his supervised release violation, resulting in a total sentence of 33 months on both cases.
This case was part of a Project Safe Neighborhood initiative and investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Convicted Felon Imprisoned for Not Registering as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former Columbus, Georgia resident and convicted sex offender who moved out of state and failed to register as a sex offender with local authorities was sentenced to prison for breaking the law, said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. John Corriher, 54, of Salisbury, North Carolina was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 to 34 months in prison and five years supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender, a federal offense. There is no parole in the federal system.
“All convicted sex offenders are required by law to register as a sex offender with the appropriate registration officials each and every time they move. Failure to do so is a federal crime and will result in prosecution by this office,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service for tracking down the whereabouts of this offender and for their excellent work investigating the case.”
Corriher was convicted in Florida of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors in February 2001. Following his conviction, he eventually settled in Columbus and registered annually as a sex offender through the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) from November 2010 through April 2016. Following his last registration, the defendant absconded. In February 2017, an arrest warrant was taken out by MSCO for failure to register as a state sex offender. The investigation was turned over to the United States Marshals Service (USMS) when Corriher was found to be living in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he did not register as a sex offender. He was apprehended by USMS on March 18, 2019.
The case was investigated by the USMS and the MCSO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Career Offender Who Sold Cocaine Near Parks and a School in Dubuque Sentenced to over Twelve Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A career offender with prior drug trafficking convictions who sold cocaine near protected locations multiple times and possessed a loaded handgun was sentenced today to more than a dozen years in federal prison.
Jerry Towns, age 31, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 23, 2019 guilty plea to distributing cocaine.
Information disclosed at the guilty plea and sentencing hearing showed that Towns distributed cocaine near either a park or school on four different occasions in 2017 and 2018. Later in 2018, law enforcement stopped Towns while he was a passenger in a car. At the same time, law enforcement was getting ready to search Towns’ residence in Dubuque. Towns called his girlfriend and told her to get cocaine and a loaded gun out of the residence. Law enforcement stopped her as she was leaving and seized the drugs and loaded gun.
At sentencing, Towns was found to be a career offender. He had two prior felony offenses for distributing cocaine. He also had eleven other adult criminal convictions, including four convictions involving violence. During the sentencing, the court said it was clear Towns was making a living by dealing drugs and met any definition of a career offender.
Towns was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Towns was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Towns is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tony Morfitt and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1020.
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Bridgeport Man Charged with Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging ANTHONY FIGUEROA-GONZALEZ, 27, of Bridgeport, with distributing fentanyl.
As alleged in court documents, in August 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force identified Figueroa-Gonzalez as a large-scale distributor of fentanyl. On September 17 and November 7, 2019, investigators made controlled purchases of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl from Figueroa-Gonzalez in Bridgeport.
Figueroa-Gonzalez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 6, 2020.
The indictment charges Figueroa-Gonzalez with two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Figueroa-Gonzalez is currently released on a $100,000 bond.
The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force, includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.
Boston Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Jovani Miranda, 28, was sentenced during a videoconference before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2020, Miranda pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Jan. 15, 2019, Jovani Miranda was found in possession of a Rossi, Model 462, .357 Magnum revolver, with an obliterated serial number, loaded with five .357 Magnum rounds of ammunition. Miranda is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Alien Sentenced for Illegally Returning to United StatesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nicolas Mojica-Flores, age 44, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was sentenced to time served and waived his right to contest his removal from the United States for Reentry Of Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The charges arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.
The Information alleged that on or about November 26, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, an alien, was in the United States after having been removed on or about November 13, 1998, at or near Laredo, Texas. He re-entered not having obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
$400,000 Restitution Ordered for Two Minor Victims in Production of Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced Dale Gordon Black, age 63, of Kennewick, Washington, who had previously pled guilty to three counts of production of child pornography, has just been ordered to pay $400,000 restitution to two of his victims.
