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13 March 2020
Watertown Man Sentenced to 160 Months for Distribution, Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joseph Williams, age 31, of Watertown, New York, was sentenced on Wednesday to serve 160 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Susan Ferensic, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Williams admitted that he used the Kik Messenger application to trade child pornography with other Kik users in 2016. Execution of search warrants on Williams’ computers in February 2018 revealed that he possessed 4,875 images and 2,052 video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of the rape and sodomy of prepubescent children and toddlers. In addition to the large number of files he possessed, other factors taken into account in sentencing included Williams’ admission that he took surreptitious pictures of children in the community and shared them with others on the Internet, and that he possessed a manual on how to find, groom, and sexually abuse children.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will start after Williams is released from prison, ordered a $300 special assessment, and restitution in the amount of $3,000 per victim for each of 15 children depicted in the images and videos that Williams received, distributed, and possessed. As a result of his conviction, Williams will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Villages Dermatologist Agrees to Pay More Than $1.7 Million to Settle False Claims Act Liability for Inflated Medicare ClaimsRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Dr. Thi Thien Nguyen Tran and Village Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, L.L.C. have agreed to pay the United States $1.744 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated claims to Medicare for wound repairs related to Mohs surgery.
The settlement relates to Dr. Tran’s submission of claims for adjacent tissue transfers performed at Village Dermatology. Dr. Tran and Village Dermatology performed wound repairs that were allegedly billed to Medicare as more complex adjacent tissue transfers, which carry a higher level of reimbursement. According to the settlement agreement, from January 1, 2011, through July 31, 2016, Dr. Tran and Village Dermatology billed for 14,000-level tissue transfers, which should have been billed as lower-level wound repairs. These submissions resulted in inflated claims that were paid by Medicare.
“Protecting federal healthcare programs and the patients who receive their care is among our top priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those who inflate claims to Medicare or abuse any of our nation’s healthcare programs.”
“Physicians who seek to profit by systematically overbilling Medicare will instead pay dearly for their illegal behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of HHS-OIG. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate such schemes.”
The settlement concludes a lawsuit originally filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Dr. Robert Green and Emily Kennedy. Dr. Green and Ms. Kennedy sued under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act permitting a private citizen to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in the recovery. The Act also allows the United States to intervene and prosecute the action. Dr. Green and Ms. Kennedy will receive over $305,000 of the proceeds from the settlement with Dr. Tran and Village Dermatology.
This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Bloor led the investigation.
The case is captioned United States ex rel. Green and Moore v. Tran, Case No. 5:15-cv-60-OC-41PRL. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims in that case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
VA Employee Found Guilty of Corruption Charges and Defrauding VA of Nearly $19 Million in A YearRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that yesterday a jury sitting in U.S. District Court in Denver found former Veterans Affairs (VA) employee Joseph Prince, age 60, of Aurora, Colorado guilty of felony health care fraud, conspiracy, payment of illegal kickbacks and gratuities, money laundering charges and conflict of interest. The verdict is the result of an eight-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore. Prince’s bond was continued and he was ordered to home incarceration pending his sentencing.
According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Prince was a Beneficiary Provider Relationships Specialist with the VA’s Spina Bifida (SB) Health Care Benefits Program, which covers medical needs of children of certain veterans of the Korea and Vietnam wars suffering from SB. Prince worked for a VA call center in Denver, and spoke with health care providers and SB beneficiaries or their families regarding their health care needs and care reimbursement.
Prince defrauded the VA’s Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program by signing up the family members of the program’s beneficiaries as home health “contractors” with sham home health entities run by Prince’s associates. Prince knew that the sham home health entities were not authorized providers by the VA. He nonetheless encouraged the family members to submit bills despite the fact that they were not approved providers and to include the bills for services that either were not provided or were not allowed by the VA. He then accepted payments from the associated home health entities for referrals he himself made to those agencies. Prince’s referrals led to payments totaling approximately $20 million from the VA to the Prince-related home health agencies, which were run by associates including his wife, his brother-in-law, his half-sister, and friends.
Ultimately Prince referred approximately 45 SB beneficiaries to the sham home health entities. The total amount of fraudulent claims paid by the SB Health Care Benefits Program to the five Home Health Entities totaled approximately $19 million. Of that amount, Prince received approximately $1.5 million in kickbacks from two home health entities between December 2017 and June 2018.
“To steal from a program that is intended to help our veterans and their children who suffer from serious medical conditions is reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “Mr. Prince was also harming the American taxpayers and will now pay a significant price for his actions.”
“The crimes perpetrated by Joseph Prince and his associates were especially troubling since Prince was a VA official,” said Gregg Hirstein, Special Agent in Charge, VA Office of Inspector General. “The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is committed to holding accountable those who illegally enrich themselves using VA programs intended to help our nation’s veterans and their dependents, who deserve to be served by a workforce of the highest integrity. I am thankful for the close coordination of the investigative agencies and the United States Attorney’s Office to quickly end this massive fraud.”
“The sizeable amount of false claims Joseph Prince submitted and subsequent kickbacks he received are an affront to government programs intended to help the public,” said Andy Tsui, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “It is unacceptable to abuse a position of trust for personal financial gain and for those that do, IRS-Criminal Investigation will seek justice on behalf of the true beneficiaries of government benefits programs.”
“The recent conviction of Joseph Prince is significant and highlights the FBI’s collaboration with the United States Attorney’s Office as we hold this defendant accountable for abusing his position as an official at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs to manipulate government contracts for personal gain,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. “The FBI will continue to use all available tools to detect illegal conflicts of interest and bribery schemes in government entities.”
Long-time friend of Prince and co-conspirator Roland Vaughn pled guilty to paying an illegal gratuity to a public official on August 1, 2019, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Moore on April 9, 2020. Glenn and Catherine Beach, who were also friends of Mr. Prince, pleaded guilty to paying an illegal gratuity to Prince. The Beaches will be sentenced on April 1, 2020.
Prince will be sentenced on June 11, 2020. Felony Conflict of Interest carries a penalty of not more than five years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 or two times the gain or loss from the offense per count. Health care fraud carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 or two times the gain or loss from the offense per count. Conspiracy to Commit an Offense against the United States carries a penalty of not more than five years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 or two times the gain or loss from the offense. Soliciting/Receiving an Illegal Gratuity carries a penalty of not more than two years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 or two times the gain or loss from the offense per count. Unlawful Monetary Transactions carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison and a fine the greater of $250,000 or two times the value of the property involved in the transaction per count. Money Laundering carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison and a fine the greater of $500,000 or twice the value of property involved in the transaction per count.
The government will seek forfeiture of specific assets and restitution to the Veterans Health Administration in the amount of approximately $19 million.
This case was investigated by VA’s Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and IRS-CI.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna K. Edgar and Hetal J. Doshi.
Upstate Drug Dealer Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison After Offering Cellmate $10,000 to Kill Prosecutor and WitnessRead the Press Release
Spartanburg, South Carolina ---- Acting United States Attorney A. Lance Crick announced today that Detric McGowan, aka “Fat,” 47, of Piedmont, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to participating in a drug conspiracy involving cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol; possessing a kilogram or more of heroin with the intent to distribute; conspiring to launder money; obstruction of justice/witness tampering; and obstruction of justice/retaliation.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing showed that beginning as early as 2016, law enforcement in Greenwood County began to see a rise in the number of opioid-abuse related cases, drug overdose deaths, and overdose non-fatalities attributed particularly to heroin and fentanyl toxicity. Commonly found at the opioid overdose incidents and routinely seized by local law enforcement were counterfeit 30 milligram-size blue prescription pain pills laced with heroin and/or fentanyl and scored with a “V” on one side and “4812” on the other side.
Based on human intelligence, advanced electronic surveillance, the execution of search warrants, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement determined that McGowan was a member of a drug trafficking organization operating in the Upstate of South Carolina, primarily in Laurens and Greenwood Counties. The organization was responsible for the distribution of in excess of $1 million dollars’ worth of heroin, cocaine, and/or fentanyl in the Upstate and elsewhere. Police seized in excess of 20 kilograms of heroin and approximately $1 million during the investigation. McGowan was indicted along with several co-conspirators in February 2019 and taken into custody.
In July 2019, McGowan began to discuss with a person who was incarcerated with him having his prosecutor and at least one witness killed. This person alerted law enforcement to the threat and an immediate investigation began. The evidence showed McGowan had become frustrated with his legal position and desired to have his prosecutor and a witness killed. McGowan was recorded agreeing to pay the person $10,000 to kill the prosecutor and witness and providing information about how to find the targets. He also provided a telephone number and wrote down the name of the witness, so that upon release the cooperator could carry out the plan. McGowan confessed to the FBI of the plot he had put in motion.
United States District Court Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr., of Spartanburg, sentenced McGowan to 420 months in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The drug case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. The threat was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jim May, Jason Peavy, Sloan Ellis, and Katie Stoughton prosecuted the case.
