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21 February 2020
Ludington Man Charged with Stealing from the SS Badger Ferry CompanyRead the Press Release
Paul Patrick Piper faces federal bank fraud and tax charges
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Paul Patrick Piper, 57, of Ludington, Michigan, was charged with bank fraud and federal income tax offenses today in a felony information filed in the United States District Court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
According to the felony information, Piper served for many years as the financial controller for Lake Michigan Carferry, the company operating the SS Badger ferry between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. As detailed in the felony information, Piper defrauded various financial institutions and the company in an amount of at least $550,000.00, by overriding normal accounting systems and writing checks directly to himself and to two of his affiliated businesses, Piper Tax & Accounting and Piper Group. Piper either forged the signatures of company owners on these checks or used a signature stamp without the authorization of the owners. Piper hid these transactions in the accounting system by booking these checks to an insurance expense code and by otherwise making false entries to balance company accounts. Additionally, Piper filed false personal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service because he knowingly failed to include the income he stole from the Carferry, and other income earned from his tax business, on his federal income tax returns.
If convicted, Piper faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years for the bank fraud offense and a maximum term of imprisonment of 3 years for filing a false tax return. Piper will also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims and to forfeit certain assets obtained with the proceeds of his criminal offenses.
The charges in a felony information are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Lower Brule Woman Charged with Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Kristy Andrews, age 27, was indicted on February 11, 2020. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 19, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 8 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on November 23, 2019, Andrews assaulted two federal law enforcement officers while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties, and the assaults did involve physical contact.
The charge is merely an accusation and Andrews is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Andrews was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Little Rock Men Plead Guilty in Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK— Two Little Rock men have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after ordering cell phones through their employer, paying for them with the employer’s money, and selling the phones online. Daniel Burdick, 40, and Brian Lamb, 41, pleaded guilty on Friday before Chief United States District Judge D. Price Marshall, Jr. Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Diane Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the FBI, announced the guilty pleas.
Burdick and Lamb worked for the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH), a North Little Rock company that assists in environmental cleanups. Part of Burdick’s and Lamb’s responsibilities at CTEH was ordering new phones for CTEH employees and subcontractors. The phones would be used during environmental spills and cleanups.
In November of 2017, CTEH discovered that Burdick and Lamb were ordering cell phones without CTEH authorization or knowledge. Once they received the phones, Burdick and Lamb sold the cell phones via the internet. At that time, Burdick had worked at CTEH for 10 years, and Lamb had worked there for six years.
Burdick and Lamb would ship the cell phones to customers and receive payment through Paypal and Western Union. Most of the phones were sent to a customer in Oregon, who shipped them to China. Burdick and Lamb completed 283 transactions from 2013 through 2017, and most transactions included more than one cell phone. CTEH fired Burdick and Lamb upon discovering the conduct, but they (and their insurance carrier, Continental Casualty Company), lost approximately $562,501 due to the scheme.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick C. Harris.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Christian Villar, 26, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 24, 2019, co-conspirators Geovanny Rafael Perdomo-Mancebo and Zorelys Sosa planned to sell a quantity of fentanyl to a customer who was actually an undercover DEA agent. Due to the large quantity of fentanyl being sold, Perdomo-Mancebo and Sosa recruited Villar to hold the fentanyl in a safe location while they retrieved payment from the customer. Perdomo-Mancebo and Sosa dropped Villar off at a restaurant with the fentanyl shortly before departing to meet the customer outside a store in New Hampshire, at which time they were stopped and arrested. Villar was found to be in possession of 128.6 grams of a fentanyl.
Villar is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27, 2020. Co-conspirator Perdomo-Mancebo is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2020. Sosa is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl traffickers are engaged in a criminal enterprise that makes a lethal substance available for sale in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Stopping the activities of these conspirators serves to protect the health and safety of our citizens. We will continue to closely coordinate with DEA and all of our law enforcement partners to shut down the interstate supply line for these drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Davis and Jarad Hodes.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Latin Count Gang Member Charged with Murder, Racketeering Conspiracy, and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Eduardo Luciano, 31, of Hammond, Indiana, has been charged in a second superseding indictment with two murders, racketeering conspiracy, and drug conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to the second superseding indictment, Eduardo Luciano was charged with two counts of murder resulting from the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to racketeering activity, racketeering conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and marijuana. The second superseding indictment alleges that Luciano is responsible for the shooting deaths of Lauren Calvillo and Christopher White on June 29, 2015, in Hammond, Indiana. The second superseding indictment further alleges that the shooting was in furtherance of a racketeering conspiracy and as a result of an ongoing gang conflict between the Latin Counts and Latin Kings street gangs in Hammond, Indiana.
Previously in this case, Latin Counts members Ivan Reyes and Jeron Williams have both pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and admitted their involvement in and responsibility for these murders as well. Reyes and Williams both await sentencing.
“This indictment should send a strong message that our investigations and prosecutions of individuals that participate in gang activities will not stop until all responsible are brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas. L. Kirsch. “Our federal, state and local law enforcement partnerships are dedicated to reducing violent crime.”
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the ATF/HIDTA Task Force and the Hammond, Indiana Police Department, and the investigation has received substantial assistance from numerous law enforcement agencies including the FBI / GRIT Task Force, the Gary Police Department, the Indiana State Police, and the East Chicago Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Caitlin M. Padula.
Kieta Armstead Sentenced to 98 Months for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 14, 2020, Kieta Armstead was sentenced in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base. Armstead -- who is 42 and formerly of New York, New York -- was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 98 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release.
The defendant pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement he entered into with the United States. As described at the defendant’s sentencing and in court records, in May 2019, Armstead came to Chittenden County, Vermont to distribute cocaine base, as well as heroin and fentanyl. In mid-May, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of drugs from Armstead. On May 30, 2019, officers arrested Armstead and, during a subsequent search of his hotel room, found additional quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base, and cocaine. This conviction was Armstead’s third in the District of Vermont for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan commended the collaborative investigation of the DEA and the Burlington Police Department, stating: “With this significant sentence, we reiterate a simple and important message: do not come to Vermont to sell deadly drugs. If you do, law enforcement will target you for criminal charges and serious consequences. This is especially true for repeat offenders.”
“Let this significant sentence serve as a warning to those traffickers who are coming from out of state like Mr. Armstead to deal these poisons to the citizens of Vermont,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in the Green Mountain State.”
Kieta Armstead is represented by Mark A. Kaplan, Esq. The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Boscia.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
Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Concealing Decade-Long E-Rate Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Mark J. Whitaker, 49, has pleaded guilty to misprision of wire fraud. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court, from 2004 until August 13, 2014, Whitaker actively concealed a scheme directed by his co-defendant, Charles "Chuck" Jones, to defraud the federal E-Rate Program. The E-Rate Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that distributes money to schools and libraries for internet access, telecommunication services, and related equipment. There are specific rules and regulations that govern schools’ and vendors’ participation in that program, which include requiring vendors to certify that no kickbacks have been paid to participating schools or their agents, and requiring vendors to certify that participating schools have been invoiced for their share of the contracted-for services and equipment.
Whitaker helped manage two of Jones' companies: Integrated Computer Solutions ("ICS") and Technology Associates. Those companies participated as E-Rate Program vendors for several public school districts in Tennessee and Missouri. Whitaker's job was to submit false certifications to the E-Rate Program at Jones’ direction.
Those certifications falsely stated that Jones' companies had complied with the E-Rate Program’s rules and regulations, including: (1) falsely certifying that the schools had been invoiced for their required E-Rate Program "co-pay"; and (2) falsely certifying that Jones' companies had not paid any kickbacks to the schools or their agents.
Whitaker submitted those false certifications despite knowing that Jones paid the schools’ consultant, "A.J.," bribes and gave A.J. valuable gifts while A.J. worked with and for the schools in Crockett County, Tennessee and Missouri. He also knew that Technology Associates and ICS did not bill the Missouri schools for their full required co-pays. Despite that knowledge, Whitaker did not report the fraud to the E-Rate Program
or to law enforcement. If the E-Rate Program had known that the schools were not being invoiced for their correct co-pays and that Jones was paying kickbacks to A.J., the program would not have paid ICS and Technology Associates.
