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Thursday 16 January 2020
Former Pastor and Counselor Sentenced to 17 years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
A former pastor and counselor from Burtchville, Michigan (just outside Port Huron) was sentenced yesterday to 17 years in prison for sexually exploiting preteen and teenage girls, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Sentenced was Jackie Douglas Woodburn, 64, who was the Director of the Colonial Woods Christian Counseling Center, a place he worked for 28 years. In addition to his prison sentence, Woodburn will serve 5 years of supervised release upon his release from custody. Judge Paul D. Borman imposed the sentence.
According to court records, Woodburn used an unmonitored chatroom-based website to target and manipulate girls. Woodburn, who pretended to be a teenage boy when speaking to preteen and teenage girls on the website, isolated his victims by transitioning conversations from the website to email and popular social media application platforms. After isolating the victims, Woodburn used his sizable age, educational, and life experience advantages over the girls to manipulate, pressure, coerce, and entice the girls into undressing and engaging in sexual acts on camera. The Indictment alleged that Woodburn sexually exploited a 12 year-old girl from Texas, a 13 year-old girl from Kansas, and attempted to entice a 9 year-old girl from Virginia. However, the FBI’s investigation revealed that Woodburn targeted and exploited several additional victims not identified in the Indictment.
“It’s completely reprehensible for any person — let alone a pastor and counselor — to abuse young children in this way,” said United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. “We hope this sentencing will bring some closure to the innocent victims and their families who were so badly harmed by the defendant.”
"By the nature of his position, Mr. Woodburn was entrusted with protecting the mental and spiritual health of his community," said SAC D'Antuono. "But he was a wolf in sheep's clothing - looking to prey on the most vulnerable members of our society. Our office remains committed to working with our state and local partners to find and hold accountable this type of sexual predator."
Assistant United States Attorneys April N. Russo and Kevin M. Mulcahy of the Eastern District of Michigan, prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Detroit Field Office investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Member of Barbados Parliament and Minister of Industry Found Guilty of Receiving and Laundering Bribes from Barbadian Insurance CompanyRead the Press Release
A former member of the Barbados Parliament, who also served as the Minister of Industry of Barbados, was found guilty today by a federal jury for his role in a scheme to launder bribes paid to him by executives of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue of the Eastern District of New York and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office made the announcement.
Following a one-week trial and two hours of jury deliberations, Donville Inniss, 54, a U.S. legal permanent resident who resided in Tampa, Florida, and Barbados, was found guilty of two counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in 2015 and 2016, Inniss took part in a scheme to launder into the United States approximately $36,000 in bribes that he received from high-level executives of ICBL. At the time, Inniss was a member of the Parliament of Barbados and the Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce, and Small Business Development of Barbados. The trial evidence demonstrated that, in exchange for the bribes, Inniss leveraged his position as the Minister of Industry to enable ICBL to obtain two insurance contracts from the Barbados government to insure over $100 million worth of government property. To conceal the bribes, Inniss arranged to receive them through a U.S. bank account in the name of his friend’s dental company, which had an address in Elmont, New York. The trial evidence further showed that Inniss used a personal email account to communicate with an executive from ICBL in connection with the bribe payments and the laundering of the money through the dental company in New York.
The FBI’s International Corruption Squad in New York City investigated the case. In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption. Trial Attorney Gerald M. Moody Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Gopstein and Sylvia Shweder of the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in this matter. The Department appreciates the cooperation provided by its law enforcement colleagues in Barbados during this investigation.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former Member of Barbados Parliament Convicted of Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
Donville Inniss, a former member of the Barbados Parliament and Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development of Barbados, was convicted today by a jury in federal court in Brooklyn of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering relating to bribe payments the defendant received from Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) to secure government contracts for ICBL. The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. When sentenced, Inniss faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Brian A. Benczkowski, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the verdict.
The evidence at trial established that between August 2015 and April 2016, Inniss accepted approximately $36,000 in bribes from high-level executives of ICBL and laundered that money through banks on Long Island. In exchange for the bribes, Inniss leveraged his position as the Minister of Industry to enable ICBL to obtain government contracts. Inniss concealed the bribes by arranging to receive them through a friend’s dental company and a bank located in Elmont, New York. ICBL executives transferred the funds to the dental company using an invoice falsely claiming that the payments were for consulting services.
During the time of the charged conspiracy, Inniss was a legal permanent resident of the United States residing in Tampa, Florida and Barbados.
“As a government official, Inniss was responsible for improving the economic development and quality of life for Barbados and its people. But as proven at trial, he corruptly abused his position and the U.S. financial system to enrich himself,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “With today’s verdict, the defendant will face the consequences.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the FBI’s New York Office for its outstanding investigative work on the case.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sylvia Shweder and David Gopstein, and Trial Attorney Gerald M. Moody, Jr., of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DONVILLE INNIS
Age: 54
BarbadosE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-134 (KAM)
Former Gwinnett County deputy indicted on excessive force and obstruction chargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Former Gwinnett County, Georgia, Deputy Sheriff Aaron S. Masters, who was assigned to the Rapid Response Team (RRT) at the Gwinnett County Jail, has been charged with using excessive force against a female inmate in 2018. Masters was indicted by a federal grand jury for unnecessarily assaulting the inmate and writing a false incident report to justify his use of force.
“We recognize that corrections officers have a difficult job as they maintain order and protect inmates in our district's prisons and county jails,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “However, this deputy sheriff must be held accountable for allegedly abusing his authority by committing a violent and unnecessary assault on an inmate, and then writing a false report to cover up the incident.”
“The vast majority of sworn officers working in our jails and prisons protect the civil rights of inmates no matter the difficult challenges they face,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is an insult to those officers when one of their own violates those rights, and that is why Masters must face his peers in court for his alleged actions.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: At the time of the alleged misconduct, Aaron Masters was employed as a deputy sheriff assigned to work on the Gwinnett County Sheriff Office’s RRT inside the Gwinnett County Jail. The RRT was a specialized unit which resolved high-risk incidents and provided general assistance in maintaining order in the jail. On August 20, 2018, Masters, without justification, is alleged to have repeatedly struck an inmate in the face with his closed fist, injuring her. Following the assault, Masters wrote a report about the encounter in which he falsely claimed that the physical force was necessary to gain the inmate’s compliance.
Aaron S. Masters, 27, of Jefferson, Georgia, was indicted on January 14, 2020, for violating an inmate’s civil rights and for writing a false report. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The FBI is investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Tim Visser are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Gwinnett County Deputy Arraigned on Excessive Force and Obstruction ChargesRead the Press Release
Former Gwinnett County Deputy Sheriff Aaron S. Masters, who was assigned to the Rapid Response Team (RRT) at the Gwinnett County Jail, has been arraigned after a federal grand jury indicted him of acting under color of law to deprive an inmate of her civil rights and of falsifying a report of the incident. The indictment follows an investigation of an allegation that Masters used excessive force against a female inmate in 2018 by repeatedly striking her in the head. The indictment was announced by Eric. Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division; Byung J. (BJay) Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; and Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.
According to the indictment and other information presented in court, at the time of the alleged misconduct, Masters was employed as a deputy sheriff assigned to work on the Gwinnett County Sheriff Office’s RRT inside the Gwinnett County Jail. The RRT was a specialized unit that resolved high-risk incidents and provided general assistance in maintaining order in the jail. On Aug. 20, 2018, Masters, without legal justification, repeatedly struck an inmate in her face with his closed fist, injuring her. Following the assault, Masters wrote a report about the encounter in which he falsely claimed that the physical force was necessary to gain the inmate’s compliance.
Masters, 27, of Jefferson, Georgia, was indicted on Jan. 14, 2020.
The charge of deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in injury provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of falsifying a police report provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Tim Visser.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Federal Superseding Indictment Charges Man for Making Threats Against a Maryland SynagogueRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging Stephen Lyle Orback, age 65, on the federal charges of intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the free exercise of their religious beliefs through the threatened use of force, and making threatening communications, specifically multiple telephone calls threatening a synagogue.
The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, between May 12 and July 21, 2019, Orback made multiple telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, threatening to kill many members of synagogue’s congregation with firearms, by using explosives, and by burning the synagogue down. The superseding indictment replaces a previous indictment, handed down by the grand jury on Aug. 15, 2019, which charged the defendant only with the interstate-threats count.
If convicted, Orback faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the free exercise of their religious beliefs through the threatened us of force; and a maximum of five years in prison for making threatening communications. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Orback remains detained on unrelated state charges in Colorado.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. .
United States Attorney Hur and Assistant Attorney General Dreiband commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur and Mr. Dreiband thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Zachary Dembo, who are prosecuting the case.
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Enrolled member of Mescalero Apache Tribe pleads guilty to abusive sexual contact in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – David Joe Melendrez, 55, of Mescalero, New Mexico pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to abusive sexual contact with a child in Indian Country as part of a pattern of sexual abuse of children committed over the course of more than 20 years.
In Melendrez’s plea agreement, he admitted to abusive sexual contact with a child in December 2018 at a home within the boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Melendrez, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, sexually abused the victim as she was sleeping during the night. He continued to abuse her after she woke up. Melendrez also abused the victim, who is also a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, on other previous occasions over the course of seven years. Melendrez also admitted sexually abusing four other child victims in New Mexico and Arizona dating back to 1995. Three of these other victims are also members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Melendrez is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to life in prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Eleven People Charged in Federal Court with Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking in the Milwaukee AreaRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that 11 defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl in the Milwaukee area. Over one kilogram of fentanyl has been seized during the course of the investigation. If convicted of the heroin and fentanyl charges, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison.
The defendants charged are:
Name
Age
ADOLFO REYES-FELICIANO.
26
JONATHAN ARANZAMENDI-MALDONADO
43
AZAHEL VELAZQUEZ-MELGOZA
22
BRIAN A. MELENDEZ-SANTIAGO
22
JOMUEL LOZANO-MARTINEZ
27
MALEK A. FARAKHNA
32
KENDELL R. NEWKIRK
24
ANGEL R. PADILLA-COLON
25
EDUARDO I. GUTIERREZ-ARMEDARIZ
36
EDUARDO DE JESUS ROBLES-CAMBRONERO
27
MARIO J. NAVARRO
21
On January 15, 2020, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested ten of the defendants. Two of the arrested defendants were undocumented aliens from Mexico and subject to immediate removal. The officers also executed search warrants in Milwaukee resulting in the seizure of approximately 800 grams of black tar heroin, 200 grams of fentanyl, and one firearm.