On December 18, 2018, Black pleaded guilty to three counts of Production of Child Pornography. On July 16, 2019, Senior United States District Judge Edward Shea sentenced Black to a 30-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. The Court also ordered Black to forfeit $185,900 in cash and his Subaru Legacy, and to pay $19,150 in restitution to other victims and $305,000 in fines, $5,000 of which was imposed under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
On May 15, 2020, consistent with the stipulation and agreement of the parties, the Court found the two minor victims seeking restitution were entitled to receive restitution for past and future medical services, including physical, psychiatric, or psychological care, and ordered
Black to pay restitution in the amount of $200,000 per victim. The Court ordered Black, consistent with the agreement of the parties, to purchase a structured, guaranteed settlement annuity for each of the two victims seeking restitution, in the amount of $200,000. The Court ordered the structured settlement annuities purchased by Black shall provide monthly payments to the victims to be used for their future medical care.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, on July 18, 2017, undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agents downloaded a child pornography video from an Internet Protocol address that was traced to Black's residence using a peer-to-peer file sharing program.
Investigators obtained a search warrant and seized many electronic devices from Black’s residence. A forensic examination of Black’s electronic devices revealed child pornography images that he had produced. The images were of three children Black knew either as neighbors or through his work in a local youth mentoring program. Black produced the images at his house and on overnight trips he took alone with the children.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “Sexual predation and exploitation of children are heinous crimes. That Dale Black preyed on vulnerable children through his participation in a youth mentorship program make his crimes even more egregious. The children in our community are safer now that Black has been convicted of three serious felony child pornography offenses and removed from society and the ability to hurt others. The restitution imposed reflects the gravity of the harm such terrible actions cause to victims. Victims of child pornography can never be truly compensated for what they suffered and endured. However, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will continue to pursue restitution as an integral part of our efforts to seek justice on behalf of child pornography victims. The sentence imposed in this case, the forfeiture of Black’s assets, and the restitution ordered serves as a stern warning to offenders that you will be held accountable for your actions.”
This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. The Project Safe Childhood Initiative (“PSC”) has five major components:
• Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue children;
• Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives;
• Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases;
• Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents; and,
• Community awareness and educational programs.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation with assistance from the ICAC Task Force, the Richland Police Department and the Kennewick Police Department.
The ICAC Task Force is comprised of the Cities of Richland and Kennewick, Benton County, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Seattle Office. The ICAC Task Force serves the public’s best interest by allowing these agencies to pool resources and knowledge to investigate, prosecute and deter the possession, production, and distribution of child pornography and the utilization of the internet to seek out children as sexual victims.
This case was prosecuted by Brian M. Donovan and Alison L. Gregoire, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
19 May 2020
Wisconsin Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A La Crosse, Wisconsin, dentist was sentenced to 72 months in prison today for tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader for the Western District of Wisconsin.
According to evidence presented at trial, Frederick G. Kriemelmeyer, 71, operated a dental practice in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 2007, Kriemelmeyer was ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to pay $135,337 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for unpaid income taxes. By 2012, the IRS had assessed Kriemelmeyer for more than $450,000 in taxes, interest, and penalties. Evidence presented at the trial showed Kriemelmeyer took a number of actions to evade paying the taxes he owed. From at least 2013 through 2015, Kriemelmeyer did not file tax returns reporting the income from his dental practice, directed his patients to pay him in cash or by check with blank payee lines, and paid his business and personal expenses with third-party checks and cash.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley ordered Kriemelmeyer to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $226,839 in restitution to the United States. Kriemelmeyer was remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Blader commended special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Washington meth dealer sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
HELENA—A Washington woman who admitted dealing methamphetamine in Helena, including selling it to an undercover officer in a car wash, was sentenced today to 97 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Breanne Marie Bame, 40, of Kenmore, WA, pleaded guilty in October to distribution of meth.
U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell presided.
