Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
22 January 2020
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego to Serve as a Commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of JusticeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM –Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego was appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice announced, U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town. Attorney General William P. Barr announced the establishment of the Commission today. On Oct. 28, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13896, authorizing and designating the Attorney General to create such a Commission that would explore modern issues affecting law enforcement that most impact the ability of American policing to reduce crime.
“This Commission is critical, not only because it is timely, but because law enforcement faces more and greater challenges than ever before,” Town said. “Sheriff John Samaniego is a dedicated public servant with the experience and capacity which will serve the Commission’s purpose well. Not only will the fruits of this effort reduce crime in America, it will reduce the respect deficit towards law enforcement that so deservedly need our support.”
“I am grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve the interests of our country and our nation’s law enforcement officers,” Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego said. “I will work tirelessly to represent Shelby County and the State of Alabama. Most importantly, I will strive to deliver to President Trump, along with my fellow Commissioners, recommendations that will better serve our citizens, safeguard liberties, and encourage and support our nation’s law enforcement and their families.”
The Commissioners, appointed by the Attorney General and announced today, are urban police chiefs, state prosecutors, county sheriffs, members of rural law enforcement, federal agents, U.S. Attorneys, and a state attorney general. In addition to their diverse experiences and backgrounds, each member brings to the Commission an expertise in formulating and shaping law enforcement policy and leading police departments and law enforcement organizations.
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.
Romanian Man Sentenced in ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that January 22, 2020, Alex Barbu was sentenced in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Barbu received a thirty-nine month custody sentence for his part in an ATM skimming operation. The sentence consisted of 15 months on the bank fraud charge, and 24 months for aggravated identity theft. Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade also ordered that Barbu serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison, and pay $4,848.35 in restitution. Upon his release from prison, Barbu, a Romanian national, will be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.
In a guilty plea hearing, the court found that on January 12th and 19th, 2019, a young female accompanied by Barbu was observed via surveillance footage placing an unauthorized camera device on an ATM owned and operated by United Bank in Bay Minette, AL. The camera was used to illegally capture a customer's PIN as it was being entered on the ATM keypad. The young female then placed an ATM-skimmer on the same ATM. ATM skimmers are illegal devices designed to fit over the ATM card insert, known as a bezel, in order to read and siphon ATM customer bank account information when the bank customer uses their bank card at the ATM. Later the same day the young female was observed via surveillance footage returning to the ATM and retrieving both the camera and skimming devices.
During the timeframe on January 12, 2019, when the unauthorized ATM skimmer and camera devices were in place and active on the ATM, 30 customers’ account numbers and PINs were exposed. The majority of those customers had their account numbers and PINs compromised through a series of fraudulent transactions that occurred January 26-27, 2019 by Barbu.
The operations officer at United Bank stated after the fraudulent transactions were discovered, all of their customers had their ATM cards and PINs deactivated and reissued. The operations officer has also advised that none of their customers had authorized any of the attempted and/or completed transactions and, all of their ATM cards had been in each customers’ possession before and during the time of the fraudulent activity.This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mobile Division, Mobile, AL. There was joint cooperation and direct assistance by the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection; Bay Minette Alabama (AL) Police Department (PD); Mobile AL PD; Daphne AL PD; Foley AL PD; Prattville AL PD; Pascagoula Mississippi PD; Padukah Kentucky PD; FBI Jackson Division; FBI Memphis Division, and credit for Barbu's capture and extradition by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, US Attorney's Office, and FBI Minneapolis Division, all in Minnesota.
Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Haley Hansler, 33, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hansler conspired with two other individuals to possess fentanyl with the intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. On November 7, 2018, the New Hampshire State Police (“NHSP”) conducted a vehicle stop of a vehicle driven by Hansler and seized approximately 58 grams of heroin and smaller quantities of crystal “ice” methamphetamine and other narcotics. Later the same evening, members of the NHSP and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) searched Hansler’s hotel room in Ossipee, New Hampshire and seized approximately 171 grams of crystal “ice” methamphetamine and smaller quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics and Hansler’s semi-automatic handgun. On December 20, 2018, DEA agents arrested Hansler and a co-conspirator at their Rochester residence and seized approximately 60 grams of fentanyl, as well as four firearms and ammunition.
Hansler is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2020.
“Fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine are lethal drugs that have caused serious harm to the people of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The danger of drug trafficking is further enhanced when drug dealers are outfitted with firearms. The brave law enforcement officers who confront them deserve every protection the law can provide. Accordingly, we are committed to vigorously prosecuting traffickers who choose to possess firearms in furtherance of their drug trade.”
This investigation was the product of an investigation 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.
This case was investigated by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad; the New Hampshire State Police; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and the Strafford County Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
###
Reno Man Sentenced for Trafficking Endangered Lion and Leopard PartsRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – Robert Barkman, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced today to 60 days of intermittent confinement by the Bureau of Prisons during a one-year term of probation for illegally trafficking parts from endangered African lions and leopards, announced Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Barkman, 51, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a one count information charging him with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Endangered Species Act. U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones sentenced Barkman to 60 days of intermittent confinement during a one-year term of probation. As part of the terms of his probation, Barkman will be required to perform 100 hours of community service for a wildlife conservation organization, and will not be permitted to work for an organization that handles threatened or endangered species.
In court documents filed in federal court, between March 24, 2016 and April 2, 2016, Barkman admitted to selling and shipping a lion skull and leopard claws to Arongkron Malasukum, a resident of Woodside, New York, for $1,400. As part of the plea, Barkman further admitted that between January 2016 and October 2016, he received approximately $6,000 for the interstate sale of threatened or endangered wildlife in violation of United States law.
Malasukum previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in August 2018 for his role in purchasing skulls and other parts from endangered wildlife, and then exporting them to Thailand. As part of his plea, Malasukum admitted that between April 9, 2015 and June 29, 2016, he exported approximately 68 packages containing skulls, claws, and parts from endangered and protected species, with a total fair market value in excess of $150,000. All of the exports were sent to Thailand.
“This investigation involved the international trafficking of the skulls, teeth, and claws from protected African lions and tigers and depicts just how appalling and widespread wildlife trafficking can be,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “I commend our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and the Department of Justice's Environmental Crimes Section in holding this individual accountable for his crime."
The investigation was handled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Walkingshaw and Trial Attorney Gary N. Donner of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
###
Princeton Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Princeton man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to distributing cocaine base (crack), United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on April 25, 2019, Robert McKenna, 48, sold crack to an undercover agent from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency at a residence in Indian Township, Maine.
McKenna faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. He also faces between three years and a lifetime of supervised release.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Panola County Felon Convicted of Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 38-year-old Carthage, Texas, man has been convicted of federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Timothy Earl Brown was found guilty today of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, on Oct. 14, 2016, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a rural residence in Panola County for a prowler. Brown was spotted by law enforcement carrying a rifle in a wooded area near the home. Brown fled but was apprehended and also found in possession of a revolver. Further investigation revealed Brown is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Brown was convicted in Panola County in 2000 for theft, in 2000 for escape and in 2011 for sexual assault. He also has a prior conviction in the Eastern District of Texas for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2004. Brown was indicted for this incident on June 21, 2018 and charged with federal firearms violations.
Under the federal statute, Brown faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence; deterring illegal possession of 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 Panola County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Noble and Alan Jackson.
Palm Beach County Resident Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Bank Robbery and Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
On January 16, 2020, Palm Beach County resident Rodrick Domonique Jones was sentenced to 12½ years in prison, following his jury trial conviction for bank robbery and armed bank robbery.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Jones, 38, of Lake Park, Florida was sentenced to 150 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn following his conviction for four counts of bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), and five counts of armed bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a) and (d) (Case No. 19cr80013).
According to evidence presented at trial, Jones committed nine bank robberies at Chase banks throughout Southern Florida between December 11, 2015 and February 17, 2018. In each robbery, Jones approached a bank teller and presented a demand note stating that he had a gun and demanding that the teller give him money. Each time Jones wore a baseball cap, acted like a normal customer to avoid attention, and tried to keep from touching anything at the bank. In two of the robberies, Jones pointed his gun into the side of the customer next to him when the teller did not give him money fast enough. In two of the robberies, Jones left behind his fingerprints on demand notes.
During a search of Jones’ residence, investigators recovered guns and evidence on Jones’ cell phones showing that he researched the banks before robbing them, often conducting web searches for the target banks and saving Google Maps images of the banks and surrounding areas. Evidence also linked Jones to the vehicles seen leaving the scenes of the robberies. The trial evidence included witness testimony, surveillance video from the banks and nearby businesses, fingerprint analysis, and images and messages from Jones’ phones and Facebook account.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI in this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris and Trial Attorney Christina Brown from the Antitrust Division.
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.
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Falsely Reporting an Imminent Mass ShootingRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DAVID AARON JACOBS, 43, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for intentionally conveying false and misleading information by making a hoax threat of a mass shooting announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
A superseding criminal information was filed in January 2020 against Jacobs that charged him with a single count of making a hoax threat on March 30, 2017. According to the information, Jacobs emailed the El Reno Police Department and a local news station stating: "[t]wo boys that [the defendant] know[s] are planning to do something awful. They have been meeting at the house of a Palestinian man name[d] [Individual 1] who lives in Oklahoma city and [Individual 1] has given them guns and helped them to plan to shoot people at the big academic testing event at Redlands Community College tomorrow afternoon."