“Fentanyl and heroin are extremely dangerous opioids that have led to numerous overdose deaths,” said United States Attorney Krueger in announcing the charges. “As these charges show, law enforcement is devoted to working collaboratively and aggressively to combat drug trafficking.”
“In 2019, fentanyl was the leading cause for overdose deaths in the City of Milwaukee. The DEA, along with our local, state, and federal partners have been and will continue to aggressively investigate and arrest those individuals who profit from the pain and suffering of others. Yesterday’s law enforcement operations are a shining example of this common goal to save lives and make our communities a safer place to live,” said DEA Milwaukee District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul E. Maxwell, Jr.
The defendants were charged based on a multi-year investigation led by law enforcement agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, the City of Kenosha Police Department, the City of Greenfield Police Department, and the City of West Allis Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mario Gonzales.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Duo Charged in a Criminal ComplaintRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Steven Hecke, age 44, and Samuel Battell, age 34, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana were charged in a criminal complaint filed late January 15, 2020 with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl along with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in this case, on or about January13, 2020, agents executed a series of search warrants at multiple locations in Allen County. During the execution of search warrants, law enforcement found approximately 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 900 grams of fentanyl, multiple firearms and U.S. Currency.
United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch said, “We are focused on working with our local, state and federal agencies to curb drug and gun crimes in the Northern District of Indiana. This case is an excellent example of agencies working together to accomplish those goals.”
“DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “DEA commends the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners. If the alleged amount of fentanyl recovered would have hit the streets, it could have been devastating given that only 2mg could kill the average person. DEA will continue to use all resources available to target criminal organizations that introduce drugs into our communities.”
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a Criminal Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the Judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Allen County Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
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Drunken Assault at Sea Nets Federal Prison Sentence for Winchester Bay ResidentRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—Brandon Michael Vanderploeg, 39, of Winchester Bay, Oregon, was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison and two years’ supervised release for assaulting his then-girlfriend aboard a fishing vessel in August 2018.
According to court documents, on August 16, 2018, members of the U.S. Coast Guard were dispatched to a situation at sea involving the report of a woman who had been assaulted by her boyfriend onboard a commercial fishing vessel. A coast guard helicopter located the vessel 17 nautical miles off the Oregon Coast. Two members of the coast guard boarded the vessel and made contact with Vanderploeg and the victim.
The victim reported that Vanderploeg had assaulted her on several occasions after leaving Winchester Bay. She specifically reported that Vanderploeg held her down, punched her repeatedly in the face, head-butted her in the nose, and slammed her head down on a tool box. The assault resulted in a three-inch laceration to her right cheek, a depressed nasal fracture, multiple contusions to her knees and arms, and a cervical strain.
During the investigation, the coast guard crew who boarded and conducted a sweep of the vessel, immediately noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from Mr. Venderploeg, who admitted to drinking. Mr. Vanderploeg tested positive for alcohol, registering a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .183. An individual operating a commercial vessel is considered intoxicated at a BAC of .04 or more.
On September 30, 2019, Vanderploeg pleaded guilty to assault within the maritime jurisdiction of the U.S. and operating a commercial vessel under the influence of alcohol.
As part of his plea agreement, Vanderploeg agreed to pay restitution in full to his victim as ordered by the court. A restitution hearing will be held at a later date.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Dominican Man Sentenced to 34 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute over 100 Grams of HeroinRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Dominican man was sentenced today to 34 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport more than 100 grams of heroin from New York to New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Bienvenido Perez Lazala, 31, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In January 2018, a Mexican narcotics trafficker provided another individual with Lazala’s name and identified Lazala as someone who could assist in establishing narcotics sales in New Jersey. Lazala was contacted and agreed to obtain heroin to sell in New Jersey.
On Feb. 5, 2018, following a series of intercepted calls, Lazala obtained 955.9 grams of heroin in Haverstraw, New York, for purposes of transporting it back to New Jersey. Lazala then sold the heroin to another individual, who, unbeknownst to Lazala, was a law enforcement officer.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Lazala to two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Fontecchio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
District Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison on Federal Mail Fraud Charge, Admits Her Role in Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Belinda McKenzie, 45, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for her role in an embezzlement scheme targeting District of Columbia government funds earmarked for at-risk tenants, through a program administered by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu; Special Agent in Charge Matthew S. Miller, U.S. Secret Service, Washington Field Office; Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD); and Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas, District of Columbia’s Office of Inspector General.
Belinda McKenzie pled guilty in May 2019 to one count of mail fraud charge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable Trevor N. McFadden. In addition to her prison term, McKenzie must pay restitution in the amount of $234,249, as well as a forfeiture money judgement in the same amount. Following her prison term, she will be placed on two years of supervised release.
The defendant, Belinda McKenzie, was a Family Support Worker at Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington (“CC ADW”), working in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). Between 2015 and 2017, the defendant, along with others, recruited family members, neighbors, and friends, and used their information, and that of others, on fraudulent ERAP applications stealing $234,249.00 in ERAP funds administered by CC ADW (and from DC government which finances the program). CC ADW is one of six agencies that administers the ERAP program for the District of Columbia’s Department of Human Services.
After an anonymous complaint to CC ADW, an outside auditing firm identified approximately 42 ERAP files (all processed by the defendant) comprising of payments to approximately 16 landlords on behalf of 31 tenants. In truth, the listed tenants were not at risk of eviction, did not rent from the listed landlords, and instead of assisting families from eviction, the emergency rental money was shared with the co-schemers involved in the fraud. After a referral by CC ADW, law enforcement conducted an independent investigation and found that the defendant created fraudulent files using forgeries from the legitimate documents to “paper” the requests for the fraudulent tenant assistance. Armed with an array of falsely manufactured “supporting” documentation, the defendant tricked CC ADW into issuing approximately 42 checks totaling $234,249.00 to individuals who posed as landlords, on behalf of individuals who posed as tenants at risk of eviction from the “landlords’” property.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Miller, Chief Newsham, and Inspector General Lucas commended the work performed by those who investigated the case from the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, MPD, and DC Office of Inspector General. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Financial Accountant Bryan Snitselaar, Paralegal Specialists Amanda Rohde, Mariela Andrade, and Quiana Dunn-Gordon, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Chubin Epstein, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham, who prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
A Detroit resident was convicted by a federal jury today on charges of sex trafficking using force and coercion, distribution of controlled substances, and maintaining a drug premises, announced United States Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Richard Knider Jackson, 70, of Detroit, was convicted following a 5-day jury trial before United States District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III. The jury deliberated approximately 2 hours before returning their verdicts.
“This defendant treated his victims like goods to be bought and sold,” stated U.S. Attorney Schneider. “He targeted vulnerable women and exploited them for his own profit. He manipulated his victims’ drug addictions and provided them with a constant supply of heroin and crack cocaine. We hope that cases like this one will raise awareness that sex traffickers are exploiting victims in our communities."
Jackson was also convicted of distribution of heroin and crack cocaine and maintaining a drug premises.
Evidence presented at the trial established that a woman called 911 in 2016 pleading for help. When Detroit Police responded, the officers quickly determined that the location was used for human trafficking. In the home, officers observed a house in complete disrepair, with signs of intravenous drug use throughout the home. Defendant had installed a security gate within the home at the top of the stairs.
Sentencing is set for April 16, 2020. Jackson faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and up to life.
The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara D. Woodward and Barbara Lanning.
Derry Woman Sentenced for Participating in a Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to two years probation on her conviction of money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed sentence on Barbara Miller, 58, of Derry, Pennsylvania.
In connection with sentencing, the court was advised that during the period from January 2011 through May 2016, Miller became a member of a money laundering conspiracy. Miller conducted financial transactions affecting interstate commerce, knowing that the property involved in the financial transactions represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity. Miller knew that each of the financial transactions was designed in whole or in part to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds. As part of the money laundering conspiracy, the defendant and her co-conspirators conducted the following financial transactions: 1) withdrew funds from prepaid debit cards and credit cards; 2) transmitted and received funds via MoneyGram, Walmart and Western Union; 3) cashed checks and money orders; and 4) sent and received wire transfers of funds. The funds involved in these transactions, which totaled thousands of dollars, were the proceeds of wire fraud.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.
Department of Justice Announces Proposed Rule Regarding Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations and Guidance on School PrayerRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced a proposed rule today that would implement President Trump’s Executive Order No. 13831 (May 3, 2018), remove regulatory burdens on religious organizations, and ensure that religious and non-religious organizations are treated equally in DOJ-supported programs. The proposed rule ensures that DOJ-supported social service programs are implemented in a manner consistent with the Constitution and other applicable federal law.
The department also announced, in conjunction with the Department of Education, guidance on school prayer. The updated guidance provides information on legal protections for prayer and other religious expression in public schools.
“Since our nation’s founding, there has always been a strong consensus about the centrality of religious liberty in the United States and the freedom of religious expression,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Framers of the Constitution believed that both were indispensable to sustaining our free system of government. The actions taken by the administration today will hopefully help secure religious freedom in our country for decades to come.”
Background on Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations
Under current regulations that govern DOJ-supported programs, religious providers of social services — but not other providers of social services — must make referrals under certain circumstances and must post notices regarding this referral procedure. These regulatory burdens had been required by then-President Obama’s Executive Order No. 13559 (Nov. 17, 2010). Consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order No. 13831 (May 3, 2018), the DOJ’s proposed rule would eliminate them from DOJ regulations. As the DOJ’s proposed rule observes, these burdens were not required by any applicable law, and because they were imposed only on religious social service providers, they are in tension with recent Supreme Court precedent regarding nondiscrimination against religious organizations. The proposed rule also will foreclose other unequal treatment of religious organizations by ensuring that they are not required to provide assurances or notices that are not required of secular organizations.
In addition, the proposed rule will clarify that religious organizations may apply for awards on the same basis as any other organization and that when DOJ selects award recipients, DOJ will not discriminate based on an organization’s religious character. The proposed rule also clarifies that religious organizations participating in DOJ-supported programs retain their independence from the government and may continue to carry out their missions consistent with religious freedom protections in federal law, including the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.