According to the Superseding Indictment, the E-Rate Program allegedly paid Jones and his companies approximately $6.9 million as a result of the fraud. Wire fraud and conspiracy charges against Chuck Jones are still pending.
Sentencing for Whitaker is scheduled for July 23, 2020, before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris, where Whitaker faces a maximum of 3 years imprisonment, 1 year supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Protection of federal grant programs that provide needed services and equipment to our schools in West Tennessee is a top priority of this office. When dishonest offenders conspire to defraud these programs for their own selfish gain and unjust enrichment, they not only steal tax dollars, but also hurt local schools in the process. We will continue to work with our federal partners to root out and expose such fraud against the government, to hold offenders accountable, and to recover ill-gotten gains."
This case was investigated by the Federal Communications Commission - Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Arvin and Murre Foster are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Jamaican National Convicted of Stealing More Than $700,000 from Estes Park Senior Through Lottery ScamRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that a Jamaican national living in Brooklyn, New York was convicted late last week for his role in a lottery scheme that targeted an elderly woman from Estes Park. After a four-day jury trial in federal court in Denver, Leonard Luton, age 43, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and eight counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud.
According to court documents and facts presented at trial, Luton and another Jamaican national conspired to convince an elderly victim that she had won a $2.8 million dollar lottery and a Mercedes Benz. In order to receive her winnings, the victim was told she needed to pay thousands of dollars in “fees.” Throughout 2018, one of Luton’s co-conspirators directed the victim to mail multiple packages containing cash and cashier’s checks to what the investigation revealed were the addresses of Luton’s friends. The victim was also directed to purchase and mail six iPhones as part of the scheme.
The evidence admitted at trial established that Luton made two trips to the victim’s home in Estes Park to pick up packages of cash. On the first trip, in October of 2018, one of Luton’s co-conspirators went to the victim’s door at 1:30 a.m., identified himself as an FBI agent, showed her a fake FBI badge, and directed her to hand over a package containing $65,000 in cash. On the second trip in January of 2019, Luton was arrested at the victim’s residence when he arrived to pick up more cash. Upon his arrest, Luton was in possession of one of the iPhones purchased by the victim. Financial records from the victim and Luton also established Luton’s involvement in the scheme. In total the victim lost more than $700,000.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to fighting elder fraud,” said United States Attorney Jason Dunn. “Lottery scams are just one way that scammers prey on vulnerable victims. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are working to protect the elderly and bring scammers to justice.”
“The outcome of this case is indicative of the success that can be attained when agencies combine resources to tackle cyber-related matters such as the greed-driven lottery scam Mr. Luton fabricated,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. “We are confident this case will send a message to those who devise complex fraud schemes that they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The FBI would like to extend its appreciation to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and Estes Park Police Department for their partnership, hard work, and efforts in this investigation.”
Luton is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2020, by the Honorable United States District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello.
This case was investigated jointly by the FBI and the Estes Park Police Department with assistance from the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Martha Paluch and Sarah Weiss prosecuted this matter.
CASE NUMBER: 19-cr-00098
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on a criminal complaint on Feb. 18 was:
Nicholas James Imhoff, 29, of Cape Floral, FL, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Imhoff faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Imhoff was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-13.
Appearing on Feb. 20 and pleading not guilty was:
Anfernee Jamal Limberhand, also known as Anfernee Jamal Whiteman, 21, of Lame Deer, on charges of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating or intimate partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Limberhand faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Limberhand was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-11.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Feb. 18 was:
Anna Michelle Niles, 47, of Bozeman, on charges of wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Niles faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Niles was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-2.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Feb. 18 was:
Dakota Black Elk Houle, 22, on charges of possession of unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Houle faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Houle was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person. Pacer case reference. 19-25.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Hope Mills Man Sentenced to 34 Years for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced FrANKLIN ANTONIO RIOS, 49, of Hope Mills, North Carolina to 408 months’ imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release. On August 7, 2018, RIOS pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Heroin and two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Additionally, KAYLA NICOLE HOSKINS, 24, of Fayetteville, North Carolina pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Heroin and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Aiding and Abetting on July 23, 2018. On May 30, 2019, Judge Dever sentenced her to 54 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a heroin distribution network that had been operating in the Fayetteville area since early 2014. RIOS, the target of the investigation, had been receiving shipments of heroin from his source of supply (SOS). The SOS received regularly-scheduled shipments of heroin from the New Jersey area. Between October 20, 2015, and May 2, 2016, an undercover law enforcement officer, along with a confidential source, conducted 12 undercover purchases of heroin and firearms from RIOS. On one occasion, RIOS was assisted by HOSKINS. All of the controlled transactions took place at RIOS’s residence in Hope Mills, North Carolina, with the exception of February 25, 2016, which took place at a convenience store in Hope Mills.
During a transaction on February 10, 2016, the undercover officer purchased a .45 caliber firearm with two magazines, 105 rounds of ammunition and a magazine holder from RIOS. The firearm was later determined to have been stolen from Johnston County. On February 25, 2016, the undercover officer purchased a 30/30 rifle and a 20 gauge shotgun, both with defaced serial numbers, from RIOS. On May 2, 2016, heroin and an 88 model shotgun were purchased from RIOS and HOSKINS. The shotgun was later determined to have been stolen out of Fayetteville.
Following the controlled purchase in May 2016, a search was executed at RIOS’s residence. The following was found either in the residence, an outdoor building on the property, or RIOS’s Chevrolet Camaro: heroin, Adderall XR pills, Clonazepam pills, Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine pills, a .38 caliber revolver, a 14 gauge shotgun with no serial number, digital scales, recorded cash from the previous undercover drug transactions, and an additional $1,011 currency.
Based upon the investigation, at sentencing, RIOS was held accountable for a total of 610.24 grams of heroin, 22.62 grams of actual amphetamine, and 233 Clonazepam pills, for a total of 1,062.65 kilograms of converted drug weight. RIOS was also found to have maintained a premises for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance, and several of RIOS’s customers overdosed from the heroin RIOS provided.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. 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 Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation in this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon represented the government.
Henryetta Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm, AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edward Douglas Jacome, age 31, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Felon In Possession Of Firearm And Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both.
The Indictment alleged that on or about December 2, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of said conviction, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, a firearm and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) effort in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to reduce violent crime. PSN is an initiative led and coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Special Assistant United States Attorney David Youll represented the United States.
Harrison County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jamie Allen Butcher, of Shinnston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 65 months incarceration for a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Butcher, age 48, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession of a Stolen Firearm” in October 2019. Butcher admitted to having a stolen .45 caliber pistol in June 2018 in Lewis County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, and the Weston Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Guatemalan Citizen Who Raped a Young Child in Lancaster Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after Previous DeportationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Maudilio Diaz-Vazquez, a/k/a “Magdilio Diaz-Vazquez,” age 23, of Quarryville, PA was sentenced today to the statutory maximum of two years’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., after pleading guilty to the federal crime of illegal reentry after deportation.
The defendant, an illegal alien and citizen of Guatemala, was previously deported from the United States in May 2012. Following this deportation, Diaz-Vazquez illegally reentered the United States and traveled to Lancaster County. While residing there, the defendant repeatedly raped a 12 year-old child. The defendant was convicted of these offenses in Lancaster County in January 2019 and sentenced to 7-20 years’ incarceration in Pennsylvania state prison. His federal sentence will run consecutive to the state sentence.
“This case is a tragedy: an illegal alien -- who should not have been in the country to begin with – raped a young child. He has been held accountable for the rape and now he has been held accountable for the illegal reentry into our country. He will serve his sentences and then be deported,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Working together with ICE, my Office will continue to uphold the rule of law and protect the community from dangerous criminal aliens like Diaz-Vazquez.”