At the time he made the hoax threat, Jacobs was on federal supervised release after serving the term of imprisonment for his previous federal convictions for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Based on his new crime, Jacobs’s term of supervised release was revoked on August 17, 2017, and he was sentenced to an additional term of 36 months’ imprisonment.
This afternoon, Senior U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Jacobs to serve 42 months in prison, to run partially concurrent with 18 months of his revocation. Judge Russell also ordered Jacobs to pay $22,996.39 in restitution to law enforcement for the costs of responding to the hoax and imposed three years of supervised release upon his release from prison.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the El Reno Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Mark Stoneman prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to court filings for further information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Ohio Man Who Transported More Than Four Kilograms of Heroin to Pennsylvania Sentenced to 6 ½ Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Curtis Riley, age 57, of Dayton, Ohio, was sentenced on January 15, 2020 by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to 6 ½ years’ imprisonment followed by two years on supervised release for acting as a courier for a heroin trafficking conspiracy that distributed large quantities of heroin to locations throughout the United States.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Riley previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. Riley transported a total of between four and 10 kilograms of heroin (which is equivalent to between 160,000 and 400,000 retail bags) between 2017 and December 2018. There were traces of fentanyl in some of the heroin seized by state police troopers.
The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
# # #
Ocean County, New Jersey Attorney Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Prison for Failing to Pay over Payroll Taxes and Making False Statements on Loan ApplicationRead the Press Release
George Gilmore, a partner at an Ocean County, New Jersey, law firm, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for his conviction on two counts of failing to pay over payroll taxes withheld from employees to the IRS and one count of making false statements on a bank loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank N.A.
On April 17, 2019, Gilmore, 70, of Toms River, New Jersey, was acquitted of two counts of filing false tax returns for calendar years 2013 and 2014; the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on one count of income tax evasion for calendar years 2013, 2014, and 2015. The verdicts were returned following a trial that began April 1, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
Gilmore worked as an equity partner and shareholder at Gilmore & Monahan P.A., a law firm in Toms River, where he exercised primary control over the firm’s financial affairs. Because he exercised significant control over the law firm’s financial affairs, Gilmore was responsible for withholding payroll taxes from the gross salary and wages of the law firm’s employees to cover individual income, Social Security and Medicare tax obligations. For the tax quarters ending March 31, 2016, and June 30, 2016, the law firm withheld tax payments from its employees’ checks, but Gilmore failed to pay over in full the payroll taxes due to the IRS.
Gilmore also submitted a loan application to Ocean First Bank containing false statements. On Nov. 21, 2014, Gilmore reviewed, signed, and submitted to Ocean First Bank a Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) to obtain refinancing of a mortgage loan for $1.5 million with a “cash out” provision that provided Gilmore would obtain cash from the loan. On Jan. 22, 2015, Gilmore submitted another URLA updating the initial application. Gilmore failed to disclose his outstanding 2013 tax liabilities and personal loans that he had obtained from others on the URLAs. Gilmore received $572,000 from the cash out portion of the loan.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Gilmore to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Honig for the District of New Jersey and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, special agents with the U.S. Attorney’s Office under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas Mahoney, and special agents of the FBI Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Deputy U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Skahill; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division; and Trial Attorney Thomas F. Koelbl of the U.S. Department of Justice - Tax Division.
Ocean County Attorney Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Prison for Failing to Pay over Payroll Taxes and Making False Statements on Loan ApplicationRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – George Gilmore, a partner at an Ocean County law firm, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for his conviction on two counts of failing to pay over payroll taxes withheld from employees to the IRS and one count of making false statements on a bank loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank N.A., First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
On April 17, 2019, Gilmore, 70, of Toms River, New Jersey, was acquitted of two counts of filing false tax returns for calendar years 2013 and 2014; the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on one count of income tax evasion for calendar years 2013, 2014, and 2015. The verdicts were returned following a trial that began April 1, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
Gilmore worked as an equity partner and shareholder at Gilmore & Monahan P.A., a law firm in Toms River, where he exercised primary control over the firm’s financial affairs. Because he exercised significant control over the law firm’s financial affairs, Gilmore was responsible for withholding payroll taxes from the gross salary and wages of the law firm’s employees to cover individual income, Social Security and Medicare tax obligations. For the tax quarters ending March 31, 2016, and June 30, 2016, the law firm withheld tax payments from its employees’ checks, but Gilmore failed to pay over in full the payroll taxes due to the IRS.
Gilmore also submitted a loan application to Ocean First Bank containing false statements. On Nov. 21, 2014, Gilmore reviewed, signed, and submitted to Ocean First Bank a Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) to obtain refinancing of a mortgage loan for $1.5 million with a “cash out” provision that provided Gilmore would obtain cash from the loan. On Jan. 22, 2015, Gilmore submitted another URLA updating the initial application. Gilmore failed to disclose his outstanding 2013 tax liabilities and personal loans that he had obtained from others on the URLAs. Gilmore received $572,000 from the cash out portion of the loan.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Gilmore to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, special agents with U.S. Attorney’s Office under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas Mahoney, and special agents of the FBI Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Deputy U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Skahill; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division; and Trial Attorney Thomas F. Koelbl of the U.S. Department of Justice - Tax Division.
Defense counsel: Kevin H. Marino Esq., Chatham, New Jersey
OP-ED: We Need a Permanent Ban on Fentanyl AnaloguesRead the Press Release
In 2017, almost 50,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. It’s a sad reality that New England as a whole has been particularly hard hit by opioids. In fact, per capita, of the 12 states across the country with the most opioid overdose fatalities, all six of our states make the list. Much of that is due to illicitly produced fentanyl.
To maintain and build upon a recent decline in opioid overdose deaths nationwide, law enforcement must have all the necessary tools at their disposal. One such tool is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) 2018 order making all fentanyl-related drugs illegal in the United States. Unfortunately, that order was temporary and will expire in just a few weeks. The Senate recently passed bipartisan legislation approving a 15-month extension of the temporary order. While this is a step in the right direction and the House should follow suit and pass the Senate’s bill, a longer term solution is needed. A permanent ban on all fentanyl analogues would send a strong message to the cartels and sophisticated drug operations that pedal illicit fentanyl that the United States is serious about addressing this crisis and their actions will not be tolerated.
Illicit fentanyl is manufactured in labs in China and Mexico. It is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. So powerful, in fact, that only a couple milligrams – the size of a few grains of salt – can kill the average person.
Fentanyl, however, is unique. Because it is made in labs using chemicals, its structure is easily manipulated. And the drug cartels that manufacture and traffic this poison into our neighborhoods understand American laws and know how to exploit them. They know that by changing a single molecule in the chemical structure of fentanyl, they have essentially created a new drug. One that, unlike fentanyl, is not illegal in the United States. These drugs, known as “fentanyl analogues,” do as fentanyl does: create more addicts and kill more Americans. Yet, the analogues – which can be up to 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine – will all become legal if Congress fails to act.
The DEA’s 2018 decision to temporarily schedule – that is, to make illegal – all fentanyl-related substances was a response to the extraordinary legal loophole exploited by drug traffickers.In April 2019, China also outlawed all fentanyl-related substances. This is extraordinary progress, with one caveat. Unlike China’s law, the United States’ has an expiration date.
On Feb. 6, 2020, the DEA’s temporary order expires, and all drugs seized by U.S. investigators over the past two years that have tested positive as fentanyl analogues will no longer be illegal. If Congress fails to pass the SOFA legislation it will have a dramatic impact not just on the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who spend their lives investigating and prosecuting drug dealers, but on communities already hard hit by the opioid epidemic, many of which are right here in New England.
Despite recent reductions in opioid deaths across New England for the first time in decades, prosecuting drug dealers – particularly those who peddle heroin and fentanyl – remains a top priority for each of our offices. But our federal resources are not infinite; we need all the help we can get. Passing this legislation would provide invaluable support to us as prosecutors and the entire law enforcement community as we continue to combat the opioid crisis in New England and all throughout America.
A number of organizations have voiced opposition to the proposed legislation, arguing that the bill does not “embrace public health approaches to the overdose crisis.” We agree that a comprehensive approach to the crisis is needed, and a permanent fentanyl analogue ban should be viewed as part of a holistic effort. But time is running out: there is no doubt that drug traffickers are eagerly awaiting the temporary order’s expiration to start flooding our communities with these dangerous drugs. The passage of this legislation is quite literally a matter of life and death.
There should be nothing partisan about declaring fentanyl analogues illegal, any more than there is partisanship about the dangers of ricin or cyanide. And there is certainly nothing partisan about saving lives and bringing justice to those who profit from addiction and even death. For the safety of our New England communities, we urge Congress to pass legislatio nmaking permanent the DEA’s temporary scheduling of all fentanyl-related drugs.
###
Christina E. Nolan is the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont
Aaron L. Weisman is the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island
Scott W. Murray is the United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire
Andrew E. Lelling is the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
Halsey B. Frank is the United States Attorney for the District of Maine
John H. Durham is the United States Attorney for the District of ConnecticutO'Fallon, Illinois Man Charged with Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
St. Louis – Michael L. Cooper, 40, of O’Fallon, Illinois, was charged in a federal complaint with distribution of child pornography.
