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Tuesday 3 March 2020
Monongalia County man indicted on drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Clay Westbrook, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was indicted today on drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Westbrook, age 38, is charged with two counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Westbrook is accused of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine base in November and December 2019 in Monongalia County. Westbrook, prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions, is also accused of having a .380 caliber pistol in December 2019 in Monongalia County.
Westbrook faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each of the drug counts, and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mobile Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Tykeif Lashawn Dunn, 43, of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking felony. Court documents showed that Dunn sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on several occasions, after which the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at his residence. Dunn was arrested on state charges and bonded out. Within about two weeks, Dunn was again caught distributing methamphetamine. A sheriff’s deputy stopped him on Highway 158 in Mobile County and discovered additional methamphetamine in his vehicle. Dunn entered a guilty plea to the two federal charges in September of 2019.
United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed a total sentence of 228 months imprisonment, consisting of 168 months on the drug count, and 60 months on the gun count, to run consecutively to each other. Dunn was ordered to serve five years of supervised release when he completes his custody sentence. During that period of supervision, Dunn will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse. Dunn was also ordered to pay $200 in special assessments, but no fine was imposed. In addition, the firearm Dunn illegally possessed was ordered forfeited to the United States.
The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.
Mexican man admits to importing $73K worth of meth to USRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old citizen of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to import 10.5 kilograms of meth into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On Dec. 10, 2019, J. Guadalupe Martinez-Montelongo drove an SUV to the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. There, a K-9 alerted to the possible presence of narcotics within the vehicle’s doors. Following a subsequent X-ray examination, authorities located 21 bundles stuffed behind the door panels which tested positive for meth.
The drugs weighed approximately 23 pounds and have a street value of over $73,000.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing June 17 at 10 a.m. At that time, Martinez-Montelongo faces up to life in federal prison. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison is prosecuting the case.
Mexican Woman Who Used a Fraudulent Social Security Card to Get a Job Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who used a false identification document and someone else’s social security number was sentenced today to six months in federal prison.
Maria Morales-Martinez, age 39, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 26, 2019, jury verdict finding her guilty of one count of unlawful use of an identification document and one count of misuse of a social security number.
Evidence at trial showed that Morales-Martinez used the name, date of birth and Social Security number of another person when completing employment paperwork in August 2016 at a business in Postville, Iowa. Specifically, Morales-Martinez presented the company with a fraudulent Minnesota ID card bearing her picture but the name and date of birth of another person. She also used a Social Security card bearing the name and social security number assigned to that other person when completing state and federal tax forms. Morales-Martinez admitted at trial that she used a second person’s name and social security number when employed at the company between 2010 and 2012, and the current alias name and social security number while employed at the company between August 2016 and December 2018. She also falsely claimed to be a United States citizen on the employment forms. Morales-Martinez was fired after the company discovered that Morales-Martinez was working using fraudulent documents.
Morales-Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Morales-Martinez was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Morales-Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1013.
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Mexican National Admits His Role in Transporting Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Ezequiel Vega-Solano, a 22-year old Mexican national, previously residing in Foley, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to illegal alien transportation, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. Vega-Solano, originally from Sonora, Mexico, was in the United States as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
On June 26, 2019, Vega-Solano was transporting three illegal aliens on Interstate 10 near Lake Charles when a Louisiana State trooper pulled his vehicle over for a traffic violation. The trooper contacted U.S. Border Patrol in Lake Charles for assistance with the three passengers in the vehicle. When Border Patrol agents arrived, they spoke with Vega-Solano, the driver of the vehicle, who claimed that he and the passengers had traveled to Houston to attend an event.
Border Patrol agents determined that the three passengers in the vehicle were in the United States illegally and arrested Vega-Solano for alien smuggling. Vega-Solano later admitted to the agents that he was aware the passengers were in the United States illegally. He had agreed to transport two of them from Houston back to Foley for $1,500.
Ivan Velasquez-Lopez, one of the passengers in the vehicle, had traveled with Vega-Solano from Foley to Houston. Velasquez-Lopez, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. on August 15, 2019, to re-entering the United States after previously being removed on three occasions. The other two passengers had no prior immigration history and were taken into custody for further immigration proceedings.
Judge Cain presided over the hearing today and scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2020. Vega-Solano faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. On June 27, 2019, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a notice terminating Vega-Solano’s DACA status.
United States Border Patrol and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo 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.
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Member of Navajo Nation sentenced to probation for unlawfully shooting elk in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Calvin Toledo, 49, of Cuba, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque today to unlawful taking and transporting wildlife in violation of Indian tribal law. He was sentenced to one year of probation.
According to his plea agreement, Toledo, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to hunting without a permit within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation on Feb. 1, 2016. Toledo admitted to shooting and killing an elk and moving it from one location to another despite not having a permit from the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. Toledo admitted knowing his conduct violated the federal Lacey Act and Indian Tribal law.
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service investigated this case with assistance from Navajo Nation and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen prosecuted the case.
Marion County man indicted on firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jonathan David Cochran, of Barrackville, West Virginia, was indicted today on a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Cochran, age 25, is charged with one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Cochran, prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior felony conviction, is accused of having a .380 caliber pistol in December 2019 in Marion County.
Cochran faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia Probation and Parole Office investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - James Gadwah, 52, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gadwah sold methamphetamine to a cooperating individual on three separate occasions in June of 2019. Gadwah was arrested on June 27, 2019, and officers searched his vehicle. In the vehicle, officers found over 60 grams of methamphetamine.
Gadwah is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9, 2020.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is appearing with alarming frequency in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “I am grateful to the Concord Police for stopping this individual from continuing to sell this dangerous substance. In order to protect the public, we are committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who distribute methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Michael Jones, 47, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 18, 2019 until April 19, 2019, a cooperating individual, at the direction of Manchester Police Department detectives, arranged on three occasions to buy methamphetamine from Jones.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2020.
“Drug trafficking continues present a significant risk to public health and safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to combat this threat, we will continue to work closely with the Manchester Police Department and our other law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who threaten the community by selling drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting Making a False Statement During the Attempted Acquisition of a FirearmRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jacob Dionne, 22, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding and abetting the making of a false statement during the attempted acquisition of a firearm, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 11, 2017, a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Hooksett contacted ATF agents about a possible straw purchase by a female. The store did not go through with the sale and described the vehicle that the female left in. ATF agents subsequently observed the vehicle on Hooksett Road in Hooksett. Dionne was one of the people in the vehicle.
The female admitted that Dionne asked her to buy a firearm, and stated that he offered to pay her $200 and fill her gas tank for making the purchase. The female agreed to purchase a firearm and Dionne gave her his credit card to make the purchase. While at the licensed firearms dealer, evidence showed Dionne spoke to the female and pointed to the handgun display. The female admitted that she completed paperwork and falsely stated that she was buying the firearm for herself. In fact, she was purchasing the firearm for Dionne.
Dionne was prohibited from acquiring firearms at the time of the attempted purchase.
Dionne is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2020.
“Federal firearms laws exist in order to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and those who cannot lawfully possess guns,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Those who seek to evade federal law by lying in order to purchase guns, or by getting others to do so, will be identified and prosecuted. Enforcing these laws will help to reduce crime and keep our community safe.”
This matter was investigated by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Vienna man pleaded guilty today to multiple charges related to his possession of images of child sexual abuse and attempted transfer of obscene material to minors.
According to court documents, in 2005, Alan Tabish, 36, met a 15-year-old girl online. Tabish picked up the minor girl from her parents’ residence, and drove her to his home, where he provided her with alcohol and then recorded images and videos of himself engaging in sexual conduct with her. The victim reported the incident in 2019, which led law enforcement to discover the images and videos on a computer hard drive in Tabish’s home. Additional online chats were recovered from this hard drive in which Tabish sent sexually explicit images of himself to individuals who identified themselves as minor girls.