The proposed rule incorporates the Attorney General’s 2017 Memorandum for All Executive Departments and Agencies, Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty. That memorandum was issued pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order No. 13798 (May 4, 2017), and it guides all federal administrative agencies and executive departments in complying with federal law.
Background on School Prayer Guidance
Section 8524(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act and codified at 20 U.S.C. § 7904(a), requires the Secretary of Education to issue guidance to State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and the public on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. It requires the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel to review the guidance prior to distribution to ensure that it represents the current state of the law. In addition, section 8524(b) requires that, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, an LEA must certify in writing to its SEA that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as detailed in this updated guidance.
The purpose of this updated guidance is to provide information on the current state of the law concerning religious expression in public schools. Part I is an introduction. Part II clarifies the extent to which prayer in public schools is legally protected. LEAs and SEAs are responsible, under section 8524(b) of the ESEA, to certify their compliance with the standards set forth in Part II.
Part III of this updated guidance generally addresses principles of religious liberty that relate to religious expression more broadly, including prayer, in accordance with Executive Order 13798 (May 4, 2017), 82 Fed. Reg. 21675 (May 9, 2017), and the Attorney General’s Memorandum on Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty of October 7, 2017, 82 Fed. Reg. 49668 (Oct. 26, 2017) (AG Memo). It is meant to advise SEAs and LEAs on how to comply with governing constitutional and statutory law, but it is not a part of the required certification under section 8524(b) of the ESEA. Part IV discusses the Equal Access Act, which provides statutory protection for religious expression in public schools. These broader principles were drawn substantially from a 1995 presidential memorandum, Memorandum on Religious Expression in Public Schools, 2 Pub. Papers 1083 (July 12, 1995), and a 1998 Department of Education memorandum, Richard W. Riley, U.S. Secretary of Education, Religious Expression in Public Schools: A Statement of Principles (June 1998).
The Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice and the Office of General Counsel in the Department of Education have jointly approved this updated guidance as reflecting the current state of the law. This updated guidance will be made available on the Department of Education’s website (www.ed.gov) and the Department of Justice’s website (www.justice.gov).
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Denver Man Sentenced to 44 Months Imprisonment and $200,000 Restitution After Conviction for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Harrel Keeling, 44, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced today for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. United States District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Keeling to a 44-month total term of imprisonment, followed by a 5-year total term of supervised release, and ordered Keeling to pay $200,000 in restitution to the victim of his offense.
According to Court records, on January 2, 2019, Keeling and a coconspirator flew from Denver to Burlington. The next day, Keeling obtained a driver’s license in the name of D.P from the Vermont DMV, after presenting a legitimate birth certificate for D.P. and fraudulent supporting materials. After obtaining the identification in D.P.’s name, Keeling went to the Citizens Bank branch in Burlington, Vermont, where he obtained an $180,000 teller check from D.P.’s business account. Keeling and his coconspirator also visited a Citizens Bank branch in South Burlington, where Keeling withdrew an additional $8,000 in cash. Keeling and his coconspirator traveled to the Mohegan Sun Casino, where they utilized the fraudulently obtained $180,000 teller check to establish a front-money account. Keeling and his coconspirator then laundered the fraud proceeds through casino chips over the following days. Keeling and his coconspirator withdrew additional currency in Connecticut, then traveled to New York City, and flew back to Denver shortly thereafter. On January 31, 2019, Keeling was arrested in Aurora, Colorado on a federal warrant issued by the United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Vermont. When Keeling was arrested, he was found to be in possession of approximately $7,500 in cash and $12,900 in postal money orders which he had obtained in New York City. A federal seizure warrant recovered an additional $151,697 of funds from Keeling’s bank accounts, which will be used toward restitution.
United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the investigative efforts of the United States Secret Service; the Mohegan Tribal Police; and the Burlington Police Department, in the successful arrest and prosecution of Keeling.
Keeling was represented by Ian Carlton, Esq. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt.
Culebra, Puerto Rico Captain Sentenced for Knowingly Transporting Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Arturo Serrano-Arizmendi, 27, of Culebra, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today after being convicted of knowingly transporting illegal aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Arizmendi to 6 months in prison followed by three years supervised release, and ordered Arizmendi to pay a special assessment of $100. Gomez also ordered Arizmendi to forfeit $500 and a 1980 22-foot Maco boat.
According to court documents, on June 7, 2019, Arizmendi captained his Maco boat from St. Thomas in the direction of Culebra with no navigational lights. On board his vessel were five individuals that he knew were illegal aliens: four from Brazil and one from the Dominican Republic. A Customs and Border Patrol marine unit intercepted the vessel and returned it to St. Thomas where Arizmendi and the illegal aliens were taken into custody by Homeland
St. Thomas, USVI – Arturo Serrano-Arizmendi, 27, of Culebra, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today after being convicted of knowingly transporting illegal aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Arizmendi to 6 months in prison followed by three years supervised release, and ordered Arizmendi to pay a special assessment of $100. Gomez also ordered Arizmendi to forfeit $500 and a 1980 22-foot Maco boat.
According to court documents, on June 7, 2019, Arizmendi captained his Maco boat from St. Thomas in the direction of Culebra with no navigational lights. On board his vessel were five individuals that he knew were illegal aliens: four from Brazil and one from the Dominican Republic. A Customs and Border Patrol marine unit intercepted the vessel and returned it to St. Thomas where Arizmendi and the illegal aliens were taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations. When he was questioned, Arizmendi admitted that he received $100 per person to transport them to Culebra, PR.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Security Investigations. When he was questioned, Arizmendi admitted that he received $100 per person to transport them to Culebra, PR.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Crack Cocaine "Broker" Sentenced to 5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A former Woonsocket man, one of more than a dozen people arrested in July 2019 as the result of a four-month FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine on the streets of Woonsocket, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for brokering sales of crack cocaine.
In October 2019, Christian Nieves, 34, admitted to the Court that in April 2019, he arranged on multiple occasions for an individual to purchase a total of 34.18 grams of crack cocaine from David Kennedy, 29, formerly of Woonsocket. Nieves was present for each transaction and was paid a fee for his efforts.
Nieves pleaded guilty on October 1, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base.
At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., sentenced Nieves to 60 months imprisonment to be followed by 4 years supervised release, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates.
David Kennedy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on October 1, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2020.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and Christine D. Lowell.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Contractor Charged with Lying to OSHA InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging LUIS F. ESTRADA, 46, of Bridgeport, with making false statements and submitting false documents to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”).
The indictment was returned on January 2, 2020. Estrada appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $75,000 bond.
As alleged in the indictment, Estrada is the owner of a construction company named L.L.E. Construction, LLC. In February 2018, Estrada and L.L.E. Construction entered into a written contract to perform roof repairs and other construction services at a property located on Main Street in Bridgeport. In February and March 2018, Estrada was provided with three checks totaling $11,000 for performing the work. On March 1, 2018, a compliance officer with OSHA visited the property and observed what he believed to be various safety infractions by construction workers who were making the roof repairs. The officer then initiated an on-site inspection into the suspected infractions. Estrada was not present at the Main Street property at the time, but spoke to the compliance officer by mobile phone.
It is further alleged that, on May 22, 2018, OSHA compliance officers served Estrada with a subpoena that demanded documents and records related to L.L.E. Construction’s work at the Main Street property in February and March 2018. On July 30, 2018, Estrada hand-delivered a written response stating that he “did not do any work for the ‘LLE Roofing Project,’” that “[t]here is no payroll because [he] did not work on the ‘LLE Roofing Project,’” and that he “do[es] not have any contract or any documents regarding the ‘LLE Roofing Project.’”
The indictment charges Estrada with one count of making false statements to the U.S. Department of Labor, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan.
Cleveland man charged with allegedly shooting at agents further charged with sex trafficking of a juvenile and producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
Reuben Rankin, 34, was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of sex trafficking of a juvenile and one count of production of child pornography.
These charges come in addition to Rankin’s pending federal charges for assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
The first three charges were brought after Rankin allegedly fired six shots at federal agents during the execution of a search warrant on a house on Dove Avenue in Cleveland.
A federal grand jury has now returned a superseding indictment adding two additional charges for sex trafficking of a juvenile and production of child pornography.
The superseding indictment alleges that between “in or about May 2019 and in or about September 2019, Rankin did knowingly recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, maintain, patronize, and solicit by any means a minor under the age of 18 years, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion would be used to cause the minor to engage in a commercial sex act, and that the minor had not attained the age of 18 years and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.
The superseding indictment further alleges that during that time, Rankin did employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein.
A charge is only an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Chowan County Man Sentenced After Firing Gun in Domestic DisputeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH — United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle, sentenced Nicholas Elliott, 32, of Tyner, NC to 36 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. ELLIOTT was named in a single-count Indictment on August 22, 2019, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. On November 13, 2019, he pled guilty to the Indictment.
According to the investigation, a woman called 911 on June 20, 2019, reporting that her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas ELLIOTT, had fired a gun at her outside a residence in Tyner, NC, in Chowan County. She had fled to a Family Dollar Store, where she placed the 911 call. Chowan County Sheriff Deputies met the woman there. She explained she had been at her home that she shared with ELLIOTT when they had had a physical altercation. She ran out of the house after he grabbed a gun. As she ran toward the woods, she looked back to see him repeatedly firing a black handgun with an extended magazine in her direction. She hid in the woods until she heard ELLIOTT’s car start, then got a ride to Family Dollar and called 911.
The Chowan County Sheriff’s Office responded to ELLIOTT’s residence. ELLIOTT claimed a friend had fired the shots and left with the gun, but he agreed to allow a detective to check the house for firearms. On the bed in ELLIOTT’s bedroom, the detective spotted a silver magazine with four spent and one unspent .40 caliber bullets. On a closet shelf, the detective found a black and silver Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, as ELLIOTT’s ex-girlfriend had described. ELLIOTT later confessed that he had shot the gun in the air several times after the fight with his ex-girlfriend.
Prior to these events, ELLIOTT had sustained three state convictions for Assault on a Female, as well as a Domestic Violence Protective Order Violation. He also had a state felony drug conviction, for which he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; 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.
This case is also 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina implements the PSN Program through its Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The Chowan County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pugh represented the government.
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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.