According to the complaint, on or about January 21, 2020, an undercover officer, utilizing a false persona, was contacted on a social media applications by an individual later identified as Michael Cooper. Cooper sent the undercover officer multiple child pornography videos and images via the internet containing depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in various sexual acts. Cooper advised the undercover officer on several occasions that he was sexually attracted to minor males, and desired to engage in sexual acts with minor males.
As agreed upon with the undercover officer utilizing his false persona, Cooper responded to a local hotel to meet the undercover officer and purportedly engage in sexual acts with him while watching child pornography. However, upon his arrival at the hotel room, Cooper was taken into custody. Cooper indicated that there was child pornography on his laptop in his residence and on his cellular telephone. Cooper also admitted to being in possession of and distributing child pornography.
Charges set forth in the Complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Saint Louis County Police Department are investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAYREN JAKAR WYNN, 30, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 92 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 7, 2015, Wynn was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 14 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine in The Hill neighborhood in New Haven. He was released from federal prison in July 2016.
On July 12, 2018, New Haven Police detectives performed a traffic stop of a vehicle that Wynn was operating. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Hi-Point CF380 handgun and a quantity of marijuana.
In addition to his prior federal conviction, Wynn’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for assault and firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Wynn has been detained since July 12, 2018. On August 29, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and admitted that he violated the conditions of his federal supervised release.
Judge Bryant sentenced Wynn to 78 months of imprisonment for possessing a firearm, and a consecutive 14 months of imprisonment for violating his supervised release.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.
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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Nepalese Man Sentenced on Marriage Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Nepalese man currently residing in California was sentenced today in Bangor for marriage fraud and conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Eilove Shrestha, 28, to one month in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Shrestha pleaded guilty on July 8, 2019.
According to court records, on June 20, 2018, Shrestha, a Nepalese citizen then lawfully in the United States in a temporary status, agreed to pay a United States citizen $13,000 to marry him so he could obtain permanent resident status, also known as, a “green card.” Four days later, Shrestha flew to Maine and the two were married the next day. Before and after the wedding, Shrestha paid the United States citizen hundreds of dollars via wire transfers, while he continued to live and work in another state.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Brewer Police Department.
Morgan County man indicted on child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Gunner Scott Young, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was indicted today on a child pornography charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Young, age 28, is charged with one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Young is accused of having pornographic images involving minors under the age of 12 in June 2019 in Morgan County.
Young faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Montgomery County Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud & Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- Steven Ray Williams, 58, of Hope, Kentucky, admitted to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft involving fraudulent representations to a financial institution on Wednesday, before U.S. District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell.
In 1999, Williams borrowed a series of loans from the Farm Services Agency (FSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To pledge collateral for the loans, Williams listed farm equipment that he owned, as well as cattle and other livestock. In April 2012, the Williams failed to make a loan payment to the FSA and in May 2012, he declared bankruptcy.
According to the plea agreement, from March 2012 through June 2015, Defendant Williams regularly sold off the cattle at various stockyards in central Kentucky, and because they had been previously pledged as collateral to the FSA, the Defendant sold the cattle in the name of others and not in his own name. Upon receiving payment for the cattle sold in the form of a check, the Defendant would forge the signature of the person the check was made out to, and then add his own signature below, enabling him to deposit the funds into his own bank account. Because he was in default on his FSA loans, Williams’ actions brought about a financial gain and deprived the FSA any chance at recovering proceeds from livestock that had been pledged as collateral.
Williams was indicted in September 2019.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Jason M. Williams, Special Agent in Charge, for USDA OIG, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Moynahan.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23, 2020. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
— END —
Mexican national sentenced for trafficking $5 million in methRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 51-year-old resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been handed a significant sentence for possession with intent to distribute 69 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Mario Gabriel Sorcia-Quintana pleaded guilty Jan. 8, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez sentenced Sorcia-Quintana to a total of 100 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the prison sentence.
On July 20, 2018, Quintana arrived at the Gateway port of entry in Brownsville driving a Nissan Xterra. At the time, he claimed to be en route to San Antonio with his family, including his four-year-old child, and presented travel permits for all three occupants.
He was referred to secondary inspection where authorities then discovered an unusually high-density reading of all four tires. Further investigation revealed an anomaly, resulting in the discovery of a rectangular metal compartment found inside the tire. Authorities then drilled a hole in it and found a white powdery substance which tested positive for the properties of meth.
The packages were not properly sealed. Therefore, authorities called a hazmat team for assistance in extracting the narcotics due to the potential exposure of the contents in the metal compartments.
They removed a total of 69.10 kilograms from all four tires which was found to have an approximate value of $5 million.
Quintana has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Llanos-Salinas prosecuted the case.
Mexican man indicted on immigration chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eric Valdivia Del Valle, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted today on an illegal reentry charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Del Valle, age 33, is charged with one count of “Reentry of removed Aliens.” Del Valle has been removed from the U.S. four times for illegal entry and is accused of being in Berkeley County in November 2019.
Del Valle faces up to two years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Finucane is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security Immigrations and Customs Enforcement investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Re-entryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ARMANDO ENRIQUEZ-MORA, age 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced on January 21, 2020 after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien.
According to the bill of information, ARMANDO ENRIQUEZ-MORA was encountered in the United States on or about October 8, 2019, after having been previously removed therefrom on or about October 30, 2012.
U. S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced ARMANDO ENRIQUEZ-MORA to time served, a $100 special assessment and was surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Mercer County Man Arraigned on Charge of Illegal Possession of WeaponRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Omar Kennedy, 38, of Trenton, is charged by indictment with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was arraigned today before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court and pleaded not guilty. He remains detained.
According to the indictment, returned Jan. 15, 2020:
On May 23, 2019, Kennedy possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charge of possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NCIS for mental health reasons; and ensured that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Andrea Bergman Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton
Mechanicsburg Man Enters Guilty Plea to Defrauding Credit Union over Auto LoanRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rene Roy, age 51, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to bank fraud on January 21, 2020, before United States District Court Judge John Jones.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Roy admitted during this guilty plea that when he submitted an application to Belco Community Credit Union for an auto loan, he submitted falsified documents to get a lower interest rate.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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.
# # #
Matthew Courtney to Pay $700,000 to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that MATTHEW COURTNEY will pay $700,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act. COURTNEY was the owner of two schools, Louisiana Shooters Unlimited and Arete Training Group, both of which had been certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Louisiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs to receive VA educational funding to provide classes to eligible veterans.
The settlement resolves allegations that COURTNEY submitted false claims in order to obtain payments from the VA. The United States contends that during the period from March 2013 through September 2017, COURTNEY represented to the VA that Arete and LSU were in compliance with 38 C.F.R. § 21.4201 and 38 U.S.C. § 3680A (commonly known as the 85-15 Rule), when the schools were not. COURTNEY also created false enrollments for VA students for particular courses when they did not enroll in the courses. Furthermore, COURTNEY failed to notify the VA when a student failed to attend a course and when a student dropped a course. By doing so, COURTNEY failed to repay the overpayment that was due to the VA.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General with the investigation leading to the settlement.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Loan “Mimi” Nguyen and Shirin Hakimzedah.
Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Obstruction of Justice in Cyber Fraud InvestigationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that Fatima Sesay, age 28, of Laurel, Maryland, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to obstruction of justice. As a result of her guilty plea, Sesay faces a significant term of imprisonment, fines, and a period of supervised release.
Beginning in 2017, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Office of Inspector General (EXIM Bank), and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, working with a federal grand jury sitting in Baton Rouge, were conducting an investigation into a cyberfraud that affected a business in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana. After the victim company shipped approximately $67,000 of its products to a customer in Amman, Jordan, the customer received a series of fraudulent e-mails directing it to send payment to an account at Wells Fargo Bank. Relying on the messages and wiring instructions, the customer wired the requested funds to the account. The Louisiana-based victim had not sent the e-mails, however, and unbeknownst to the customer, the wiring instructions were fraudulent.
Several weeks later, Wells Fargo closed the account, and issued a check for the closing balance, approximately $106,000, which included the fraudulent proceeds of the scheme described above, to the individual whose name appeared on the account, Individual A. On July 20, 2016, the check was deposited into an account at Bank of America, which had been opened in Maryland earlier that year by Sesay in the name “Pearl Global, Inc.,” a limited liability company that Sesay had formed. EXIM Bank, the official export credit agency of the United States, had insured the underlying transactions between the Louisiana business and its customer. Upon realizing that the businesses had been defrauded, EXIM Bank’s Office of Inspector General began investigating possible violations of criminal laws arising out of these events.
Federal authorities contacted Sesay and made several attempts to secure truthful information from her about her knowledge of the scheme. Instead, as Sesay has admitted, she made numerous statements intended to mislead and deceive the federal grand jury investigation. First, in January of 2019, she participated in an interview with federal agents and made a number of evasive or misleading statements. For example, when Sesay was asked about the check that was deposited into her bank account, she said that she had attempted to deposit the check, but claimed that she did not know how she received the check and did not recall how she may have deposited it. Second, in April of 2019, she testified before the grand jury in Baton Rouge and repeatedly provided inaccurate, misleading, and false answers. Sesay gave false answers intended to minimize the extent of her relationship with one of the subjects of the investigation, for instance, and falsely claimed that she did not have any information about a particular phone number relevant to the investigation, despite the fact that she had purchased the phone and was its registered subscriber.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “Obstructing the federal grand jury from fulfilling its lawful duties will not be tolerated in this district. We will continue to use federal resources, which are uniquely qualified to combat cyber fraud, to protect our businesses and bring these criminals to justice. I want to thank our prosecutor and the Export-Import Bank, Office of Inspector General, for its work on this conviction.”
