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13 December 2019
Couple Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Prison for Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News couple has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for their respective roles in manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in Hampton Roads.
According to court documents, Dynetta R. Littlejohn, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced today to five years in prison.
Littlejohn’s codefendant, Robert James Walker, 37, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced on October 23 to nearly 15 years in prison.
Littlejohn, was at home in August 2018, when law enforcement lawfully searched her residence and seized several narcotics to include MDMA, promethazine, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. Police also seized two digital scales, $1,225 in cash, glassine bags and other drug packaging material, narcotics cutting agents, and other tools of the drug trafficking trade. Law enforcement also seized a loaded Ruger P90 .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and additional ammunition. Littlejohn told officers that the items seized belonged to her. The search of the residence sprung from Littlejohn’s cohabitant, Walker, making an illegal U-turn mere hours earlier in a vehicle also filled with drugs, $3,091 in cash, and a loaded Glock GMBH 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-53.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Fraud Scheme Involving Local NewspaperRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A previously convicted felon was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $512,500 for defrauding investors of a local newspaper and unlawful possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents, Brian Thomas Reynolds, 53, of Leesburg, defrauded both investors and lenders to a company that he controlled that operates a local newspaper in Loudoun County. Reynolds made several materially false and fraudulent representations to actual and potential investors and lenders regarding the existence and value of advertising contracts held by the company, and created fake advertising contracts when no such agreements existed. Reynolds also made materially false and fraudulent representations regarding the company’s historical advertising revenues and the amount of money that Reynolds and others had invested in the company, falsely claimed that another individual had agreed to “match” the investments of certain investors, falsely claimed to at least one investor that the company lacked any debt, and materially overstated the amount of money held by the company in its bank accounts.
Court documents also state that Reynolds created altered loan documentation to defraud an individual who had lent money to the company by changing the language of the loan agreement to conditions that were materially more favorable to Reynolds and his company than had actually been agreed to by the lender. Reynolds also made materially false representations regarding the number of issues previously distributed by the newspaper, and falsely claimed that a prominent businessperson served on the company’s advisory board, when in fact that individual held no position on the board and played no role in the operation of the business.
Reynolds, who has four prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms, also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing seven firearms and associated ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Burke and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:19-cr-70 and 1:19-cr-71.
Convicted Felon Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging OLGA MARINA FRANCO DEL-CID, 35, with illegal re-entry, identification document fraud, and false representation of social security account number. FRANCO DEL-CID will appear on these charges on December 16, 2019, at 2:00 pm before Magistrate Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to documents filed in court, FRANCO DEL-CID was previously removed from the United States on May 4, 2016, following a felony conviction on August 8, 2008, in Lyon County, for criminal vehicular homicide. On November 26, 2019, the defendant was found in the United States in violation of this previous removal. The defendant is further charged with identification fraud in the form of use of a false Permanent Resident Card (more commonly known as a “green card”) and social security fraud for falsely representing a social security number on an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura M. Provinzino is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
OLGA MARINA FRANCO DEL-CID, 35
Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Charges:
- Illegal re-entry after removal, 1 count
- Identification document fraud, 1 count
- False representation of social security account number, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chinle Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years’ Prison for Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On December 2, 2019, Marcus Bryan Lee, 26, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 17.5 years’ imprisonment. Lee had previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
On August 5, 2017, during an altercation, Lee stabbed the victim, who later died as a result. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation promptly began an investigation, which led to Lee’s arrest and prosecution. Lee is a member of the Navajo Nation, as was the victim, and the crime occurred near Pinon, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation was conducted by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Camden Man Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Role in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for cashing fraudulently obtained tax refund checks issued by the U.S. Treasury, unlawfully utilizing the stolen identities of residents of Puerto Rico to effectuate the scheme, and tampering with a witness, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Alberto Sanchez, 34, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to five counts of an indictment: two counts of theft of government funds, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of tampering with a witness or victim. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) is a common type of fraud committed against the United States government that involves the use of stolen identities to commit tax refund fraud. SIRF schemes generally share a number of hallmarks. Perpetrators obtain personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, from unwitting individuals, who often reside in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. They then complete Form 1040 tax returns using the fraudulently obtained information and falsifying wages earned, taxes withheld, and other data, always ensuring that the fraudulent tax return generates a refund. They direct the U.S. Treasury Department to mail refund checks to locations that the perpetrators control or can access. With the fraudulently obtained refund checks in hand, SIRF perpetrators generate cash proceeds by depositing the checks into bank accounts that they control or cashing the checks at check cashing businesses.