The prosecution said in court records in the case that in November 2018, a co-defendant offered to sell an undercover officer 13 ounces of meth for $6,000. Later, in a controlled purchase with the co-defendant in Helena, the officer got into the co-defendant's car, where Bame also was seated. The co-defendant introduced Bame as "boss lady Bre." The officer said he had only $4,500 and asked if he could buy 10 ounces of meth. The co-defendant asked Bame for approval, Bame gave the go ahead and the deal was conducted. Bame later told law enforcement agents in an interview that she had traveled to Montana with the co-defendant and confirmed that they had sold meth at a car wash in Helena.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, the Montana Highway Patrol, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, the Helena Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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United States Joins False Claims Act Lawsuit against William M. Kelly, M.D. Inc. and Omega Imaging Inc.Read the Press Release
The United States has partially intervened in a False Claims Act lawsuit against William M. Kelly, M.D. Inc. and Omega Imaging Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the Department of Justice announced today. The government intervened as to allegations that the defendants, which operate 11 radiology facilities in Southern California, violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for unsupervised radiology services and services provided at unaccredited facilities.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the department’s commitment to protect the public fisc and ensure the safety of Medicare beneficiaries,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The department will aggressively pursue unscrupulous healthcare providers who cut corners for profits and jeopardize the health and safety of Medicare beneficiaries.”
Medicare requires that certain procedures, such as CT and MRI scans that involve intravenous contrast materials, be performed under “direct physician supervision,” which means that a physician must be present within the office suite during the procedure. The lawsuit alleges that that defendants performed and billed Medicare for contrast procedures without the proper physician supervision. The suit further alleges that certain of the defendants’ facilities lacked accreditation, which is a material Medicare billing requirement.
The case was filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act Act, which allow private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The Act also permits the United States to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it has done here in part. Those who violate the Act are subject to treble damages and applicable penalties.
The government’s partial intervention in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This case is being handled by the Department of Justice’s Civil Division with assistance from the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Syd Ackerman v. William M. Kelly, M.D., Inc. and Omega Imaging, Inc., Civil Action No. ED CV 13-02195 JGB (C.D. Cal.).
The claims in which the United States has intervened are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona April 2020 Immigration and Border ReportRead the Press Release
I. Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
74 individuals were charged in April with illegal reentry
A. 62 of those 74 individuals had previously been convicted of non-immigration criminal offenses in the U.S.
Of the 62 individuals with non-immigration criminal records:1. 19 had violent crime convictions, including:
2 individuals had homicide convictions
2 individuals had sex offense convictions
8 individuals had domestic violence convictions2. 17 had property crime convictions
3. 14 had DUI convictions
4. 28 had drug crime convictions
B. 32 of those 74 individuals had been deported three or more times
II. Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
14 individuals were charged in April with alien smuggling
III. Illegal Entry (Criminal Consequence Initiative) (8 U.S.C. 1325)
0 individuals were charged in April 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 in April coincides with the implementation of that policy and other COVID-19 related border restrictions.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-052_April 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 newsU.S. Department of Justice Increases Efforts to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing During the COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – United States Attorney David C. Weiss requests that anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker, or anyone with control over housing report that conduct to federal or state law enforcement officials.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ability of many people to pay rent on time and has increased housing insecurity. The Department of Justice has heard reports of housing providers trying to exploit the crisis to sexually harass tenants. Sexual harassment in housing is illegal, and the Department of Justice stands ready to investigate such allegations and pursue enforcement actions where appropriate.
“Delawareans are facing very difficult times due to the current pandemic and any attempt to take advantage of them or this crisis to sexually harass tenants is illegal, abhorrent and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work closely with state and local partners to identify incidents of sexual harassment in housing.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is an effort to combat sexual harassment in housing led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Launched in 2017, the Initiative has filed lawsuits across the county alleging a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing and recovered millions of dollars in damages for harassment victims. The Justice Department’s investigations frequently uncover sexual harassment that has been ongoing for years. Many individuals do not know that being sexually harassed by a housing provider can violate federal law or that the Department of Justice may be able to help.
The Department encourages anyone who has experienced sexual harassment in housing, or knows someone who has, to contact the Civil Rights Division by calling (844) 380-6178 or emailing [email protected].