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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years
United States Attorney David C. Joseph Hosts Inaugural "Law Enforcement Forum"Read the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES, La. – This week, United States Attorney David C. Joseph hosted the Western District of Louisiana’s first Department of Justice sponsored Law Enforcement Forum on March 10, 2020, in Shreveport, and March 12, 2020, in Lafayette, focusing on terror threat analyses, legal updates, training in federal criminal law and procedure, and information pertaining to resources and assistance available to Louisiana’s federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from the United States Attorney’s Office.
Approximately 171 state, local and federal officers representing law enforcement agencies from across Louisiana attended. Speakers and panelists included United States Attorney David C. Joseph, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Western District of Louisiana, and law enforcement agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI). The open-forum question and answer session panel of federal law enforcement agents and Assistant U.S. Attorneys was moderated by Alan Alkire, the Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Western District.
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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U.S. Pipeline Company to Modify Its National Operations to Implement Safeguards Resulting from Oil SpillRead the Press Release
Federal officials announced a civil settlement with Plains All American Pipeline L.P. and Plains Pipeline L.P. (Plains) arising out of Plains’ violations of the federal pipeline safety laws and liability for the May 19, 2015, discharge of approximately 2,934 barrels of crude oil from Plains’ Line 901 immediately north of Refugio State Beach, located near Santa Barbara, California.
The discharge was caused by Plains’ failure to address external corrosion and have adequate control-room procedures in place, and was further exacerbated by Plains’ failure to respond properly to the release. The crude oil discharge resulted in the oiling of Refugio State Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and other shorelines and beaches, resulted in beach and fishing closures and adversely impacted natural resources such as birds, fish, marine mammals and shoreline and subtidal habitat. The United States worked closely with co-plaintiff the state of California, and both the United States and California are signatories to the complaint and the consent decree.
The complaint seeks injunctive relief, penalties, natural resource damages and assessment costs, and response costs for the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Department of the Interior; the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard. The United States’ claims are under the federal pipeline safety laws, the Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
The settlement requires Plains to implement injunctive relief to improve Plains’ nationwide pipeline system and bring it into compliance with the federal pipeline safety laws, in addition to addressing unique threats and modifying operations that caused the Line 901 oil spill; pay $24 million in penalties; pay $22.325 million in natural resource damages, and $10 million for reimbursed natural resource damage assessment costs; and pay $4.26 million for reimbursed Coast Guard clean-up costs. Excluding the value of the required injunctive relief changes to Plains’ national operations, the settlement in conjunction with reimbursed costs is valued in excess of $60 million.
“Today’s settlement shows federal and local governments working in partnership to hold industry fairly accountable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bruce Gelber for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The agreement will also promote public health and safety, and protect the environment for local communities.”
“This case is a classic example of why the Clean Water Act authorizes penalties for harmful oil discharges,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Susan Bodine. “With this settlement, EPA, along with its federal and state partners, is holding Plains accountable for the damage they caused to natural resources.”
“We are pleased to join this agreement with industry and our co-trustees to help restore vital habitats, wildlife and recreational areas injured by this oil spill,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAA's National Ocean Service. “Local communities and economies depend on these ecosystems, and we look forward to working with the public on projects to restore them to health.”
The section of the California coast affected by the Plains 901 Line oil spill Refugio has one of the most diverse and abundant assemblages of marine organisms in the world. A rich array of marine and coastal habitats including the open ocean, rocky shores, sandy beaches and kelp forests, support a diverse array and large numbers of marine fish, marine mammals and seabirds.
The settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period that begins with the posting of a notice in the Federal Register. The consent decree will be available for viewing at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
U.S. Attorney’s Office to Conduct Election Day MonitoringRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the federal and local primary elections in Chicago and surrounding suburbs on March 17, 2020, John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today.
As part of the monitoring effort, the office will operate a telephone hotline for citizens to report complaints related to the voting process. Assistant U.S. Attorneys and other office personnel will monitor the hotline and respond to complaints, as needed.
The hotline number, staffed on Election Day only, is (312) 469-6157.
“A vital part of our democracy is the integrity of our electoral system,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “A citizen who is entitled to vote should not be hindered or prevented from doing so, and we stand ready to ensure the sanctity of the process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program seeks to ensure public confidence in the voting process.
Federal voting-rights laws protect the rights of voters to mark their own ballot or be assisted by a person of their choice. Actions designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places may constitute a violation. Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. Violations carry penalties ranging from one to ten years in prison, and fines of up to $250,000.
For information as to the location and hours of polling sites, Illinois residents are advised to contact the Illinois State Board of Elections by logging on to www.elections.il.gov or by calling (312) 814-6440.
Two Men Sentenced for Attempted Enticement and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
This week in federal court, two men were sentenced for attempting to sexually exploit minors and a third man was sentenced for failing to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
“The sexual predation of children by adults is perverse and sickening. Social media platforms are the primary means of communication by America’s youth, and, in turn, how predators hunt and seek to exploit vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The immutable nature of child sex predators underscores the important work by cybercrimes detectives. From outreach and education to investigation and enforcement, our local, state, and federal law enforcement officers are working day and night to protect Oklahoma’s children. I commend their work and assure you we will continue to bring child predators to justice.”
Arthur James Mann, 34, of Bristow, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. A federal jury convicted Mann of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor on Dec. 17, 2019. Mann communicated with an individual he believed to be 13 years of age but instead was an undercover officer. From July 29 to Aug. 17, 2018, Mann communicated with the “girl” on Facebook, telling her that his name was Andrew Mason and that he was 16 years old. Mann initiated multiple sexual conversations with the “girl” and requested nude photos. Mann further suggested the two meet in order to have sex on Aug. 17, 2018. Mann arrived that night in his pajamas and slippers to meet the 13-year-old girl. Instead, he was met by officers from the Bristow Police Department and taken into custody. The Bristow and Sapulpa Police Departments conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Snow and Scott Proctor prosecuted the case.
Casey Adam Parker, 40, of Afton, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison to be followed by seven years of supervised release. Parker pleaded guilty Dec. 11, 2019, to attempted receipt of child pornography. On July 2, 2019, Parker used a social media app to engage with an individual he believed to be a minor. In actuality, he was speaking to a law enforcement officer. Parker knowingly attempted to persuade the “minor” to engage in sexual activity and to send him sexually explicit pictures. Parker was arrested July 2, as part of Operation Independence Day, a month-long operation to apprehend child predators and recover victims of child exploitation and sex trafficking. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella prosecuted the case.
Additionally, a third man was sentenced this week for failing to register as a sex offender. Kacey J. Hamilton, 29, of Tulsa, aka Brandon Bickford, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Hamilton pleaded guilty Dec. 11, 2019, to failure to register as a sex offender. Hamilton resided in Oklahoma since August 2018, and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as a sex offender. The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal prosecuted the case.
Two Hudson County Men Charged with Using Drones to Smuggle Contraband into Fort Dix Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Two Hudson County, New Jersey, men were charged today with conspiring to use drones to smuggle contraband, including marijuana, steroids, syringes, cell phones and cell phone equipment, into the federal correctional facility at Fort Dix, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Nicolo Denichilo, 38, of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Adrian Goolcharran, a/k/a “Adrian Ajoda,” a/k/a “Adrian Ahoda,” 35, of Union City, New Jersey, were each charged by complaint with one count of conspiring to smuggle contraband and to defraud the United States and one count of smuggling contraband into the federal prison at Fort Dix. Denichilo was arrested March 12, 2020, after federal law enforcement agents learned of a scheduled drone drop at Fort Dix. He had his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond. Goolcharran remains at large.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Special agents of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) obtained evidence of at least seven drone deliveries since July 2018 containing contraband meant for inmates at Fort Dix. Goolcharran used cell phones to coordinate the drops with others, including text messaging aerial shots of locations at Fort Dix to better position the drops and to discuss weather conditions. On the same day as a drone drop in April 2019, local police in the area conducted a vehicle stop on Denichilo and Goolcharran less than five miles from Fort Dix. On March 7, 2020, an individual fitting Goolcharran’s description and another individual were captured by a surveillance camera carrying and flying a drone from a launch spot located in the woods outside of Fort Dix. Law enforcement also obtained evidence of Goolcharran bringing multiple drones to a store for repairs, including a broken drone shortly after the March 7, 2020, drone flight.
On March 12, 2020, law enforcement agents, acting on information obtained by Fort Dix officials, approached Denichilo and another individual at a launch site near Fort Dix, minutes after Fort Dix officials had observed a drone flying over a housing unit at the prison. Both men fled, and Denichilo was apprehended hiding in a ditch near the launch site. Fort Dix officials also found an inmate in the area of the drone drop inside the prison in possession of 34 cell phones, nine chargers, 51 SIM cards and other telephone equipment. Agents also seized an SUV near the launch site outside of the prison that contained the drone in the backseat.