For the 2013 tax year, more than 3,300 SIRF tax returns were filed using the names and Social Security numbers of residents of Puerto Rico, and where the refunds were directed to be mailed to a small section of Pennsauken, New Jersey. Of the 3,300 returns filed, several of the refunds checks were issued and ultimately cashed at check cashing agencies in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York using false and fraudulent identifications, including fake New Jersey driver's licenses, fake Social Security cards, and fake Department of Homeland Security Permanent Resident Identification cards.
On March 28, 2018, Sanchez and others were indicted by a federal grand jury. According to the indictment, the defendants and their conspirators obtained stolen identities of residents of Puerto Rico to falsely and fraudulently generate income tax refund checks. The conspirators recruited mail carriers from the U.S. Postal Service as part of the scheme to steal the tax refund checks from the mail. The mail carriers were paid for every U.S Treasury check that was stolen. The conspirators paid “check couriers” to cash the tax refund checks in a variety of ways, including at check cashing businesses in and around Camden. The check couriers presented false and fraudulent identifications at the check cashing businesses matching the names on the tax refund checks in order to cash the checks. The scheme caused $565,091 in losses to the U.S. Treasury.
Sanchez admitted that during 2014, he cashed Treasury income tax refund checks that were issued to other people. He used an Alien Permanent Resident Identification Card, which had his photograph, but the name, address and identifying information of another individual, and a Social Security card, which had a name and Social Security number that matched the information on the income tax refund check. Sanchez also admitted that, upon finding out that another person was arrested for participating in the scheme, he told that person to lie to investigators.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Sanchez to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, Newark Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Guy Ficco, Philadelphia Field Office; and special agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina O. Hud of the Criminal Division.
Defense counsel: Jose Luis Ongay Esq., Camden
Cambridge Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing two firearms and over 150 rounds of ammunition.
Robert Brito-Pina, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for April 13, 2020. Brito-Pina was arrested in April 2019, and has been in custody since.
Brito-Pina was arrested after the execution of a search warrant at his residence resulted in the seizure of two firearms and over 150 rounds of ammunition. The recovered items included a SCCY Model CPX-1 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition; a Springfield Amory, Model XDM 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition; and an additional 131 rounds of assorted ammunition. Federal law prohibits Brito-Pina from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of a prior felony conviction.
The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr. made the announcement today.
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. PSN is part of the Department of Justice’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.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Kevin Hinca, 28, of Lancaster, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to distribute heroin. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Volkert, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that between December 2015 and June 2016, the defendant conspired with others to distribute heroin in the Western District of New York. Hinca was identified as a heroin dealer during a 2016 DEA investigation into a larger drug-trafficking network operating in the Buffalo area.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 1, 2020, before Judge Arcara.
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Boston Man Arrested for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man, dubbed the “Inconvenient Crook,” was arrested this morning and charged in connection with the armed robbery of a Quincy convenience store.
Tykei Hallman, 25, of Hyde Park, was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today with one count of robbery involving use of a firearm. Hallman will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2:15 p.m.
According to the charging document, between May 2019 and November 2019, approximately 15 convenience-type stores were robbed in the Greater Boston area by a masked and armed individual. During each robbery, the suspect who appeared to be a male, was dressed in dark hooded outer garments, a mask obscuring his face and gloves. The suspect entered the convenience stores brandishing what appeared to be a black and silver semi-automatic handgun and demanded the stores’ cash. Based on the similarity of the robberies, witness statements, and video surveillance obtained from the locations, law enforcement determined that the same individual was responsible for these robberies. Hallman was identified as the robbery subject through physical surveillance, GPS data from cell phones and motor vehicle records.