“Diaz-Vazquez unlawfully entered the United States and was removed,” said Simona L. Flores-Lund, Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia. “He illegally reentered the country and committed the unconscionable act of victimizing a child. The men and women of ICE have the vital role of arresting and removing criminal aliens like Diaz-Vazquez, and will continue to perform their duties as intended by Congress with veracity, courage, and professionalism.”
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ERO”), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Harrell.
Grant County man indicted on drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Lawrence Allen Keplinger, of Lahmansville, West Virginia, was indicted this week on methamphetamine distribution and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Keplinger, age 38, is charged with four counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine” involving more than five grams of “crystal meth” or” ice,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” involving more than 50 grams of “crystal meth” or “ice,” one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm,” and one count of “Possession of Unregistered Firearm.” Keplinger is accused of distributing methamphetamine from July 2017 to March 2019 in Grant County. Keplinger, a person prohibited from having a firearm, is also accused of having a .17 caliber rifle, a .375 caliber bolt-action rifle, and an unregistered .22 caliber long rifle in March 2019 in Grant County.
Keplinger faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each of the distribution counts, faces at least five years and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000 for “crystal meth” distribution charge, and faces at least 10 years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000,000 for the possession with intent distribution charge. Keplinger also faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the unlawful possession charge and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000 for the unregistered firearm charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Friendswood man gets 40 years after sexually exploiting childRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas - A 22-year-old man from Friendswood has received a significant sentence following his convictions for producing and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Malik Berlanga pleaded guilty April 3, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. handed Berlanga a sentence of 360 months for the sexual exploitation of a child aka production of child pornography. He also received 120 months for the possession conviction which will run consecutively for a total 40-year-prison sentence. Berlanga will also be on supervised release for life following completion of that 480-month federal prison term.
At the hearing, the court heard that Berlanga’s preferential age was between 5-10 years old and had a foot fetish. In one particular video, Berlanga is seen licking and sucking a minor female’s feet while she is asleep. He then appears to ejaculate off-camera with a semen-like substance then found on her feet.
At the hearing, the court described other pornographic videos in Berlanga’s possession involving children under the age of five. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanks noted he had a duty to protect the public and anything less than the term imposed would not have done that.
A cyber-tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the Berlanga’s identification. He had created videos of a minor female and stored them in his Dropbox account. Authorities found 14 child pornography videos in a folder entitled Personal CP that Berlanga produced.
Law enforcement later conducted a search warrant at his residence, at which time they seized several cellular phones and a laptop computer located within Berlanga’s bedroom. Forensic analysis of those items revealed more than 5000 images and 70 videos containing child pornography. Authorities also found several videos that Berlanga produced on these devices as well.
In one video, Berlanga picks up a minor victim, wraps her legs around his waist and proceeds to simulate sexual intercourse while he remains standing. In an image he also produced, his penis is seen on the back of her jeans while she is lying down.
The investigation revealed the victim to be a minor relative, approximately 7-8 years of age during the production of some of the videos and images.
The investigation revealed some of the images were taken at a hotel in the Galleria area during the 2018 BBQ cook off - the precursor to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which included detectives from police departments in Galveston, Pearland and Webster.
Berlanga has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood(PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud and Possession of Stolen MailRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — On Friday, Feb. 21, Justin Deger, 28, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to two counts of access device fraud and one count of possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to the plea agreement, from Dec. 5, 2018, through March 28, 2019, Deger broke into mail boxes at various Fresno area residences. He stole over 2,000 pieces of mail, including 26 credit cards or account access devices. He subsequently activated some of those devices and made unauthorized purchases and cash withdrawals at retailers and casinos totaling thousands of dollars. As part of the plea agreement, Deger agreed to pay full restitution to the victims and forfeiture.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
Deger is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the access device fraud counts, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the stolen mail count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Fort Thompson Man Charged with Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Stuart Dion, age 36, was indicted on February 11, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 19, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between December 30, 2019, and February 11, 2020, Dion, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by law.
The charge is merely an accusation and Dion is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Dion was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Fort Lauderdale Father and Daughter Sentenced to Prison Terms for Involvement in $100 Million Fraudulent Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Anthony Ramirez, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Miami Field Office; George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and James S. Jackson, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) announced that U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg sentenced Danielle Takeila Edmonson, 35, and Kenneth Roger Edmonson, 51, both of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to prison terms for their involvement in a scheme that involved the filing of false and fraudulent tax returns seeking large-dollar tax refunds. D. Edmonson received a 72-month sentence. K. Edmonson received a 51-month sentence.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2015 through 2018, D. Edmonson and K. Edmonson filed large-dollar tax refund claims with the IRS totaling over $100 million, including individual refund claims ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to as high as eighty million dollars. Despite the false nature of the claims, the Department of Treasury paid out approximately $3.4 million in refunds through the issuance of U.S. Treasury checks.
In addition, D. Edmonson filed a fraudulent tax return seeking a large refund for tax year 2014, falsely indicating on handwritten forms that she had paid taxes of over $300,000. The IRS did not receive any corresponding forms to support the payment of any of these taxes. Despite the false nature of the tax return, the Department of Treasury issued a tax refund check for $239,700 in 2015. D. Edmonson deposited this tax refund check into her bank account and used the funds to purchase a luxury vehicle.
D. Edmonson also filed fraudulent tax returns for each of tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017, seeking refunds of approximately $80 million, $2.4 million, and $9 million, respectively. These tax returns contained forms falsely claiming that she had paid over $145 million in taxes during this period. The IRS did not receive any corresponding forms to support the payment of any of these taxes. Despite the false nature of the tax returns, the Department of Treasury issued a tax refund check to K. Edmonson in the amount of $2,405,703 on September 4, 2017. D. Edmonson subsequently deposited this tax refund check into her bank account.
In September 2017, K. Edmonson filed a fraudulent tax return seeking a refund of approximately $725,111. The return contained false and fraudulent claims that he had paid a substantial amount of withholding taxes. The IRS did not receive corresponding forms to support the claimed payments. Despite the false nature of the tax return, on January 28, 2018, the Department of Treasury mailed a tax refund check to K. Edmonson for $734,266.27 (including interest). Shortly thereafter, K. Edmonson deposited this tax refund check into his bank account.
Trial evidence also established that in January 2018, law enforcement conducted a search of the Edmonson residence. During the search, in the bedrooms of D. Edmonson and K. Edmonson, law enforcement found letters addressed to both individuals warning them of the frivolous nature of their returns. Shortly after law enforcement left, despite warnings not to do so, K. Edmonson went to his bank to attempt to withdraw the funds from the account that received the fraudulent refund check.
D. Edmonson was convicted on four counts of filing false, fictitious and fraudulent claims, two counts of mail fraud, and one count of false statements.
K. Edmonson was convicted at trial of two counts of filing false, fraudulent, and fictitious claims, one count of mail fraud, and one count of false statements.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended IRS-CI, DSS, FBI and TIGTA for their work on the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael N. Berger and Adrienne Rosen.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Former Velda City Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Approximately $400,000 in City Funds, and Stealing Approximately $150,000 from a CharityRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Venita Sedodo, 32, of St. Charles, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud related to her former position as Treasurer of Velda City, Missouri, and two counts of mail fraud related to her former position as Trust Secretary for the Travelers Protective Association of America, Scholarship Trust for the Hearing Impaired. Sedodo appeared today in front of United States District Judge Stephen R. Clark who set her sentencing hearing for May 28, 2020.
According to the court documents, Sedodo served as the Treasurer for Velda City, Missouri. From November, 2015 through October, 2018, Sedodo schemed to steal approximately $400,000 from the city. During that time, Sedodo issued approximately 90 unauthorized Velda City checks to herself, which she deposited into several of her personal bank accounts. Sedodo spent the stolen funds on personal items and services such as clothing, automobile payments, as well as making numerous cash withdrawals. Sedodo also issued unauthorized Velda City checks directly to a number of businesses to pay for personal items and services. Further, Sedodo made numerous unauthorized ACH wire transmissions of funds from Velda City bank accounts to pay for personal items and services at businesses such as BMW, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Commerce Bank to pay off charges on her personal credit cards. Altogether, Sedodo’s fraud scheme netted her approximately $400,000 in funds stolen from Velda City.