Individuals may also file a complaint alleging harassment or discrimination in housing with the Department of Housing and Urban Development through HUD’s website or by calling (800) 669-9777.
U.S. Attorney Dunn Announces $58k Grant to Mesa County to Fight COVID-19Read the Press Release
DENVER – U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn announced a $58,620 grant to Mesa County from the Department of Justice to help communities fighting COVID-19.
The grant is the latest to be awarded as part of a $14 million allocation for local jurisdictions across the state of Colorado. The City of Grand Junction Police Department was also awarded $91,671 last month to help it purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitize its vehicles.
“Our law enforcement officers are used to being on the front lines of a crisis, but the coronavirus is like nothing they – or any of us – have faced before,” Dunn said. “The DOJ wants to make sure that as officers are out there protecting and interacting with members of the community that they have the extra resources necessary to encounter these extraordinary circumstances.”
The grants are part of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. The funds are designated for a wide range of purposes such as overtime, PPE, hiring, meeting the medical needs of inmates, and travel expenses for the distribution of resources in COVID-19 impacted areas.
Other jurisdictions can find out if they are eligible and apply immediately by visiting this website. The Justice Department is awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
Two East Idaho Men Sentenced for Carjacking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Rockit Rodriguez, 23, of Blackfoot, Idaho, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 130 months in prison for carjacking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Rodriguez to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge on December 2, 2019.
On February 3, 2020, co-defendant Antonio Ray Sesma-Lopez, 20, of Fort Hall, Idaho, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for carjacking, followed by three years of supervised release. Sesma-Lopez pleaded guilty to the charge on October 22, 2019.
According to court records, in September 2018, Rodriguez was driving a vehicle containing Sesma-Lopez and a third individual on Riverton Road, at the overpass of Interstate 15, in Blackfoot. Rodriguez stopped the car on the overpass. A vehicle driving behind them stopped as well. Rodriguez and Sesma-Lopez exited their vehicle and approached the vehicle behind them. Rodriguez brandished a revolver and commanded the driver of the other vehicle to get out. The victim complied. Sesma-Lopez then directed the victim to give him his wallet, which the victim did. Rodriguez and Sesma-Lopez then fled in the victim’s vehicle.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Blackfoot Police Department, Fort Hall Police Department, and Bingham County Sherriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. 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. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
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Toledo duo sentenced for witness tampering in trial of former pastorRead the Press Release
Alisa Haynes, age 45, and Alexis Fortune, age 26, of Toledo, were sentenced today after pleading guilty to one count each of witness tampering days before the trial of former Toledo pastor and convicted felon, Anthony Haynes. Alisa Haynes was sentenced to 24 months in prison, and Alexis Fortune was sentenced to 48 months in prison. Alisa Haynes is the wife of Anthony Haynes, and Alexis Fortune is his step-daughter.
According to the plea agreement filed for the case, while Anthony Haynes was under federal indictment for sex trafficking of children and child pornography, both defendants visited a victim in the case at her apartment in order to force her to recant statements made to law enforcement. The defendants coerced the victim into leaving two voicemails on Alisa Haynes’s cell phone, stating that she was never trafficked or victimized by Anthony Haynes. Fortune and Haynes intended to share these voicemails with the attorney for Anthony Haynes to be used in the upcoming trial.
The victim reported these incidents to law enforcement and later went on to testify against Anthony Haynes. Haynes was sentenced to life in prison in June of 2019.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes against Children Task Force and the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Michael J. Freeman.
Texas Man Charged with $5 Million COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A Texas man has been charged in the Eastern District of Texas with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than $5 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Samuel Yates, 32, of Maud, Texas, allegedly sought millions of dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA from two different banks by claiming to have over 400 employees earning wages when, in fact, no employees worked for his purported business.
Yates is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with violations of wire fraud, bank fraud, false statements to a financial institution, and false statements to the SBA.
“This defendant allegedly sought to steal millions of dollars in loans intended to aid legitimate small businesses grappling with the economic effects of COVID-19,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The department and our law enforcement partners will use all the tools at our disposal to investigate and prosecute frauds against the Paycheck Protection Program.”