Contraband that has been seized by authorities pursuant to the intercepted drone drops into Fort Dix includes marijuana, steroids, more than 160 cell phones, 150 SIM cards, 74 cell phone batteries and chargers, 35 syringes and two metal saw blades. Denichilo’s fingerprint was obtained from a plastic bag recovered from one of the drone drops at Fort Dix. Goolcharran’s DNA was recovered from electrical tape found on the drone used in a July 2018 drop.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and maximum fine of $250,000 and the contraband smuggling count carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and $100,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited agents of DOJ-OIG, New Jersey area office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Guido Modano, and its Cyber Investigations Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Keith A. Bonanno; the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 307, under the direction of Superintendent Jonathan Jackson; and the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Douglas Shoemaker, with the investigation leading to the charges.
He also thanked Federal Bureau of Prisons personnel at Fort Dix, under the direction of Warden David Ortiz; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas J. Mahoney; and officers with the Pemberton Borough Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Hunter; the Pemberton Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Jantas; and Chesterfield Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kyle Wilson, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cari Fais and Jeffrey Manis of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Eagle Butte Women Indicted on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two Eagle Butte, South Dakota, women have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises Near a Playground.
Lena Marie Flying By, age 52, and Juanita Red Bird, age 26, were indicted on March 9, 2020. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 11 and 13, 2020, and each pled not guilty to their respective Indictments.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in prison and/or a $500,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictments allege that Flying By, between March 28, 2015, and March 9, 2020, and Red Bird, between October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2019, unlawfully and knowingly used and maintained a residence for the purposes of distributing and using marijuana, within 1,000 feet of a playground in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
The charges are merely accusations and Flying By and Red Bird are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Flying By and Red Bird were released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Two Billings residents charged in sex trafficking, narcotics, firearms investigationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—Two Billings men accused of crimes stemming from an investigation into sex trafficking, drug distribution and firearms violations were arraigned this week on charges in a multi-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
William Maurice Newkirk, 39, pleaded not guilty today to 15 counts, while co-defendant Djavon Lamont King, 29, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to six counts.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Newkirk and King are detained pending further proceedings.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Newkirk and King face a mandatory minimum 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
The indictment charges Newkirk with 15 counts, including four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking of a minor and by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of a minor, attempted sex trafficking of a minor, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of cocaine to person under the age of 21, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
The indictment charges King with six counts, including two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine to a person under the age of 21.
The indictment alleges that from about 2018 through 2019, the defendants became involved in commercial sex in Billings and the distribution of illegal narcotics. The indictment also alleges that Newkirk illegally possessed firearms during this time.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
Pacer case reference. 20-25.
If the above case are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Three Muncie Police Officers indicted for using excessive force and attempting to cover it upRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury in Indianapolis, Indiana, returned a 12-count indictment against two officers – Joseph Chase Winkle, 34, and Jeremy Gibson, 30 – and one sergeant, Joseph Krejsa, 50, of the Muncie Police Department for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and attempting to cover up the misconduct. Today’s indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler for the Southern District of Indiana, and FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Middleton.
“No one is above the law,” Minkler said. “The civil rights violations alleged by the grand jury’s indictment are very serious. Unfortunately, misconduct by a few can shake the public’s confidence in the many men and women in law enforcement who proudly and professionally protect the public day in and day out. Today’s indictment should make clear the commitment of this Office and the Department of Justice to reassure the public and hold accountable those who violate the civil rights of others even though they wear a uniform.”
“Today’s indictment sends a strong message that those who violate their oath to protect and serve the public will be held accountable for their actions,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Middleton, FBI Indianapolis. “The FBI is committed to preserving public trust,
especially in those who have sworn to uphold the law. To this end, the FBI will vigorously pursue civil rights violations.”
The indictment charges Winkle with nine felony offenses, Gibson with one felony offense, and Krejsa with two felony offenses. Winkle is charged with depriving four arrestees of their rights to be free from excessive force (resulting in bodily injury and/or involving the use of a dangerous weapon), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242, and writing false reports about his use of force against those four arrestees and two additional arrestees, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. According to the indictment, Winkle’s actions resulted in one of these arrestees suffering serious injuries and another arrestee being knocked unconscious.
Gibson is charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 242 for depriving an arrestee of his right to be free from excessive force by stomping on and delivering knee strikes to the arrestee’s head, which resulted in bodily injury and involved the use of a dangerous weapon.
Krejsa is charged with two counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1519 for writing false reports related to two of Winkle’s excessive force incidents. According to the indictment, on one occasion, Krejsa minimized the level of force used by Winkle during one arrest, and, on another occasion, falsely represented that a different Muncie Police Department sergeant cleared Winkle of his use of force when it was actually Krejsa who conducted that review.
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for each of the deprivation-of-rights offenses and 20 years of imprisonment for each of the false report offenses.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Mary J. Hahn and Katherine G. DeVar of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Linder are prosecuting the case.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to identify, investigate, and prosecute criminal civil rights violations, including those perpetrated by law enforcement officers. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 7.1.
Three Muncie Police Officers Indicted for Using Excessive Force and Attempting to Cover It UpRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Indianapolis, Indiana, returned a 12-count indictment against two officers – Joseph Chase Winkle, 34, and Jeremy Gibson, 30 – and one sergeant, Joseph Krejsa, 50, of the Muncie Police Department for their roles in using excessive force against arrestees and attempting to cover up the misconduct. Wednesday’s indictment was announced today by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler for the Southern District of Indiana, and FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Middleton.
The indictment charges Winkle with nine felony offenses, Gibson with one felony offense, and Krejsa with two felony offenses. Winkle is charged with depriving four arrestees of their rights to be free from excessive force (resulting in bodily injury and/or involving the use of a dangerous weapon), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242, and writing false reports about his use of force against those four arrestees and two additional arrestees, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. According to the indictment, Winkle’s actions resulted in one of these arrestees suffering serious injuries and in another arrestee being knocked unconscious.
Gibson is charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 242 for depriving an arrestee of his right to be free from excessive force by stomping on and delivering knee strikes to the arrestee’s head, which resulted in bodily injury and involved the use of a dangerous weapon.
Krejsa is charged with two counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1519 for writing false reports related to two of Winkle’s excessive force incidents. According to the indictment, on one occasion, Krejsa minimized the level of force used by Winkle during one arrest, and, on another occasion, falsely represented that a different Muncie Police Department sergeant cleared Winkle of his use of force when it was actually Krejsa who conducted that review.
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for each of the deprivation-of-rights offenses and 20 years of imprisonment for each of the false report offenses.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Mary J. Hahn and Katherine G. DeVar of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Linder are prosecuting the case.
Thompson Man Faces at Least 20 Years in Prison for Kidnapping and Sexually Assaulting Massachusetts GirlRead the Press Release
John Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA BESAW, 36, of Thompson, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl last year.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 31, 2019, Besaw encountered a 12-year-old girl (“minor victim”) at a park in Webster, Massachusetts, and tricked the minor victim into entering his vehicle. Besaw, who identified himself as “Chuck,” then drove the minor victim to a wooded area in Thompson, Connecticut, where he sexually assaulted her. After the assault, Besaw drove the minor victim back to Massachusetts, where he released her in a neighborhood that was unfamiliar to her and refused to return her cellphone. The minor victim then borrowed a phone from a stranger to contact her parents who picked her up and brought her to the police station to report the incident. Later that day, a sexual assault examination of the victim was conducted at a medical facility.
Besaw was identified as a suspect after an extensive investigation led by Webster Police with support from the Connecticut State Police, which included analysis of surveillance video collected from numerous residences and businesses in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
On July 10, 2019, investigators conducting surveillance of Besaw collected cigarette butts that Besaw had discarded. The DNA evidence collected from the discarded cigarette butts matched DNA evidence collected from the minor victim on May 31, 2019.
Besaw was arrested on July 17, 2019.
Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for June 15, 2020, at which time Besaw faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Besaw has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Webster Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.
Statement from U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, Western District of Tennessee, on the Justice Department’s Ongoing Response to COVID-19Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN –"The Department of Justice is comprised of about 40 components that have a broad array of national security, law enforcement, and criminal justice system responsibilities. Therefore, a significant portion of the Department’s mission relates to the safety of human life and the protection of property.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), and is implementing the Contingency Plan and Guidance of the Department of Justice, White House Task Force, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office of Management and Budget, and Office of Personnel Management to mitigate risks to individual employees and the general public. However, citizens can be assured that the essential federal law enforcement, criminal prosecution, and national security functions of this office will continue as usual in order to preserve and protect public safety in West Tennessee."
Earlier today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee issued the following notice and order:
Due to exigent circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, all jury trials and jury selections in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee scheduled for now through March 27 are continued until further notice. Courthouses otherwise remain open for business. Please see Administrative Order 20-11 for further details.
https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/pdf/adminorders/20-11.pdf
St. Petersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – John Sibley (33, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, on June 16, 2019, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the Treasure Island Police Department’s Marine Unit found the victim’s body floating in the water in the area of 5000 92nd Street North, in St. Petersburg. Evidence of drug use was nearby. The immediate cause of death was determined to be drowning, but a medical examination revealed the presence of fentanyl and cocaine in the victim’s body and that, but for the victim ingesting fentanyl, he would not have drowned. Further investigation identified Sibley as the supplier of the fentanyl.