Cherokee County Man Sentenced for having Methamphetamine at County CourthouseRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 24-year-old Jacksonville, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
David Anthony Ebanez pleaded guilty on Sep. 4, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, on April 10, 2019, Ebanez was found in possession of over 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk, Texas. Ebanez was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2019, and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the DEA Dallas Field Division, Tyler Resident Office; the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Ann Cozby and Colleen Bloss.
Camden County Man Admits Sending Obscene Images to MinorsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man today admitted sending obscene material to minors over the internet, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Zackary McFerren, 28, of Winslow Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to an information charging him with two counts of transferring obscene matter to minors, as well to violating the terms of his supervised release by contacting those minors.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
McFerren admitted that he previously pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and transferring obscene material to a minor and was sentenced Oct. 17, 2016, to 33 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, which started May 3, 2019.
McFerren acknowledged that the terms of his supervised release included not committing another federal crime; required him to submit to computer monitoring by the U.S. Probation Office and restricted his contact with minors.
McFerren admitted that starting on July 15, 2019, he used a mobile phone to communicate with an individual he believed to be a 13-year old girl living in New York. Unbeknownst to McFerren, he was actually communicating with an undercover FBI employee. McFerren admitted that he had expressed an interest in having sex with the 13-year old girl and sent her obscene images of himself. McFerren acknowledged that his communicating with the person he believed to be a minor and sending the obscene photos was a violation of the terms of his supervised release.
McFerren also admitted to conduct from August 2015. McFerren admitted to using the “Kik” messaging application to communicate with other Kik users over the Internet. While using the Kik application, McFerren used the screen name “Emily” and begin communicating with an underage girl in the Eaton Rapids, Michigan, area. He exchanged obscene images with the girl.
The charges to which McFerren pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison per count and a fine of $250,000. McFerren faces up to an additional four years for violating the term of supervised release from his previous conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents and task force officers of the FBI, Newark Division’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, Child Exploitation Task Force, which is made up of FBI special agents and detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, and the N.J. Department of Human Services Police, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked FBI special agents and task force officers in the FBI Buffalo Division and officers and detective with the Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Police Department for their work on this investigation.
The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Cleveland Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Joshua Gilchrist, age 35, was sentenced in federal court to 147 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for armed bank robbery. The Court also ordered that this term of incarceration be served consecutive to a previously imposed sentence of 36 months in prison that Gilchrist received for an armed bank robbery in Oklahoma.
According to evidence presented at sentencing, in the afternoon of December 8, 2017, Joshua Gilchrist, brandished a handgun as he robbed the Key Bank located at 3602 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The bank was busy at the time with multiple customers waiting in the bank’s lobby. Gilchrist ordered everyone to the ground and demanded money from the tellers. He fled on foot with $3,496 in U.S. currency. Surveillance video showed the robbery occur with Gilchrist’s face clearly visible. He also left behind a bag, which was later tested for and confirmed the presence of Gilchrist’s DNA.
Approximately two months later, on February 6, 2018, Gilchrist robbed the Bank of Oklahoma in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He brandished what appeared to be a handgun and threatened to kill the tellers. Gilchrist ordered everyone to the ground, demanded cash, and fled with $740. The same day, local law enforcement identified and arrested Joshua Gilchrist in Joplin, Missouri where he confessed to the Tulsa Oklahoma bank robbery. A fake gun was recovered from his vehicle. On September 11, 2018, Gilchrist pled guilty to the Bank of Oklahoma robbery in federal court in the Northern District of Oklahoma. On December 12, 2018, that court sentenced Gilchrist to 36 months in prison. After the resolution of his Oklahoma case, he was brought to Cleveland to face his charges for the Key Bank robbery.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.
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Browning woman sentenced to prison for meth distributionRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Browning woman who admitted selling methamphetamine in the community for more than two years was sentenced on Jan. 15 to 42 months in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Nicole Smith, 34, pleaded guilty in October to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Smith possessed and distributed meth on and near the Blackfeet Reservation and out of Cut Bank. The Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Cut Bank Police Department received information in June 2018 that Smith was selling meth. Confidential sources indicated they had bought meth from Smith on numerous occasions and at times bought “pound quantities.” Law enforcement also conducted a controlled meth buy from Smith that same month.
In April 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration agents met with Smith, who was in custody on a traffic stop. After advising Smith of the evidence against her, Smith admitted she had obtained and sold several eight-balls of meth every week for more than the past two years. Smith also admitted getting five to six ounces of meth from a different supplier for redistribution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and DEA.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Blood Gang Member Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and NarcoticsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced DENNIS STEWARD MOORE, 43, of Raleigh, NC, to 144 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
MOORE was named in an Indictment filed on May 22, 2019 charging him with Distribution of a Quantity of Cocaine Base (crack), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Cocaine Base (crack), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime on November 1, 2018. On October 17, 2019, with a written plea agreement, MOORE pled guilty to distribution of crack, possession with intent to distribute crack, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
On August 21, 2018, the Raleigh Police Department (RPD), in Raleigh, North Carolina, conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine base (crack) from MOORE based on information from a confidential source (CS) indicating MOORE was distributing crack. MOORE sold 0.12 gram of crack to the CS from his room at the Wake Inn located on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh.
On November 1, 2018, RPD went to MOORE’s room at the Wake Inn and arrested him based on a warrant to arrest. Incident to his arrest, MOORE was searched and RPD seized $1,051 in U.S. currency, 3.04 grams of cocaine base (crack), and 11.86 grams of cocaine. The RPD also recovered a loaded .22 caliber pistol, drug-packaging material, and a digital scale with drug residue. MOORE was arrested by the RPD.
MOORE admitted to RPD officers that he has sold cocaine base (crack) since 1988, and approximated that he sold 2 ounces (56.7 grams) of cocaine base (crack) per week. Furthermore, MOORE admitted the firearm found in his room belonged to him and that he had recently purchased it.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; 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.
This case is also 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina implements the PSN Program through its Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel William Smith represented the government.
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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.
Bettendorf Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Failure to Pay Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA-- On January 15, 2020, Narinder Kumar, age 66, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to six months in prison after pleading guilty to Failure to Pay Employment Taxes, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Kumar was ordered to serve three years of supervised release, pay a $10,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Kumar was also ordered to pay $721,394.34 in restitution, which has been paid in full.
In July 2014, Kumar was responsible for paying withheld employment taxes on behalf of Jai Mata Lakshmi, doing business as Embers of Phoenix. Jai Mata Lakshmi operated two businesses at the same Davenport location – Echelon Sports Bar and Embers of Phoenix. In violation of federal tax laws, Kumar willfully failed to pay the second quarter 2014 withheld employment taxes due on behalf of Jai Mata Lakshmi. In total, Kumar admitted from 2010-2016, he was responsible for paying employee withholding taxes for Bettendorf Pediatric, Echelon Sports Bar, Embers of Phoenix, and Funky Desi, and failed to pay $461,390 in taxes. These businesses also failed to pay $260,004.16 in Social Security taxes and Medicaid.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Bay Area Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Mark Miner was sentenced to 48 months in prison for possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward M. Chen, U.S. District Judge.
Miner, 51, of San Francisco, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on July 17, 2019. In pleading guilty, Miner admitted he possessed more than 800 images and videos of child pornography that he stored online with an internet file-hosting service. According to the plea agreement, Miner sent links to his online account via texts and other electronic communications in order to try to distribute the images and videos to others.
A federal grand jury indicted Miner on April 25, 2019, charging him with one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). Miner pleaded guilty to the count.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chen sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody.
Assistant United States Attorney Aseem Padukone is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Margoth Turcios. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the San Francisco Police Department.
Armed New Haven Drug Dealer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SHANNON WICKER, also known as “Bishop,” 34, of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 16, 2019, law enforcement in New Haven conducted a court-authorized search of a Chapel Street apartment and found a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol; quantities of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana; items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and other items. Wicker, who was present during the search, was arrested on related state charges at that time.
Wicker has been detained since his federal arrest on November 6, 2019.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for April 8, 2020, at which time Wicker faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Wicker’s criminal history includes multiple state felony convictions, including convictions for weapon in a motor vehicle, sale of illegal hallucinogens or narcotics, sale of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics, tampering with evidence, and failure to appear.
This matter is being investigated by the New Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan.
This prosecution 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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fort Smith, Arkansas – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas; announced yesterday that Marc Stovall, age 32, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 5 Kilograms of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine. The Honorable Judge P. K. Holmes III presided over the sentencing hearing yesterday in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
In March of 2019, an Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper made consensual contact with the driver and passenger of a Nissan Pathfinder while the vehicle was parked at the rest area in Van Buren, Arkansas on Interstate 40. During the consensual encounter, a K-9 was called to the location. After the K-9 alerted on the vehicle, Officers searched it. The search revealed approximately five and one half kilograms of suspected cocaine located inside the rear cargo compartment of the vehicle. The front passenger, later identified as Stovall was interviewed and he advised Officers that the suspected cocaine belonged to him.
Stovall was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2019 and entered a guilty plea in August 2019.
This case was investigated by Arkansas State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the United States.
Acusación formal sustitutiva acusa a un hombre de amenazar a una sinagoga en MarylandRead the Press Release
Un gran Jurado federal emitió una acusación formal sustitutiva que acusa a Stephen Orback, de 65 años, de amenazar, en múltiples ocasiones, con atacar una sinagoga cerca de Baltimore. El primero cargo le acusa a Orback de intentar intencionalmente a impedir en el disfrute del libre ejercicio del culto amenazando con el uso de fuerza, en contra de la Sección 247 del Título 18 del Código de los EE. UU. El segundo cargo le acusa a Orback de hacer amenazas a través de comunicaciones interestatales, en contra de la Sección 875 del Título 18 del Código de los EE. UU.
Según la acusación formal sustitutiva, entre el 12 de mayo y el 21 de julio del 2019, Orback realizó diversas llamadas telefónicas a un empleado de una sinagoga en Owings Mills, Maryland, y amenazó que mataría a miembros de la congregación con armas de fuego y explosivos y que quemaría la sinagoga. La acusación formal sustitutiva reemplaza una acusación formal previa que fue emitida por el gran jurado el 15 de agosto del 2019, la cual únicamente había acusado al acusado del cargo de amenazas interestatales.