“Any time the government provides large amounts of money to the public there are people who will try to cheat the system,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown of the Eastern District of Texas. “We encourage lenders to be very careful, and to report suspicious applications. It is a priority of the Department of Justice to deter and prosecute this type of fraud.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration will aggressively pursue those who try to use the Internal Revenue Service to facilitate their schemes to defraud coronavirus relief programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Dale Forrester of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s Cybercrime Investigations Division. “Our successes today would have not been possible without the joint efforts of the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Justice and other law enforcement partners.”
“Providing false statements to gain access to SBA’s programs will be aggressively investigated by our office,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald Abram of SBA OIG’s Central Region. “SBA OIG and its law enforcement partners are poised to root out wrongdoers in the Paycheck Protection Program and maintain its integrity. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
“Today’s arrest should serve as a strong deterrent to anyone considering exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to enrich themselves through fraud. These individuals have no concern for legitimate businesses whose employees and their families are hurting financially during these unprecedented times,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin of U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas. “HSI stands at the ready to utilize its ample investigative mandate to assist in rooting out such unscrupulous individuals, and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
According to court documents unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Texarkana, Yates allegedly made two fraudulent applications to two different lenders for loans guaranteed by the SBA for COVID-19 relief through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In the application submitted to the first lender, Yates allegedly sought $5 million in PPP loan proceeds by fraudulently claiming to have 400 employees with an average monthly payroll of $2 million. In the second application, Yates claimed to employ over 100 individuals and was able to obtain a loan over $500,000. With each application, Yates submitted a list of purported employees that he obtained from a publicly available random name generator on the internet. He also submitted forged tax documents with each application.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within eight weeks of receipt and use at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount for payroll.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Trial Attorney Louis Manzo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Coan for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department acknowledges and thanks the SBA Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their efforts investigating this matter.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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.
Summerville Man Sentenced to over 5 Years for Million-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. announced today that Todd Van Natta, 43, of Summerville, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding dozens of victims of over a million dollars via a business fraud scheme from 2016 through 2018.
Evidence presented to the court showed Van Natta sought out individuals to invest in various businesses that he controlled. The businesses were generally represented by Van Natta to purchase shipments of goods that he then would break down for resale at a profit. Through these investments, Van Natta deprived approximately 28 investors of a total of over one million dollars, with none of the investors receiving any return on their investment. The victims lived both in and outside of South Carolina, with several victims living in Ohio.
At the time of the offense, Van Natta was on federal supervised release for a similar conviction out of the District of Indiana. Information at sentencing established that Van Natta began his most recent criminal activity soon after his release from federal prison.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Van Natta to 51 months on his fraud conviction, and ten months consecutive for violating his supervised release, all to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. The court also ordered Van Natta to pay over one million dollars in restitution to his victims. There is no parole in the federal system.
The sentencing hearing was conducted virtually, under the federal CARES Act, so that the parties did not appear in the courtroom.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio Department of Commerce. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan Williams and Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.
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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.
Sioux City Man Selling Meth, Cocaine, and Heroin Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man selling methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from his home pled guilty on May 18, 2020 in federal court in Sioux City.
Monee Yodprasit, age 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In a plea agreement, Yodprasit admitted that between June of 2019 and November 2019, he conspired to sell more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. On November 7, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Yodprasit’s residence where they seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine, approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 20 grams of heroin or fentanyl, two loaded handguns in the vicinity of the drugs, and approximately $24,000 in cash. Yodprasit told law enforcement officers that he began dealing drugs after getting out of prison for dealing drugs because he could not find a job. Yodprasit’s criminal history includes a conviction from the United States District Court for South Dakota, Southern Division, Case No. 98-CR-40170-1, for conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance, a felony drug offense, and a serious drug felony, for which he previously served more than 12 months of imprisonment.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Yodprasit remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy charge, Yodprasit faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment and the following maximum penalties: up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; a fine of not more than $20,000,000; and a term of supervised release of at least 10 years up to life. On the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Yodprasit faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years' imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed, and a maximum term of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; a fine of not more than $250,000; and a term of supervised release of up to five years. And for possession of a firearm by a felon, Yodprasit faces maximum penalties of: not more than 10 years' imprisonment without the possibility of parole; a fine of not more than $250,000; and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and 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; Homeland Security Investigations; 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. 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. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR19-4088.