The charging statute for a Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Using and carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence provides for a sentence of up to seven years in prison, to be served consecutive to the sentence imposed for robbery. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Quincy, Milton, Boston, Dedham, Woburn and Fitchburg Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Baltimore Men Plead Guilty to Federal Robbery Charge for A String of 2018 Video Game Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Two Baltimore men, Stewart Williams, age 35, and Kelvin McFadden, age 26, have pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge in connection with a series of four robberies of video game stores committed over a 12-day period. Williams and McFadden admitted that they brandished what appeared to be a firearm during each robbery. Williams entered his plea on December 11, 2019, and McFadden entered his plea on October 1, 2019.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Tim Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
According to their plea agreements, between August 21, 2018 and September 1, 2018, Williams and McFadden robbed four video game stores, stealing electronic retail goods, such as video game systems, and cash. In each robbery Williams and McFadden entered the store, brandished what appeared to be a gun while accosting the victim employees, stole money from cash registers and/or safes, and forced the victim employees in the store’s “backroom” which contained the more expensive electronic goods, including video game systems, which they also stole. Each of the four robberies was captured on store security cameras.
Specifically, Williams and McFadden robbed: a store located in the 3600 block of Washington Boulevard in Halethorpe, Maryland, on August 21, 2018, stealing $874 in cash and three video game systems; a store located in the 6900 block of Security Boulevard in Baltimore City on August 25, 2018, stealing $2,839.58 in cash and three video game systems; a store locate in the 1000 block of Taylor Avenue in Towson, Maryland, on August 28, 2018, stealing $414 in cash and six video game systems; and a store located in the 6700 block of York Road in Baltimore, on September 1, 2018, stealing $968 in cash and 12 video game systems.
After the last robbery, responding police officers located McFadden’s car as he and Williams fled the scene of the robbery. Police dispatched a helicopter that was able to locate McFadden’s car and follow it. The officer in the helicopter saw Williams and McFadden stop the car near North Stricker Street in Baltimore, flee from the car, bang on the back door of an apartment, and enter the apartment. Police secured the location and knocked on the apartment door. The resident allowed the police to come inside, where police located Williams and McFadden. Search warrants were obtained for the vehicle and for the apartment. Law enforcement recovered numerous video game systems matching those that were stolen in the last robbery, hats that matched those worn by McFadden and Williams in several of the robberies as captured on the store security cameras, cash recovered inside a black trash bag, a black air pistol that matched the apparent handgun used during the four robberies, and wallets and cell phones belonging to Williams and McFadden.
Williams and McFadden each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for McFadden on January 6, 202 at 11:00 a.m., and for Williams on April 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
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. 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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore City, the Baltimore County, and the Anne Arundel County Police Departments for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel A. Loveland, Jr. and Clinton J. Fuchs, who are prosecuting the case.
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Baltimore Career Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
In a Separate Case, Calvert County Defendant is Facing a Minimum Mandatory Sentence of 20 Years and Up to Life in Federal Prison as a Result of his Indictment for Allegedly Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death
Baltimore and Greenbelt, Maryland – Davon Nelson, age 34, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of distribution of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. As part of his plea agreement, Nelson also admitted that he attempted to obstruct justice during the investigation of his case. This case is part of a federal-state initiative announced last year to combat the fentanyl crisis in Maryland.
Under this initiative, titled the “Synthetic Opioid Surge,” or “SOS” for short, every arrest involving distribution of fentanyl made by law enforcement in Baltimore is reviewed jointly by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether the case will be handled in the state or federal system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting more cases involving fentanyl as a result of this new program. The use of federal resources and statutes, which carry significant terms of imprisonment, is necessary to prosecute those individuals who pose the greatest threat to public safety in distributing lethal doses of fentanyl.
In a separate case, a federal grand jury has indicted Robert Steven Wagner, age 28, of Lusby, Maryland, on the federal charge of distributing fentanyl, resulting in the user’s death. The indictment was returned on December 4, 2019, and was unsealed late on December 12, 2019, at Wagner’s detention hearing.
The guilty plea of Nelson was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Sharpe of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department,.
The indictment of Wagner was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, for the Wagner case.
“Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution under the fentanyl SOS program,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “The cooperation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, the DEA, and the Baltimore Police Department in reviewing every fentanyl case to determine those cases appropriate for federal prosecution is just one example of the efforts we are making to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in Maryland.”
According to Nelson’s plea agreement, on September 5, 2018, a Baltimore Police Department officer observed Nelson distribute a baggie containing 200 fentanyl gel capsules to his co-conspirator, Terrell Perry. The BPD officer called in the arrest team and Perry was arrested. A search of Perry recovered the baggie of 200 fentanyl gel caps. At the time Perry was arrested, Nelson had left the block on foot. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Nelson’s van and recovered an additional 200 gel caps of fentanyl powder. The total amount of fentanyl recovered was at least 32 grams, but no more than 40 grams, which is enough fentanyl to kill at least 16,000 people.