Sedodo was also employed as the Trust Secretary for the Travelers Protective Association of America, Scholarship Trust for the Hearing Impaired (“TPA Scholarship Trust”). This is a charitable organization which provides financial aid to individuals with deafness or hearing deficiencies. From June, 2014, through January, 2019, Sedodo submitted false and fraudulent grant applications for her family members and friends to the charity’s Board of Trustees. These grant applications falsely claimed that the individual applicants suffered from deafness or hearing impairment, and Sedodo created and submitted along with the applications false audiograms and audiological evaluations. Sedodo did not advise the Board of Trustees that the individual applicants were her family members and friends. Once the Board of Trustees unwittingly approved the grant applications, Sedodo processed and issued checks to the individual applicants, who then cashed the checks and split the proceeds with Sedodo. None of the grant funds were used for legitimate health care or treatment related to deafness or hearing impairment, but were used by Sedodo and her family and friends for their own personal use and expenses. Sedodo obtained approximately $156,100 from TPA Scholarship Trust through her fraudulent scheme.
"Venita Sedodo abused her position as Velda City treasurer to embezzle tax funds, resulting in bounced paychecks for hard-working co-workers and vendors who depend on Velda City for their livelihood," said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. "In addition, Sedodo exploited her treasurer’s job at a charity to embezzle money intended for the deaf or hard of hearing. She is now being held accountable for her financial self-dealings.”
Sedodo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Restitution is also mandatory.
In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former Police Officer Charged with Transferring Firearms to Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, announced that JOSEPH RYAN, 56, of Trumbull, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with knowingly providing firearms to a convicted felon.
As alleged in the complaint, on April 27, 2018, Ansonia Police executed a state search warrant at an address in Ansonia in order to locate and seize 12 firearms that were registered to a pistol permit holder at the residence. Investigators could only locate five firearms during the search. The five firearms were then transported to the Ansonia Police Department for safekeeping. On April 3, 2019, Ryan, who at the time was a police officer with the Greenwich Police Department, went to the Ansonia Police Department and took custody of the five firearms that had been seized.
It is further alleged that, in August and September 2019, members of ATF and the New Haven Police Department made controlled purchases of four firearms from Malique Martin. Three of the four firearms purchased were among the firearms that Ryan took into his custody from the Ansonia Police Department on April 3, 2019. The investigation revealed that Ryan transferred firearms to an individual who he knew was a convicted felon, and who helped facilitate heroin transactions between Ryan and Ryan’s heroin supplier. Some of the firearms were then transferred to Martin.
The charge of knowingly providing a firearm to a convicted felon carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ryan appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport and was released on a $100,000 bond.
Martin, 24, of Ansonia, was arrested on October 2, 2019. On January 16, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He is awaiting sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New Haven Police Department and Ansonia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.
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.
Former JBLM soldier sentenced to 15 years in prison for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
Tacoma, Washington – A former U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 15 years in prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JOHN F. RINDT, 50, was previously sentenced to ten years in prison by a military tribunal for the same conduct. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan ordered the 15-year sentence to run concurrent to the military prison term.
According to records filed in the case, in 2012, while living in Lacey, Washington, RINDT made a video of himself molesting a sleeping child who was under the age of 12. As part of his sentence, RINDT is required to pay $9,900 in restitution for counseling for the young child.
Following his release from prison, RINDT will be on lifetime supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Grady Leupold.
Former Employee of the Coca-Cola Company Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Anne Gronek-Gibbs, a former sales director for the Coca-Cola Company, has been sentenced for embezzling over $750,000 from the company. The defendant ordered luxury goods, tickets, gift cards, first class travel, and luxury hotel accommodations for personal trips, all paid for by the company.
"The defendant abused the trust her employer placed in her and stole to finance a lavish lifestyle," said U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak. "Gronek-Gibbs believed her invoice-changing scheme would cover her theft. Instead, she is headed to prison."
"Gronek-Gibbs violated the trust of the company that hired her and elevated her to a position of leadership," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Because of her self-interest and greed she has not only thrown away a lucrative career, but will spend time in prison for her crime."
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Anne Gronek-Gibbs was a sales director who used her position to obtain personal goods and services from suppliers of the Coca-Cola Company and have the company pay for those goods and services. She ordered luxury goods, tickets, and gift cards and also booked first class travel, and had Coca-Cola pay for luxury hotel accommodations for personal trips. Gronek-Gibbs modified electronic versions of quotes, purchase orders, and invoices from vendors that she then submitted to Coca-Cola for payment. Ultimately, she purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gift cards, jewelry, handbags, and purses using this system and, all told, embezzled over $750,000.
Anne Gronek-Gibbs, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Boulee to one year in prison and 25 months of home detention, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $753,551. Gronek-Gibbs was convicted on these charges on November 19, 2019, after she pleaded guilty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Department Major Fraud Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Frauds Section, prosecuted 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 Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison on Theft from the Woman’s Coalition of St. CroixRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Kira Lee Encarnacion, 41, of St. Croix, was sentenced yesterday in U.S District Court to 13 months imprisonment, on one count of Federal Program Theft, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
After finding that Encarnacion abused a position of trust, Chief Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Encarnacion to a prison term of 13 months to be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Encarnacion was ordered to pay the outstanding restitution balance of $83,510 and a special assessment of $100.
According to court documents, from November 2014 through May 2015, Encarnacion was employed as a bookkeeper with the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix (WCSC). As the bookkeeper, Encarnacion’s duties included issuing legitimate payments to vendors in support of the organization’s functions using an accounting software program. However, during this period, she fraudulently caused 39 WCSC checks to be issued to herself, totaling $85,510. Encarnacion disguised the checks in the accounting software program as payments to legitimate vendors of WCSC. The defendant then deposited the checks into her personal bank account and used the funds for personal matters.
WCSC receives in excess of $10,000 a year in federal grants and benefits, which gave rise to the federal prosecution.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case.
Former DEA Agent and His Wife Indicted for Alleged Roles in Scheme to Divert Drug Proceeds from Undercover Money Laundering InvestigationsRead the Press Release
A 19-count indictment in Tampa, Florida, was unsealed today against a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent and his wife for their alleged roles to divert drug proceeds from undercover money laundering investigations into bank accounts they, along with family members and criminal associates, controlled.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak of the Northern District of Georgia, Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Michael F. McPherson of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Mary E. Hammond of IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Sibley of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa made the announcement.
The FBI arrested Jose I. Irizarry, 46, and Nathalia Gomez-Irizarry (Gomez), 36, this morning at their residence near San Juan, Puerto Rico. Irizarry and Gomez made their first appearance in U.S. District Court in San Juan today and were released on bond. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 26.
The indictment alleges that while working as an agent for the DEA in Miami and Cartagena, Colombia, Irizarry engaged in an illegal scheme to divert drug proceeds from undercover money laundering investigations into bank accounts controlled by himself and Gomez, their family members, and their criminal associates. To carry out the plot, Irizarry and his criminal associates are alleged to have opened a bank account with a stolen identity and then utilized the account to secretly send and receive drug proceeds from active DEA investigations.
The indictment further alleges that Irizarry and Gomez used drug proceeds to purchase jewelry, a home and multiple luxury vehicles for themselves and their family. As alleged, Irizarry was in personal bankruptcy proceedings for nearly the duration of this criminal conduct and failed to disclose any of his illicit income to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Irizarry is charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, honest services wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit identity theft and aggravated identity theft. Gomez is charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trial Attorney Joseph Palazzo of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section is prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, and HSI investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and District of Puerto Rico, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalia General de la Nacion) and the South Florida Money Laundering Strike Force at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office provided valuable assistance.