Four days later, an undercover detective from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and a confidential source were involved in obtaining a quantity of fentanyl from Sibley. The phone Sibley used to arrange the deal was the same one that had been used to set up the fatal deal for fentanyl on June 16, 2019.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Treasure Island Police Marine Unit, as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
St. Petersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida, Kieran Donnell Floyd (20, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to robbery and brandishing a firearm during that robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on August 18, 2019, Floyd entered a Shell gas station in St. Petersburg and pulled a firearm out of his shorts as he approached the cashier. Floyd pointed the firearm at the cashier and demanded money. The employee complied and handed Floyd $250 from the cash register.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN) — a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety-one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
St. Louis Woman Sentenced for Aiding in the Robbery of the Richmond Heights Post OfficeRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Arielle Steed, 27, of St. Louis, MO, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for aiding and abetting the robbery of a United States Postal employee. Steed appeared in federal court today before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry.
According to court documents, in early December 2018, Steed and co-defendant Dywane Upchurch planned to rob the U.S. Post Office in Richmond Heights located on Big Bend Boulevard. Steed was a teller at the post office and was in a relationship with Upchurch.
On December 6, 2018, after the post office closed to the public, Steed retrieved all the cash from the registers, sorted it, and placed it in a stack on the counter. At this time, there was only one other employee present at the post office. Upchurch, dressed in all black and wearing a surgical mask, entered the rear door of the post office. He was armed with a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. Once inside, Upchurch brandished the firearm and forced Steed and the other employee into a restroom. Upchurch then went to the counter and stole approximately $8,800 in cash.
Upchurch pled on October 4, 2019 to felon in possession of a firearm and assaulting a U.S. Postal employee while committing a robbery. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison on January 16, 2020.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond Heights Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware handled the case.
Southwestern PA Family Practitioner Charged in 161-Count Superseding Indictment with Dispensing Drugs in Exchange for Sex and Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A physician who operated private family practices in Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, and Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of unlawfully dispensing controlled substances and health care fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The 161-count Superseding Indictment, returned on March 10 and unsealed today, named Emilio Ramon Navarro, 58, of Coal Center, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
"The U.S. Attorney’s office supports in NO MORE week, March 8-14, 2020, a week dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault by increasing awareness and inspiring everyone to become part of the solution," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "We say NO MORE to corrupt doctors like Emilio Navarro who exploit the opioid addictions of women for their own perverse sexual gratification. Our office will continue to fight against such sexual exploitation and abuse, this week and every week."
According to Counts 1 – 28 of the Superseding Indictment, from April 2018 until April 2019, Navarro, a licensed physician, unlawfully distributed Oxymorphone and Oxycodone, Schedule II substances, to Victim 1 in return for sexual favors, either physically or by electronic communications, outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Counts 29 through 141 charge that from April 2015 to September 2019, Navarro unlawfully distributed Oxymorphone and Oxycodone, Schedule II substances, to Victim 2 in return for sexual favors outside the usual course of practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Counts 142 to 159 charge that from April 2015 to September 2019, Navarro unlawfully distributed Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, to Victim 2 outside the usual course of practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Navarro is also charged in Counts 160 and 161 with health care fraud for causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicaid for payments to cover the costs of the unlawfully prescribed controlled substances.
The law provides for a maximum per count sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, for the controlled substances offenses. Navarro faces an additional maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of $250,000 for each of the health care fraud charges. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert S. Cessar and Mark V. Gurzo are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The investigation leading to the indictment in this case was conducted by the Western Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit (OFADU). The Western Pennsylvania OFADU, led by federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, combines the expertise and resources of federal and state law enforcement to address the role played by unethical medical professionals in the opioid epidemic.
The agencies which comprise the Western Pennsylvania OFADU include: Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General – Bureau of Narcotic Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Criminal Division, Civil Division and Asset Forfeiture Unit, Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General, Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Office of Inspector General and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Licensing.
A Superseding Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Six York Men Are Indicted for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Anthony Rankins, age 38, William Barton, age 38, Michael Adams, age 42, Denzel Swan, age 36, Dorral Basknight, age 40, and Furman Dennis, age 38, all of York County, Pennsylvania, were indicted on March 4, 2020, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the 14-count indictment alleges that the six men distributed and conspired to distribute more than 280 grams of cocaine base between March 27, 2019, and December 19, 2019, in York County.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Baer is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is a term of life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Saratoga County Man Sentenced to 96 Months on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Robert Gibeault Jr., age 52, of Gansevoort, New York, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for distributing and possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Gibeault to a 15-year term of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment. Gibeault will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison
In connection with his guilty plea on October 18, 2019, Gibeault admitted to using file-sharing program BitTorrent to distribute child pornography to other BitTorrent users from May 2017 through September 2017. When his residence was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant in November 2017, his laptop computer was found to contain approximately 400 video files and 100 image files depicting the sexual exploitation of children. These included files that Gibeault had previously distributed over the BitTorrent network.
This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the New York State Police and Colonie Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Saint Paul Felon Sentenced to 139 Months in Prison for Heroin DistributionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of PHELIXIS FITZGERALD MAR ROBINSON, a/k/a “Storm,” 45, to 139 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin. ROBINSON, who pleaded guilty on October 15, 2019, was sentenced yesterday before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on March 27, 2019, following the execution of multiple search warrants, law enforcement seized from ROBINSON’s possession more than four kilograms of heroin and more than $545,000 in cash. ROBINSON was also found to be in possession of six loaded firearms, including a Glock model 22 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Taurus model Protector .38 caliber revolver, a Beretta model 96 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Glock model 30 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Bersa model Thunder .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a SCCY model CPX-2 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
PHELIXIS FITZGERALD MAR ROBINSON, a/k/a “Storm,” 45
St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted:
- Possession with intent to distribute heroin, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 139 months in prison
- Five years of supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Republic Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Minors for Sex, Faces at Least 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Republic, Missouri, truck driver pleaded guilty in federal court today to transporting two Missouri teenagers across state lines and sexually assaulting them.
Cleveland Lee Crumsey, 37, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity.
By pleading guilty today, Crumsey admitted that he transported two child victims across state lines from Missouri to Iowa in his truck. Crumsey also admitted that he had sexual intercourse with both of the child victims.
Under federal statutes, Crumsey is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant 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 United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Monett, Mo., Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Fremont County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Putnam County man sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug offenseRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Anthony W. Burnett, 29, of Fillmore, Indiana was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Burnett possessed a large amount of methamphetamine that was located during a traffic stop by a Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy. Burnett pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine has a devastating impact on all communities in this district, but especially rural communities like Putnam County,” said Minkler. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting individuals who are responsible for supplying this poison to the community.”
This case was the result of an investigation by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
DEA Indianapolis District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “The 10 year federal prison sentence for Mr. Burnett was just and necessary for the citizens of Indiana. People like Mr. Burnett who sell crystal methamphetamine (poison) must be held accountable for their actions. DEA will continue to utilize all available resources to investigate and arrest drug dealers who are making money by preying on people with substance abuse issues. DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local and federal partners and targeting those who are flooding our state and country with methamphetamine. DEA commends the outstanding work that was done in this investigation by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana.”
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case, and want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence in pursuing and securing a lengthy sentence,” said Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton. “Working with our federal partners benefited the citizens of Putnam County today. We look forward to a continued relationship for years to come.”
According to Assistant United State Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case for the government, Burnett will serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment and must pay a $1,000 fine.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting those individuals who distribute a large amount of methamphetamine in the Southern District of Indiana. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 3.3.
Project Guardian: Five Felons Appear in Federal Court on Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Five felons appeared in federal court on gun charges this week, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
Paul William Martin, 34, of South Charleston, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. Martin was also sentenced to 18 months for violating his previous term of supervised release, which will run concurrently. A federal grand jury convicted Martin in December of 2019, following a two-day trial. Martin was indicted on being a felon in possession of a firearm due to previous convictions for possession of a stolen vehicle, forgery, daytime burglary, and fraudulent use of an access device in Kanawha County, West Virginia. Martin also had a previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in the Southern District of West Virginia. At the time of his arrest for this charge, Martin was on supervised release for that previous conviction. On October 12, 2018, Jason Buzzard had picked up Martin at the Sheetz gas station in order to sell him firearms. As part of the transaction, Martin and Buzzard were going to exchange drugs as well as guns and cash. Shortly after they met, and while they were en route to conduct the deal, Martin and Buzzard were stopped by officers with the South Charleston Police Department. Those officers were able to locate and recover a .25 semi-automatic handgun and a .22 caliber revolver. The South Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Andrew Tessman handled the prosecution.