Una acusación formal es una acusación de conducta delictiva y no se considera como prueba de culpabilidad. Al acusado se le considera inocente mientras no se pruebe su culpabilidad. De ser condenado, Orback se enfrenta a una pena máxima de 20 años de cárcel, tres años de libertad supervisada y una sanción de hasta $250.000.
El caso está siendo investigado por la Oficina Local del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés) en Baltimore y enjuiciado por el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar para el Distrito de Maryland, P. Michael Cunningham, y el Abogado de Litigios para la División de Derechos Civiles, Zachary Dembo.
Para más información sobre el trabajo del Departamento de Justicia para combatir y prevenir los delitos de odio, vaya a www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: es un portal único con enlaces a recursos del Departamento de Justicia relacionados con delitos de odio para la policía, los medios de comunicación, investigadores, víctimas, grupos de apoyo, y otras organizaciones y personas.
Wednesday 15 January 2020
Wood County Parolee Pleads Guilty to Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Wood County man pled guilty to a drug offense, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Joshua Michael Conger, 41, of Parkersburg, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
“388 grams of meth and two guns,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Conger has two prior drug convictions in state court and was on parole at the time of his arrest. He won’t get parole in the federal system.”
On June 19, 2018, members of the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant on Conger’s Chevrolet pickup truck at his residence on Gihon Road. Police seized approximately 388 grams of methamphetamine and two handguns from the vehicle. Conger admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine. Conger had previously been convicted in Wood County Circuit Court of operating a methamphetamine laboratory in 2012 and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in 2016. He was on parole at the time of his arrest in June 2018.
Conger faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on April 16, 2020.
The Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks handled the prosecution.
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Wichita Woman Had Guns, 20 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita woman pleaded guilty today to federal firearms and drug charges, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Wendy L. Scearce, 36, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
In her plea, Scearce admitted she was in her residence in the 300 block of North Seneca when Wichita police served a search warrant. Police found a .380-caliber Beretta handgun in the house. In the garage, police found 20 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 firearms. Scearace admitted she kept the gun to protect herself while she was engaged in drug trafficking.
Sentencing is set for April 6. She could face a sentence of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the drug charge and not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.
McAllister commended the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
Westmoreland County Heroin Addict Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A resident of West Newton PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal drug and firearms violations, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
William Kalna, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a person addicted to a controlled substance before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that that the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force conducted a long-term investigation of drug trafficking occurring in and around the Braddock section of Pittsburgh, PA. In January of 2019, investigators obtained authorization to conduct a federal wiretap investigation, which continued through May of 2019. Intercepted communications confirmed that Kalna was obtaining distributor quantities of heroin from another member of the conspiracy, which Kalna both used and distributed in Westmoreland County to support his addiction. In connection with the guilty plea, Kalna took responsibility for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 254 grams of heroin. The court was further informed that during the execution of a federal search warrant at Kalna’s residence on June 12, 2019, law enforcement officials seized 28 firearms, a large quantity of ammunition, $2,669.00 in United States currency, and four digital scales. Kalna, who was at the time addicted to heroin, was prohibited from possessing these firearms and ammunition.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2020 at 9 a.m. date and time of sentencing The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 5 and not more than 40 years in prison, a fine of $250.000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Kalna remains on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Other assisting agencies include the Monroeville Police Department, Penn Hills Police Department, Wilkinsburg Police Department, and Allegheny County Adult Probation.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Washington Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Assaulting His Girlfriend on the Colville Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Louis Mark Clark, age 28, of Nespelem, Washington, and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on September 30, 2019, to Crime on Indian Reservation - Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. United States District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Clark to a 24-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Clark traveled with his then girlfriend, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, to their shared home on the Colville Indian Reservation. There, Clark became upset with his girlfriend and began hitting her in the face with his fists and his knee several times. During the assault, which occurred in the presence of their minor children, Clark knocked out two of the victim’s front teeth. Clark’s girlfriend was able to get away and lock herself in a bathroom, where she called 911, reporting the assault to the authorities. Clark has prior convictions for assault.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the serious nature of domestic assault. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington works closely with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to ensure that Native American Women and families are protected from violence such as this.”
This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tribal Law Enforcement Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Police. This case was prosecuted by Richard R. Barker, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Virginia Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Federal Fraud Conspiracy Charge for Stealing over $1.3 MillionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Issam Abu-Ghosh, 61, of Leesburg, Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for his role in a fraud conspiracy targeting companies and individuals from across the United States and around the world.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Division, and Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Issam Abu-Ghosh pled guilty in September 2018 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Richard J. Leon. In addition to his prison term, Abu-Ghosh must pay restitution in the amount of $1,358,980, as well as a forfeiture money judgement in the amount of $952,000. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
Beginning in or about 2009, and continuing through at least 2012, Ghosh and his co-conspirator conducted a scheme to defraud individuals, companies, and other types of entities, to obtain money. The scheme was conducted in a similar manner for many of the victims. In nearly each instance, Ghosh represented to the victim that Ghosh, through his solely owned company, could obtain a loan for the victim through various connections that he maintained. The loans needed by the victims were often for millions of dollars and to fund large projects. Prior to soliciting potential lenders, Ghosh required that each victim provide a good faith deposit to be held in escrow to show the victim’s good intentions toward obtaining the loan. The good faith deposits ranged from $15,000 to $250,000. Ghosh’s co-conspirator, an attorney, acted as the escrow agent for the good faith deposits. Once an agreement was reached between the victim and Ghosh, the terms and conditions were memorialized in a Loan Commitment contract. The Loan Commitment included an Escrow Agreement, which identified Ghosh’s co-conspirator as the escrow agent and provided conditions under which the Escrow Agreement would operate, including the transfer of the good faith deposit to a bank account held by the co-conspirator. In most cases, the Escrow Agreement required that the co-conspirator hold the money with the understanding that the funds would be returned to the victim if Ghosh failed to identify and provide a lender. Once the victim wired the good faith deposit to the escrow account, most of that money was transferred to Ghosh within days. Ghosh and his co-conspirator obtained over $1,358,980 in good faith deposits. No loans were ever obtained by Ghosh and the good faith deposits were used by Ghosh and his co-conspirator for their personal benefit or to further the scheme.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Dunham, and Special Agent in Charge Jackson commended the work performed by those who investigated the case from the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Zamarin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando, who prosecuted the case.
Ulster County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Corey Baker, age 24, of Clintondale, New York, pled guilty today to distributing and receiving child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Baker admitted that between June 2017 and August 2018, he traded child pornography with others using a phone and laptop computer equipped with various Internet-based instant messaging and file-sharing applications. He also admitted to using a peer-to-peer file-sharing application on the laptop to search for and download child pornography. Baker’s phone and laptop computer contained approximately 671 video files and 115 image files depicting child pornography.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 27, 2020 before Senior United States Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.
Baker faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The Court is also required to impose a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, and Baker will be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
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), and is designed to marshal 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.
U.S. Attorney, DEA, Montrose County Sheriff and Montrose Police Chief Announce Major Drug Enforcement ActionRead the Press Release
DENVER – Following a year-long investigation, thirteen Montrose residents were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver and charged with the drug distribution crimes. State officers, county sheriff deputies and the DEA then arrested eleven of the indicted individuals. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter, Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard and Montrose Police Chief Blaine Hall. The arrested defendants were transported to Grand Junction, where they are making their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. At that appearance they will be advised of their rights and the charges pending against them.
According to the indictment, from January 1, 2019 through December 18, 2019, the thirteen defendants, named below, conspired with each other and others known and unknown to the grand jury to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and less than 100 grams of heroin. If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years, and up to life in federal prison.
Those indicted include:
- Omar Briceno-Quijano, age 29 FUGITIVE
- Ofelia Lopez, age 49
- Luis Alberto Ibarra-Tadeo, age 26
- Romeo Lujan, age 28 FUGITIVE
- Angelina Maestas, age 32
- Joseph Davis, age 26
- Naomi Vaughn, age 35
- Jonte LeFlore, age 34
- Dustin Debarris, age 31
- Steven Keith Jones, age 33
- Frank Arroyo, age 44
- Amanda Lee Sumpter, age 49
- Nicole Wickman, age 36
In addition to the conspiracy charges, the defendants face individual counts for the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin. Multiple defendants also face charges of using a communication device, a phone, to facilitate their drug trafficking.
“Montrose law enforcement, working with the DEA, has done an outstanding job identifying those who are trafficking methamphetamine and heroin to members of their community,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “It is a high priority of this office to support our rural communities facing large scale drug problems.”
“The DEA recognized the increased availability of methamphetamine in the Montrose area two years ago. We worked closely with the Montrose Police Department, the Montrose Sheriff’s Office and the Seventh Judicial Drug Task Force to target alleged distributors that were identified in the area,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Division Deanne Reuter. “The success of this operation is the result of the strong partnership formed between law enforcement agencies, where all involved are deeply committed to working together to protecting the citizens of Montrose and the surrounding area from scourge of methamphetamine.”
“On behalf of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to commend the DEA for its leadership and assistance with this operation,” said Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard. “The amount of drug trafficking that we are experiencing in the County of Montrose has been on the increase over the last decade. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office has been working and will continue to work proactively to combat the drug issues that are affecting the city and county of Montrose. We are working side by side and will continue to work with the DEA, Montrose Police Department, 7th Judicial Drug Task Force, U.S. Marshal’s Office, ATF, Colorado State Patrol and other state and local agencies. The drug problem in the County of Montrose is directly related to our crime rate of burglaries, thefts, scams and even domestic violence that we deal with on a daily basis. This operation has been a long time coming and we hope to see a ripple effect in the future to stop those who want to be drug dealers in Montrose County.”
“These arrests should communicate that our community suffers from a major drug trafficking issue, and these arrests are critical in keeping our community safe,” said Montrose Police Chief Blaine Hall. “The disruption, apprehension, and prosecution of these offenders is a high priority for the Montrose Police Department, and we value the partnership we have with the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The addition of the DEA gives the City of Montrose new tools to investigate suspected offenders committing drug crimes in our community. I’d like to commend and thank the current 7th Judicial Drug Task Force members, DEA, and the multiple other federal, state, and local agencies for their steadfast work in this multifaceted investigation. Their efforts will have long-term payoffs for our community in the realm of public safety and crime reduction.”