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.
Florida Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Dameon Kerk Allen (43, St. Petersburg) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Allen to forfeit the electronic devices he had used in the commission of the offense.
A federal jury had found Allen guilty on November 14, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Allen communicated online and via text messages with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old child. In reality, he was talking to an undercover agent. In the conversations, Allen proposed and planned to meet up with the child to have sex, discussing in graphic detail the sex acts he would engage in when they met.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Colin McDonell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Man Charged with Organic Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Bradenton, Florida, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, twelve counts of Wire Fraud, and twenty-nine counts of Money Laundering.
Kent Duane Anderson, age 49, was indicted on February 4, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Danita Wollmann on February 14, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and up to $4,200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between 2012 and 2017, Anderson, aided by others, operated a group of inter-related business entities he formed in South Dakota that claimed to sell organic commodities. Operating as Green Leaf Trading, and other businesses with the Green Leaf name, Anderson purchased thousands of tons of small grain and seed products from non-organic suppliers and re-sold those products to wholesale distributors, brokers, and other buyers at marked-up prices, and falsely represented the products were organic. The Indictment alleges one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 12 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of using the proceeds of the wire fraud to promote the unlawful activity, and 17 counts of purchases made from criminally derived proceeds.
“Falsely labeling products as organic violates federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “It cheats American consumers and unfairly punishes true organic farmers and producers who follow the rules. We will prosecute this kind of fraud wherever it is found.”
“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals engaged in the practice of defrauding the National Organic Program,” said Anthony Mohatt, Special Agent-in-Charge, USDA-Office of Inspector General. “It should also serve as a warning to all that participate in the organic supply chain, that fraud will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the USDA-OIG, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and all its federal, state, and local partners that have a stake in ensuring that fraud is eliminated from taxpayer funded programs.”
“Honest and law abiding citizens are fed up with those who use deceit and fraud to line their pockets,” said Karl Stiften, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “We are committed to 'following the money trail.' We will continue to pursue the evidence wherever it leads, leaving no financial stone unturned.”
The charges are merely accusations and Anderson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Anderson was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Five South Minneapolis Gang Members Sentenced to Prison for Violent Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of five individuals connected with the 10z/20z south Minneapolis street gangs. ALKWAN KWAME LAWSON-HOLIDAY, 30, LE’KEITH ALI DU’JUAN RAYFORD, 28, KENNETH LAMONT THOMPSON, 34, MAURICE JERRY JOHNSON, 29, and LENARDO ALEXZANDER WOODARD, 32, were convicted and sentenced for crimes related to violent gang activity, including trafficking crack cocaine and illegal possession of firearms. The sentencing proceedings were held before Judge Joan N. Ericksen in United States District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald stated, “Violent groups who use guns to carry out their drug trafficking operations bring death and destruction to our communities. This type of criminal activity is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. All five of these individuals have faced justice and must account for the serious crimes they have committed.”
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, the defendants maintained active membership in or association with the 10z/20z south Minneapolis street gangs, with the purpose of making money for the gang through criminal acts, including distribution of crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. As part of their drug distribution schemes, members of the gangs possessed, carried and used firearms in order to protect their drug distribution network from rival gangs, and to protect drug distributors from being robbed of narcotics or money.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, RAYFORD, THOMPSON, JOHNSON, and WOODARD were involved in a conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes. Their criminal activities included, among other things, multiple crack cocaine and heroin sales, as well as repeated possession of illegal firearms.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including, but not limited to, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the St. Paul Police Department. The Minnesota Department of Corrections also provided assistance in this case. 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. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
ALKWAN KWAME LAWSON-HOLIDAY, a/k/a “Lucky,” a/k/a “Kweezy,” 30
Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Convicted:
- Distributing a controlled substance, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 57 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
LE’KEITH ALI DU’JUAN RAYFORD, a/k/a “Fatty,” 28
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 78 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
KENNETH LAMONT THOMPSON, a/k/a “Kenny OG,” a/k/a “KG,” 34
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 100 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
MAURICE JERRY JOHNSON, a/k/a “Reese,” a/k/a “Loco,” 29
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 60 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
LENARDO ALEXZANDER WOODARD, a/k/a “Naughty,” 32
Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 51 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
###
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four Associated with Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)Read the Press Release
Danville, VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury sitting in U.S. District Court in Roanoke has indicted four individuals associated with Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) on federal money laundering charges. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Jesse Fong, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Field Division, announced the charges today.
The grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Alejandro Escarcega-Avila, 40, Francisco Alvarez-Rosales, Meliton Alvarez-Rosales, and Noe Salvador Becerra-Gonzalez. All four defendants are citizens of Mexico living locally in Axton, Virginia.
All four defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, Escarcega-Avila is charged with one count of illegal reentry of a previously removed alien and one count of illegal possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
According to the indictment, beginning no later than 2018 and continuing to in or about January 2020, the defendants conspired to conduct financial transactions affecting interstate commerce, specifically the transfer, delivery and exchange of United States Currency, which involved the proceeds from the distribution and manufacturing of controlled substances.
As part of the conspiracy, members and affiliates of CJNG transported cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and other substances, into the United States from Mexico. CJNG recruited individuals from Mexico to reside in Axton, Virginia to facilitate the distribution of these controlled substances from CJNG throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
The defendants, and their co-conspirators, received large amounts of United States Currency that was payment for the distribution of these controlled substances, and transmitted that currency to members and affiliates of CJNG in Mexico.
This investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. 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.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, the Virginia State Police, and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Harrigan and Sean Welsh are prosecuting the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury Indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Eagle Butte Man Indicted on Wildlife and Larceny ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a Lacey Act Violation and Larceny.
Dugan Traversie, age 39, was indicted on February 12, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 18, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that sometime between October 28, 2019, and November 4, 2019, Traversie harvested a white-tailed deer outside of the tribal hunting season, in violation of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe hunting laws and regulations. After Traversie shot the deer, he left and returned the next day to remove the head and left the carcass behind. The white-tailed deer had a value of more than $1,000.
The charges are merely accusations and Traversie is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Game, Fish and Parks Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Traversie was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Eagle Butte Man Indicted for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Daniel Gray Eagle, age 38, was indicted on December 10, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 19, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, up to lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on January 1, 2016, and continuing through December 10, 2019, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere, Gray Eagle, knowingly and intentionally, combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The charge is merely an accusation and Gray Eagle is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Gray Eagle was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Kip Blue Coat, age 28, was indicted on February 11, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 14, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on October 26, 2019, in Eagle Butte, Blue Coat unlawfully assaulted an individual and said assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
The charge is merely an accusation and Blue Coat is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Blue Coat was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Dubuque Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for over a DecadeRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who possessed over 94 grams of pure methamphetamine was sentenced on February 19, 2020, to over ten years in federal prison.
Deshone Dodson, age 36, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 10, 2019 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Dodson admitted he possessed over 94 grams of pure methamphetamine he intended to distribute. Dodson was a passenger in a vehicle that law enforcement stopped for not having working headlights at night. During the traffic stop, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. They subsequently found a black grocery bag concealed in the trunk behind the carpeted inlay on the driver’s side. Inside this bag were four individually wrapped clear plastic bags of methamphetamine. Dodson admitted to owning the bags of meth and that he planned to distribute it to others.
Dodson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Dodson was sentenced to 130 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dodson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1017.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Delaware Man Sentenced to 210 Months’ Imprisonment for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
SCRANTON -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William Hayes, age 72, of Wilmington, Delaware, was sentenced on February 19, 2020, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to 210 months’ imprisonment for transportation of minors to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Hayes repeatedly transported two minors from Pennsylvania to Florida, Tennessee and Delaware, to engage in sexual activity for an approximate 10-year period.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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DEA Announces Launch of Operation Crystal ShieldRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon announced Thursday that the DEA will direct enforcement resources to methamphetamine “transportation hubs” — areas where methamphetamine is often trafficked in bulk and then distributed across the country. While continuing to focus on stopping drugs being smuggled across the border, DEA’s Operation Crystal Shield will ramp up enforcement to block their further distribution into America’s neighborhoods.