Tabish pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and the attempted transfer of obscene material to minors and faces a sentence of 7 to 12 years in prison when sentenced on June 23. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Clayman is prosecuting the case.
This matter was investigated jointly by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Fairfax County Police Department. The task force is charged with identifying and investigating child predators and those individuals and criminal enterprises engaged in human trafficking.
Assistance in the prosecution has been provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-045.
Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl in BristolRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ELKIE CRUMP, also known as “40,” 37, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl.
As alleged in the complaint, Crump formerly resided on Davis Drive in Bristol and currently resides in West Hartford as a condition of his state parole. In December 2019, the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and Bristol Police Department began an investigation into Crump after receiving information that Crump was distributing fentanyl in and around Bristol. On three occasions in January and February 2020, investigators conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Crump.
Crump was arrested this morning in West Hartford. It is alleged that he possessed a distribution quantity of fentanyl at the time of his arrest.
Crump appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Hamden, Meriden, New Britain, West Haven and Watertown Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Reardon.
Justice Department Announces Crimes Against Elderly InitiativesRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, joined Attorney General William P. Barr today in announcing two initiatives to protect the elderly.
National Elder Fraud Hotline
The first initiative is the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline for seniors who may be victims of financial fraud.
The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The Department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”
“Crimes against the elderly target some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities,” said United States Attorney Blader. “My office will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to bring those who prey on the elderly to justice.”
The following are examples of elder fraud cases recently prosecuted in the Western District of Wisconsin:
Emmanuel Odiah, 33, a Nigerian national, has pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to launder the proceeds of a romance fraud scheme that involved primarily senior citizen victims, including one in Wisconsin. Other individuals, operating overseas, created fake profiles on internet dating services, gained the trust of the victims, and convinced the victims to transfer money to bank accounts maintained by Odiah in the United States under two fake identities. Odiah will be sentenced on April 7. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Jamie Smith owned and operated two precious metals brokerages houses in Hudson, Wisconsin, and during the operation of these businesses, he offered to appraise coins, buy them, trade them, or sell them for his clients. Instead, he defrauded them by selling their coins and using the funds to pay his monthly mortgage and utilities, to make ATM cash withdrawals, and to make purchases at grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, hotels, and fast food restaurants. FBI agents identified 46 victims in this case, and the loss amount was over $1.24 million. Many of Smith’s victims were elderly and the stolen coins represented significant portions of their retirement assets. In December 2019, Smith was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison.
Patrick O’Connor, a real estate developer and licensed real estate agent in Waunakee, Wisconsin, solicited funds from individuals for investment in an online brokerage account, projecting an average annual return over 20%. Instead, he used investors’ funds for his personal expenses. To perpetuate the fraud, O’Connor provided investors with fictitious account statements that showed the investors’ supposed year-to-date profits and their supposed current portfolio balance. Even after being interviewed by an IRS criminal investigator, O’Connor continued to solicit investments and convinced two investors to provide him with over $1.7 million. In total, O’Connor convinced six investors to invest over $12 million with him. At his sentencing in July 2019, the judge called O’Connor’s scheme “predatory” and that his decision to take more money from investors after being interviewed by law enforcement was “morally bankrupt.” O’Connor was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison.
National Nursing Home Initiative
U.S. Attorney Blader also joins with Attorney General Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
A number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes are considered, including facilities that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents.
The National Elder Fraud Hotline and the National Nursing Home Initiative reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors. The department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices coordinate investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and the investigation and prosecution of those who defraud the elderly. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
Jury convicts “high priest” for transporting illegal aliens in the back of his BuickRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI – A federal jury sitting in Corpus Christi has convicted a 59-year-old Mission man for smuggling two illegal aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before convicting Emiliano Espinoza-Guajardo following a two-day trial.
During trial, the jury heard that on Oct. 15, 2019, Espinoza-Guajardo drove a Buick Rendezvous to the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Falfurrias. When authorities approached his vehicle for an immigration inspection, he displayed signs of nervousness. Law enforcement requested and received consent to open the back door of vehicle, at which time they discovered two men on the floorboard of the backseat attempting to conceal themselves.
Both men were found to be illegally present in the United States.
The jury heard from both men who had each identified Espinoza-Guajardo as the driver. They testified that Espinoza-Guajardo instructed them to remain quiet and hide before arriving at the checkpoint. One of the individuals stated that he also gave Espinoza-Guajardo his Ecuadorian passport for safe keeping.
The defense attempted to convince the jury Espinoza-Guajardo did not know the people he was driving were illegally present in the United States. He also claimed to be a high priest who could do no wrong. They did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.
Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head presided over the trial and set sentencing for June 10. At that time, Espinoza-Guajardo faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Espinoza-Guajardo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Carl Fugate and Barbara De Pena are prosecuting the case.
Jefferson County Felon Convicted of Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 32-year-old Beaumont, Texas, man has been convicted of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Larry Young, Jr., was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. The jury returned their verdict in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 17, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a home where Young was residing. Inside the residence, officers discovered several firearms, including one which had been reported as stolen, a ballistic vest, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Further investigation revealed Young had been convicted of multiple felonies and as a convicted felon, prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Young was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 5, 2019, and charged with firearms violations.
Under federal statutes, Young faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence; deterring illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and body armor; and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell E. James and Rachel Grove.
Jackson Woman Pleads Guilty Under Project EJECT to Transferring a Firearm to a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Tonya Danielle Ham, 36, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to transferring a firearm to a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin.
On September,14, 2018, Tonya Ham, knowing her husband Wilmer Ham was a convicted felon, transferred a firearm to him that he dropped when he assaulted a Jackson Police Officer at a convenience store at 2:00 o’clock in the morning. Ms. Ham purchased two firearms previously, one in 2017, and one in 2018. The second firearm was possessed by her husband later that same day when he was detained by the store clerk who recognized him from the earlier encounter.
In August 2019, Wilmer Ham was charged in a federal criminal indictment with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty and was sentenced by Judge Reeves on February 24, 2020, to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and fined $1500.
Tonya Ham will be sentenced by Judge Reeves on June 3, 2020, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha Middleton and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paul Fortenberry.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
Identical Twin Brothers Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Multiple Child Sex Exploitation and Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Identical twin brothers who admitted to child sex exploitation and child pornography offenses were sentenced on Monday to 30 and 25 years in prison, respectively, to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.
Justin Anthony Fisher and Joshua Ray Fisher, both 35, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement, conspiracy to sexually exploit children, and distribution, possession, and receipt of child pornography. Additionally, Justin Fisher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to tamper with a victim. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over Monday’s sentencing hearing. In addition to the terms of imprisonment and supervised release, the Fisher brothers agreed to pay full restitution to the victims of their crimes.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is honored to work alongside our law enforcement partners in bringing these two defendants to justice for their exploitation of underage victims,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “The significant sentences that these defendants received appropriately reflect the devastating impact their crimes have had on their victims and our community.”
“Protecting the most vulnerable in our community is a high priority of the FBI,” said SAC Rouse. “I want to commend the members of our task force for their outstanding work in investigating these offenders and removing them from the community. The combined efforts of the task force exhibit the FBI’s commitment to our community and our partners.”