This investigation was conducted by the Denver Division of the DEA, the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montrose Police Department, as well as representatives from the 7th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Two Peruvians Plead Guilty to Overseeing Call Centers that Threatened and Defrauded Spanish-Speaking U.S. ConsumersRead the Press Release
Two Peruvian men pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud for operating a large fraud and extortion scheme, the Department of Justice announced.
Johnny Enso Hidalgo Marchan, 40, and Rodolfo Hermoza, 44, oversaw call centers in Peru that used government impersonation, lies, and threats to steal money from thousands of U.S. Spanish-speaking victims. Both men were extradited from Peru in December 2019.
As part of their guilty pleas, Hidalgo and Hermoza admitted that they falsely posed as attorneys affiliated with U.S. courts and government agencies in threatening victims with detention, confiscation of property, credit ramifications, deportation, and community-service requirements to obtain payments from the victims. U.S. consumers lost over $1 million to the defendants’ fraud scheme.
“The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, wherever they are,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Disrupting transnational telemarketing fraud schemes — especially those that target vulnerable populations — is a priority for the Department of Justice. Criminals responsible for those schemes will not escape justice by placing their calls from abroad.”
Hidalgo and Hermoza managed and operated Peruvian call centers based in Lima and Cajamarca, Peru, that worked in partnership with another entity in Miami, Florida. Hidalgo, Hermoza, and their employees in Peru used Internet-based telephone calls to lie to and threaten Spanish-speaking victims in the United States. The callers often falsely accused the victims of having failed to accept delivery of certain products and claimed that the victims owed thousands of dollars in fines and that court proceedings would be brought against them. In reality, the victims — many of whom were elderly — had never ordered or received the products.
The defendants and other call center employees claimed that the consumers could resolve the supposed debts and avoid threatened consequences if they immediately paid a “settlement fee.” Consumers who contested the settlement fees were told that failure to pay could lead to harmed credit, arrest, deportation, or seizure of property.
“Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located,” said U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida. “Protecting the elderly and vulnerable members of our community from schemes, such as this one, is a top priority of this Office and the Department of Justice.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will not allow overseas criminal enterprises to illegally enrich themselves by using the mail to defraud consumers in the United States,” said Miami Division Postal Inspector in Charge Antonio J. Gomez. “With the continued cooperation of foreign governments these criminals will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice.”
A 37-count federal indictment was filed against the defendants in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in June 2015 and was unsealed upon the defendants’ Dec. 18, 2019 extradition to the United States. A third defendant was also charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and attempted extortion charges and is currently pending trial.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two individuals previously were brought to justice in connection with this scheme. In 2014, charges were brought against Angeluz and Maria Luzula of Miami and Juan Alejandro Rodriguez Cuya of Lima, Peru. Luzula pleaded guilty to all counts against her midway through trial and was sentenced to serve 165 months in prison. Rodriguez Cuya was convicted following a two-week trial. U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Seitz sentenced Rodriguez Cuya to serve 210 months in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance.
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, this past March the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 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.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Robbing A North Minneapolis Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of MARIO MARTELL SPENCER, 34, and AHMED OSMAN FARAH, 32, for the armed robbery of a Minneapolis convenience store. SPENCER and FARAH were convicted by a federal jury on June 17, 2019, and were sentenced to 156 months in prison and 120 months in prison, respectively. The sentences were handed down by Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald said, “Armed robbery of a small business, high-speed flight from police through residential areas, significant property damage – this is unwelcome criminal activity in our communities. My office and our law enforcement partners are laser focused on making our streets safer and we will not hesitate to go after those who oppose that mission.”
As proven at trial, on March 23, 2018, around 8:30 p.m., SPENCER and FARAH entered Penn-Wood Market, located on Glenwood Avenue in Minneapolis, wearing masks and gloves. SPENCER held two employees at gunpoint while FARAH took money from the cash registers and stole one employee’s cell phone. The two defendants fled the scene in a vehicle. A witness called 911 as the robbery was in progress and, shortly after, responding officers were able to locate the defendants’ unoccupied vehicle, which had crashed into a garage. Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the area of the crash site and, following a foot chase, were able to apprehend and arrest FARAH. With the assistance of a K9, law enforcement officers initiated a systematic search inside the perimeter and eventually found SPENCER hiding on top of the roof of a garage.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Justin A. Wesley prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
MARIO MARTELL SPENCER, 35
St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted:
- Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count
- Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 156 months in prison
- Four years of supervised release
- $2,800 in restitution
AHMED OSMAN FARAH, 33
Maplewood, Minn.
Convicted:
- Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count
- Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 120 months in prison
- Four years of supervised release
- $2,800 in restitution
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Two Members of the Paul Girard Criminal Enterprise Plead Guilty to RICO ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Robert Brown, age 30, and Etherneal Simon, age 49, both of St. Croix, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges for their respective roles as members of the Paul Girard Criminal Enterprise (“the Enterprise”), United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Brown, who entered his guilty plea on December 20, 2019, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in aid of racketeering activity; Simon, who entered her guilty plea today, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The Honorable Curtis V. Gomez, Chief Judge, District Court of the Virgin Islands, accepted both guilty pleas.
In his plea agreement, Brown admitted to serving as a chief enforcer for the Enterprise. As a chief enforcer, Brown admitted that he committed acts of violence on behalf of the Enterprise in order to: 1) enrich, preserve, expand, and protect the power, territory, and prestige of the Enterprise; 2) keep potential victims and rival gang members in fear of the Enterprise and its associates; 3) confront and retaliate against rival drug dealers and gangs; 4) protect the Enterprise and its members from detection, apprehension, and prosecution; and 5) financially support the Enterprise through robbery and other acts.
Brown specifically admitted that, in addition to other acts of violence, on September 4, 2015, he murdered an individual identified in the Fourth Superseding Indictment as J.W., a member of a rival criminal enterprise. Brown and his Enterprise associates planned and carried out the murder of J.W. at his child’s St. Croix daycare, as the daycare closed for the day. Brown acted as the driver, and positioned his vehicle next to the passenger side of an SUV, where he knew J.W. was seated, waiting for his child. Brown sprayed gunfire from his AK-47 into the passenger side of the SUV, killing J.W. During the entry of his guilty plea in federal court. Brown further admitted that he committed the murder in order to maintain his position in the Enterprise.
Brown further admitted that, on February 2, 2016, he ambushed members of a rival gang outside of the H&R Supermarket, ultimately shooting and killing an individual identified as J.E. in the Fourth Superseding Indictment, who Brown believed was attempting to return gunfire.
Brown faces up to life imprisonment, a five-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, for each count. Judge Gomez scheduled defendant Brown’s sentencing for April 23, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.
Simon likewise admitted to having acted as the financial and logistics facilitator for the Paul Girard Enterprise. Specifically, Simon acknowledged that, as part of her role in the RICO conspiracy, she rented the cars that Enterprise associates used to commit five different attempted murders on two separate occasions. Simon further admitted that she laundered drug proceeds of the Enterprise.
Simon faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment, a five-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for the RICO conspiracy count, and the same for the money laundering count, with the exception that the maximum fine for that offense is $500,000. Simon’s sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2020, at 9 a.m.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
Two Individuals Sentenced in Connection with Work on Behalf of IranRead the Press Release
Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, 39, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, 60, an Iranian citizen and resident of California, have been sentenced to prison terms of 38 months and 30 months, respectively, for their criminal convictions relating to their conduct conducting surveillance of and collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
On Jan. 15, 2020, the Honorable Paul L. Friedman sentenced Doostdar to a prison term of 38 months, 36 months of supervised release, and a fine of $14,153. Ghorbani was sentenced to a prison term of 30 months and 36 months of supervised release.
On Oct. 8, 2019, Doostdar entered guilty pleas to one count of acting as an agent of the government of Iran without notifying the Attorney General, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951, and one count of conspiring to violate that statute, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. On Nov. 4, 2019, Ghorbani entered a guilty plea to one count of willfully violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. § 1705, and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations 31 C.F.R. Parts 560.204 and 560.206.
“This case illustrates Iran’s targeting of Americans in the United States in order to silence those who oppose the Iranian regime or otherwise further its goals,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The defendants, working for Iran, gathered information on Americans that could then be used by the Iranian intelligence services to intimidate or harm them or their families. These prosecutions should serve as a reminder to anyone here working covertly for Iran that the American law enforcement will pursue you to protect this country, its citizens and the First Amendment principles upon which it was founded.”
“The sentences in this case illustrate the high cost to those who act as agents of the Iranian government in the United States or provide services that benefit the government of Iran, especially when those activities target the free speech and peaceful assembly rights of people in the United States,” said Jessie K. Liu, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. “We will continue to thwart efforts by foreign governments to endanger our national security and to stifle the freedoms that all Americans cherish.”
"The FBI will not tolerate surveillance being conducted here in the United States at the behest of foreign nations like Iran," said Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's National Security Branch. "Such activity is intimidating, particularly to individuals who exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and criticize the Iranian government. The FBI will continue to pursue such activity on U.S. soil and disrupt efforts by any individuals who take such actions on behalf of Iran."
As part of his plea, Doostdar admitted under oath that he traveled to the United States from Iran on three occasions in order to meet with Ghorbani and to convey directions for Ghorbani’s activities on behalf of the government of Iran. Prior to Doostdar’s first trip to the United States, his handler with the government of Iran identified Ghorbani by name, showed Doostdar a photograph of Ghorbani, and told him where Ghorbani worked.
During Doostdar’s first trip to the United States in July 2017, Doostdar met Ghorbani at Ghorbani’s workplace. Doostdar admitted that, during a subsequent conversation, Ghorbani told Doostdar that he was willing to work for the government of Iran in the United States.
On Sept. 20, 2017, Ghorbani attended a rally in New York City organized by the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK). The rally consisted of constitutionally-protected activity, including U.S. citizens denouncing the Iranian regime. At the rally, Ghorbani photographed rally attendees, including MEK leaders.
In December 2017, during Doostdar’s second trip to the United States as part of the conspiracy, Doostdar met with Ghorbani and collected the rally photographs from Ghorbani. The photographs depicted MEK leaders and included hand-written notes identifying the individuals and listing their positions in the group. Under oath, Ghorbani admitted to attending the September 2017 MEK rally and to photographing and gathering information on rally attendees to provide to Doostdar and ultimately to individuals in Iran. Doostdar paid Ghorbani $2,000 for his work, which Doostdar admitted had been provided by Doostdar’s government of Iran handler.