DEA has identified eight major methamphetamine transportation hubs where these efforts will be concentrated: Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Together, these DEA Field Divisions accounted for more than 75 percent of methamphetamine seized in the U.S. in 2019.
“While meth is not a new drug, it has seen a troubling resurgence over the past few years,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Manufactured mostly in Mexican labs and smuggled into the United States across the southwest border, meth is a drug that is both cheap and potent, creating a deadly combination. Just as the Trump Administration has acted swiftly to stem the tide of opioid fatalities, it will use every weapon in its arsenal – such as the DEA’s Operation Crystal Shield - to stop dangerous methamphetamine from reaching American neighborhoods and harming American families.”
“Methamphetamine is the most abused illicit drug in our state. It flows over our country’s southern border with Mexico and into hubs like Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston, where it is then trafficked to Oklahoma and other interior states,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration do work that is critical to the general welfare of Americans. Working with federal prosecutors in my office, DEA identifies, investigates, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations that bring this deadly drug into Oklahoma. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be an active participant in Operation Crystal Shield, along with our partners in the Dallas-based and local DEA offices.”
Operation Crystal Shield builds on existing DEA initiatives that target major drug trafficking networks, including the Mexican cartels that are responsible for the overwhelming majority of methamphetamine trafficked into and within the United States. From FY 2017 to FY 2019, DEA domestic seizures of methamphetamine increased 127 percent from 49,507 pounds to 112,146 pounds. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to methamphetamine rose nearly twenty percent.
“For decades, methamphetamine has been a leading cause of violence and addiction – a drug threat that has never gone away,” said Acting Administrator Dhillon. “With a 22 percent increase in methamphetamine-related overdose deaths, now is the time to act, and DEA is leading the way with a surge of interdiction efforts and resources, targeting regional transportation hubs throughout the United States. By reducing the supply of meth, we reduce the violence, addiction, and death it spreads.”
“Seizures of methamphetamine in the Dallas Field Division, which includes North Texas and Oklahoma, have increased over 430% from 2018 to 2019. This staggering number reflects both the threat we face and the resolve of the DEA to keep methamphetamine out of our neighborhoods. With our nationwide, concerted effort through Operation Crystal Shield, we will be partnering with other DEA offices across the globe to identify those transportation networks and command structures to ensure their greed is met with swift justice,” said DEA Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez.
Virtually all methamphetamine in the United States comes through major ports of entry along the Southwest Border and is transported by tractor trailers and personal vehicles along the nation’s highways to major transfer centers around the country. It is often found in poly-drug loads, alongside cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
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.
DEA Methamphetamine B-Roll links:
Meth: https://vimeo.com/383988359
DEA Raid: https://vimeo.com/39127106
Cooke County Felon Convicted of Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A 38-year-old Gainesville, Texas, man has been convicted of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
William Randall Brannan was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime today following a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.
According to information presented in court, in January 2019, Brannan, while delivering methamphetamine, discharged a firearm in a Gainesville residence, and again outside the home, while attempting to intimidate others into returning methamphetamine which he believed had been stolen from him. On Feb. 28, 2019, Brannan was located in Arlington, Texas and fled as law enforcement officers attempted to arrest him. He then led police on a high-speed chase before crashing the vehicle. The gun used in the Gainesville shooting was found in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Brannan was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Brannan was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 14, 2019.
“Brannan has a long criminal history, and continues to mix drugs, guns, and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown. “This conviction should keep him off the streets for a long time.”
Under federal statutes, Brannan faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence; deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition, and body armor; and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by the Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, the Arlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Johnson and Chris Eason.
Convicted Bank Robber Sentenced to 11+ Years in Prison for Six Bucks County RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Marshall Brooks, 54, was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Jan E. Dubois for two armed bank robberies and four armed robberies of stores, all located in lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
In July 2019, the defendant pleaded guilty to all six counts charged in the Indictment, including two counts of armed bank robbery and four counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce. The charges were the result of the defendant using actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury to rob two banks in December 2018, and four businesses in December 2018 and February 2019, in Bensalem, Bristol, Trevose, and Feasterville. During his crime spree, he held a weapon directly against employees’ and customers’ bodies and held them hostage while he stole money and goods from the businesses. He committed this string of offenses just one month after being released from state prison after serving a 15-year sentence for yet another bank robbery.
“When Brooks was released from his 15-year prison sentence, he had a choice: he could become a law-abiding citizen or he could revert to his criminal ways,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Unfortunately for the victims he terrorized during his crime spree, he took the latter path – the one that will lead him straight back to prison. The streets of lower Bucks County are far safer now that Brooks will be spending the next decade behind bars.”
“After serving out his prison time for a prior bank robbery, Marshall Brooks went right back to his old ways,” said Tara McMahon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Imagine being physically manhandled by a stranger aiming a gun at you, demanding money. It isn’t something terrified armed robbery victims soon forget. Brooks is a clear danger to the public, and today’s sentence ensures he’ll remain behind bars for quite some time. The FBI’s BucksMont Safe Streets Task Force is committed to making our neighborhoods safer by diligently combating violent crime in our communities.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bensalem Police Department, Bristol Borough Police Department, and Lower Southampton Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya T. De Souza.
Columbus man sentenced for role in cocaine and heroin distribution operationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Martenez Strong-Edmondson, Jr., of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to 46 months incarceration for his role in a cocaine and heroin distribution operation that spanned two states, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Strong-Edmondson, also known as “Bo,” age 21, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Cocaine Base and Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Protected Location” in October 2019. He admitted to distributing cocaine and cocaine base near Pulaski Playground in September 2018 in Ohio County.
The investigation was led by the Ohio County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force is comprised of the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department. Those assisting in the arrests are the United States Marshal Service; Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Martins Ferry, Ohio Police Department; and the Columbus, Ohio Police Department.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Colorado Tax Evader Indicted for Not Reporting to Serve Five Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Denver, Colorado, returned an indictment yesterday charging Lawrence Martin Birk with failing to surrender to serve his sentence, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Birk was convicted by a jury in July 2019 of tax evasion. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Birk founded a sole proprietorship, Tarryall River Log Homes LLC, which sold and built log homes. Although the company was profitable, Birk did not voluntarily pay federal taxes on its income. When the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began collection efforts, Birk hired a tax firm to prepare eight years’ worth of delinquent tax returns, but concealed from the firm $400,000 of retirement distributions. Even after filing returns, Birk still did not pay what the returns acknowledged he owed in taxes. Instead, he sent the IRS threatening correspondence and sought to impede its efforts to seize money from his bank accounts. He did not file returns or make any tax payments for 2006 through 2018.
Based on this conduct, on Oct. 30, 2019, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn sentenced Birk to 60 months in prison, to serve three years of supervised release, and to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,858,826.
According to today’s indictment, although Birk was ordered to report to prison in November 2019 to serve his sentence, he fled and remained a fugitive until his recent arrest. If convicted, Birk faces up to five years’ imprisonment for his failure to appear, in addition to the 60 month term of imprisonment previously imposed.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended the IRS special agents and United States Marshall Service who conducted the investigation, as well as Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Elizabeth C. Hadden and Christopher Magnani, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
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.
Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to 22 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S. a Second TimeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDRES JACOME RODRIGUEZ, 42, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Danbury, was sentenced today U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 22 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jacome Rodriguez has used multiple names, dates of birth and two false social security numbers while residing in the U.S. over the course of approximately 20 years. During that time, he sustained multiple convictions in four separate states.
On October 3, 2017, Jacome Rodriguez was deported to Mexico following a larceny conviction in Danbury superior court. On October 9, 2017, Jacome Rodriguez was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Brownsville, Texas. He was subsequently prosecuted and convicted in the Southern District of Texas for unlawful presence of a removed alien, and was sentenced to 163 days of imprisonment, time served, and three years of supervised release. He was again deported to Mexico on March 21, 2018.