According to court documents:
- Justin Fisher. From 2015 to 2016, Justin Fisher sexually exploited a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl. He communicated with the 14-year-old girl over Kik, an instant messaging application, and sent her text messages about sexual topics. He lied to the underage victim about his age, convinced her that they were in a romantic relationship, and directed the victim to take nude photos of herself to send to him. In August 2016, Justin Fisher had sex with the victim and produced pornographic images of their sexual encounters. Later, he conspired to and attempted to stop the victim from cooperating with law enforcement. Justin Fisher also admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old girl and producing pornographic bondage photos of her. Justin Fisher shared the sexually explicit images of both underage victims with his brother, Joshua Fisher, and others over on the internet. Justin Fisher used the alias “Sol Castle” on Kik when targeting underage girls.
- Joshua Fisher. Joshua Fisher admitted to sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl. The abuse began when the victim was 11 years old. Joshua Fisher admitted that he instructed her on how to pose during live chats so that he could take screenshots of her engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Joshua Fisher shared these images with his brother, Justin Fisher. When law enforcement arrested Justin Fisher, Joshua Fisher directed the underage victim to destroy evidence implicating him, and cancelled a trip to have sex with her. Joshua Fisher used the alias “Ray” when targeting underage girls.
Further, while in custody pending trial, the brothers conspired to have family members destroy evidence of their child sex exploitation. A concerned citizen’s call allowed law enforcement to retrieve additional electronic devices, which revealed at least 50 additional unidentified victims.
The case is the product of a joint investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children/Child Exploitation Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton prosecuted the case.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, any information regarding Justin and Joshua Fisher, aka “Sol Castle” and “Ray,” please make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or by making a report at www.cybertipline.com.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Social Security Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Erick and Kimberly Dominguez pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with their scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA), announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and SSA Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Robb Stickley. The plea was received by the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam Jr., U.S. District Judge.
According to the defendants’ plea agreements, Kimberly Dominguez, 37, of Vallejo, Calif., was an employee at the SSA’s Oakland Teleservice Center. From September 2015 until October 2019, Ms. Dominguez used her employment at the SSA to divert Social Security direct deposit payments from recipients’ bank accounts to bank accounts that she controlled. After the diverted benefits were deposited, Erick Dominquez, 39, withdrew money from the accounts, primarily via ATM cash withdrawals. In two instances, Ms. Dominguez reinstated suspended Social Security benefits before diverting them. In total, Ms. Dominguez diverted at least $247,784.70 in Social Security payments from more than 30 recipients.
A federal grand jury indicted the defendants on November 7, 2019, charging them both with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and Ms. Dominguez with an additional seven counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Both defendants pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count; and if Ms. Dominquez complies with her plea agreement, the additional charges against her will be dismissed at sentencing.
Judge Gilliam scheduled the defendants’ sentencing hearing for July 13, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. The maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is twenty years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Vieira is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the SSA Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the FBI.
The defendants charged in this case are among the 400 defendants charged nationwide by federal prosecutors this year in connection with financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors.
Today Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Humboldt Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Meth ConvictionRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 9, 2020, in federal court in Sioux City.
Wendy Jordison, 57, from Humboldt, Iowa, and previously Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on June 13, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jordison was previously convicted of a serious felony drug offense in Iowa in 2000, on which she served state prison time until at least April of 2006.
At the plea hearing, Jordison admitted her involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least three pounds of methamphetamine from June 2018 through January 2019. On four separate occasions in December 2018 and January 2019, Jordison distributed over 111 grams of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. In January 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Jordison’s residence and seized over 205 grams of pure methamphetamine along with other indicia of drug trafficking.
Jordison was sentenced in Sioux City before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Jordison remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison. Jordison was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 10-year term of supervised release following imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt Police Department, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3009. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Houston Bus Company Distributes More Than $90,000 to U.S. Workers Under Department of Justice SettlementRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that El Expreso Bus Company (El Expreso), based in Houston, Texas, has paid over $90,000 to eight U.S. workers pursuant to a May 29, 2019, settlement agreement.
The settlement resolved the Department’s claims that El Expreso discriminated against U.S. workers due to a hiring preference for temporary visa workers, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This settlement is part of the Department’s Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, which targets, investigates, and brings enforcement actions against companies that discriminate against U.S. workers because they prefer to hire foreign visa workers. Since the Initiative’s inception, employers have agreed to pay or have distributed a combined total of more than $1.1 million to U.S. workers and civil penalties to the United States.
“U.S. workers are the lifeblood of our economy, and we are gratified that these U.S. workers have now been compensated for the discrimination that they faced,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate employers abusing temporary visa programs to deny U.S. workers job opportunities.”
The Department’s investigation leading up to the settlement determined that El Expreso failed to consider applications from qualified U.S. workers for its temporary bus driver positions and then petitioned for H-2B visa workers to fill the positions, even though the H-2B visa program requires employers to recruit and hire available and qualified U.S. workers before they receive permission to hire temporary foreign workers. The INA generally prohibits employers from refusing to hire or consider U.S. workers because of their citizenship status.
Under the terms of the settlement, the Civil Rights Division identified victims of discrimination eligible for back-pay awards and determined the amount of those awards. The Department determined that eight U.S. workers were eligible to receive a total of $91,015.35 in back pay.
Under the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, the Civil Rights Division has opened dozens of investigations and reached settlement agreements with seven employers to address this type of discrimination. The Division has also increased its collaboration with other federal agencies to combat discrimination and abuse by employers using foreign visa workers.
The Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
More information about protections against unlawful citizenship status discrimination is available here. The public may also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. The public is invited to attend a free webinar on March 19, 2020 discussing unlawful discrimination under the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive updates from IER.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to: discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; discrimination in the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin; or retaliation can file a charge or contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.
Honduran Drug Trafficker Arrested in Florida on Drug Trafficking and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Wendy Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced today that GEOVANNY DANIEL FUENTES RAMIREZ was charged in Manhattan federal court with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and related weapons offenses involving the use and possession of machineguns and destructive devices. DEA agents arrested FUENTES RAMIREZ on March 1, 2020, at Miami International Airport as he attempted to depart the United States, and was presented yesterday afternoon in Miami federal court.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, Geovanny Daniel Fuentes Ramirez was, up until his arrest by the DEA two days ago, a prolific, powerful, and murderous cocaine trafficker in Honduras. As further alleged, Fuentes Ramirez paved the way for unimpeded shipment of multi-ton loads of cocaine by bribing police and a high-ranking Honduran politician, and reporting directly to Tony Hernandez, another co-conspirator in the scheme and himself a former Honduran congressman. Thanks to the DEA, a key player in the unholy alliance of Honduran officials and drug traffickers is now in custody and facing a possible life behind bars.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Wendy Woolcock said: “The arrest of Geovanny Daniel Fuentes Ramirez is yet another example of DEA’s perseverance to bring to justice criminal associates of corrupt Honduran public officials and law enforcement officers who enabled the trafficking of massive amounts of cocaine headed to the United States. These corrupt arrangements resulted in horrible violence in Honduras and beyond. The DEA will continue to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who participated in these activities, threatened the rule of law, and operated with complete disregard for human life for their financial gain.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1] charging FUENTES RAMIREZ, evidence presented at the October 2019 trial of Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado in the Southern District of New York, and statements in open court during the prosecution of Hernandez Alvarado:
Between approximately 2004 and 2020, multiple drug trafficking organizations in Honduras and elsewhere worked together, and with support from certain prominent public and private individuals, including Honduran politicians and law enforcement officials, to receive multi-ton loads of cocaine sent to Honduras from, among other places, Colombia via air and maritime routes, and to transport the drugs westward in Honduras toward the border with Guatemala and eventually to the United States. For protection from law enforcement interference, and in order to facilitate the safe passage through Honduras of multi-ton loads of cocaine, FUENTES RAMIREZ and other drug traffickers paid bribes to Honduran public officials, including certain members of the Honduran National Police and the Honduran National Congress. For example, following an October 2019 trial in the Southern District of New York, former Honduran congressman Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado was convicted of drug trafficking, weapons, and false statements charges related to his role in this scheme. Hernandez Alvarado is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel on April 15, 2020.