Michael Q. Cottrell, 23, of Charleston, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. A federal jury convicted Cottrell, 23, on November 8, 2019, of possessing firearms despite being prohibited as a felon. On August 25, 2018, Cottrell was the driver of a vehicle that crashed on Garrison Avenue in the early morning hours. Cottrell left the scene of the car crash while a male passenger remained inside the overturned car. The car caught on fire and elderly residents of Garrison Avenue had to extinguish the flames. Investigators discovered a jail call from Cottrell in which he admitted to speeding down Garrison Avenue and crashing his car into a telephone pole and a fence. Police recovered two firearms, a pistol and a revolver, at the scene of the crash. At trial, evidence established that Cottrell threw one of the firearms next to a nearby shed in a resident’s yard. Cottrell had been seen earlier that same night with the other firearm, which juveniles playing basketball located hours after the crash. At trial, Cottrell stipulated that he was a felon and that he knew he was a felon at the time of the car crash. The Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin F. Scott and Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.
Shad Michael Knight, 27, of Parkersburg, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Knight admitted that on October 21, 2019, he was driving a blue Chevrolet Cruze when it was pulled over in the 1000 block of 29th Street in Parkersburg due to a busted tail light and Knight having a suspended driver’s license. During the traffic stop a Parkersburg Police Department K-9 responded to the scene and provided a positive indication for the presence of controlled substances within the vehicle. The vehicle was then searched, and officers located a backpack behind the driver’s seat containing a 9mm pistol, two loaded magazines, two boxes of 9mm ammunition, several small plastic bags, and a small amount of methamphetamine. Knight admitted that the firearm was within his possession, that he had placed the firearm in the backpack prior to the traffic stop, and that he knew that he was not permitted to possess firearms under federal law. Knight had previously been convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in Wood County Circuit Court, and was still on parole for that offense when this incident occurred. Knight faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced on June 24, 2020. The Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, the Parkersburg Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
Jeromee Todd Donaway, 31, of Parkersburg, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On February 25, 2019, the Parkersburg Police Department responded to a residence on Broadway Avenue to investigate a complaint that Donaway had been seen waiving a firearm while screaming at someone. The responding officers detained Donaway and located a loaded Cobra .380 caliber pistol. At the time of the arrest, Donaway was on bond for a previous incident on December 22, 2018 when the Vienna Police Department seized two pistols from him during a traffic stop on Grand Central Avenue. As a convicted felon, Donaway was prohibited from possessing the firearms. During the plea hearing, Donaway admitted that he possessed the firearms on both occasions. He further admitted that at the time he possessed the weapons, he knew he had been convicted of several felony offenses including being convicted in Wood County Circuit Court in 2017 of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Donaway faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on June 2, 2020. The Parkersburg Police Department and the Vienna Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Hanks is handling the prosecution.
Ricky Nelson, 31, of Logan County, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nelson admitted that on April 30, 2018, he possessed a RG Model 23, .22 in Logan County, West Virginia. While in his possession, the gun fired, shooting another person. His possession of the firearm was illegal due to his having been convicted in the Circuit Court of Logan County for robbery in the first degree in violation of W.Va. Code § 61-2-12. Nelson faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on June 16, 2020. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. United States District Senior Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur is handling the prosecution.
These cases are part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted these cases with support from the Project Guardian partners noted above. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
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Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Health Care Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count each of conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Tamika Adams, 43, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
During her plea hearing, Adams admitted that at various times between 2011 and 2017 she was an employee of three related entities operating in the home health care industry—Moriarty Consultants, Inc. (MCI), Activity Daily Living Services, Inc. (ADL), and Everyday People Staffing, Inc. (EPS). MCI, ADL, and a fourth entity, Coordination Care, Inc. (CCI), were approved under the Pennsylvania Medicaid program to offer certain services to qualifying Medicaid recipients ("consumers"), including personal assistance services (PAS), service coordination, and non-medical transportation, among other services. EPS nominally performed back-office functions for MCI, ADL, and CCI.
Between in and around January 2011 and in and around April 2017, MCI, ADL, and CCI, collectively, received more than $87,000,000 in Medicaid payments based on claims submitted for home health services, with PAS payments accounting for more than $80,000,000 of the total amount. During that time, Adams admitted that she participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program for the purpose of obtaining millions of dollars in illegal Medicaid payments through the submission of fraudulent claims for services that were never provided to the consumers identified on the claims, or for which there was insufficient or fabricated documentation to support the claims.
As part of the conspiracy, Adams admitted that she fabricated timesheets to reflect the provision of in-home PAS care that, in fact, she never provided to the consumer identified on the timesheets. In one instance, Adams admitted submitting false timesheets claiming that she provided more than 80 hours of care in a single week to an attendant, while also working full-time as the nominal president of ADL. Adams further admitted that she caused the submission of Medicaid claims in the name of "ghost" employees for PAS care that never occurred. Likewise, Adams admitted that she paid kickbacks to at least one consumer—her spouse at the time—in exchange for his participation in the scheme. Specifically, Adams admitted that she and her father, co-defendant Tony Brown, used Brown’s name on time sheets for fabricated care of Adams’s spouse. At various times, Adams admitted that she, Tony Brown, and her spouse would meet at an MCI office on the day that Brown received payment for the fraudulent care so that the three individuals could divide the proceeds. In total, Adams acknowledged causing losses to the Pennsylvania Medicaid program in excess of $250,000 related to her spouse.
Adams also admitted that during the conspiracy, she caused the submission of Medicaid claims for PAS care that her friend, an MCI employee, purportedly provided to various consumers, without the friend’s knowledge and when in fact no such care had been provided to the consumers. During this time, Adams admitted that her friend was recovering from a serious injury and unable to work. Adams further misused her friend’s personally identifiable information to obtain and misappropriate the resulting salary payments. Finally, Adams admitted that during the course of audits of MCI, ADL, and CCI, she fabricated documentation for submission to state authorities in an effort to conceal the Medicaid fraud scheme. Among other things, Adams fabricated PAS timesheets, criminal history checks for attendants, child-abuse clearance forms for attendants, and certain consumer affidavits to ensure that files requested as part of the audits appeared complete.
Judge Bissoon scheduled Adams’s sentencing for 2:15 p.m. on July 8, 2020.
The conspiracy and health care fraud charges each carry a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to run consecutively with any sentence imposed on any other charge and a fine of no more than $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
To date, a total of sixteen defendants have been charged in connection with this investigation. Adams is the twelfth defendant to enter a guilty plea. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant United States Attorneys Eric G. Olshan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Edward Song are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation of the defendants.
Pierre Man Indicted on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Kyle Bordeaux, age 27, was indicted on February 11, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 13, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on March 16, 2019, in Hughes County, Bordeaux knowingly being an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charge is merely an accusation and Bordeaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trials Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Bordeaux was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Pierce County tax preparer arraigned for tax fraud conspiracy involving preparation of false income tax returnsRead the Press Release
Tacoma, Washington – A 51-year-old Lakewood, Washington, man was arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for a multi-year fraudulent tax preparation scheme he operated, even after his father went to prison for the same conduct. CLEO J. REED Jr., created “Just Us Tax Service” and later merged it with “Young’s Tax Service.” The companies filed tax returns falsely claiming high rates of Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) to increase clients’ tax refunds and therefore the fee they would receive for tax preparation.
REED Jr. pleaded “not guilty,” and trial was scheduled for May 12, 2020, in front of U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle.
According to records filed in the case, in 2011 and 2012, even as REED Jr’s father’s tax preparation business was under investigation for preparing fraudulent returns, REED Jr opened and operated “Just Us Tax Service” and allegedly used the same fraudulent technique utilized by his father’s tax preparation business. When the IRS terminated REED Jr’s tax prep registration, he had an acquaintance open and register “Young’s Tax Service” in 2014 and continued filing tax returns with fraudulent entries for Earned Income Tax Credit. REED Jr filed the false returns from his home, from Everyday Essentials, the marijuana dispensary he owned and operated in Puyallup, and from his employment location with the Sumner School District.
The total amount of tax loss in this case and the illegal gain to REED Jr is still being calculated.
REED Jr is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and seven counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. Conspiracy is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and aiding in the preparation of false tax returns is punishable by up to three years in prison.
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 Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arlen Storm.
reed_jr_superseding_indictment.pdfPhil Nichols and Jess Neal of Muncie, Indiana, indicted on corruption-related chargesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that the former Chairman for a political party in Delaware County, Indiana, Phil Nichols, and a Sergeant for the Muncie Police Department, Jess Neal, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and witness tampering. Nichols and Neal join defendants Debra Nicole Grigsby (“Nikki Grigsby”), the former District Administrator for the Muncie Sanitary District, and Tony Franklin, the owner of Franklin Building, and Design, LLC, Muncie, Indiana, who were initially indicted in July 2019 on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, making false statements, and falsification of documents in a federal investigation.
The arrests are part of a multi-year-long and ongoing investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into payment for public works projects in Muncie. The investigation has resulted in the following federal cases:
United States v. Craig Nichols, 17-CR-0021-TWP-DML
United States v. Tracy Barton, 18-CR-284-JMS-DLP
United States v. Jeff Burke, 18-CR-285-SEB-DLP
United States v. Rodney Barber, 19-CR-190-JMS-DML
United States. v. Debra Nicole Grigsby and Tony Franklin, 19-CR-231 JRS-DLP
Nichols, 73, and Neal, 53, of Muncie, Indiana, were arrested Thursday morning and will have their initial appearance Thursday afternoon in the federal courthouse in Indianapolis.