On January 29, 2019, Jacome Rodriguez was arrested by the Danbury Police and charged with assault in the third degree, disorderly conduct, risk of injury to a child, cruelty to animals and possession of a controlled substance. He has been detained since his arrest.
On July 16, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Jacome Rodriguez with illegal reentry by a removed alien. On November 8, 2019, he pleaded guilty to the offense.
The violation of supervised release matter was transferred from the Southern District of Texas to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution, and Jacome Rodriguez admitted to the violation during today’s court proceeding.
Judge Meyer sentenced Jacome Rodriguez to 18 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S., and a consecutive four months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
The state charges against Jacome Rodriguez are pending.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.
Chinese National Arraigned on Arms Export Control Act and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - On February 18, 2020, Cho Yan Nathan Man (Man) was arraigned on an indictment filed June 26, 2019, charging him with four counts of Unlawful Exports and Attempted Unlawful Exports of Defense Articles to Hong Kong, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 22 U.S.C. § 2778; and the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. §§ 120-130 (Counts One through Four); and four counts of International Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2)(A) and (c)(7)(b)(v)(I) (Counts Five through Eight). The indictment, initially filed under seal, was unsealed at Man’s initial appearance and arraignment. Man was arrested in Switzerland on or about June 13, 2019, and extradited from Switzerland to the United States on or about February 14, 2020. The court has ordered Man detained pending trial.
The indictment alleges that, from in or around October 2018 to in or around January 2019, Man knowingly attempted to export, and/or caused the export of, the following items that have been determined to be United States Munitions List (USML) defense articles: (1) a pair of enhanced night vision goggles, which combines night vision and thermal imaging and which was manufactured by a U.S. company; (2) a Glare Mout Plus, which is a non-lethal visual disruption laser (also known as a dazzler) used to hail and warn individuals approaching a restricted or controlled area; (3) a target pointer illuminator aiming light, which is a laser that attaches to a rifle and is used for aiming that weapon; and (4) a four-prong muzzle adapter for a rifle that was manufactured by a U.S. company. The indictment further alleges that Man engaged in international money laundering in connection with each transaction by causing or attempting to cause a transfer or transmission of funds for the purchase of these items from Hong Kong to the sellers in the United States.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted on any of the AECA charges, Man faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offense, and three years of supervised release. If convicted of any of the money laundering charges, Man faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater; and three years of supervised release.
This investigation is being conducted jointly by the Chicago Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Chicago Resident Agency of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. 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.
Child Sex Offender Sentenced for Fifth Failure to Register ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to three years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender after traveling across state lines.
According to court documents, Alexander Morris, aka Alexander Luna, 42, was previously convicted of engaging in felony sexual conduct with a minor in 2002 and again in 2004, requiring him to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction where he resides. He was subsequently convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in the state of Maryland on four occasions between 2005 and 2009. In 2011, Morris disappeared from his residence in Maryland and traveled to Woodbridge, where he had been living under a different name and without registering as a sex offender until law enforcement located and arrested him in September 2019.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Nick Proffitt, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior Judge T.S. Ellis, III. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Clayman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-308.
Chicago Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charge for Allegedly Enticing Underage Girl to Produce Sexually Explicit VideosRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been arrested on a federal child pornography charge for allegedly enticing an underage girl to produce sexually explicit videos of herself.
HUGH B. FOWLER enticed the 16-year-old girl to produce the videos and send them to him last year, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Chicago. Fowler communicated with the victim via an online messaging application, the complaint states.
The complaint charges Fowler, 62, with one count of production of child pornography. Fowler was arrested on Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes scheduled a detention hearing for Feb. 25, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.
The complaint and arrest were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Charlie Beck, interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, specifically members from the Chicago Police Department and Cook County Sheriff’s Office, as well as officers from CPD’s 19th District. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin E. Kelly.
According to the complaint, Fowler sent the victim detailed instructions for how he wanted the sexually explicit videos to look. Fowler told the victim to display her private parts and to write Fowler’s first name or his initial on her body, the complaint states. “I would like music if possible,” Fowler wrote to the victim, according to the complaint. “It’s better if the video is longer than short,” Fowler allegedly told the victim.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Catherine Verdon Pleads Not Guilty to False Statement ChargesRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Catherine Verdon, 45, of Middletown Springs, pleaded not guilty yesterday in United States District Court in Burlington to an indictment charging her with making false statements to obtain federal and state program benefit payments. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy released Verdon on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
On January 29, a federal grand jury in Rutland returned a four-count indictment against Verdon. Two of the counts charged Verdon with making false statements to the Social Security Administration in connection with her applications for Supplemental Security Income benefits, a need-based assistance program for aged, blind and disabled individuals. According to the indictment, Verdon falsely claimed that she and her husband were separated and that he did not live in the household. Such falsehoods would have affected her eligibility to receive any SSI benefits.
The indictment further charges Verdon with making false statements to Vermont officials in connection with her application for benefits under Vermont assistance programs that are funded, in part, by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Such programs include Medicaid; 3Squares, a food stamp-type program; a fuel assistance program; and Reach Up, a family assistance program. The indictment alleges that Verdon falsely claimed in her state applications that she and her husband were separated; that he did not live in the household; and that he did not provide financial assistance to the family.
The U.S. Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that Verdon is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty.
If convicted, Verdon faces up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Offices of the Inspector General of both the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Verdon is represented by Assistant Federal Defender David McColgin. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
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.
Carmel man indicted for using PayPal and eBay to gain $2,000,000 by fraudRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Tuong Quoc Ho, 32, Carmel, Ind., was indicted by a federal grand jury for an elaborate scheme to defraud businesses, consumers, suppliers, financial institutions, credit card holders, credit card companies, and identity theft victims for personal monetary gain. The indictment contains 28 federal offenses including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud, money laundering, and other federal offenses.
“Fraud cannot and will not be tolerated at any cost, especially when it involves identity theft,” said Minkler. “This can devastate people’s credit, which often times takes them years to repair. This office is committed to prosecuting such crimes to the fullest extent of the law. Today Mr. Ho’s streak of fraud and identity theft comes to an end.”
According to court documents, Ho and others overseas allegedly obtained personal information from the internet of hundreds of persons located throughout the United States and worldwide. He then allegedly used this information to fraudulently open PayPal and eBay accounts. He would then link his personal bank accounts to these PayPal accounts to receive and transfer money. There were over 500 PayPal accounts linked to Ho’s personal bank accounts.
The indictment further alleges that Ho and others used the eBay accounts to advertise and sell a variety of items that were purchased with stolen credit card information from thousands of individuals.
The indictment further alleges that Ho used the personal information he obtained of others to generate and submit to PayPal fraudulent documents in the names of those other persons, including identification documents (driver’s licenses, passports, social security cards), proof of address documents (utility bills, bank statements), and proof of sales documents (invoices, receipts). This was intended to mislead PayPal about the identity of the person who opened and maintain the accounts, as well as the true source of the items being sold on eBay.
Finally, the indictment alleges that proceeds from eBay sales totaling over $2 million, flowed through to the PayPal accounts. Ho then wired money to family and friends in Vietnam, and used the money for personal expenses, including the purchase of his home in Carmel.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Carmel Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
“These charges are the result of a complex international investigation conducted jointly by FBI Indianapolis’ Cyber Intrusion Program and the Carmel Police Department working in partnership to put an end to Mr. Ho’s illegal activity that targeted hundreds of victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall, FBI Indianapolis. “Identity theft wreaks havoc on the lives of legitimate consumers and can cause them to spend countless hours trying to clear their names. This arrest highlights the FBI's commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to continue an aggressive fight against individuals who carry out these schemes.”
“This case began in October of 2018,” said Carmel Police Department Major Charlie Harting. “Dedicated detectives and special agents from the Carmel Police Department and the FBI collaborated together to put the pieces of the investigative puzzle together that touched points on the other side of the world. The hard work of the detectives, special agents, and U.S. Attorney’s office is a great example of local and federal partnership working together for the good of our community and the country.”