Beginning in or about 2009, FUENTES RAMIREZ and others established and operated a cocaine laboratory in the Cortés Department of Honduras, where they produced hundreds of kilograms of cocaine each month. FUENTES RAMIREZ worked with others to receive cocaine shipments and transport cocaine that he produced, including using planes that landed and departed from a clandestine airstrip that he operated near the Cortés Department. In order to protect these large quantities of cocaine and his foothold as a large-scale drug trafficker in Honduras, FUENTES RAMIREZ and his workers used firearms, including 9 millimeter handguns, AK-47 assault rifles, and AR-15 assault rifles, and resorted to significant acts of violence, including murder. In or about 2012, for example, after FUENTES RAMIREZ’s cocaine laboratory was raided by law enforcement, FUENTES RAMIREZ participated in the stabbing murder of a law enforcement official who FUENTES RAMIREZ believed to have been involved in the investigation of the laboratory.
In or about 2013, FUENTES RAMIREZ paid at least approximately $25,000 to a high-ranking Honduran official referred to in the Complaint as “CC-4,” in exchange for protection from further interventions by law enforcement targeting FUENTES RAMIREZ and his drug trafficking activities. Around the time of the bribe, during a series of meetings between FUENTES RAMIREZ, CC-4, and others, CC-4 expressed interest in access to FUENTES RAMIREZ’s cocaine laboratory because of its proximity to a major commercial shipping port, agreed to facilitate the use of Honduran armed forces personnel as security for FUENTES RAMIREZ’s drug trafficking activities, and instructed FUENTES RAMIREZ to report directly to Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado for subsequent drug trafficking activities.
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The Complaint charges FUENTES RAMIREZ, 50, with: (1) conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, (2) using and carrying machine guns and destructive devices during and in relation to, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine importation conspiracy; and (3) conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during and in relation to, and to possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine importation conspiracy. If convicted, FUENTES RAMIREZ faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison on Count One, a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison on Count Two, a maximum term of life in prison on Count Three.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and Strike Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Houle, Matthew J. Laroche, Jason A. Richman, and Elinor L. Tarlow are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations, and FUENTES RAMIREZ is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Hoboken Woman Arrested for Embezzling Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, woman was arrested today for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing affordable housing to residents of Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Yezenia Castillo, 44, of Hoboken, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with four counts of wire fraud. She is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From May 2015 to August 2016 Castillo used her position as the accountant for the non-profit company to issue unauthorized checks made payable to herself or entities she controlled. She forged the signature of the president of the company’s board of directors on those checks, representing to the company that the payments were for legitimate business expenses, including tax payments to be made on behalf of the company. A review of bank records during this period did not identify tax payments made by Castillo to the IRS or the State of New Jersey on behalf of the company.
The counts of wire fraud each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vijay Dewan and Sammi Malek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Hobart Resident Sentenced to 50 Months in Federal Prison for Selling Drugs via the “Dark Web;” Forfeits $1.5 millionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on today’s date, Christopher D. Bania, (age: 27) of Hobart, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
According to the plea agreement, Bania sold narcotics including MDMA (“Ecstasy”), cocaine, DMT, ketamine, LSD, MDA, methaqualone, marijuana, and a variety of other controlled substances. To make his sales Bania utilized dark web marketplaces, including Dream Market, Zion, Wall Street, Hansa, Trade Route, and Alpha Bay. Alpha Bay and Hansa were shut down by law enforcement in July of 2017.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is unreachable by traditional search engines and web browsers. Websites on the dark web have complex web addresses generated by a computer algorithm and must be accessed using special software that is capable of connecting to “The Onion Router” network, or “TOR” for short. The TOR network is encrypted and routes internet traffic dynamically through a series of computers around the world, concealing the true Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers accessing the network and thereby making internet use virtually anonymous. This perceived anonymity has led to a proliferation of criminal activity on dark web marketplaces, where users can find vendors, like Bania, offering illegal goods and services for sale.
In handing down his sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted that despite Bania’s lack of a prior criminal record, his involvement in the community, and the outpouring of support from friends and family who packed the courtroom, his was a “crime of significant magnitude” that required a substantial prison sentence. Judge Griesbach also noted while Bania was himself a user of controlled substances, his activities on the dark web functioned primarily as a “money making enterprise.”
“This four-plus year sentence for a first-time offender sends a clear warning about the seriousness of drug trafficking on the dark web,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “Just because one deals narcotics from home does not mean one can escape the law. I commend the outstanding work of the multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that investigated this case and brought it to conclusion.”
In addition to the prison sentence, Bania was ordered to forfeit cash and cryptocurrency valued at approximately $1.5 million. Following his prison sentence, he will spend 3 years on supervised release.
This case was a joint investigation of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, the Brown County Drug Task Force, the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department, and the Oneida Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott J. Campbell, Benjamin W. Proctor, and Daniel R. Humble.
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Harrison County man indicted on drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Frank Horner, III, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was indicted today on drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Horner, age 27, is charged with one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Horner is accused of having methamphetamine in October 2019 in Harrison County. Horner, prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior felony conviction, is also accused of having a .22LR caliber semi-automatic pistol in October 2019 in Harrison County.
Horner faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug count, and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Haitian National Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Haitian national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for sex trafficking four victims out of his residences in Dracut and Malden.
Reginald Abraham, 51, who previously resided in Dracut, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 21 years and 10 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $728,000 in restitution to the four victims. Abraham will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.
In July 2019, Abraham was convicted by a federal jury of four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. He was charged and arrested on Sept. 6, 2017, and has been in federal custody since.
Law enforcement began investigating Abraham in January 2017 after learning about his trafficking operations from several victims. Abraham approached his victims, usually through social media, and began communicating with them in an effort to convince them to live with him. He eventually picked up his victims, all from Maine, and drove them to his residence in Malden, and later Dracut. After arriving at his home, Abraham forced the women into prostitution throughout New England. He maintained his control over these victims through the use of physical violence, threats, rape, and giving and withholding drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine. Abraham trafficked the victims from 2012 through 2016.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Portland (Maine) Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dracut and Portland Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah B. Foley and Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team prosecuted case.
Glendale Man Who Schemed to Impersonate Dentists to Swindle Banks Out of $2.1 Million Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale man who defrauded banks out of $2.1 million by conspiring to steal the identities of at least 11 dentists, opening sham dentist offices, and filing fraudulent claims to banks that offer lines of credit to dentists – was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison.
Ararat Yesayan, 39, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who also ordered him to pay $2,019,738 in restitution, and who described Yesayan’s crimes as “outrageous.”
Yesayan pleaded guilty in May 2019 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
From October 2010 until March 2014, Yesayan and his co-conspirators impersonated dentists by stealing personal identifying information, including dental license numbers. Yesayan and others acquired commercial office space to open what looked like real dental offices in the names of victim dentists, according to his plea agreement.
Yesayan and others then submitted change of address requests to the Dental Board of California with the addresses of the newly opened sham dental office addresses so they would receive mail intended for the impersonated dentists. Using the victim dentists’ names, Yesayan and others applied for lines of credit offered by banks to dentists and, upon approval, submitted numerous fraudulent dental claims in the names of fake patients for procedures that were never performed.
Once the claims were approved, money was wired to Yesayan-controlled bank accounts. The victim lenders included Citibank and GE Capital Retail Finance Bank (now Synchrony Bank), who suffered losses of at least $2.1 million.
A second defendant in this case – Varooj Arakelian, 49, of Glendale – is scheduled to go on trial on June 23. Charges against a third defendant – Artin Sarkissians, 42, also of Glendale – are pending.