“Public servants need to serve the public instead of serving themselves,” said Minkler. “When someone betrays the public’s trust by stealing tax dollars for personal enrichment, my office will identify, investigate and, if the evidence supports a charge, prosecute the individual who violates that sacred trust.”
As set forth in the Superseding Indictment, Nichols served as the Chairman for a political party in Delaware County from approximately 1990 through approximately 1998. Though Nichols had no official leadership position or title within the political party after approximately 1998, Nichols maintained a private office at the political party’s headquarters, and continued to exert influence and control over multiple official acts performed by certain Muncie public officials.
Neal has been a long time Sergeant in the Muncie Police Department, and is also the owner of Red Carpet, Inc. and Express Properties, LLC.
“Public corruption is a significant priority for the FBI. Crimes of this nature are something we take very seriously, because those who exploit their official position for personal gain undermine public trust and confidence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Middleton, FBI Indianapolis. “Today’s indictment and arrest of Phil Nichols and Jess Neal is just one more step in seeking to bring to justice those who have victimized the hard-working, tax paying residents of Muncie.”
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston who is prosecuting this case for the government, Nichols and Neal face up to 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted of all charges.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting large- scale fraud schemes that warrant federal resources and arrest those who abuse their positions of trust. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 5.3.
Petoskey Man Gets 11 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN -Timothy Gerard Reader, 66, of Petoskey, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 11 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for possessing child pornography and for violating the terms of his supervised release. U.S. District Judge Gordon J. Quist also ordered that Reader spend the rest of his life on supervised release.
In 2006, Reader was sentenced in federal court to serve 10 years in prison and 9 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. After completing his custodial sentence, Reader began his supervised release. As part of the terms and conditions of his supervised release, Reader was not permitted to have a cell phone with internet access. During a visit to Reader’s home in 2019, a probation officer discovered that Reader had two cell phones with internet access and 32 memory cards. When confronted, Reader admitted to possessing more child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations and the Michigan State Police opened a new investigation and discovered that the cell phones and memory card contained more than 2 million sexually suggestive images of children. Within that collection were hundreds of images of child pornography. At sentencing, Judge Quist, ordered Reader to serve another 10 years in prison for possessing more child pornography and one additional year for violating his supervise release.
“Protecting the homeland includes developing and implementing unique investigative methods to identify child predators,” said Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Michigan and Ohio. “After already serving a decade for similar crimes, Mr. Reader was again identified committing depraved acts. HSI invests significant resources and manpower to protect children.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site:www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Michigan State Police, and the United States Probation Office.
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Parent in College Admissions Case Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A parent in the college admissions case has pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston.
David Sidoo, 60, of Vancouver, Canada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton who scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2020. Sidoo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. As part of the plea, Sidoo has agreed to a sentence that includes 90 days in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In 2011, Sidoo agreed to pay $100,000 to have a co-conspirator, Mark Riddell, secretly take the SAT in place of his older son. The following year, Sidoo agreed to pay $100,000 to have Riddell take the SAT in place of his younger son.
Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.
The charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for New Years’ Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Christopher E. Collins, 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 18 years in prison by United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. following his convictions for robbery, brandishing a firearm, and discharging a firearm. In addition to his prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Collins was also ordered to pay restitution of $280.00 to Buck’s Inc., $151.55 to Kwik Shop, and $1,000 to Phillip’s 66.
On January 1, 2019, at approximately 5:58 a.m., Collins and co-defendants, Marcus Evans and Ervin Smith, Jr., while wearing masks and gloves, robbed the Bucky’s at 2901 North 72nd Street, Omaha. Smith brandished a gun but Collins and Evans knew it was there and being used. Collins was shouting orders and ordered the employee to the ground. They left the store with cash, cigarettes, and Nebraska lottery tickets.
On January 1, 2019, at approximately 6:16 a.m., Collins, Evans, and Smith went into the Kwik Shop at 5929 North 72nd Street. A gun was threatened but never shown. The clerk was ordered to lay on the ground. They left the store with cigarettes, cigars, and Nebraska Lottery tickets.
On January 1, 2019, at approximately 6:31 a.m., Collins, Evans, and Smith robbed the Phillip’s 66 at 5920 Sorenson Parkway, Omaha. Smith was carrying a firearm that Collins and Evans knew was there. As they were entering the store, R.S. saw them enter with faces covered, laying a stick in the doorway, and had a hunch the store was going to be robbed. He went to his car and retrieved a firearm, which he was licensed to carry, and re-entered the store. He demanded Collins, Evans, and Smith not to move. Smith passed Collins his gun and Collins fired several shots in the direction of R.S., before Collins, Evans, and Smith left the store taking store money with them.
They were all caught within 24 hours. Evans was recognized by a former school employee at a location Evans attended. Smith was recognized by an Omaha Police Gang Unit officer. The officer also located a 2013 Facebook picture showing Evans and Smith together. On January 2, 2019, a traffic stop was done of a vehicle Smith was driving. Collins was a passenger. Collins had attempted to cash in one of the stolen lottery tickets and the clerk of that store recognized him and was able to identify him.
Smith entered a guilty plea and is awaiting sentencing. Evans is scheduled to enter a guilty plea in April.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Great Plains Violent Crime Task Force, comprised of FBI agents, Omaha Police Department detectives, Nebraska State Patrol Investigators and Papillion Police Department Detectives.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Child EnticementRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Luis Tobar, age 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. The Honorable Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Tobar to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Tobar will begin a 5-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. After completing his prison term, Tobar, a nation from El Salvador, will likely be deported.
On April 12, 2019, the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF) was conducting an operation in Douglas County, Nebraska. As part of the operation, an undercover officer with the CEHTTF posted an advertisement on an escort website used to facilitate prostitution. Tobar responded to the advertisement and engaged in communications with an undercover officer who he believed to be a 15-year-old female. Believing that he was communicating with a 15-year-old female, Tobar requested that she send him nude pictures, agreed to pay her for sex, and traveled to an agreed upon location to meet her. Tobar was arrested by members of the CEHTTF and at the time of his arrest was found to be in possession of the cellular phone he used to communicate with the undercover officer, a large monetary sum, and alcohol. Tobar was convicted after a jury trial.
U.S. Attorney Joe Kelly thanked the efforts of the FBI and the local law enforcement agencies who work diligently to stop human trafficking and especially those who specifically see to exploit minors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Police Department, Omaha Police Department, LaVista Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Sarpy Douglas County Law Enforcement Academy participated in the April 12, 2019 operation.
Oklahoma City Anesthesiologist Pays $70,000 and Surrenders His Medical License and DEA Registration Number to Settle Civil Penalty ClaimsRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Dr. Floyd Smith, M.D., ("Dr. Smith"), agreed to pay $70,000 and voluntarily surrender his medical license and DEA registration number for a period of three years to settle civil penalty claims stemming from allegations that he violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 and its regulations, announced United States Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
Dr. Smith is an anesthesiologist who practices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The United States alleges that from January 2014, through February 2019, Dr. Smith issued prescriptions for controlled substances to family members in violation of state law, and without maintaining medical files on the family members. The United States further alleges that the prescriptions were not issued in the usual course of professional practice.
To resolve these allegations, Dr. Smith agreed to pay $70,000 to the United States, and to surrender his medical license and DEA registration.
In reaching this settlement, Dr. Smith did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald R. Gallegos and Amanda R. Johnson prosecuted the case.
Ocala Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Leading Massive Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Kevin Gene Hart (31, Ocala) to 35 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The court also sentenced Hart to supervised release for the remainder of his life following his release from prison.
A federal jury had found Hart guilty after a four-day jury trial on November 7, 2019. Hart was indicted, along with five co-conspirators, on March 27, 2019.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between January 2012 and May 2019, Hart was the leader of a sprawling drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin through a network of stash houses in Marion County. Large quantities of the heroin were laced with fentanyl.
The following co-defendants previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case and were sentenced to the following terms of imprisonment: Gary Eugene Hayes (15 years); Darren Michael Beatty (15 years); Jeremy Jermaine Willis (20 years); Kathy Suleydy (8 years, 1 month); and Deandre Amaad Williams (10 years).
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ocala Police Department, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced yesterday that Bryant Keethe Smith Ford, age 29, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release, and to pay a $20,000.00 fine on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute More than 100 Kilograms of Marijuana and sentenced to 120 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of Money Laundering. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, through their investigations, determined that from on or about January 1, 2017, and continuing to July 18, 2019, the Bryant Ford Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operated in the Western District of Arkansas and was responsible for trafficking large quantities of marijuana into the Fayetteville, Arkansas area from other states. Once the marijuana was brought to Fayetteville by Ford, it was then distributed to others by Ford or at his direction. Further, during the investigation, it was determined that Ford used proceeds from his unlawful marijuana sales to pay for luxury cars in United States Currency (cash) and that he then titled the luxury vehicles in another individual’s name. On July 18, 2019, the day of Ford’s arrest, several federal search warrants were executed. As a result, over $260,000.00 in United States Currency, two loaded firearms, and three luxury vehicles were seized.