EXIM Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States, and assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Complaints and reports of waste, fraud, and abuse related to EXIM Bank programs and operations can be reported to the OIG hotline at 888-OIG-EXIM (888-644-3946) or via email at [email protected].
This matter is being investigated by the Export-Import Bank of the United States – Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who serves as Senior Litigation Counsel of the Criminal Division.
Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Continues Fight Against Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has awarded $1,178,492.00 in grant funding to the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), in partnership with the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF), Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP), and Maryland Departments of Human Services and Juvenile Services to support establishment of a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for child and youth victims of human trafficking.
The award will support creation of a statewide labor trafficking multidisciplinary team that will formalize and institutionalize the management of cases in a victim-centered manner, development of a unified statewide training strategy for professionals that includes victim-centered and trauma-informed best practices for handling human trafficking cases involving children and youth, and establishment of a survivor-informed, coordinated service response for children and youth.
“The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to dedicate significant resources to fighting human trafficking,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We urge the public to think of human trafficking victims and survivors during this month, Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Department of Justice is proud to support our partners and victims through financial grants and robust prosecutions that hold human traffickers accountable. We will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who commit human trafficking crimes, and to support the victims of these cruel and despicable crimes.”
In addition, in 2018, the Office of Justice Programs awarded $562,500 over a three-year period to the Prince George’s County Police Department and the University of Maryland Baltimore (on behalf of the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment (SAFE) Center) to support the Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force. This grant funds three caseworkers to assist with 24/7 crisis response and comprehensive services; additional investigative resources within the Prince George’s County Police Department focused on human trafficking; one full-time additional forensic investigator within the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office dedicated to human trafficking; and one additional Assistant State’s Attorney within the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office dedicated to prosecuting human trafficking.
For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
Additional information about the USAO’s efforts to end human trafficking follows:
- Human Trafficking Coordinator and Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF)
Since 2007, the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office has designated an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) to serve as Human Trafficking Coordinator for the district. This AUSA is the point of contact for law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors for human trafficking cases, and serves as the chair of the MHTTF. In addition, the Office’s Law Enforcement Coordinator, who has been involved in MHTTF since its inception, serves as a point of contact for outreach, training, and enforcement efforts through the MHTTF.
Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Task Force serves to coordinate activities, develop policy, and implement strategic plans to combat human trafficking in Maryland. The MHTTF maintains five active sub-committees: Law Enforcement, Victim Services, Training, Public Outreach and Legislative.
Since its inception in 2007, the MHTTF has sought to raise public awareness and implement best practices in investigations, prosecutions, victim identification, and victim service response. Members have customized practices for the unique circumstances that Maryland faces both as an originating point and as a throughway for human trafficking. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and providers work together on the MHTTF to take a victim-centered approach: freeing the victim from oppression and rehabilitating the victim as a witness in order to bring traffickers to justice.
The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking and Law Enforcement Coordinators also regularly consult with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding their current activities in investigating human trafficking crimes. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in coordination with the MHTTF offers or arranges a wide variety of training to educate law enforcement and other human trafficking professionals.
- Local Partner Events to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking
Local partners also have events to increase awareness of and combat human trafficking. Several of their upcoming events follow:
- The Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Task Force (ESHTTF): The mission of the ESHTTF is to combat human trafficking by encouraging, supporting, and promoting awareness, prevention, and education throughout the Eastern Shore. The next public awareness event will take place at the Kent Island Library, 200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD beginning at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, February 8, 2020 featuring state legislators, a service provider, and a victim/survivor. Links to the ESHTTF website and Facebook: www.ESHTTF.org; www.fb.com/ESHTTFMaryland.
- The Frederick County Human Trafficking Response Team: The mission of the Frederick County Human Trafficking Response Team is to provide a victim-centered, collaborative response to human trafficking in Frederick County to assist in the identification of victims, prosecution of cases, and the availability and use of comprehensive services for victims. Their website is at https://frederickcountymd.gov/7672/Human-Trafficking-Response-Team.
- The Anne Arundel County Commission for Women (human trafficking working group): The Anne Arundel County Commission for Women, through its combatting human trafficking working group, supports the eradication of human trafficking in Anne Arundel County through community awareness, education, advocacy, and efforts to support survivors. Their website is: https://www.aacounty.org/boards-and-commissions/commission-for-women/index.html
- Upcoming Events
- What about the Children? Community Human Trafficking Awareness Presentation: Tuesday, January 28th 2020, 7 – 8:30pm (Doors open at 6:30pm); 8146 Quarterfield Road, Severn, MD 21144; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495135760637504/
- 7th Annual Dash 4 Dignity 5K Dash, 1K Freedom Walk, and Community Resource Fair; Saturday, April 25th 2020; 109 Burns Crossing Road, Severn, MD 21144; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/481052045877666/
- Upcoming Events
- The Montgomery County Commission for Women (Human Trafficking Prevention Committee): Here is the link to the human trafficking prevention committee information in Montgomery County: https://frederickcountymd.gov/7672/Human-Trafficking-Response-Team
- Prosecution of Human Trafficking Cases
Notable cases prosecuted in 2019 by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office include the following:
United States v. Ryan Russell Parks: On November 7, 2019, U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston sentenced Ryan Russell Parks, a/k/a Dinero, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison, for sex trafficking of a minor and for using the Internet to promote a business enterprise involving prostitution. A federal jury convicted Parks late on July 18, 2019, after a four-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at his trial, Parks trafficked two vulnerable minor victims—a 16-year-old girl (Girl 1) and a 15-year-old girl (Girl 2)—for commercial sex. According to trial testimony, Parks met both girls online. During communications with Girl 1, Parks learned that she was hungry and had no real place to live, and he offered Girl 1 a place to stay. In his conversations with Girl 2, Parks learned that she had run away from her foster home. Parks sent a car to pick up Girl 1 and to bring her to a motel in Woodlawn, Maryland, and within a day, he caused advertisements offering Girl 1 for commercial sex acts, with photos and descriptions of Girl 1, to be posted on a website that marketed commercial sex workers. Parks stayed with Girl 1 at a motel in Baltimore, along with another woman he was advertising on the Internet for commercial sex. Parks would leave the room when men would come to the room to have sex with Girl 1, and he would return to the room shortly after the men left the room. One of Girl 1’s customers returned to the room the next day to rescue her, and took her to live in a different city with his sister.
On November 16, 2017, Parks paid a driver to pick up Girl 2 and bring her to his home. He talked to her about making money through prostitution, and he took her to the same motel in Baltimore where Parks had harbored Girl 1. Parks took photographs of Girl 2 and paid for an online advertisement offering Girl 2 for commercial sex. While law enforcement was investigating the trafficking of the two minor victims, they discovered evidence regarding the extent of Parks’ prostitution business. Evidence at trial proved that Parks advertised approximately 27 different women and girls for commercial sex. Parks also paid over $6,000 for hotel rooms in Baltimore County and Baltimore City during the course of his prostitution enterprise.
United States v. Sean Dean: On October 30, 2019, Sean Dean, age 26, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor. Dean admitted that he conspired to traffic four minor girls to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial benefit. Dean entered his guilty plea on October 29, 2019.
According to Dean’s plea agreement, from December 2017 until January 2018, Dean recruited, harbored, transported, and/or maintained five females, including four minors ranging from 15 to 17 years old, to engage in commercial sex acts. Dean utilized social media and cellular telephones to recruit, monitor, direct, and communicate with the four girls and the woman.
In furtherance of the sex trafficking enterprise, Dean and/or a co-conspirator rented hotel rooms in Timonium and Laurel, Maryland to be used by the victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Dean and his co-conspirator transported the victims to the various hotels where they would stay for multiple days. While in the hotel rooms, at Dean’s direction the victims used a website to advertise themselves for commercial sex acts. The advertisements contained pictures of the victims in provocative poses and provided contact information for clients to use to secure a “date” with the victims. The victims were required to share a portion of the proceeds from any commercial sex acts with Dean and his co-conspirator.
On January 11, 2018, Dean and his co-conspirator transported all five victims to a hotel in Laurel, where Dean had rented rooms for the victims to use for commercial sex acts. In response to a complaint, law enforcement responded to two different rooms rented by Dean. Law enforcement located three minor girls and the woman in the two rooms. The fourth minor girl had already left the hotel. Dean and the co-conspirator fled to avoid detection by law enforcement. After leaving the area, Dean exchanged messages with the woman indicating that he had left to avoid law enforcement because he knew one of the victims was under age. Dean also directed the woman to delete their messages.