The FBI investigated this matter.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julia S. Choe of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
Framingham Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Ammunition After Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Framingham man, who was previously convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with illegally selling ammunition.
Julien King, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition after a domestic violence conviction before U.S. District Judge William G. Young, who scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2020. King was indicted in September 2019.
On March 29, 2019, in Framingham, King sold a .22 caliber bolt-action rifle and 45 pieces of .22 caliber ammunition to a confidential informant in exchange for $120. The sale was captured by recording. Due to a 2017 conviction of assault and battery on a family or household member, King was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Framingham Police Acting Chief Steven Trask made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Virginia Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
A former tax return preparer in Roanoke, Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison today, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen for the Western District of Virginia.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Pierre owned and operated JP Tax Services LLC, a tax return preparation business in Roanoke, Virginia. From 2013 through 2014, Pierre falsified clients tax returns by fraudulently claiming residential energy credits, fuel tax credits, and itemized deductions, in order to inflate his clients’ refunds. Pierre also fraudulently claimed the fuel tax credit on his own 2013 tax return.
In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Judge Urbanski ordered Pierre to serve one year of supervised release and pay $25,495 in restitution to the United States.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Cullen thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Lauren Archer and Kevin Schneider, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene R. Day, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Former VA Podiatry Chief Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anthony Lazzarino, 69, former Chief of Podiatry for the Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Northern California Health Care System, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to six years and six months in prison for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between March 2008 and Feb. 2015, Lazzarino and Peter Wong, 62, founder and former CEO of Sunrise Shoes and Pedorthic Service Corporation, engaged in a scheme to defraud the VA by billing for custom work and services that were prescribed but not supplied in shoes delivered to veterans. In addition, they and Wong’s former employee Jai Aing Chen agreed to make materially false statements to the VA regarding where shoes were manufactured, in the course of applying for a national contract worth over $11 million per year. A federal jury found Wong and Lazzarino guilty of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud on May 17, 2019. Chen separately pleaded guilty on Dec. 6, 2016.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee S. Bickley prosecuted the case.
Judge Mendez sentenced Wong to five years in prison on Dec. 17, 2019. Judge Mendez sentenced Chen to one year and one day in prison on Aug. 6, 2019.
Former Pierce County Housing Authority Finance Director indicted for wire fraudRead the Press Release
Seattle – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging former housing authority executive COVA CAMPBELL, aka Cova Hunter with four counts of wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. According to the indictment, between March 2016 and July 2019, CAMPBELL defrauded the Pierce County Housing Authority (PCHA) of $6.9 million. CAMPBELL allegedly used her authority as the organization’s Finance Director to divert public money fraudulently to her own bank accounts.
“This was a lengthy and sophisticated scheme involving millions of public dollars, interstate wires and falsified records,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “At a time when we are scrambling to fund housing for those who are unsheltered, it is appalling that this money went to pay for cars, vacations, home remodeling, and purchases from gaming websites.”
According to the indictment, CAMPBELL initiated wire transfers of as much as $500,000 from Pierce County Housing Authority accounts to her own bank accounts. One of the transfers was in connection with the purchase of land in Oklahoma. CAMBELL also prepared and submitted false invoices to PCHA and made them appear they were from an outside vendor. PCHA paid the invoices, and the money went into CAMPBELL’s bank accounts. CAMPBELL also misused the PCHA credit card by charging her personal expenses. CAMPBELL covered up her fraud by labeling these fraudulent charges as “investments,” “insurance,” or “maintenance” in the PCHA accounting records.
“Ms. Campbell was entrusted by the people of Pierce County to make decisions based on their best interests. Instead, she betrayed that trust by enriching herself at their expense,” said Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge FBI – Seattle.
“Housing and Urban Development –Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) will continue to safeguard HUD funds designated for those citizens most at need and will actively pursue those who betray the public trust by using their positions for private gain,” said Scott J. Tanchak, Special Agent in Charge for the Pacific Northwest..
The Washington State Auditor’s Office uncovered the financial irregularities, and CAMPBELL’s employment was terminated by the Housing Authority on August 8, 2019.
CAMPBELL was arrested yesterday in Redbird, Oklahoma. She had her initial appearance before a judge in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was released and directed to report to U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and HUD-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Werner.
campbell_indictment.pdf campbell_indictment.pdfFormer Hampstead Bookkeeper Sentenced to Almost Four Years in Federal Prison for a Scheme to Embezzle Almost $1 Million from Her EmployerRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced Lisa Fore, age 48, of Hampstead, Maryland, to 45 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft related to a scheme to embezzle almost $1 million from her employers. Judge Hollander also scheduled a hearing on April 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. concerning the requested restitution.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“Less than a year after she was hired, Lisa Fore began embezzling from the family-owned company for which she worked and from the family themselves. She continued the embezzlement scheme for at least 16 years, taking advantage of the relationships she cultivated for her own purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Now Lisa Fore will have almost four years in federal prison to reflect on her betrayal of trust. Let this sentence serve as a warning to others who might be tempted to abuse their position for personal gain.”
According to Fore’s plea agreement, beginning in 2001, Fore was employed as a bookkeeper for victims J.C., C.C., the Cirelli Company, and related entities. Beginning in at least 2002 and continuing until July 2018, Fore embezzled more than $996,193.02 from the Cirelli entities and victims J.C. and C.C.
As detailed in her plea agreement, Fore accomplished the scheme by various means, including forging the signature of J.C. on checks drawn from the personal accounts of J.C. and C.C., and from the accounts of the Cirelli entities; making electronic transfers of funds from the Cirelli accounts; and using credit cards for accounts associated with the Cirelli entities, all for her personal benefit. Fore used the embezzled funds to pay her personal credit card bills, property taxes on her home in Carroll County, Maryland, utility bills associated with her home, and taxes owed to the U.S. Department of Treasury. She also repeatedly used a company credit card to purchase items and services for her own benefit. including auto repairs for her and her family’s personal vehicles at a local auto repair shop.
Fore admitted that she concealed her scheme by creating fake bank statements and fake invoices from a legitimate vendor used by the Cirelli entities, and by inaccurately coding forged checks used to pay her personal expenses in the online accounting application used by the company, among other means. For example, Fore would code a forged check as payable to a frequently used vendor, when the check was in fact payable to one of her creditors.
On July 30, 2018, J.C. confronted Fore about suspicious charges on a company credit card. Fore acknowledged that she was responsible for the suspicious charges and her employment was terminated shortly thereafter.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case.
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Final Defendant Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Interstate Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—On Monday, March 2, 2020, Gary Peck, 44, of Clark County, Washington, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release for his role in a credit card fraud ring that operated in the greater Portland metropolitan area from February 2017 to February 2018.
Peck is the tenth and final defendant sentenced for crimes associated with the scheme. The scheme’s leader and organizer, Jonathan Dominic Coons, 41, of Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced on January 25, 2019, to 75 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, to facilitate the scheme, Coons, Peck, and their co-conspirators manufactured more than 1,100 counterfeit credit and debit cards and used them throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. To create the counterfeit cards, the group embossed stolen credit card and other identifying information on gift cards purchased or stolen from local stores. The majority of stolen information used by the group belonged to individuals residing in Canada and Australia.
The group used the counterfeit credit and debit cards to purchase various items including hotels, rental cars, and merchandise they would in turn sell online or trade for illegal narcotics. The group would organize “shopping” trips, working their way along Interstate 5 and stopping at various shopping centers to use the counterfeit cards. They structured these trips to maximize their use of the cards and avoid detection by law enforcement.
During the investigation, local law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant on Peck and co-defendant Dawn Szabo’s shared residence. Like Peck, Szabo, 42, also of Clark County, had extensive involvement in the scheme and participated in many of the group’s “shopping” trips. Their residence was used as a flophouse where the co-conspirators planned the scheme, manufactured the counterfeit cards, and used drugs.