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Several Maine Jurisdictions Awarded over $3.3 Million to Address COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has awarded $3,266,879 to the State of Maine, $47,070 to the City of Westbrook, $45,597 to the City of South Portland, and $36,405 to the City of Saco to address the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
OJP awarded the grants as part of $850 million available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the stimulus legislation President Trump signed in March. This program allows eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. Since the program was launched in early April, OJP has awarded more than $566 million to state, local and tribal agencies and organizations. A list of all awards can be found here.
“Maine jurisdictions continue to receive needed funds to address the public safety challenges posted by this pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “I am pleased that the Department of Justice has been able to provide the state and local jurisdictions with resources they need to keep their personnel safe while they perform their crucial mission in this unprecedented time.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act gives jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment and distributing resources to hard-hit areas. Funds may also be used to help correctional facilities cover costs related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, sanitation, contagion prevention and measures designed to address the related medical needs of inmates, detainees and correctional personnel.
Jurisdictions that have not yet applied for funds may do so until May 29, 2020. OJP will fund successful applicants on a rolling basis as it receives applications. Grantees may apply the funds retroactively to January 20, 2020, subject to federal rules.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations. For more information, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553.
OJP, 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 is located at www.ojp.gov.
Rapid City Man Sentenced on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Judge.
Jerry Gorisek, age 49, was sentenced on May 11, 2020, to 7 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The charge relates to Gorisek possessing nearly 80 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm while intending to distribute methamphetamine in Rapid City, which was found after Gorisek came into contact with a Pennington County Sheriff Deputy in July 2019.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
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. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its 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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Gorisek was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Postal Service Employee Charged with Stealing Pill Bottle from MailRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of South Park, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of theft of mail by a postal employee, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named David G. Childers, age 38, of South Park, PA, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about December 18, 2019, Childers was an employee of the United States Postal Service and stole a pill bottle that was intended to be conveyed by mail.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Bond of $5,000 unsecured has been requested.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Plum Man Charged with Fentanyl PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Allegheny County has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Samuel Brooks, 53, of Plum, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from on or about November 6, 2018, Brooks possessed with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $8,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Samuel Brooks. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. 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.
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Possession of a Heroin/Fentanyl MixtureRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Ralph Justin Saunders, age 32, of the Perry South neighborhood, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about March 17, 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Saunders possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of heroin and fentanyl, which are scheduled controlled substances under federal law. This Indictment follows Saunders’s arrest on March 17, 2020, after which he was charged by Criminal Complaint on March 18, 2020, with a violation of the federal narcotics laws. Saunders has been detained since his arrest on March 17, 2020.
The law provides for a term of imprisonment of not less than five years to a maximum of 40 years, a fine of not more than $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Man Caught in Wiretap Investigation Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Mbuotidem Essiet, 24, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Essiet conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute heroin from June of 2019 through December of 2019. Investigators obtained court authorization to conduct Title III interceptions of communications occurring over a telephone belonging to one of Essiet’s codefendants. Essiet was intercepted communicating with his codefendant about acquiring quantities of heroin, the price of heroin, and the quality of the heroin. Essiet was also observed at his codefendant’s residence through electronic surveillance.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000, or both. 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 defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the North Versailles Police Department, the Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department, the Munhall Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
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.
Pennsylvania Man Indicted in Kidnapping and Death of Woman Whose Body Was Found in Nevada DesertRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Pennsylvania resident was indicted by a federal grand jury today for allegedly kidnapping a woman in Pennsylvania then driving her to Nevada and killing her in the desert, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI.