During the course of the investigation, over 300 pounds of marijuana were seized by law enforcement.
Ford was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2019, and entered a guilty plea in November of 2019.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. These federal agencies were assisted by many local law enforcement partners throughout the country during the course of this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Harris prosecuted the case for the Western District of Arkansas.
North Suburban Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography and Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A north suburban man has pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for threatening to publish sexually explicit images of an underage girl unless she sent him more explicit photos and videos of herself.
DAVID J. COTTRELL, 30, of Niles, enticed the underage victim into sending him sexually explicit photos of herself via online social messaging applications. After collecting the photos, Cottrell informed the girl that he knew her real name, the name of her school, and her parents’ jobs, and he threatened to post the images online and send them to her family unless the girl sent him additional, more explicit photos and videos, which she did. Cottrell contacted the victim on a regular basis until her parents discovered the messages in 2017 and contacted law enforcement.
Cottrell pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years, and one count of possession of child pornography, which is punishable by up to ten years. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for June 4, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Mulaney.
Cottrell admitted in a plea agreement that he similarly induced or attempted to induce four other minor victims into sending him sexually explicit images of themselves. While communicating with the victims online, Cottrell used the screennames “sevendollarcab,” “brightcitylights,” “b88785,” and “YouShallSubmitToMe Sir.”
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678, or logging on to www.cybertipline.com.
North Dakota Man Indicted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Dickinson, North Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Scott Alex Doll, age 48, was indicted on February 11, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on March 12, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on April 25, 2019, in Mobridge, South Dakota, Doll knowingly being an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charge is merely an accusation and Doll is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Doll was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mission Man and Woman Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man and a Mission, South Dakota, woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Robert James Riley, age 40, was indicted on March 9, 2020, for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Harvi Lynn Sharp Butte, a/k/a Harvi Lynn Little Shield, age 43, was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. They both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 12, 2020, and pled not guilty to their respective Indictments.
The maximum penalty Riley faces upon conviction is life in federal prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The maximum penalty Sharp Butte faces upon conviction is forty years in federal prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on or about February 1, 2019, and continuing to March 5, 2019, Riley and Sharp Butte, knowingly and intentionally, combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with each other and others, to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Further, on March 5, 2019, Riley, knowingly being an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charges are merely accusations and Riley and Sharp Butte are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Riley and Sharp Butte were both remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Michigan City, Indiana Man Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - William Shaifer, age 34, of Michigan City, Indiana was sentenced in South Bend by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty for possession of firearms by a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Mr. Shaifer was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, over the course of six days in September of 2018, William Shaifer provided an individual with five firearms, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Shaifer sold two handguns and three long guns, including a MAK-90 rifle with an extended magazine. Shaifer’s prior felony convictions include two separate convictions for dealing cocaine.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the LaPorte County Drug Task Force and the Michigan City Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Molly E. Donnelly and Jerome W. McKeever.
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Madison Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 8 YearsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Van Williamson, 43, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to eight years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Williamson pleaded guilty to this charge on December 10, 2019.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson found that Williamson was the leader of a heroin conspiracy that was responsible for distributing 1,000 to 3,000 grams of heroin in a six-month period in the Madison area. He reasoned that given the large amount of heroin involved in the conspiracy, an eight-year sentence was necessary to protect the public from the significant detrimental impact of heroin trafficking. Judge Peterson stressed that the defendant exploited the illness of others and contributed to a public health epidemic for his own profit.
Co-defendant Cortez Jackson is scheduled for sentencing in front of Judge Peterson on March 23, 2019.
The charge against Williamson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of the case has been handled by United States Attorney Scott Blader and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.
Long Island Woman Sentenced to 13 Years’ Imprisonment for Providing Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Zoobia Shahnaz was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically more than $150,000 to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and attempting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. Shahnaz pleaded guilty in November 2018.
John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
As set forth in court filings and facts presented at the sentencing hearing, between March 2017 and July 2017, Shahnaz defrauded numerous financial institutions to obtain money for ISIS, including a loan for approximately $22,500. Shahnaz also fraudulently obtained more than a dozen credit cards and used them to purchase approximately $62,000 in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies online. Shahnaz then made multiple wire transfers totaling more than $150,000 to individuals and entities in Pakistan, China and Turkey that were fronts for ISIS.
Shahnaz accessed ISIS violent jihad-related websites and message boards, and social media and messaging pages of known ISIS recruiters, facilitators and financiers. She also performed numerous internet searches for information that would facilitate her entry into Syria. Court-authorized search warrants executed at Shahnaz’s residence on Long Island resulted in the seizure of terrorist and jihad-related propaganda, including a photograph of a suicide belt of explosives and a night vision scope.
On July 31, 2017, Shahnaz was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, while attempting to board a flight with a layover in Istanbul, Turkey – a common point of entry for individuals travelling from western countries to join ISIS in Syria.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section and Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Artie McConnell is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Joseph Attias of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Long Island Woman Sentenced to 13 Years‘ Imprisonment for Providing Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Zoobia Shahnaz was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically more than $150,000 to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and attempting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. Shahnaz pleaded guilty in November 2018.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Today, the defendant learned the consequences of seeking to join ISIS and funneling thousands of dollars into the terrorist organization’s coffers,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “There is no higher priority of the Department of Justice and this Office than protecting our country from those who support violent, hate-filled terrorist organizations.” Mr. Donoghue praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD and over 50 other federal, state and local agencies.
“Financing terrorist organizations shouldn’t be viewed as any less dangerous of a crime than actually carrying out an act of terror itself. Make no mistake about it, Shahnaz funneled a significant amount of money into the hands of those who intended to use it in furtherance of ISIS objectives, and she set out to travel overseas with similar goals in mind. Today’s sentencing is a welcome end to this case as the FBI, along with our partners on the JTTF, continues to pursue other like-minded individuals,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
As set forth in court filings and facts presented at the sentencing hearing, between March 2017 and July 2017, Shahnaz defrauded numerous financial institutions to obtain money for ISIS, including a loan of approximately $22,500. Shahnaz also fraudulently obtained more than a dozen credit cards and used them to purchase approximately $62,000 in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies online. Shahnaz then made multiple wire transfers totaling more than $150,000 to individuals and entities in Pakistan, China and Turkey that were fronts for ISIS.
Shahnaz accessed ISIS violent jihad-related websites and message boards, and social media and messaging pages of known ISIS recruiters, facilitators and financiers. She also performed numerous internet searches for information that would facilitate her entry into Syria. Court-authorized search warrants executed at Shahnaz’s residence on Long Island resulted in the seizure of terrorist and jihad-related propaganda, including a photograph of a suicide belt of explosives and a night vision scope.
On July 31, 2017, Shahnaz was stopped at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, while attempting to board a flight with a layover in Istanbul, Turkey – a common point of entry for individuals travelling from western countries to join ISIS in Syria.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section and Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Artie McConnell is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Joseph Attias of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The Defendant:
ZOOBIA SHAHNAZ
Age: 30
Brentwood, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-522 (JS)
List Broker Indicted for Facilitating Elder Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice has charged a New York resident with knowingly providing lists of potential victims to fraudulent mass-mailing schemes that tricked consumers into paying fees for falsely promised cash prizes and purportedly personalized “psychic” services, announced today.
An indictment filed on March 10, 2020, charged Norman Newman, 73, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Newman reported to U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut before Magistrate Judge William Garkfinkel for arraignment on the indictment yesterday morning.
The indictment alleges that Newman provided list-brokerage services for more than 11 years to individuals running mass-mailing fraud schemes. Newman allegedly furnished consumers’ names and addresses to fraudster clients, knowing that the clients were mailing hundreds of thousands of deceptive prize notifications that misled victims into believing that they would receive a cash prize or personalized services upon payment of a fee. Many of the victims were elderly and vulnerable.
“Fraud schemes are intolerable, especially those that harm our nation’s seniors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ethan Davis of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “As Attorney General Barr made clear earlier this month when he announced record results in the 2020 Elder Fraud Sweep, the Department of Justice is committed to protecting seniors, including by pursuing and prosecuting those who perpetrate mass mailing fraud.”
According to the indictment, Newman worked in the offices of a list-brokerage company from 2005 until September 2016, when agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service searched the company’s offices and the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch obtained a federal court order enjoining the company from list brokerage related to sweepstakes- and astrology-themed notifications.
Each charge of the indictment carries a statutory maximum sentence of twenty years in prison along with a statutory maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss from the offense.
An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Alistair Reader and Ehren Reynolds of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, in March 2020, the department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
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.
Leader of Meth Conspiracy Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 12, 2020, Jason Paul Rodriguez, a/k/a “Chico,” age 40, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The prison terms for each conviction will be served concurrently. Rodriguez will serve 10 years of supervised release after his prison term.