During this December 2017 trip, Ghorbani and Doostdar also discussed Ghorbani’s planned travel to Iran in March 2018, and Ghorbani offered to provide an in-person briefing on rally attendees during this trip. Later in December 2017, Doostdar departed the United States for Iran with the photographs and handwritten notes provided by Ghorbani.
In May 2018, Ghorbani traveled to another MEK rally, this time in Washington, D.C., where he again collected information on participants critical of the Iranian regime. Following that rally, Doostdar admitted that he and Ghorbani spoke by telephone and discussed the methods that Ghorbani could use to provide the information collected at that rally to Doostdar in Iran.
Doostdar further admitted that, during his travel to the United States to task Ghorbani with collecting information on U.S. persons on behalf of the Iranian regime, he communicated with his government of Iran handler through another co-conspirator. Doostdar’s handler relayed instructions and encouragement and answered Doostdar’s questions that came up during his mission in the United States.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Los Angeles Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
Two Individuals Sentenced in Connection with Providing Services to IranRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, 39, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, 60, an Iranian citizen and resident of California, have been sentenced to prison terms of 38 months and 30 months, respectively, for their criminal convictions relating to their conduct on behalf of Iran. As the government demonstrated at sentencing, both defendants collected the information of conducting surveillance of and collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) for the purpose of providing that information to Iran..
On Jan. 15, 2020, the Honorable Paul L. Friedman sentenced Doostdar to a fine of $14,153 and 36 months of supervised release and Ghorbani to 30 months in prison along with 36 months of supervised release.
On Oct. 8, 2019, Doostdar entered guilty pleas to one count of acting as an agent of the government of Iran without notifying the Attorney General, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951, and one count of conspiring to violate that statute, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. On Nov. 4, 2019, Ghorbani entered a guilty plea to one count of willfully violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. § 1705, and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations 31 C.F.R. Parts 560.204 and 560.206.
The sentencings were announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia, and Executive Assistant Director Jay Tabb of the FBI’s National Security Branch.
“This case illustrates Iran’s targeting of Americans in the United States in order to silence those who oppose the Iranian regime or otherwise further its goals,” said AAG Demers. “The defendants, working for Iran, gathered information on Americans that could then be used by the Iranian intelligence services to intimidate or harm them or their families. These prosecutions should serve as a reminder to anyone here working covertly for Iran that the American law enforcement will pursue you to protect this country, its citizens and the First Amendment principles upon which it was founded.”
“The sentences in this case illustrate the high cost to those who act as agents of the Iranian government in the United States or provide services that benefit the government of Iran” said Jessie K. Liu, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. “We will continue to thwart efforts by foreign governments to endanger our national security.”
"The FBI will not tolerate surveillance being conducted here in the United States at the behest of foreign nations like Iran," said Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's National Security Branch. "Such activity is intimidating, particularly to individuals who exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and criticize the Iranian government. The FBI will continue to pursue such activity on U.S. soil and disrupt efforts by any individuals who take such actions on behalf of Iran."
As part of his plea, Doostdar admitted under oath that he traveled to the United States from Iran on three occasions in order to meet with Ghorbani and to convey directions for Ghorbani’s activities on behalf of the government of Iran. Prior to Doostdar’s first trip to the United States, his handler with the government of Iran identified Ghorbani by name, showed Doostdar a photograph of Ghorbani, and told him where Ghorbani worked.
During Doostdar’s first trip to the United States in July 2017, Doostdar met Ghorbani at Ghorbani’s workplace. Doostdar admitted that, during a subsequent conversation, Ghorbani told Doostdar that he was willing to work for the government of Iran in the United States.
On Sept. 20, 2017, Ghorbani attended a rally in New York City organized by the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK). The rally consisted of constitutionally-protected activity, including U.S. citizens denouncing the Iranian regime. At the rally, Ghorbani photographed rally attendees, including MEK leaders.
In December 2017, during Doostdar’s second trip to the United States as part of the conspiracy, Doostdar met with Ghorbani and collected the rally photographs from Ghorbani. The photographs depicted MEK leaders and included hand-written notes identifying the individuals and listing their positions in the group. Under oath, Ghorbani admitted to attending the September 2017 MEK rally and to photographing and gathering information on rally attendees to provide to Doostdar and ultimately to individuals in Iran. Doostdar paid Ghorbani $2,000 for his work, which Doostdar admitted had been provided by Doostdar’s government of Iran handler.
During this December 2017 trip, Ghorbani and Doostdar also discussed Ghorbani’s planned travel to Iran in March 2018, and Ghorbani offered to provide an in-person briefing on rally attendees during this trip. Later in December 2017, Doostdar departed the United States for Iran with the photographs and handwritten notes provided by Ghorbani.
In May 2018, Ghorbani traveled to another MEK rally, this time in Washington, D.C., where he again collected information on participants critical of the Iranian regime. Following that rally, Doostdar admitted that he and Ghorbani spoke by telephone and discussed the methods that Ghorbani could use to provide the information collected at that rally to Doostdar in Iran.
Doostdar further admitted that, during his travel to the United States to task Ghorbani with collecting information on U.S. persons on behalf of the Iranian regime, he communicated with his government of Iran handler through another co-conspirator. Doostdar’s handler relayed instructions and encouragement and answered Doostdar’s questions that came up during his mission in the United States.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Los Angeles Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
Tucson Woman Sentenced to Prison for Impersonating Immigration Attorney and Ice Agent to Defraud VictimsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On January 14, 2020, Elvira Contreras, 38, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 18 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Contreras had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Contreras falsely represented to undocumented alien victims that she worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or that she was an immigration attorney who could obtain U.S. immigration documents for them for a fee. As part of her scheme, Defendant falsely impersonated local immigration attorney Doralina Luna. Defendant was also ordered to pay $89,935.00 in restitution.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. The prosecution was handled by Tiffany J. Underwood and Jane L. Westby, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Three Jackson Residents Plead Guilty to Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Edward Deshawn Williams, 29, and Christopher Griffin, 30, both of Jackson, pled guilty Friday, and Charmaine Turner, 27, also of Jackson, pled guilty yesterday before Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III for their roles in a human trafficking operation, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi.
“Criminals who do such evil things to children for money will be pursued, caught and punished with all the resources that this office and the U.S. Department of Justice and our partners can bring to bear. We are redoubling our efforts in this area and intend to do whatever it takes to eliminate this heinous crime from our communities. I am extremely thankful to our prosecutors, the FBI, and our state and local law enforcement and nonprofit partners who work with us to rescue these victims and put away these criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
“People, especially children, are not a commodity to be bought and sold, and those who traffic humans for any purpose will be pursued by the FBI and our partners,” said SAC Sutphin. “Law Enforcement Task Forces and partnerships between agencies continue to be successful in removing these types of offenders from our communities.”
Williams pled guilty to one count of sex trafficking a minor, and one count of advertisement and promoting prostitution via the Internet. Griffin pled guilty to one count of advertisement and promoting prostitution via the Internet. Turner pled guilty to two counts of advertisement and promoting prostitution.
The defendants will be sentenced by Chief Judge Jordan on April 10, 2020. Williams faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Griffin faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Turner faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
In April 2019, FBI Special Agents, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and investigators with the Mississippi Attorney General Office began investigating advertisements and posting of advertisements on the Internet promoting commercial sex acts with younger-looking females in and around Jackson. The investigation led to the arrest of Williams, Turner and Griffin for promoting prostitution of a 15- year-old runaway female engaging in the commercial sex acts with men for money. Williams knew the 15-year-old would be engaged in commercial sex acts with men for money from the ads posted via the Internet. Williams rented rooms at local hotels for the minor in Jackson for days at a time. Williams kept most, if not all, of the money earned by the minor from the sex acts. Griffin introduced the minor victim to Williams, who in turn took the 15 year old to Turner for work in the commercial sex trafficking trade.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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.
Texas doctor convicted in $325 million health care fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury found a Texas rheumatologist guilty today for his role in a $325 million health care fraud scheme in which he falsely diagnosed patients with life-long diseases and treated them with toxic medications on the basis of that false diagnosis.
Following a 25-day trial, Jorge Zamora-Quezada M.D., 63, of Mission, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
“The conduct in this case was heinous. Dr. Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed vulnerable patients, including the young, elderly and disabled, with life-long diseases requiring invasive treatments that those patients did not in fact need,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty verdict shows that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect the public from unscrupulous medical professionals who greedily line their own pockets at the expense of their patients’ health and safety.”
“As evidenced by the length of trial, this was a massive investigation into one of the worst medical fraudsters,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. “Unnecessary medical tests to create millions of dollars of false billing is as bad as it gets. Patients were put through unneeded anxiety and pain so the doctor could make millions. He won’t need it where he’s headed.”
“The guilty verdict against Dr. Zamora-Quezada ensures he will pay a steep price for his unthinkably callous and cruel criminal conduct, committed for the sheer sake of greed,” said Special Agent in Charge CJ Porter of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). “The abhorrent conduct in this case, which resulted in harm to unsuspecting patients, only serves to deepen the dedication of HHS-OIG agents and our law enforcement partners to pursue, prosecute and exclude bad actors in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“Rarely do we see such an egregious case of health care fraud, where so many patients received years of unnecessary and debilitating treatments, which were rendered out of sheer greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI is committed to seeking justice for each and every victim who suffered immeasurable harm at the hands of these defendants. The public deserves to be able to seek medical care without fear of being falsely diagnosed and given toxic medications they don’t need. We will relentlessly pursue those who would enrich themselves at the expense of those most vulnerable in our community.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed a large number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis - a lifelong, incurable disease - and treated them with toxic, medically unnecessary medications like chemotherapy drugs on the basis of that false diagnosis. Many patients, including patients as young as 13, suffered physical and emotional harm as a result of the false diagnoses, chemotherapy injections, hours’ long intravenous infusions and other excessive, repetitive and profit-driven medical procedures. The evidence further showed that to obstruct and mislead a federal grand jury investigation, Zamora-Quezada falsified medical records. Zamora-Quezada operated medical practices throughout South Texas and San Antonio. He traveled to his various offices on his private jet and in his Maserati.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa presided over the trial and set sentencing for March 27.