Sentenced defendants include:
- Jonathan Dominic Coons—75 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Mikayla Brewington, 26, of Clark County—54 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Samantha Rudd, 25, of Multnomah County, Oregon—54 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Dawn Szabo—52 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Bryce Sfetku, 30, of Clark County—48 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Sarah Epley, 42, of Multnomah County—36 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Courtney Foster, 36, of Multnomah County—36 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Gary Peck—36 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release
- Kevin Leighty, 36, of Multnomah County—30 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
- Kimberly Patterson, 33, of Multnomah County—24 months in prison and three years’ supervised release
This case was investigated by the Vancouver Police Department with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and prosecuted by Rachel K. Sowray and Scott E. Bradford, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
If you or someone you know believes you have been the victim of an identity theft crime, please contact HSI at (866) 347-2423. You can also submit a tip online by visiting: www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-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.
Federal prisoner charged with manslaughter in death of inmateRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stephen C. Crawford, a former inmate at U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton, was indicted today on charges of manslaughter and assault regarding the death of another inmate, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crawford, age 41, was indicted today on one count of “Voluntary Manslaughter,” one count of “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm,” and one count of “Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.” Crawford is accused of stabbing another inmate “A.C.” resulting in his death. The crime allegedly took place in March 2015 at USP Hazelton in Preston County.
Crawford faces up to 15 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the manslaughter charge and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the other two charges. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Launder Drug Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Donnell Steward pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder drug trafficking proceeds between 2017 and 2019, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Steward, 50, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing to occur on July 14, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Steward was serving a prior federal prison sentence at Otisville, New York, when he committed the crime to which he pled guilty.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Extradited Former Automotive Parts Executive Pleads Guilty to Antitrust ChargeRead the Press Release
Eun Soo Kim, a former key accounts manager for Continental Automotive Korea Ltd. and a Korean national, was extradited from Germany and pleaded guilty for his role in an international market allocation and bid-rigging conspiracy involving the sale of instrument panel clusters to several automobile producers, the Department of Justice announced.
“Today’s guilty plea further demonstrates our commitment at the Antitrust Division and shows that neither time nor distance provide refuge for executives who conspire to cheat American consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will leave no stone unturned including working with enforcers around the world to bring to justice those who infect international markets with collusion.”
“The FBI will vigorously investigate and work to prosecute individuals, such as Kim, who conspire to allocate sales and rig bids for their own selfish gain and at the expense of the American people,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s extradition and guilty plea demonstrate the FBI’s determination to bring those who violate competition law the United States has long upheld to justice.”
Kim’s extradition is the third extradition based solely on an antitrust charge and the second in as many months. A fugitive for nearly five years, Kim was apprehended by German authorities in September 2019 in Frankfurt. Kim ultimately consented to extradition and arrived in Atlanta on February 28, 2020. Kim appeared before Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and pleaded guilty on March 2, 2020. Judge Batten sentenced Kim to nine months in prison with credit for the time he was held in custody pending extradition and prior to sentencing. He also has been sentenced to pay a $130,000 criminal fine.
Kim pleaded guilty to conspiring to allocate sales of, rig bids for, and submit rigged and non-competitive bids for instrument panel clusters sold to Korean automobile producers and their subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. Instrument panel clusters are a set of instruments located on the dashboard of a vehicle that contain gauges such as the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, and fuel gauge, as well as warning indicators for gearshift position, seat belt, parking-brake engagement, engine malfunction, low fuel, low oil pressure, and low tire pressure. Kim participated in the conspiracy from at least as early as February 2008 until as late as May 2012.
Including Kim, more than 100 companies and executives have been charged in the Justice Department’s investigation into the automotive parts industry. More than $2.9 billion in criminal fines have been imposed and 32 individuals have been sentenced to pay criminal fines and to serve prison sentences ranging from a year and a day to two years.
Kim was charged with bid rigging in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
This case is the result of a federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry conducted by the Antitrust Division and the FBI. Today’s charges were brought by the Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office and the FBI’s Mobile, Alabama, Field Office. Assistance with the extradition was provided by the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the United States Marshals Service. The Department of Justice thanks the government of Germany for its assistance in this case. Anyone with information on price fixing, bid rigging, or other anticompetitive conduct should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1–888–647–3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.
Edmond Man Charged with Illegal Smuggling of Firearms to the Middle EastRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – RANDY LEW WILLIAMS, 57, of Edmond, Oklahoma, has been charged for illegally shipping firearms to the Middle East, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed on March 3, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Legal Attaché in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates notified the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office that a FedEx shipment had been seized on December 19, 2018. The shipment contained multiple Glock pistols and firearms parts, and shipment records indicated the shipment was sent from Williams, at an address in Oklahoma City. Records also indicated the shipment contained tools and that the intended recipient was located in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. The affidavit further explained that FBI authorities later learned that between January 2018 and October 2018, Williams received approximately $12,761.00 in wire transfers from Sweden. The affidavit states that Williams did not have a Federal Firearms License (FFL) from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) or authority from the Department of Defense to export defense articles (i.e., weapons) outside the United States.
The defendant was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary M. Purcell. The criminal complaint charges Williams with four criminal counts: 1) shipping firearms in foreign commerce without a license, 2) shipping firearms in foreign commerce without notifying the carrier, 3) illegally smuggling firearms from the U.S., and 4) conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the U.S.
If found guilty of counts 1, 2, or 4, the defendant faces a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. If found guilty of count 3, the defendant faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. Each count carries a term of supervised release of not more than three years.
This case is a result of an investigation by the FBI—Oklahoma City Field Office, the ATF, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Mark Stoneman are prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reference is made to public filings for more information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Domestic Violence Abuser Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas prohibited person who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm, based on a prior conviction for domestic violence, was sentenced Monday to 20 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Frederic D. Winston for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for the San Francisco Division.
“This case epitomizes our office’s ongoing violent crime reduction initiative, targeting the nexus between domestic violence and gun crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “Nevada’s domestic violence fatality rate remains far too high. We believe that cases like this one will help reduce the domestic violence fatality rate by taking guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. This case also sends the message to convicted domestic abusers that the Department of Justice is dedicated to prosecuting them for illegal firearm possession.”
“ATF and our partners will continue to work to protect our communities from gun violence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Winston. “Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws are at the forefront of the focus for Project Guardian. Project Guardian emphasizes close coordination by ATF, the United States Attorney’s Office and our state and local law enforcement partners so that those who possess firearms illegally are held accountable. ATF will continue to work with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure the safety of the people of Las Vegas.”
Angelo Taylor, 31, pleaded guilty on November 26, 2019, to unlawful possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over yesterday’s sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, on June 30, 2018, officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance where Taylor allegedly threatened, if police were called, to kill his wife and their seven children and then commit suicide by cop. Through the investigation into the domestic disturbance, officers discovered that Taylor unlawfully possessed a Taurus 9mm handgun in his home. Taylor has a prior conviction for domestic battery in 2015.
The case is a product of an investigation by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the U.S. Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the ATF when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
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Detroit man found sleeping in U-Haul with engine running at gas pump sentenced to prison for counterfeiting credit cards in OhioRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Aaron Johnson, 32, and Timothy Banks, 22, caught the attention of law enforcement when they fell asleep in a U-Haul van with the engine running at a gas pump in Miami County.
Johnson was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 21 months in prison for counterfeiting credit cards, and the court entered its judgment today.
According to court documents, Johnson conspired with Banks to make money through counterfeiting by re-encoding gift cards with stolen credit card account numbers.
In August 2018, Johnson rented a U-Haul van in Rochester, Mich. for what was supposed to be a one-day rental.