Rodriguez organized and led a large-scale drug trafficking operation from 2016 until his arrest in April 2019. Rodriguez and his co-conspirators distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine. Co-defendants Lacey Jo Smalley and Erik M. Barber have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date. The conspiracy involved dozens of others and the investigation is ongoing.
Rodriguez was arrested on April 30, 2019, following a traffic stop. A drug dog alerted law enforcement to the presence of approximately eleven pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle. $14,933.55 in cash was also seized.
This matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, South West Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Clarinda Police Department, Audubon Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Page County Sheriff’s Office, Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Intelligence, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Law Enforcement Issues Public Safety Warning about Extreme Danger of FentanylRead the Press Release
For Further Information, Contact: Assistant U. S. Attorney Larry Casper (619) 546-6734
EL CENTRO – The region’s highest-ranking law enforcement officials joined together today to issue a dire public safety alert about the extreme danger of fentanyl-laced pills following the fatal overdose of a 15-year-old boy, the youngest person known to have died as a result of fentanyl in Imperial County.
U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer announced that a complaint was unsealed Wednesday charging 20-year-old Lorenzo Anthony Garcia of Brawley in the overdose death of a young football player from Central Union High School. Garcia was arraigned in federal court in El Centro Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Bermudez-Montenegro.
According to the complaint, on the morning of October 8, 2019, the victim’s grandfather tried to wake him up for school, but the child was lifeless and unresponsive. Garcia was allegedly dealing counterfeit blue M30 oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl – known on the street as “blues.” He was also selling Xanax, methamphetamine and other illicit narcotics. Some of his customers were high school students. The complaint alleges that Garcia continued to distribute the counterfeit pills even though he knew about the overdose death.
Fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin and so dangerous that, in its purest form, even a tiny amount can be deadly. The price of fentanyl – whether as powder or pill – is declining, meaning that both forms are increasingly available in our community.
“There is no margin for error when kids make a mistake with fentanyl, and the consequences can be deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Parents! Get educated and teach your children the deadly consequences of taking pills that are not prescribed to them. The pills might be laced with fentanyl, and fentanyl can kill them!”
“The most effective way to prevent tragic deaths like this one is by talking to your kids about drugs,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery. “Tell your kids about the consequences of using drugs and use this story as an example. Because not only did a 15-year-old boy lose his life to drugs, a 20-year-old young man will possibly lose the next 20 years of his life in jail.”
“This case is a tragic reminder of the fentanyl crisis in the United States,” said El Centro Police Chief Brian Johnson. “The senseless death of a child is a sobering reminder that parents, teachers, and all public safety professionals need to work together to educate our youth and help encourage them to make good decisions about drugs and other dangerous behavior. We hope this tragedy will be a reminder to our youth to not experiment with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products, all which are harmful to the developing young body and brain. If you know someone is using drugs, be a buddy and have the courage to get them help so we can prevent another tragedy. Working together we can all make a difference.”
“I would like to personally thank U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer for the action his office has taken regarding the senseless death of this young man,” said Imperial County District Attorney Gilbert Otero. “Under his leadership, our Federal counterparts have actively assisted local law enforcement in holding violators accountable for their actions. In the end, those who benefit the most are the victims and the public as a whole. My staff and I look forwarding to continue the relationship both offices have established.”
In San Diego County, officials expect the final tally for fentanyl overdose deaths in 2019 to reach 150. That’s up more than 600 percent from five years ago, and more than 60 percent from 2018. And the rapid increase continues in 2020.
So far, Imperial County has not experienced the high number of fentanyl overdose deaths seen in other regions, but the numbers are on the rise.
“We don’t want the Imperial Valley to mirror the San Diego trend,” U.S. Attorney Brewer said. “Just five years ago, San Diego had 21 fentanyl-related overdose deaths. Just when we think it can’t get any worse, the latest numbers prove us wrong. We are already on pace in 2020 to greatly exceed 2019. I am alarmed and devastated by the dramatic surge in trafficking activity and deaths, particularly of young people.”
The Southern District of California, which includes San Diego and Imperial counties, is the fentanyl gateway to the rest of the country. Fentanyl is crossing the border in this district in record quantities. Mexican drug trafficking organizations are using San Diego ports to smuggle fentanyl in record numbers.
Just five years ago, there were only six fentanyl seizures, collectively 68 pounds, by border officials in the Southern District of California. In 2019, however, there were 214 seizures, totaling 1,792 pounds. That’s an increase of more than two thousand five-hundred percent.
Law enforcement officials are working hard to close this gateway with interdiction, prosecution and education. “Every time we have a fatal overdose, we will be pursue the dealer,” Brewer said. “We are using every available criminal and civil tool to combat this deadly epidemic and stop these tragic losses.”
Under federal law, sellers and suppliers of drugs that cause death or serious bodily injury may face a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence. In recent years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 18 alleged dealers with that 20-year mandatory minimum offense – including today’s case.
United States Attorney Brewer urged users who opt to disregard his dire warning to seek Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose and save lives. Narcan is available by prescription and can be purchased at many pharmacies without a prescription.
People who need help with mental health including substance use disorder, suicide prevention, medication needs, and more can call the San Diego County Crisis line at 888-724-7240. It’s open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
DEFENDANT Case Number 20mj8654
Lorenzo Anthony Garcia Age: 20 Brawley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory Minimum 20 years in prison and maximum of life and $1,000,000 fine
AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
El Centro Police Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
La Crosse Shooter Sentenced to 30 MonthsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Robert J. Powell IV, 29, La Crosse, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 30 months in prison, for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Powell pleaded guilty to this charge on October 10, 2019.
On July 28, 2019, Powell was patronizing bars in downtown La Crosse. At approximately 1:30 a.m., a fight started in the street and city cameras showed Powell remove a handgun from his rear waistband and discharge the gun into the air. Powell fled the scene, and one .380 shell casing and one round of .380 ammunition were recovered. Although the firearm Powell used was never recovered, federal law prohibits felons from possessing ammunition. Powell has two felony convictions, for manufacture/deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
The charge against Powell was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Kalamazoo Felon Gets 37 Months for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - Darien Montrel Vaughn-White, 25, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 37 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for possessing a handgun after being convicted of a felony. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney also imposed a period of supervised release of 3 years.
In July 2018, as part of a violent crime reduction initiative, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety advised Vaughn-White that his gun-related criminal activity had come to the attention of law enforcement. KDPS warned him that further violent behavior and gun possession could result in federal prosecution. At same time, Vaughn-White was offered the option of guidance and social services. In September 2019, KDPS officers saw Vaughn-White in a fight. After he left the scene, officers stopped him. Officers found him in possession of a 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a 30-round extended magazine. A federal grand jury indicted Vaughn- White and he later pleaded guilty to his illegal possession. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Maloney commented on the seriousness of Vaughn-White’s illegal possession, the poor choice of going to a place where he knew there would be a fight, and the danger posed by the high-capacity semi-automatic handgun. Judge Maloney observed that Vaughn-White had the potential to rise beyond his situation and expressed his hope for Vaughn-White’s future.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. As part of this strategy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office participates in Kalamazoo’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategy. GVI is designed to reduce homicide and gun violence, minimize harm to communities by replacing enforcement with deterrence, and foster stronger relationships between law enforcement and the people they serve.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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Jury Finds Tampa Man Guilty in International Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury today found Ahman Walton (40, Tampa) guilty of conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin, and distributing 100 grams or more of heroin. Walton faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Walton had been indicted on July 11, 2019.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Walton was responsible for bringing cocaine into Florida from the Bahamas. In addition, in September 2018, he helped his co-conspirator procure a quarter kilogram of heroin of for nearly $20,000.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Adams and Gregory T. Nolan.
This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Jury Convicts Sexual Predator of Soliciting Child Sex Abuse Videos Using A CellphoneRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Paul Edward Lee, Jr. (40, Jacksonville) guilty of knowingly soliciting a minor to produce and send pornographic videos and images depicting sexual abuse of the minor. In 2011, Lee was convicted of lascivious molestation and exhibition of a child under 12 years old and, therefore, is required to register as a sexual predator. Because of this prior conviction, Lee faces an enhanced mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years, and up to, 50 years in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release in this case. Lee was arrested at his residence in Jacksonville on May 2, 2018. His sentencing hearing is set for July 6, 2020.
According to evidence and testimony introduced at trial, a law enforcement officer in Illinois discovered that a 14-year-old child was having online contact with an adult male in Florida through a smart phone gaming application designed for use by children. The messages sent to the child by the adult male were increasingly graphic and sexual in nature. The FBI was able to identify this adult male as Paul Edward Lee, Jr., and discovered that Lee was a registered sexual predator living in Jacksonville.
On April 25, 2018, an FBI agent in Jacksonville posing as the minor child continued to engage with Lee through text messaging. During these communications, Lee told the “child” in graphic terms how he wanted to have sex with the child and sent several images and videos of his own genitalia to the child. Two days later, Lee repeatedly texted and solicited the child to produce and send him graphic images and videos of the child’s genitalia. When FBI agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence on May 2, 2018, Lee attempted to destroy his cellular telephone in an effort to conceal evidence of his activity.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.