“Postal Inspectors investigate any fraud in which the U.S. Mail is used, even if the scheme originally started over the phone or through the Internet.” said Inspector-in-Charge Ed Gallashaw, USPIS Indianapolis. “ Being the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service works with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to enforce fraud statutes to the maximum extent possible against those who seek to separate postal customers from their money. The indictment secured in this investigation is a perfect demonstration of how that team work helps us protect our customers and safeguard our communities.”
According to Assistant United States Attorneys MaryAnn T. Mindrum and James M. Warden, who are prosecuting this case for the government, defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of complex, large scale fraud schemes that warrant federal resources and expertise, particularly those that are perpetrated by career fraudsters involving the use of bogus access devices and identity fraud. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.5 and 5.1.
Blythe man admits firing on helicopter during federal law enforcement operationRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Blythe man has pled guilty to federal charges that he shot a helicopter being used in support of a law enforcement operation.
Terry Kielisch, 56, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of Assaulting a Person Assisting an Officer of the United States, and one count of Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The charges carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This defendant’s dangerous actions callously threatened the lives of two law-enforcement officers, damaged public property and threatened the safety of all residents near the scene of this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are fortunate that no one was injured in this senseless attack.”
According to court documents and testimony, Kielisch used a .308 caliber rifle to fire two shots at a Georgia State Patrol helicopter piloted by a GSP trooper, with a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigator as a passenger, on March 12, 2019. The aircraft was providing support for Operation Gunsmoke, a sweep of defendants accused of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in Georgia and South Carolina, coordinated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Kielisch was not a target in the operation, and told investigators he fired at the helicopter because he didn’t like it flying near his home. The helicopter, which was struck near fuel lines, received an estimated $60,000 in damage, but neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured and the craft landed safely.
“An individual who will thoughtlessly endanger our law enforcement community will not be tolerated,” said Henry Countryman, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF, along with our law enforcement partners, is committed to combating violent crime to protect our communities.”
“The Georgia State Patrol is grateful the crew and those on the ground weren’t injured as a result of Kielisch’s careless actions,” said Lt. Stephanie L. Stallings, Public Information Director for the Georgia State Patrol. “We are equally grateful to U.S. Attorney Christine for the swift resolution in this case.”
“Protecting our courageous and dedicated law enforcement officers is the sheriff’s greatest responsibility,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “We are appreciative to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their prompt attention to these dangerous unprovoked actions.”
The case was investigated by the ATF, the Georgia State Patrol and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Syms Jr.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison in Complex Financial Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –A federal judge today sentenced a Birmingham man with a wire fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Michael Charles Vines, to 41months in prison for wire fraud. Vines pled guilty to that charge in September 2019.
“The defendant exploited his position of trust with conduct that was deliberate and deceptive,” Town said. “Abuse of trust and misuse of funds is unacceptable and those who consider engaging in these types schemes should know that it can lead to federal prison.”
“The investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service revealed Michael Charles Vines defrauded The Country Club of Birmingham of over $630,000,” said Patrick Davis, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Field Office. “Mr. Vines was a tenured employee. He not only violated the trust of his employer, but also that of the members of The Country Club of Birmingham.”
According to court documents, beginning in May 2002 through June 2018, Vines worked as the accounts receivable clerk for The Country Club of Birmingham. In 2008, Vines was promoted to management information systems and accounts receivable clerk. As accounts receivable clerk, Vines managed the cash and checks received from members and outside vendors or visitors. He was responsible for preparing the receivable portion of the monthly bank account. In 2015, all responsibility for the monthly bank account reconciliation process was transferred to Vines. Between 2007 and 2018, Vines engaged in a scheme to steal cash and other proceeds from the County Club of Birmingham. Vines concealed the scheme by making false and fraudulent entries into the financial management system and making false and fraudulent representations in person and in emails to the Country Club of Birmingham management and the outside auditor. Vines’ scheme resulted in him stealing over $630,000 from The Country Club of Birmingham.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark prosecuted.
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.
Billings meth trafficker sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Billings man convicted at a bench trial of methamphetamine distribution crimes was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters in July found Darrell Franklin Holliday, 48, guilty of possession with intent to distribute meth and two counts of distribution of meth as charged in an indictment. Judge Watters presided at sentencing.
During the bench trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Holliday was distributing meth in the Billings area in August and September 2017. Investigators conducted two controlled buys of methamphetamine from Holliday during this period. In a recorded statement to officers, Holliday admitted he used meth daily when he had the chance. Holliday also made incriminating statements in recorded jail calls.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the FBI.
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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Bergen County Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Using Personal Information Stolen from U.S. Service Members to File Phony Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Fort Lee, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for generating phony tax refunds using personal identifying information stolen from current and former members of the U.S. army, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Shope Oluwo, 35, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to an indictment charging him with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Chief Judge Wolfson imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January through February 2016, Oluwo conspired with others, including Dermot Sutherland, 30, of Philadelphia, to obtain personal identifying information that was stolen from current or former members of the U.S. Army. Oluwo used that stolen information to create fake military identification cards and fraudulent W-2 forms bearing the victims’ names.
Oluwo provided the phony cards and W-2 forms to Sutherland, who posed as the victims and filed phony returns with a tax preparation company. Afterwards, Sutherland received debit cards from the tax preparation company that contained the ill-gotten refunds.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wolfson sentenced Oluwo to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $11,170 in restitution.
Sutherland previously pleaded guilty to his role and was sentenced in February 2019 to three years of probation.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn; and special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine R. Murphy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
Defense counsel: Patrick Brackley Esq., New York
Belarus Man Indicted for Mailing Ricin and Threats to Pelican Bay State PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Vladislav Victorvic Timoshchuk with attempted transfer of a toxin for use as a weapon, mailing threatening communications, and mailing an injurious article, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.
According to the indictment, Timoshchuk, 34, of Belarus, is alleged to have sent two envelopes containing ricin to Pelican Bay State Prison. One of the envelopes was addressed to the Warden and contained ricin and a note, which read: “WARNING! TOXIC! THIS LETTER IS LACED WITH DEADLY RICIN POWDER.” The other envelope was addressed to inmate A.C. and contained ricin and a note, which read in part: “Release inmate A.C.”
The indictment further alleges that Timoshchuk had previously been incarcerated in California state prison facilities, after which he was deported from the United States to Belarus. In 2016 and into 2018, Pelican Bay State Prison intercepted letters postmarked from Belarus to members of a prison gang, including to inmate A.C. In that same timeframe, in 2017, the Anaheim Police Department investigated a school shooting threat, which demanded the release of inmate A.C. from Pelican Bay State Prison in order to avoid the “execution” of a student every day until that release occurred. Later, in 2019, the Bureau of Prisons intercepted a Christmas card sent from Belarus to inmate Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber, in which Timoshchuk claimed responsibility for the threats to Anaheim schools and discussed a plan to mail ricin to the United States.
The indictment, filed on February 20, 2020, charges Timoshchuk with two counts of attempted transfer of a toxin for use as a weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 175(a); two counts of interstate and foreign communication of a threat, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c); and two counts of mailing an injuries article, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1716(j)(1). Timoschuk is not charged for threats other than the two mailings to Pelican Bay.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life for each attempted transfer of a toxin for use as a weapon; a maximum of five years for each interstate and foreign communication of a threat; and a maximum sentence of one year for each mailing of an injurious article. Each charge also carries a potential term of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution as ordered by the court. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the United States Attorney’s Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with the assistance of state and local law enforcement partners and the U.S. Postal Service.
Beggs Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm, AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gerome William Davis, age 22, of Beggs, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Felon In Possession Of Firearm And Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both.
The Indictment alleged that on or about December 2, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of said conviction, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce a firearm, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) effort in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to reduce violent crime. PSN is an initiative led and coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Special Assistant United States Attorney David Youll represented the United States.