Instead, Johnson kept the U-Haul for nearly a month and drove it more than 8,000 miles, including to Miami County, Ohio. On Sept. 1, law enforcement officers observed Johnson and Banks asleep in the van connected to a gas station pump with the engine running.
Officers approached the van at the Speedway gas station in Miami County, fearing the men had overdosed in the vehicle. Instead, officers discovered Banks asleep at the wheel, and Johnson asleep on an inflatable mattress in the rear compartment of the van. Officers also found a credit card reader/encoder, 12 counterfeit credit cards, 41 re-encoded gift cards, and a total of 54 credit card account numbers. Officers also discovered $100 in Target gift cards and $365 in iTunes gift cards.
Johnson and Banks pleaded guilty in February 2019 to conspiring to use counterfeit access devices. Banks was sentenced earlier this year to probation with home confinement.
David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service and Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Walther H. Rice. First Assistant United States Attorney Vipal J. Patel is representing the United States in this case.
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Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr announced today the launch of the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department already has initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
“The Department of Justice has a long history of holding nursing homes and long-term care providers accountable when they fail to provide their Medicare and Medicaid residents with even the most basic nursing services,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Civil Division. “Through this National Initiative, we will more effectively and quickly pursue nursing homes that are jeopardizing the health and well-being of their residents.”
“The Administration for Community Living was created to help ensure that older adults and people with disabilities are able to live the lives they want, with the people they choose, fully participating in their communities,” said Administrator Lance Robertson for the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Our mission includes supporting their basic right to live with dignity, free from abuse. We appreciate the Department of Justice’s leadership on this important Initiative, and we are proud to work side by side with DOJ and all of our partners in the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to prevent elder abuse in all forms.”
“The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues to pursue nursing home operators who provide potentially harmful care to residents who are often unable to protect themselves,” said Chief Counsel to the Inspector General Gregory Demske of HHS. “Creating this Initiative sends a message to those in charge of caring for these beneficiaries that grossly substandard care will not be tolerated.”
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
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.
Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice issued this press release today to announce an important initiative to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care. The Eastern District of California looks forward to joining the initiative in the future and remains committed to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. For more information please use the contacts and links in the message below.
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr announced today the launch of the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department already has initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
“The Department of Justice has a long history of holding nursing homes and long-term care providers accountable when they fail to provide their Medicare and Medicaid residents with even the most basic nursing services,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Civil Division. “Through this National Initiative, we will more effectively and quickly pursue nursing homes that are jeopardizing the health and well-being of their residents.”
“The Administration for Community Living was created to help ensure that older adults and people with disabilities are able to live the lives they want, with the people they choose, fully participating in their communities,” said Administrator Lance Robertson for the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Our mission includes supporting their basic right to live with dignity, free from abuse. We appreciate the Department of Justice’s leadership on this important Initiative, and we are proud to work side by side with DOJ and all of our partners in the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to prevent elder abuse in all forms.”
“The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues to pursue nursing home operators who provide potentially harmful care to residents who are often unable to protect themselves,” said Chief Counsel to the Inspector General Gregory Demske of HHS. “Creating this Initiative sends a message to those in charge of caring for these beneficiaries that grossly substandard care will not be tolerated.”
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
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.
Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
“When those charged with the care of our valued seniors instead care more about profiteering from shoddy practices, we have a duty and obligation to seek justice,” said United States Attorney Martin. “When we find that neglect and abuse are marring what should be our seniors’ golden years, this Office will swiftly seek appropriate action against the offenders.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
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Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of Northern District of Oklahoma joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country, and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
“Elder Americans in nursing homes trust that they will receive the critical care they need to continue living full lives. Unfortunately, that is not always the case,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “When senior citizens suffer neglect and abuse at a nursing home, there must be accountability. That is why I have designated Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin Harrington and Rick Cella to lead our local nursing home enforcement initiative. I encourage elder Oklahomans who are victims of nursing home neglect and abuse to report their experience to law enforcement.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – United States Attorney Scott W. Brady joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
"Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled."
U.S. Attorney Brady said, "Two weeks ago we announced the conclusion of our investigation into the fraudulent practices of Guardian Care Holdings Inc. with a $15.5M settlement. Guardian is the largest private nursing home company in Pennsylvania, operating 52 facilities across the state, and in Ohio and West Virginia. This case was one of the largest cases against a nursing home company in western PA history. Our office will continue to aggressively pursue providers who take advantage of our seniors by putting financial gain ahead of patient care, and will protect nursing home residents from abuse, neglect and financial exploitation."
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and subjects them to great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents to live in filthy and dangerous conditions, such as where leaky roofs, mold, and rodents are present. These are some of the failures that the department intends to pursue as part of the initiative.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Attorney General William P. Barr announced today the launch of the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department already has initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
"Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled."
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Residents of nursing homes are some of our most vulnerable citizens. When nursing homes break the law by defrauding the government for substandard or worthless services we will use our resources to combat this fraud, neglect and abuse, hold them accountable, and protect patients."
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
"The Department of Justice has a long history of holding nursing homes and long-term care providers accountable when they fail to provide their Medicare and Medicaid residents with even the most basic nursing services," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Civil Division. "Through this National Initiative, we will more effectively and quickly pursue nursing homes that are jeopardizing the health and well-being of their residents."
"The Administration for Community Living was created to help ensure that older adults and people with disabilities are able to live the lives they want, with the people they choose, fully participating in their communities," said Administrator Lance Robertson for the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Our mission includes supporting their basic right to live with dignity, free from abuse. We appreciate the Department of Justice’s leadership on this important Initiative, and we are proud to work side by side with DOJ and all of our partners in the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to prevent elder abuse in all forms."
"The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues to pursue nursing home operators who provide potentially harmful care to residents who are often unable to protect themselves," said Chief Counsel to the Inspector General Gregory Demske of HHS. "Creating this Initiative sends a message to those in charge of caring for these beneficiaries that grossly substandard care will not be tolerated."
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Department of Justice Launches a National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will work closely and tirelessly with our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners to prosecute aggressively those nursing home owners and operators who abandon the long-standing principle to ‘do no harm’ in caring for our senior citizens.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
Department of Justice Launches National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
“Protecting older Americans in nursing facilities is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “We are committed to defending our vulnerable seniors from those who abuse or neglect them.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
Department of Justice Launches National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country, and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman added, “When a loved one requires nursing home care, their families, and our communities, should have no apprehension that the care provided might be grossly substandard. The Attorney General’s National Nursing Home Initiative, aimed at identifying and remedying substandard nursing home care, is yet another manifestation of the Department of Justice’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of our senior citizens.”
“Fear of the unknown and the worst that could happen add to the already difficult decision families face when putting a loved one in a nursing home,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Rest assured, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will work hard to hold accountable owners and operators of these facilities who fail to reinvest profits in the dignified care of vulnerable patients, and ensure their golden years are just that.”
The Department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/
If you are a victim or know a victim of elder fraud, you can call 1-877-FTC-HELP or go to ftc.gov/complaint. For downloadable Elder Abuse Prevention resources and for information about community outreach programs in Rhode Island, visit the United States Attorney’s Office’s Elder Justice Initiative web page at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/elder-justice
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Department of Justice Launches A National Nursing Home InitiativeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing today the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative, which will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
This initiative is focusing on some of the worst nursing homes around the country and the Department has already initiated investigations into approximately thirty individual nursing facilities in nine states as part of this effort.
“Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect. This national initiative will bring to justice those owners and operators who have profited at the expense of their residents, and help to ensure residents receive the care to which they are entitled.”
U.S. Attorney Trutanich stated: “Gross abuse and neglect of nursing home patients are obviously unacceptable in our communities, whether in Nevada or elsewhere across the country. Working with our law enforcement partners, our office will continue prioritizing the health and safety of vulnerable seniors.”