United States v. De’Angelo Johnson: On October 22, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging De’Angelo Johnson, a/k/a “Cowboy” or “D,” age 31, of Maryland, with sex trafficking and distribution of heroin and cocaine. According to the indictment, Johnson induced five Maryland victims, all over the age of 18, to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit, by means of force, fraud, and coercion from August 2018 through May 21, 2019. The indictment also alleges that all of the sex trafficking victims suffered from serious substance abuse disorders, including addictions to heroin and crack cocaine, and that that Johnson sold the narcotics to the victims. The indictment further alleges that Johnson posted sex work advertisements of the victims and communicated with potential sex customers often pretending to be the victims. Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for each of five counts of sex trafficking and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances if convicted.
United States v. Lakeya N. Aldridge, Joshua Lankford and Kevonne L. Murphy: On August 1, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lakeya N. Aldridge, Joshua Lankford and Kevonne L. Murphy with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and kidnapping, for allegedly forcing a woman to engage in commercial sex acts for the financial benefit of the defendants.
According to the four-count indictment, from approximately October 1 to October 30, 2018, the defendants conspired to, and engaged in the business of recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, advertising, and maintaining the victim, K.A., an adult female, to engage in commercial sex acts for their financial benefit. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Aldridge, Lankford, and Murphy rented hotel rooms for the victim to engage in commercial sex acts, as well as transporting the victim to “out calls” to hotel rooms and other locations to engage in commercial sex acts, including transporting her across state lines. Aldridge allegedly provided narcotics, including heroin, to the victim to recruit, entice, and maintain the victim throughout the course of her engaging in commercial sex acts. On August 28, 2019, Murphy pled guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and sentencing currently set for February 28, 2020.
The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office deploys many resources in the fight against human trafficking, aimed at investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases; providing support and services for victims; engaging in outreach to law enforcement, prosecutors, non-governmental organizations, and other partners; and educating the community. We will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases to end this devastating crime.
# # #
- Human Trafficking Coordinator and Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF)
Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
John C. Demers, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that Jesus Wilfredo Encarnacion, aka “Jihadistsoldgier,” “Jihadinhear,” “Jihadinheart,” “Lionofthegood,” pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization responsible for multiple high-profile attacks, including the infamous Mumbai attacks in November 2008. Encarnacion pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Ronnie Abrams.
“Encarnacion admitted to attempting to travel to Pakistan to join a foreign terrorist organization and conspired over the internet with another individual, who’s already plead guilty, to provide that organization with material support,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who seek to join and support designated foreign terrorist organizations.”
“As he admitted today, Jesus Encarnacion plotted to travel abroad to join and train with the terrorist organization Lashkar e-Tayyiba, infamous worldwide for their brutal jihadist murder of innocent civilians, and to carry out shootings, bombings, and beheadings on their behalf,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York. “Thanks to the excellent work of the FBI and the NYPD, Encarnacion was intercepted before his deadly plot could take flight, and he now awaits sentencing for his crime.”
According to the criminal Complaint, Indictment, and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceeding:
In November 2018, Encarnacion expressed his desire to join a terrorist group in an online group chat, where he met another individual (CC-1). CC-1 introduced Encarnacion to an individual who, unbeknownst to CC-1 or Encarnacion, was in fact an undercover FBI employee (UC-1). Encarnacion repeatedly expressed, in the course of recorded communications through a social media service with CC-1 and through an encrypted messaging service with UC-1, his allegiance to and support for LeT, which, since approximately 2001, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by both the United States Secretary of State and the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Over several months, Encarnacion discussed his desire and plans to join LeT overseas so that he could receive training and participate in violent acts of terrorism. For example, Encarnacion told UC-1 that he was “ready to kill and die in the name of Allah” and sought UC-1’s assistance to help Encarnacion travel abroad to serve as an “executioner” for LeT, stating, “I want to execute. I want to behead. Shoot.” Encarnacion further stated that he aspired to commit terrorist attacks (“a bombing and shooting”) in the United States, but lacked “guidance” and “guns” to do so.
By early 2019, Encarnacion and UC-1 agreed on a plan that Encarnacion believed would allow him to join LeT in Pakistan. Encarnacion told UC-1 that he had made arrangements to travel to a particular city in Europe (the “European City”), as the first step in traveling to Pakistan to join LeT. Encarnacion purchased an airline ticket for a flight scheduled to depart on Feb. 7, 2019, from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) to the European City. On Feb. 7, 2019, Encarnacion traveled to JFK Airport, where he was arrested by the FBI after he attempted to board that flight.
Encarnacion, 30, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Encarnacion is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Abrams on April 24, 2020, at 11:30 a.m.
Assistant Attorney General Demers and Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department. Assistant Attorney General Demers and Mr. Berman the New York Office of U. S. Customs and Border Protection.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Denton Jr. and Kimberly J. Ravener are in charge of the prosecution.
Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and John C. Demers, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, announced today that JESUS WILFREDO ENCARNACION, a/k/a “Jihadistsoldgier,” “Jihadinhear,” “Jihadinheart,” “Lionofthegood,” pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to Lashkar e-Tayyiba (“LeT”), a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization responsible for multiple high-profile attacks, including the infamous Mumbai attacks in November 2008. ENCARNACION pled guilty today before United States District Judge Ronnie Abrams.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As he admitted today, Jesus Encarnacion plotted to travel abroad to join and train with the terrorist organization Lashkar e-Tayyiba, infamous worldwide for their brutal jihadist murder of innocent civilians, and to carry out shootings, bombings, and beheadings on their behalf. Thanks to the excellent work of the FBI and the NYPD, Encarnacion was intercepted before his deadly plot could take flight, and he now awaits sentencing for his crime.”
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said: "Encarnacion admitted to attempting to travel to Pakistan to join a foreign terrorist organization and conspired over the internet with another individual, who’s already pled guilty, to provide that organization with material support. The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who seek to join and support designated foreign terrorist organizations."
According to the criminal Complaint, Indictment, and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceeding:
In November 2018, ENCARNACION expressed his desire to join a terrorist group in an online group chat, where he met another individual (“CC-1”). CC-1 introduced ENCARNACION to an individual who, unbeknownst to CC-1 or ENCARNACION, was in fact an undercover FBI employee (“UC-1”). ENCARNACION repeatedly expressed, in the course of recorded communications through a social media service with CC-1 and through an encrypted messaging service with UC-1, his allegiance to and support for LeT, which, since approximately 2001, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by both the United States Secretary of State and the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Over several months, ENCARNACION discussed his desire and plans to join LeT overseas so that he could receive training and participate in violent acts of terrorism. For example, ENCARNACION told UC-1 that he was “ready to kill and die in the name of Allah” and sought UC-1’s assistance to help ENCARNACION travel abroad to serve as an “executioner” for LeT, stating, “I want to execute. I want to behead. Shoot.” ENCARNACION further stated that he aspired to commit terrorist attacks (“a bombing and shooting”) in the United States, but lacked “guidance” and “guns” to do so.
By early 2019, ENCARNACION and UC-1 agreed on a plan that ENCARNACION believed would allow him to join LeT in Pakistan. ENCARNACION told UC-1 that he had made arrangements to travel to a particular city in Europe (the “European City”), as the first step in traveling to Pakistan to join LeT. ENCARNACION purchased an airline ticket for a flight scheduled to depart on February 7, 2019, from John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK Airport”) to the European City. On February 7, 2019, ENCARNACION traveled to JFK Airport, where he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) after he attempted to board that flight.
* * *
ENCARNACION, 30, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
ENCARNACION is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Abrams on April 24, 2020, at 11:30 a.m.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department. Mr. Berman also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, as well as the New York Office of U. S. Customs and Border Protection.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Denton Jr. and Kimberly J. Ravener are in charge of the prosecution.
Lincoln Man Sentenced in Human Trafficking StingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Travis Larkin, 29, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln. Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Larkin to 15 ½ years in prison for attempting to entice a minor. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Larkin will serve a 20-year term of supervised release. Larkin, a registered sex offender, had a prior conviction for attempted sexual assault of a minor under the age of 12.
Larkin responded to an online advertisement to have a sexual encounter with a minor. Larkin made an agreement with whom he believed to be the child’s mother to pay her $200 to have sex with her 15-year-old daughter. Larkin was intercepted by the FBI and the Lincoln Police Department on the way into the hotel where he was to meet up with the minor. In his possession at time of arrest were alcohol, condoms, a little over $200 in cash, and a sex toy.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Task Force and the Lincoln Police Department.
Lexington Woman Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- Paige Cagle, 26, of Lexington, admitted to using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell.
According to Cagle’s plea agreement, on March 1, 2019, officers were informed from a third party that he had received pornographic images from Cagle involving children. Cagle admitted to officers that on 4 to 5 occasions, she had sexually abused a minor child from the age of 9 months to approximately 1.5 years old. Cagle further admitted that she made two videos of the sexual abuse while in Joplin, Missouri, and three videos of the sexual abuse while in Clark County, Kentucky. Cagle admitted to sharing the videos she made with others via Dropbox. Cagle further admitted that she possessed additional images of child pornography, specifically images of female children ages 4 to 13 years of age, in her Dropbox account and admitted that she would give out her Dropbox password, so that others could upload images into her account.
Cagle was indicted in April 2019.
“There is no matter of greater importance to law enforcement than protecting innocent children from being violated and abused during the production of child pornography,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This investigation and prosecution ensures for the foreseeable future that the defendant will not be able to continue to physically victimize children.”