John Matthew Chapman, 40, is charged with one count of kidnapping which resulted in the death of the victim. He was previously charged by a criminal complaint on February 20, 2020. Chapman is currently in federal custody in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he awaits his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts in U.S. District Court in Nevada on May 29, 2020.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and indictment, on November 14, 2019, the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania conducted a welfare check on the victim at the request of a friend. During the welfare check, neighbors stated that they had not seen the victim in approximately two months, but they had observed a person whom they believed to be her boyfriend (Chapman) entering and leaving the victim’s residence. Inside the victim’s residence, officers found a fake CIA identification card with Chapman’s name and photograph, the victim’s cellular telephone, multiple zip ties, and a roll of duct tape.
A family member of the victim told investigators that she was communicating with the victim’s Facebook messenger account. Law enforcement determined that Chapman was pretending to be the victim, including responding to messages as the victim after her death.
On November 15, 2019, Chapman was arrested and interviewed by Bethel Park Police Department detectives. During the interview, Chapman admitted that in September 2019 he drove the victim from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania to Las Vegas, Nevada. He further admitted that he misled the victim to believe the trip was a vacation and they would potentially purchase a residence in Las Vegas. Chapman, however, had planned to kill the victim and had a “kill kit” ready before their departure to Nevada.
Chapman told investigators that he drove the victim out to the desert in Lincoln County, Nevada. Under the pretext of a photo shoot, the victim allowed Chapman to bind her hands and feet with plastic zip ties and affix her to a signpost. Chapman then applied duct tape to her mouth and nose, and watched her die from asphyxiation. The victim’s body was later discovered, and she was a “Jane Doe” unknown decedent until she was later positively identified by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner through dental records.
The investigation revealed that Chapman returned to Pennsylvania afterwards, and continuously used the victim’s residence and money following her death and passed it off as his own.
If convicted, Chapman faces the maximum penalty of life in prison or death. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only. If convicted of the offense, the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is the product of an investigation by the FBI, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bethel Park Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Cartier-Giroux and Allison Reese are prosecuting the case.
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One of the SCO Gang’s Heroin Source of Supply Sentenced to 8 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 8 years in prison and five years supervised release on his conviction of narcotics trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Travis Moore, age 27.
According to information presented to the Court, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force conducted a long-term investigation of drug trafficking occurring in and around the Braddock section of Pittsburgh. Moore and other individuals were identified as members and/or associates of a neighborhood based street gang, self-titled "SCO", which illegally distributed controlled substances in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.
In January of 2019, investigators obtained authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through May of 2019. Moore along with 32 others were indicted in June of 2019 by a federal grand jury in three separate, but related, Indictments.
As to Moore, the Court was informed that intercepted communications confirmed that Moore was an associate of co-defendant, Howard McFadden, who is SCO’s leader, and was one of McFadden’s sources of supply for heroin. The court was further informed that on at least one occasion, in conjunction with intercepted communications, the defendant was observed via pole camera footage at a trap house location on Seddon Avenue in Braddock, PA, with several other members of the conspiracy, which was owned by McFadden and used by members of the conspiracy to meet, distribute and store controlled substances. Moore was sentenced for distributing at least 100 but less than 400 grams of heroin.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the multi-agency team, which was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Moore. Partners in this investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Other assisting agencies included the Monroeville Police Department, Penn Hills Police Department, Wilkinsburg Police Department, and Allegheny County Adult Probation.
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.
Omaha Repeat Offender Sentenced to 180 Months for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Gregory Hanssen, 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for Transportation of Child Pornography with a Prior Conviction. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hanssen to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Hanssen will be on supervised release for 20 years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
In July 2019, the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force executed a search warrant at Hanssen’s residence after receiving a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that a Google Photos user had uploaded apparent child pornography. Federal agents seized and searched Hanssen’s cell phone and tablet device and located more than 700 images of child pornography.
In 2006, Hanssen was convicted in separate cases of First Degree Sexual Abuse and Distribution, Possession, or Viewing of Child Pornography in the state of Arkansas.
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 the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force