The department considers a number of factors in identifying the most problematic nursing homes. For example, the department looks for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff to care for their residents, fail to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, fail to provide their residents with enough food to eat so that they become emaciated and weak, withhold pain medication, or use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or otherwise sedate their residents. These care failures cause residents to suffer in pain and to be exposed to the great indignities. Care failures cause residents to develop pressure sores down to the bone, to lie in their own waste for hours, to starve because they cannot reach the food on their trays and to remain unwashed for weeks at a time. Nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care also force vulnerable elderly residents who cannot leave the facilities to live in filthy and dangerous conditions where there are leaks in the roofs, mold is found growing and rodents found living in residents’ rooms. These are some of the actions and the inactions that the department intends to pursue.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. The Elder Justice Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Initiative and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices also support the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources, and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
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Department of Justice Charges Unprecedented Number of Elder Fraud Defendants and Launches HotlineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman joined Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale today in announcing the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history. This year, prosecutors charged more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep. In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of over a billion dollars.
Among the individuals prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island in the past year is Julio Feliciano, 32, of Boston. Feliciano pleaded guilty in January of this year, admitting that he bilked seniors in at least four states. Feliciano admitted that he contacted individuals and told them that cash payments ranging from $7,000 to $9,500 were required to secure the release of a relative, typically a grandson or nephew, from jail. The claims were not true. Feliciano is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
In a separate case, five individuals living in Georgia and Texas were charged in the District of Rhode Island in November 2019, with allegedly participating in a conspiracy that targeted seniors online, bilking more than two dozen people out of more than two million dollars. It is alleged in court documents that beginning in May 2015, victims were contacted by scammers via online dating sites such as Plenty of Fish, Christian Mingle, and Our Time, and through social media platforms such as Words with Friends, often times feigning romantic intentions. To date, 28 individuals in more than a dozen states have been identified as falling victim to the scams allegedly employed by the five individuals named in the charged conspiracy.
In another matter, Shawn Whitfield 49, of Pawtucket, admitted to receiving more than $109,000 in upfront payments from victims, mostly elderly, who were led to believe they had won cash or prizes in a lottery or sweepstakes. Some victims were told they had won as much as $82 million. Others were told they were in line to receive $5,000 a week for life. Mercedes Benz vehicles were among the valuable prizes some of the victims were told they had won. In each instance, the victims were told their winnings would not be released to them without upfront payment of taxes or fees. The majority of funds collected by Whitfield were transferred electronically to co-conspirators and others, most often to individuals in Jamaica.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The Department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman added, “This office has zero tolerance for those scammers who would target our senior or other vulnerable citizens for financial exploitation. As demonstrated by this Office’s zealous prosecution of such scammers, defrauding our seniors of their hard earned savings is a sure way to being subject to federal prosecution and, if convicted, incarceration.”
“Scammers targeting seniors are a growing concern here in Rhode Island. Last year alone, more than $4.7 million in losses were reported to us by elderly victims, and we know for a fact these crimes are grossly underreported because of shame and embarrassment,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “We need to work together to put these predators out of business for good. Educating ourselves, as well as our aging family members and friends, is crucial to avoid becoming a victim.”
This interactive map provides information on the elder fraud cases highlighted by today’s sweep announcement.
Elder Fraud Hotline
Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
For the second year, the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners also took comprehensive action against the money mule networks that facilitate foreign-based elder fraud. Generally, perpetrators use a “money mule” to transfer fraud proceeds from a victim to ringleaders of fraud schemes who often reside in other countries. Some of these money mules act unwittingly, and intervention can effectively end their involvement in the fraud. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service took action against over 600 alleged money mules nationwide by conducting interviews, issuing warning letters, and bringing civil and criminal cases. Agents and prosecutors in more than 85 federal district participated in this effort to halt the money flow from victim to fraudster. These actions against money mules were in addition to the criminal and civil cases announced as part of this year’s elder fraud sweep.
These outreach efforts have helped to prevent seniors from falling prey to scams and have frustrated offenders’ efforts to obtain even more money from vulnerable elders.
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. If you are a victim or know a victim of elder fraud, you can call 1-877-FTC-HELP or go to ftc.gov/complaint. For downloadable Elder Abuse Prevention resources and for information about community outreach programs in Rhode Island, visit the United States Attorney’s Office’s Elder Justice Initiative web page at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/elder-justice
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Department of Justice Charges Unprecedented Number of Elder Fraud Defendants Nationwide and Launches HotlineRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale today announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history. This year, prosecutors charged more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep. In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of over a billion dollars.
Attorney General Barr made the announcement at an event in Florida entitled “Keeping Seniors Safe,” which outlined his vision for protecting older Americans from financial harm. The event focused special attention on the threat posed by foreign-based fraud schemes that victimize seniors in large numbers. During the event, the Attorney General declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”
“The charges announced today demonstrate the great success of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to identify and stop those who are targeting our senior communities from overseas,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We’re committed to continuing our efforts to keep our elderly citizens safe, whether they’re being targeted door-to-door, over the phone, or online.”
“Every day, American consumers, particularly older Americans, receive offers that sound just too good to be true,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “Some come through the mail; others by telephone or the Internet. These offers have one objective – to rob you of your hard-earned money. Fraud costs Americans millions of dollars each year. The good news is most frauds can be prevented. It’s one of the few crimes in which potential victims can just say “No!” So hold on to your money and report scams to Postal Inspectors.”
This interactive map provides state by state information on the elder fraud cases and education and prevention community outreach efforts highlighted by today’s sweep announcement.
Elder Fraud Hotline
Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force
The Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force prosecuted more than one quarter of the defendants charged as part of the announced sweep. Established in June 2019, the Strike Force is composed of the department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (Central District of California, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of Texas), along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel. Prosecutors in Strike Force districts brought cases against more than 140 sweep defendants. FBI and the Postal Inspection Service served as lead agencies in the Strike Force and committed substantial investigative resources to pursuing elder fraud cases as part of Strike Force efforts. The Strike Force has held dozens of meetings with industry, victim groups, and law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels to identify the most harmful schemes victimizing American seniors and to bolster preventive measures against further losses.
Law Enforcement Actions Swept from Coast to Coast
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in every federal district took part in the Elder Fraud Sweep announced today. Many federal prosecuting offices filed cases against perpetrators and/or facilitators of elder fraud. Others conducted outreach to law enforcement, community groups, seniors, or private industry. Other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices demonstrated exceptional devotion to the cause of elder justice by both filing cases and conducting outreach.
For the second year, the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners also took comprehensive action against the money mule network that facilitates foreign-based elder fraud. Generally, perpetrators use a “money mule” to transfer fraud proceeds from a victim to ringleaders of fraud schemes who often reside in other countries. Some of these money mules act unwittingly, and intervention can effectively end their involvement in the fraud. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service took action against over 600 alleged money mules nationwide by conducting interviews, issuing warning letters, and bringing civil and criminal cases. Agents and prosecutors in more than 85 federal district participated in this effort to halt the money flow from victim to fraudster. These actions against money mules were in addition to the criminal and civil cases announced as part of this year’s elder fraud sweep.
In addition to announcing the sweep cases, Attorney General Barr and others at the Keeping Seniors Safe event also thanked department personnel — especially the Elder Justice Coordinators appointed in each U.S. Attorney’s Office — for conducting dozens of outreach events across the nation to warn seniors of fraud schemes and to engage with industry representatives and state and local authorities on fraud-prevention measures. These outreach efforts have helped to prevent seniors from falling prey to scams and have frustrated offenders’ efforts to obtain even more money from vulnerable elders.
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.