United States Attorney Duncan, and Steven L. Igyarto, Resident Agent in Charge for Homeland Security; and Commissioner Rodney Brewer, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and KSP. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dmitry Slavin and Lauren Tanner Bradley.
Cagle is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2020. She faces a mandatory 15 years in prison, up to a maximum of 30 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
— END —
Leakesville Man Pleads Guilty to Making a False Statement When Purchasing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Thomas Truitt Lott III, 33, of Leakesville, Mississippi, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Halil S. Ozerden to knowingly making a false statement to a firearms dealer when purchasing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On November 9, 2018, while purchasing a firearm at a Leakesville pawn shop, Lott knowingly made a false statement to a federal firearms licensee when he filled out an ATF Form 4473 and stated on the form that he was not under indictment. At the time of the purchase, Lott knew that he was under an Indictment in Green County, Mississippi for transfer of a controlled substance. On May 15, 2019, Lott was charged in a federal criminal indictment.
Lott will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. in Gulfport. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please click here.
Jefferson County man and Virginia man indicted on drug chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Wayne Samuel Ellis Clyburn, Of Ranson, West Virginia, and Shawn Kendall Murray, of Gainesville, Virginia, were indicted today on drug charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Clyburn, age 51, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine Hydrochloride, and Marijuana,” one count of “Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride,” one count of “Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,” and two counts of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility.”
Murray, age 37, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine Hydrochloride, and Marijuana,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride,” one count of “Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” and one count of “Travel Act – Promotion.”
Both men are accused of being involved in a drug distribution operation from March 2018 to January 2019 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and elsewhere.
Clyburn faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each of the conspiracy and cocaine charges. He faces up to five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the marijuana charge. Clyburn faces up to four years incarceration and a fine of up to $30,000 for each of the communication charges. Murray faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each of the conspiracy, cocaine, and heroin charges. Murray faces up to five years incarceration for the travel act 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 Lara Omps-Botteicher and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jacksonville Man Arrested for Submitting False Claim for FEMA Benefits Related to Hurricane IrmaRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Deontres Javan Taylor (26, Jacksonville) with disaster assistance fraud related to Hurricane Irma. If convicted, Taylor faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, plus payment of restitution to the United States.
According to the indictment, in September 2017, when submitting an application for assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program for Hurricane Irma, Taylor falsified records concerning his primary residence in Jacksonville.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected]. You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.
Idaho Man Sentenced for Guiding Without a License in Noatak Preserve and Filing False Hunting DocumentsRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that an Idaho man was sentenced for multiple Lacey Act violations by unlawfully providing guided bear and moose hunts in the Noatak National Preserve.
Paul Silvis, 52, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to serve six months of home confinement, followed by five years of supervised release. In addition to the sentence, Silvis was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine, and ordered not to hunt in Alaska for the remainder of his lifetime. In October 2019, Silvis pleaded guilty to two felony counts of Lacey Act violations.
According to court documents, from 2009 to 2016, Silvis, a resident of Idaho, repeatedly violated state and federal law by unlawfully providing guided bear and moose hunts in the Noatak National Preserve. Silvis was motivated by pecuniary gain, as he acquired approximately $121,500 by unlawfully selling and providing guide services, which resulted in the unlawful taking of seven brown bear and one moose.
Specifically, on Sept. 5, and Sept. 12, 2014, as well as Sept. 25, 2013, within the Noatak National Preserve, Silvas knowingly guided illegal hunts for other residents of Idaho that did not possess the appropriate permits. The investigation revealed that Silvis advertised his unlicensed guiding services under the name “Orion Outfitters,” he transported illegally taken game across state lines, and submitted false business records to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) in order to conceal the illegal take of brown bears and illegally guided hunts.
In order to lawfully hunt brown bears within the Noatak National Preserve, a non-resident hunter would be required to have contracted with a licensed big game guide, possess the appropriate ADF&G draw permits as well as purchasing the appropriate big game tags. Once the permit is obtained, hunters are required to accurately report to ADF&G the big game animals hunted or killed. Silvis was neither a licensed big game guide, nor did he, or any of his clients, possess the appropriate big game tags.
The National Park Service (NPS) and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers (AWT) conducted the investigation leading to successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Steven E. Skrocki and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas M. Walker for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska.
Head of human smuggling ring sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – The 41-year-old female leader of an alien smuggling organization has been ordered to prison in a conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens and for illegally re-entering the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Brenda Yadira Gamez-Castaneda aka Guera La Trailera, of Mexico, pleaded guilty Oct. 8, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez handed Gamez-Castaneda a 120- month term of imprisonment for the conspiracy. She also received 24 months for illegal re-entry to run concurrently for a total of 10 years. Not a U.S. citizen, she is expected to face removal proceedings following her incarceration.
The court enhanced her sentence, finding she obstructed or impeded the administration of justice. Gamez-Castaneda had destroyed evidence, demanded others to do the same and instructed a co-defendant on what to say to authorities. She also attempted to flee from the country after realizing she was a target of the investigation.
While imposing the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted Gamez-Castaneda was the leader or organizer of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants or that was otherwise extensive and at least two alien smuggling cells.
Beginning on approximately May 17, 2019, Roberto Flores-Brewster utilized his property in Donna known as “the Brewster Compound” to harbor and transport undocumented aliens with Adolfo Medina-Cervantez. Flores-Brewster then transported the aliens to Gamez-Castaneda. From there, she and Silber Vazquez-Mireles would transport the undocumented aliens to additional stash houses and hotel locations where other members of the criminal enterprise would harbor them. The aliens remained there while Gamez-Castaneda coordinated with tractor trailer drivers to smuggle them beyond the South Texas Border Patrol (BP) checkpoints.
Gamez-Castaneda was found responsible for smuggling at least 25 undocumented aliens. At least one of them was an accompanied minor, while another had been involuntarily detained. Another alien was held by coercion, threat or in connection with a demand for payment. The court also noted that she had utilized a 10-year old child to assist in the alien smuggling conspiracy at a hotel where undocumented aliens, including an unaccompanied juvenile, were being harbored.
On Oct. 9, 2019, Vazquez-Mireles, 32, of Mexico, was ordered to serve 40 months in federal prison for his role in the smuggling ring. At the time of his sentencing, Vazquez-Mireles also received an enhancement for obstruction of justice. The court found he had placed jail calls during which he informed Gamez-Castaneda, then unindicted, to destroy evidence related to the conspiracy.
Flores-Brewster, 60, and Medina-Cervantez, 29, are set for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Alvarez March 25.
Gamez-Castaneda has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case.
Hazard Man Sentenced to 115 Months for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon and Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. - Robert Dale Terry, 53, of Hazard, Kentucky, was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison on Wednesday, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in furtherance of taking money by force, violence, and intimidation, by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Weir.
According to Terry’s plea agreement, he admitted that, on May 21, 2018, he entered the Hyden Citizen’s Bank in Leslie County and gave a teller a note that instructed employees to fill a green money bag and that “know {sic} one would get hurt.” Terry admitted to stealing $16,080 from the bank. After Terry left the bank, several dye packs exploded; he spent the unaffected money and burnt the affected money.
On June 22, 2018, Terry also admitted to entering the First National Bank of Manchester, in Clay County, and presenting another handwritten note that directed bank employees to fill a money bag and that “know {sic} one will get hurt.” The Defendant stole $3,340 from the second bank. Terry also admitted to knowing that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, based on his prior felony convictions.
Terry pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2019. Terry was previously convicted in Perry County Circuit Court of possession and trafficking of a controlled substance, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Under federal law, Terry must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenna E. Reed and Rajbir Datta.
— END —
Harwich Man Sentenced for Unlawful Firearms Possession and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Harwich man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for firearms and drug offenses.
Timothy Fletcher, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 168 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In July 2018, Fletcher was convicted by a federal jury of one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition - a Tisas, Model Regent .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, 58 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition and 60 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
On April 3, 2015, police executed a search warrant at a storage unit in Hyannis where they recovered, among other items, firearms, 124 rounds of ammunition, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, $1420 in cash, drug paraphernalia, two digital scales, boxes of plastic sandwich baggies, approximately 223 pairs of sneakers and various documents containing Fletcher’s name. The firearms, firearm magazines, some of the drugs and the cash were hidden inside various sneakers and sneaker boxes. In addition, Fletcher’s fingerprints were recovered from a magazine found inside a sneaker box with the .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
The night before the warrant was executed, Fletcher was stopped by the police and found to be in possession of the key to the storage facility and unit.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend; and Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Role in Gang-Related Drug RingRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANNIE DARLING, 32, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division into the trafficking of narcotics and associated violence in Hartford’s South End by members and associates of the Almighty Latin Kings Nation (“Latin Kings”). The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that two alleged members of the Latin Kings operated separate drug trafficking organizations that distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. The organizations used multiple locations to process, package, store and distribute narcotics, and possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities.
Nelson Ferry, also known as “300,” led one of the drug trafficking organizations and operated a “trap house” at 149 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford as a distribution point for drug customers. Darling, who is Ferry’s brother-in-law, purchased distribution quantities of fentanyl/heroin from Ferry and, at times, delivered narcotics to another member of the organization.