The Rio Grande Valley Health Care Fraud Task Force, which includes the FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG and Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, conducted the investigation with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant Chiefs Adrienne Frazior and Jacob Foster and Trial Attorneys Rebecca Yuan and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Villanueva of the Southern District of Texas. Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell of the Fraud Section initially handled the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Texas Doctor Found Guilty for Role in $325 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme Involving False Diagnoses of Life-Long DiseasesRead the Press Release
A federal jury found a Texas rheumatologist guilty today for his role in a $325 million health care fraud scheme in which he falsely diagnosed patients with life-long diseases and treated them with toxic medications on the basis of that false diagnosis.
Following a 25-day trial, Jorge Zamora-Quezada, M.D., 63, of Mission, Texas, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Zamora-Quezada is expected to be sentenced on March 27, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa of the Southern District of Texas, who presided over the trial.
“The conduct in this case was heinous. Dr. Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed vulnerable patients, including the young, elderly, and disabled, with life-long diseases requiring invasive treatments that those patients did not in fact need,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty verdict shows that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect the public from unscrupulous medical professionals who greedily line their own pockets at the expense of their patients’ health and safety.”
“As evidenced by the length of trial, this was a massive investigation into one of the worst medical fraudsters,” said. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas. “Unnecessary medical tests to create millions of dollars of false billing is as bad as it gets. Patients were put through unneeded anxiety and pain so the doctor could make millions. He won’t need it where he’s headed.”
“The guilty verdict against Dr. Zamora-Quezada ensures he will pay a steep price for his unthinkably callous and cruel criminal conduct, committed for the sheer sake of greed,” said Special Agent in Charge CJ Porter of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). “The abhorrent conduct in this case, which resulted in harm to unsuspecting patients, only serves to deepen the dedication of HHS-OIG agents and our law enforcement partners to pursue, prosecute, and exclude bad actors in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“Rarely do we see such an egregious case of health care fraud, where so many patients received years of unnecessary and debilitating treatments, which were rendered out of sheer greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI is committed to seeking justice for each and every victim who suffered immeasurable harm at the hands of these defendants. The public deserves to be able to seek medical care without fear of being falsely diagnosed and given toxic medications they don’t need. We will relentlessly pursue those who would enrich themselves at the expense of those most vulnerable in our community.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed a large number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a life-long, incurable disease – and treated them with toxic, medically unnecessary medications like chemotherapy drugs on the basis of that false diagnosis. Many patients, including patients as young as 13, suffered physical and emotional harm as a result of the false diagnoses, chemotherapy injections, hours’ long intravenous infusions, and other excessive, repetitive and profit-driven medical procedures. The evidence further showed that to obstruct and mislead a federal grand jury investigation, Zamora-Quezada falsified medical records. Zamora-Quezada operated medical practices throughout South Texas and San Antonio. He traveled to his various offices on his private jet and in his Maserati.
The Rio Grande Valley Health Care Fraud Task Force, which includes the FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG and Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, investigated the case with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant Chiefs Adrienne Frazior and Jacob Foster and Trial Attorneys Rebecca Yuan and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Villanueva of the Southern District of Texas. Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell of the Fraud Section initially handled the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Tax Day 2020 Wednesday, April 15Read the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, issued a statement reminding all Wisconsin residents to file accurate tax returns as the deadline for filing federal income tax returns is Wednesday, April 15. Although the filing season is just beginning, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division work year round to protect the integrity of our nation’s tax system by investigating and prosecuting individuals who violate the tax laws.
“Each year, millions of honest Wisconsin residents dutifully pay a portion of their hard-earned income in taxes,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “They deserve to know that people who cheat on their taxes face serious consequences, including time in federal prison.”
“As we approach tax filing season, IRS Criminal Investigation wants to remind people to file accurate tax returns and to choose their tax preparers carefully,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation operates year round to protect the integrity of our system of taxation and investigates those who create elaborate schemes, such as identity fraud schemes to obtain fraudulent tax refunds or tax schemes that fail to report all forms of income on their tax returns. Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the IRS.gov website for tips on filing a tax return accurately and searching for a reputable return preparer.”
The following prosecutions over the second half of 2019 in the Eastern District of Wisconsin serve as a warning against filing a false or fraudulent tax return, and as a reminder to be wary of any schemes that would falsify income or deductions.
Richard J. Clark was sentenced on May 21, 2019 in federal court in Milwaukee to 14 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $213,000 in restitution to the IRS. Clark, who resided in Mukwonago, previously operated Foremost Realty, LLC, a real estate business that listed, maintained, and sold foreclosed property in southeastern Wisconsin. During the years 2008 – 2013, Clark, through his business, received approximately $1.6 million in commissions. Despite receiving these commissions, Clark filed tax returns that either listed $0 on all lines of the returns, reporting no income or tax obligations, or reported very minimal income and taxes. As a result, during the years 2008-2013, Clark evaded more than $400,000 in federal income taxes.
June 18, 2019 John Miller Ragland, who previously resided in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to attempting to evade his federal income taxes, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Ragland operated a number of business ventures through which he acted as an independent sales representative in the United States and elsewhere, including Hong Kong, China. John Miller Ragland was sentenced in federal court to six months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised released, and ordered Ragland to pay $1.4 million in restitution to the IRS.
Also in June Steven M. Rader of Muskego, Wisconsin, was sentenced to five months in federal prison for stealing more than $89,000 from the federal government via a tax evasion scheme that began in 2012. Rader was also ordered to pay more than $195,000 in restitution. Rader’s tax evasion scheme related to an entertainment business he owned and operated starting in 2012. Despite the fact that the business generated significant income, Rader failed to report any of that income on his federal tax returns for the years 2012 to 2014. In total, Rader understated his income by over $500,000 and underpaid his taxes by over $89,000. Radar also made significant efforts to conceal his tax evasion by filing false amended tax returns and lying to federal investigators about his sources of income.
On October 18, 2019 Lisa A. Radtke, of Appleton, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Green Bay and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §1343) and one count of tax evasion (26 U.S.C. § 7201). Based on her guilty pleas, Radtke faces up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000, or both. Radtke also agreed to make restitution to her former employer, which was the victim of her fraud, in the amount of $1.3 million, as well as to the Internal Revenue Service for the taxes she failed to pay, plus penalties and interest on these taxes, in the amount of $634,000. Radtke’s sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2020, also in Green Bay.
Philip Kuehnl of Pleasant Prairie, WI, pleaded guilty in December 2019 to filing a false tax return and mail fraud. In 2015, Kuehnl was charged with 20 counts of Title 18, 1001 and 1341, and Title 26, 7206(1) filing a false tax return. He operated a medical device scheme from 2005 to April 2011 in which he fraudulent obtained more than $700,000 from customers who purchased medical devices falsely believing the devices were from legitimate medical supplier. He also substantially underreported and underpaid his federal income taxes for tax years 2007 through 2009. Kuehnl failed to report over $978,00 of income over a 3 year period and $290,000 in federal income taxes. Kuehnl was a fugitive. His sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2020.
Ana Delia Dominguez Alvarez and Alberto Fernando Ramirez were indicted in 2017 on 23 charges of conspiracy, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft and both pleaded guilty in December 2019. They operated a tax fraud scheme from November 2010 to May 2017 in which they obtained ITIN numbers from individuals in Mexico and filed false federal tax returns using the ITIN numbers. They falsely claimed the additional tax child credit on tax returns. Ana Dominguez worked for a tax preparation business in which many of the fraudulent refund checks were sent to the business address. Alvarez and Ramirez received over $1,773 million worth of fraudulently obtained refund checks. Both are scheduled for sentencing May 1, 2020
Marcus Alvarez pleaded guilty in June 2019 to Title 18, USC 641- Public Money, property or records. Alvarez owned a check cashing establishment, El Punto, and aided and abetted others in cashing over $54 million of fraudulent tax refund checks. Alvarez admitted that he knew that the people bringing the tax refund checks into the check cashing business were running a fraudulent tax refund scheme in which they obtained documents from Mexico, fraudulent applied for ITIN numbers in the names of Mexican citizens, and then filed fraudulent tax returns using those ITIN numbers. His sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2020.
Marina Andino is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Title 18, USC 641. Public Money, property or records in December 2018. Andino started a tax preparation business in which she primarily prepared tax returns for non-resident aliens who claim dependents who do not live in the United States. Andino admitted that she stole $255,716 from the federal government by knowingly preparing fraudulent tax returns for others and cashing the fraudulent tax refunds for her own use. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2020.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin Agree to Pay $1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that L.M.G., Inc., which does business as TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin, agreed to pay $1,000,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin submitted false claims to Medicare and TRICARE for oral appliances used to treat temporomandibular joint disorder.
TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin operates four clinics in the Milwaukee area and specializes in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder. In their treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder, TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin and its dentists often prescribe oral appliances to stabilize or reposition the patient’s jaw. The United States alleges that TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin and its dentists did not fabricate the appliances, but rather purchased them from an outside laboratory that fabricated the appliances. The United States further alleges that TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin falsely billed Medicare and TRICARE for oral appliances under billing codes applicable to expensive prosthetic devices fabricated by surgeons, rather than other lower paying billing codes applicable to appliances fabricated by an outside laboratory.
“Medical providers cannot misrepresent the services they provide in order to increase their billings to government insurance programs,” stated United States Attorney Krueger. “This settlement makes the Medicare and TRICARE programs whole and sends a message to medical providers that false billings will not be tolerated.”
“When TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin submitted claims to Medicare, it promised that it actually provided the services it billed for. This settlement holds TMJ & Orofacial Pain Treatment Centers of Wisconsin to account for its promises,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The OIG will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to protect vital taxpayer dollars.”
The government’s investigation resulted from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Accordingly, the whistleblower will receive a share of the settlement amount. As part of the settlement, the government and the whistleblower will ask the district court to dismiss the whistleblower’s qui tam complaint.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Carter represented the government in this matter, and the OIG and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service assisted in the investigation. The settlement agreement states allegations only; the defendants do not admit liability for the allegations.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Suwannee County Woman Arrested for Submitting False Claim for FEMA Benefits Related to Hurricane IrmaRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Deannajo White (39, Suwannee County) with disaster assistance fraud related to Hurricane Irma. If convicted, White faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, plus payment of restitution to the United States.
According to the indictment, in September 2017, White falsified records concerning her primary residence when submitting an application for assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program for Hurricane Irma.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected] . You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.