On May 22, 2018, a member of Ferry’s organization was shot and seriously wounded in an apparent robbery of the Wethersfield Avenue trap house. After the shooting, intercepted communications revealed that Ferry solicited Darling to locate and likely harm the shooter. In order to prevent violence, investigators followed Ferry, sent uniformed police officers into targeted areas, and stopped Darling in his vehicle to identify him.
Darling has been detained since his arrest on June 19, 2018. On September 9, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin and fentanyl.
Darling’s criminal history includes multiple convictions and he previously served a 78-month sentence in state custody.
Ferry has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division and Shooting Task Force have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LLERALD CARRASQUILLO, 28, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in early 2019, law enforcement learned that an individual who was addicted to opioids had traded firearms with Carrasquillo in exchange for fentanyl and heroin. In May and June 2019, investigators made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Carrasquillo at his Hartford residence. On July 10, 2019, a court-authorized search of the residence revealed a quantity of fentanyl, two 9mm handguns and ammunition. One of the handguns was lawfully registered to Carrasquillo’s wife, but Carrasquillo has admitted that he had received the other handgun from the addicted individual in exchange for fentanyl.
Carrasquillo’s criminal history includes two felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute narcotics. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On October 29, 2019, Carrasquillo pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Carrasquillo, who is released on a $10,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 23, 2020.
This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut State Police and Windsor Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
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.
Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DYZHAE RICHARDSON, 23, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2019, after a spate of gun violence in Hartford, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force, DEA, Hartford Police Department and other law enforcement agencies initiated an investigation targeting gang-related drug distribution and associated violence in north Hartford. During the investigation, investigators made two controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl from Richardson in August and September 2019.
Richardson was arrested on September 13, 2019. On that date, a court-authorized search of his residence revealed a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun, additional loose rounds of 9mm ammunition, approximately 100 wax folds of heroin, a quantity of crack cocaine and approximately $2,500 in cash. A search of Richardson’s person also revealed approximately $1,000 in cash.
Richardson has been detained since his arrest.
Richardson’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics and weapon offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for April 14, 2020.
The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson as 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.
Hancock Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Hancock man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Bangor to possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl, United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on February 13, 2019, law enforcement officers encountered William Smeal, 33, in Ellsworth, Maine. A bag containing over 100 grams of a substance containing fentanyl was seized from his car. Smeal admitted to purchasing drugs in Massachusetts that day. A search of Smeal’s home and an additional search of his car resulted in the seizure of more than another 100 grams of a substance containing of fentanyl.
Smeal faces between five years and 40 years in prison and up to a $5,000,000 fine. He also faces between four years and a lifetime of supervised release.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Hammond Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of Federal Gun Control Act and Conspiracy to Distribute Substances Containing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today that defendant LARRY GREEN (“GREEN”), age 37, of Hammond, LA, pled guilty on January 21, 2020 to (Count 1) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) and (Count 2) conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.
According to court documents, between February 2019 and April 2019 GREEN distributed approximately 644 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On Valentine’s Day 2019, GREEN possessed a firearm in furtherance of one of the illegal narcotics transactions.
The court set sentencing in this matter for April 21, 2020. For Count 1, GREEN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a $250,000 fine. Any term of imprisonment imposed for Count 1 is to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. For Count 2, GREEN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of (20) twenty years and a $1,000,000 fine. For Count 1, GREEN faces up to (5) five years supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 special assessment fee. For Count 2, GREEN faces at least (3) three years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This matter was handled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans is prosecuting the matter.
Former Regional Sales Director for Insys Therapeutics Sentenced for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Regional Sales Director for Insys Therapeutics was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for bribing practitioners to prescribe Subsys, a fentanyl-based pain medication, often when medically unnecessary.
Sunrise Lee, 38, of Bryant City, MI, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 1 year and 1 day in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution to be determined at a later date and ordered to forfeit the proceeds of the offense (the exact amount to be determined at a later date). The government recommended a sentence of 72 months in prison.
In May 2019, Lee was convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy along with four other Insys executives.
Subsys, a drug owned and manufactured by Insys Therapeutics, Inc., is a fentanyl-based, rapid-onset opioid approved to treat cancer patients suffering intense breakthrough pain. From May 2012 to December 2015, Lee and her co-defendants conspired to bribe practitioners, many of whom operated pain clinics, in order to induce them to prescribe Subsys to patients, often when medically unnecessary. They also conspired to mislead and defraud health insurance providers who were reluctant to approve payment for the expensive drug when it was prescribed for patients without cancer. Medicare would not approve payment for the drug unless the patient was being treated for breakthrough cancer pain.
Lee joined Insys as a District Sales Director, excelling at recruiting and cultivating high prescribers of Insys, including a pain management physician in Michigan and another physician outside Chicago. The prescribers bribed by Lee became some of the most prolific prescribers of the drug. Lee obtained agreements from the doctors to write significant quantities of Subsys prescriptions, and prescriptions in increasing dosages, in exchange for participation in the Insys speaker program, a vehicle used to pay kickbacks. Lee was promoted to Regional Sales Director in 2013. In that capacity, she was responsible for managing nearly a third of the company’s sales force.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D. Acting Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs of the U.S. Food and Drug; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office; Carol S. Hamilton, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office; Jeffrey K. Stachowiak, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and Thomas W. South, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations of the Office of Personnel Management made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. Nathaniel Yeager, Fred M. Wyshak and David G. Lazarus prosecuted the case for Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit.
Former Police Detective and FBI Task Force Officer Indicted for Bribery and Other OffensesRead the Press Release
A veteran detective for the Carlisle, Pennsylvania Police Department, who was also a task force officer with the FBI and a member of the Cumberland County Drug Task Force, was indicted by a federal grand jury for bribery, drug distribution, fraud and making false statements.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Special Agent in Charge Guido Modano of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s New York Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that Christopher Collare, 52, of Blythewood, South Carolina, used his official position to obtain sex from two women in exchange for agreeing to take actions in prosecutions. In 2015, Collare allegedly agreed to accept sex or money in exchange for not appearing at an evidentiary hearing so that a criminal charge would be dismissed. In 2018, Collare allegedly agreed to accept sexual favors in exchange for taking steps to help reduce a potential sentence.
The indictment also alleges that Collare distributed heroin in 2016. The indictment alleges that between 2011 and 2018 he defrauded the Borough of Carlisle and the Cumberland County Drug Task Force by providing confidential informants with drugs and allowing informants to retain drugs that they had obtained during controlled buys.
The indictment further alleges that Collare lied on a federal form he completed during the process of becoming an FBI task force officer and that he made multiple false statements in an interview with federal agents in May 2018.
The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Trial Attorney James I. Pearce of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlo D. Marchioli and Phillip J. Caraballo are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former Cruise Line Call Center Rep Pleads Guilty to Threatening CustomerRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former cruise line service representative pleaded guilty today to threatening a customer over the phone, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Allison C. Dixon, 32, Wichita, Kan. pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting a threatening communication. Dixon worked for Celebrity Cruise Line as a customer service representative in a call center in Wichita. In April 2018, she took a call from a Celebrity customer in Illinois who became dissatisfied with her service and hung up on her. About three minutes later, Dixon called the customer back. Dixon told the customer she knew where the customer lived and she intended to come to Illinois and kill the customer and the customer’s family.
Sentencing is set for April 10. She could face a sentence of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. McAllister commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.
Former Carlisle Police Detective and FBI Task Force Officer Indicted for Bribery and Other OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Guido Modano of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s New York Field Office announced that Christopher Collare, age 52, currently a resident of Blythewood, South Carolina, was indicted by a federal grand jury for bribery, drug distribution, fraud, and making false statements.
The indictment alleges that Collare, who was a veteran detective for the Carlisle Police Department, a task force officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and a member of the Cumberland County Drug Task Force, used his official position to obtain sex from two women in exchange for agreeing to take actions in prosecutions. In 2015, Collare allegedly agreed to accept sex or money in exchange for not appearing at an evidentiary hearing so that a criminal charge would be dismissed. In 2018, Collare allegedly agreed to accept sexual favors in exchange for taking steps to help reduce a potential sentence.
The indictment also alleges that Collare distributed heroin in 2016, and that he defrauded the Borough of Carlisle and the Cumberland County Drug Task Force between 2011 and 2018 by providing confidential informants with drugs and allowing informants to retain drugs that they had obtained during controlled buys.
The indictment further alleges that Collare lied on a federal form he completed during the process of becoming an FBI task force officer, and that he made multiple false statements in an interview with federal agents in May 2018.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler was designated United States Attorney for this case because United States Attorney David J. Freed recused himself. Mr. Freed was previously the District Attorney for Cumberland County and worked with Collare.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlo D. Marchioli and Phillip J. Caraballo and Trial Attorney James I. Pearce of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law ranges from 10 years to 20 years on the bribery-related counts, 20 years on the drug distribution count, 20 years on each of the fraud-related counts, and 5 years on each of the false statement counts. There is also a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
Former CEO of Insys Therapeutics Sentenced for Racketeering SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former CEO and President of Insys Therapeutics was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for bribing practitioners to prescribe Subsys, a fentanyl-based pain medication, often when medically unnecessary.
Michael Babich, 43, of Scottsdale, Ariz., was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture to be determined at a later date. In January 2019, Babich pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud, and agreed to cooperate with the government.
From May 2012 to December 2015, Babich along with the founder of Insys Therapeutics, John Kapoor, and others conspired to bribe practitioners, many of whom operated pain clinics, in order to induce them to prescribe Insys’ fentanyl-based pain medication, Subsys, to patients often when medically unnecessary. Subsys is a powerful, rapid-onset opioid intended to treat cancer patients suffering intense breakthrough pain.
Babich and others used pharmacy data to identify practitioners who either prescribed unusually high volumes of rapid-onset opioids, or had demonstrated a capacity to do so, and bribed and provided kickbacks to the practitioners to increase the number of new Subsys prescriptions, and to increase the dosage and number of units of Subsys. Babich and his co-conspirators also measured the success by comparing the net revenue earned from targeted practitioners with the total value of bribes and kickbacks paid. The defendants used this information to reduce or eliminate bribes paid to practitioners who failed to meet satisfactory prescribing requirements.
Babich, who was called by the government as a witness at the trials of Kapoor and his co-defendants, testified over the course of five days. During his testimony, Babich described the inner workings of the conspiracy in detail. The trial resulted in the conviction of Kapoor; as well as the company’s Vice President of Managed Markets, Michael Gurry; the company’s National Director of Sales, Richard Simon; and two of the company’s Regional Sales Directors, Joseph Rowan and Sunrise Lee.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D. Acting Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs of the U.S. Food and Drug; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office; Carol S. Hamilton, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office; Jeffrey K. Stachowiak, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and Thomas W. South, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations of the Office of Personnel Management made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. Nathaniel Yeager, Fred M. Wyshak and David G. Lazarus prosecuted the case for Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit.
Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to 80 Months for Distribution, Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Keith E. Hook, age 55, of Oswego, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 80 months in prison for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said, “It is a sad day when a federal agent violates his duty to protect society in such a profound way. Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, Border Patrol Agent Hook has been held accountable for trading child pornography while on duty, and his sentence reflects the reprehensible nature of his behavior.”
As part of his guilty plea, Hook admitted that he used the Kik Messenger application to distribute and receive child pornography from other Kik users between January 2018 and July 2018. Hook, using his iPod Touch, traded images of child pornography using a Wifi connection both at his home and while on duty at the Oswego Port of Entry. Forensic analysis of Hook’s iPod revealed that at the time of his arrest he possessed on his iPod 138 images and 4 video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition to those images, Hook also had 10 video files and over 200 image files saved in his iCloud storage account and another 3 images stored on his laptop computer. The images and videos included depictions of the rape and sodomy of prepubescent children and toddlers.
United States District Judge Hon. David N. Hurd also imposed a 10-year term of supervised release, which will start after Hook is released from prison, ordered a $300 special assessment, and a payment of $9,000 in restitution to the victims. As a result of his conviction, Hook will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Hook’s case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Syracuse, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection-Office of Professional Responsibility, The New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and NYSP Fulton. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Baltimore Delegate Pleads Guilty to Federal Honest Services Wire Fraud and Bribery Charges for Official Actions Taken on Legislation Related to Medical Marijuana, Opioid Therapy Clinics, and Liquor LicensesRead the Press Release
Baltimore Maryland – Former Maryland State Delegate Cheryl Diane Glenn, age 68, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal honest services wire fraud and bribery charges.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“As a public official, Cheryl Glenn’s duty was to place the interests of the public above her own. Instead, she accepted more than $33,000 in bribes in exchange for official actions,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We trust our elected officials to make decisions in the best interests of the public, not to use their positions of authority to line their own pockets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI will hold accountable those who betray the public trust for their own greed.”
“Elected officials owe the public their honest services,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “They should be making decisions and taking action based on what is in the best interest of their constituency, not their pocketbook. The FBI is dedicated to rooting out public corruption so that the citizens we serve can feel secure that their officials are serving them, not the highest bidder.”
According to her plea agreement, until her resignation on December 18, 2019, Glenn was a Maryland State Delegate representing District 45, which covered portions of Baltimore. During her tenure, Glenn served as the Chair of the Banking, Consumer Protection, and Commercial Law Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee; the Vice Chair of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee; and the Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation, among other roles.
As detailed in her plea agreement, from at least March 4, 2018 through February 11, 2019, Glenn defrauded the citizens of Maryland of the right to her honest services by soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for her official actions. Specifically, Glenn accepted $33,750 in bribes from an associate in exchange for voting in favor of a bill to increase the number of medical marijuana grower and processing licenses that were available to an out-of-state company; promising to lead the effort to change the law in order to provide a preference for Maryland residency to in-state medical marijuana license applicants; introducing legislation that decreased the number of years of experience required to be a medical director of an opioid maintenance therapy clinic; and introducing legislation that created a class B alcohol and liquor license in District 45.
Glenn admitted that after a meeting on March 5, 2018 with an associate and two businesspersons, she agreed to use her position as a state legislator to vote for a bill which could favor Company 1 in its pursuit of a medical marijuana license, in exchange for $3,000 in cash, which would be used to pay an outstanding tax bill on her residence. Glenn subsequently voted for the bill after its Third Reading on March 8, 2018, and again on April 7, 2018, after amendments from the Senate. The bill passed and on April 20, 2018, the associate provided Glenn with $3,000 in cash during a meeting at a restaurant in Baltimore County.
According to the plea agreement, on June 7, 2018, Glenn and her associate met with another businessperson at a restaurant in Baltimore to discuss medical marijuana licenses. During the conversation, Glenn told the businessperson that people had asked her how a medical marijuana company had been awarded a medical marijuana growing license without having any high-priced lobbyists. Glenn responded, “…they know God and Cheryl Glenn.” A few weeks later, Glenn followed up with the associate to see if the businessperson was “lookin’ for [Glenn] to help him or something?” The associate confirmed that the businessperson did want Glenn’s help and Glenn asked “…is he going to be makin’ a donation or something?” On August 10, 2018, the associate told Glenn that the businessperson had offered the associate $10,000 to get Maryland law changed so that local businesses would be given priority for medical marijuana licenses. The associate offered to split the $10,000 with Glenn, who agreed to introduce legislation to get the law changed in exchange for a payment of $5,000. In order to get the businessperson to make the $10,000 payment, Glenn subsequently sent the associate an e-mail pledging to take the lead in the effort to get the law changed so that Maryland residents received a preference for medical marijuana licenses. On August 23, 2018, the associate gave Glenn $5,000 in cash during a meeting at a Baltimore restaurant.
Further, Glenn admitted that on October 18, 2018, she pre-filed legislation to reduce the required experience for medical directors at opioid maintenance therapy clinics in order to receive another $5,000 payment from the businessperson. The payment was provided on October 22, 2018, and Glenn subsequently introduced the bill on January 9, 2019. Glenn also agreed to introduce legislation to obtain a liquor license for a restaurant that the businessperson wanted to open in Glenn’s district, in exchange for $20,000, with the initial payment of $5,000 to be made up front and the remaining $15,000 payment when the legislation was introduced. As stated in the plea agreement, Glenn received the $5,000 payment on December 10, 2018. On January 28, 2019, Glenn introduced the bill to obtain the liquor license and on February 11, 2019, received a bribe payment of $15,000.
Glenn took steps to conceal her illegal activities, including: agreeing not to deposit bribe payments in her bank account; agreeing to meet in person to discuss the details of bribes rather than discussing them over the phone; and creating a false loan note for the $15,000 bribe payment, falsely stating that the money was a gift and was in no way connected to her position as a State Delegate. On at least two occasions, Glenn texted an associate who was providing the bribe payments on behalf of the businesses and falsely advised the associate that the bribe payments were short a total of $750, which the associate subsequently provided to Glenn.
Glenn faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for honest services wire fraud and five years in federal prison for the bribery charge. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek E. Hines and Leo J. Wise, who are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Felon sentenced for transporting cocaineRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of importing a large quantity of cocaine into the United States via Laredo, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Willie Earl Rucker Jr., of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty Aug. 6, 2019, to importing 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to do so.
Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Rucker to serve 72 months in federal prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court cited Rucker’s extensive criminal record, which included prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, sale of cocaine and assault with intent to commit robbery with a deadly weapon. The court also noted that Rucker admitted he had transported drugs From Mexico on three prior occasions and had been working for a drug trafficking organization for a year.
On May 12, 2019, Rucker attempted to enter the United States at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge #1 in Laredo. After a positive K-9 alert and an x-ray examination, authorities located six bundles of cocaine concealed within his vehicle’s battery. The cocaine weighed 3.421 kilograms and was valued at more than $80,000.
Rucker admitted that he planned to transport the drugs from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to his residence in Memphis. He expected to receive approximately 30 pounds of marijuana as payment for the job.
He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Deltona Man of Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury today found Bobby Morlen (54, Deltona) guilty of two counts of theft of government funds. Morlen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 8, 2020.
Morlen had been indicted on September 11, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Morlen’s mother was receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). She died on August 18, 2014. The death of Morlen’s mother was not reported to the SSA or the VA, and the agencies continued to make benefit payments into her bank account. Morlen was a joint account holder on the account into which his mother’s benefits were being deposited. He used the funds deposited by the SSA and the VA after her death for his own personal expenses.
The total loss the SSA and the VA in this case is approximately $140,670.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.