Following his arrest, Nelson called his girlfriend from pre-trial detention facilities and directed her to move “the white stuff” from underneath his tub and to give it to an associate so that person could sell it. Further, Nelson directed his girlfriend to lie to the police if they came to interview her about Nelson and directed his girlfriend to also have her mother lie to police, if she were interviewed.
Nelson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. Terrell Perry, age 35, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
According to Wagner’s indictment, on October 7, 2018, Wagner distributed fentanyl to a victim, who subsequently died as a result of using the fentanyl obtained from Wagner. If convicted, Wagner faces a minimum mandatory sentenced of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. At yesterday’s detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas M. DiGirolamo ordered that Wagner be released under special conditions.
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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, the DEA, the Baltimore Police Department; HSI; and the Maryland State Police for their work in these investigations. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Rigali, Leah Grossi, and Thomas M. Sullivan, who are prosecuting the Nelson and Wagner cases, respectively.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 20 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Used in an Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Alford Robinson, 33, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm after he committed an armed robbery. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 22, 2016, Robinson robbed a victim at gunpoint and escaped in a blue Dodge Charger. The victim reported the robbery to police, who then put out a broadcast for the vehicle. Two MPD officers who heard the broadcast saw and stopped the car. The defendant immediately jumped out of the vehicle, climbed over a 6-foot privacy fence, and escaped from law enforcement. While searching the vehicle, law enforcement located two loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistols on the floorboards.
On February 23, 2017, Robinson was indicted in federal court for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and was detained by a magistrate judge pending trial. He attempted to escape from federal prison 25 days prior to his original trial date. On March 13, 2018, Robinson was indicted in federal court and charged with attempted escape.
On June 26, 2018, Robinson pleaded guilty to the attempted escape and demanded a trial on the firearm charges. On February 21, 2019, after approximately 30 minutes of deliberation, a federal jury found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On December 12, 2019, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Robinson to 240 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. Due to his five previous convictions for violent felonies, Robinson was classified as an armed career criminal and faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous felons from our streets. Clearly, this armed career criminal had no hesitation in committing a violent crime with a firearm, and he will now be removed from our community for at least 20 years. We are FED UP. Gun Crime is Max Time."
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, 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. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated 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 investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Memphis Police Department Felony Response Unit, and the PSN Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. William Crow and Stephen Hall prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Amusement Park Employee Sentenced to 20 Years for Attempting to Entice A Child for SexRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Frederick M. Pohl, Jr. (41, Clermont) to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a child for sex. Pohl had pleaded guilty to this offense on August 6, 2019.
According to court records, Pohl engaged in a series of online chat communications to arrange a sexual encounter with an 8-year-old girl. Pohl believed he was chatting with the child, and her father, but was actually communicating with an undercover federal agent in Detroit. Pohl sent lewd photos of himself and agreed to meet with the 8-year-old child at an Orlando hotel. When Pohl arrived at the hotel, he was arrested by federal agents from Detroit and Orlando. Pohl was found to be in possession of condoms and a pink dress suitable for a young child to wear.
At the time of his arrest, Pohl had been working at an Orlando amusement park where he was responsible for securing the lap bars on rides for children and adults. He was immediately terminated from that position following his arrest. The amusement park was fully cooperative with law enforcement during their investigation and there were no known instances of misconduct while Pohl was working there.
“Thanks to HSI special agents in Detroit and Orlando and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this child predator has been stopped and he will be held accountable for his crimes,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced ZACHARIAH ISAIAH MARES, 29, of Thornton, Colorado on December 9, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Mares was arrested in Adams County, Colorado. He received thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced BRANDON JOSEPH RUNYON, 29, of Lusk, Wyoming on December 12, 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Runyon was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received forty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
20-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison on Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Willie Lee Lewis (48, Ocala) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Lewis had pleaded guilty on March 12, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on November 28, 2018, a City of Ocala police officer attempted to stop Lewis for a tag violation. Rather than pulling over, Lewis led the officer on a low-speed chase to his home where he discarded a loaded pistol, cocaine, and marijuana from the window of his van. Police recovered these items and arrested Lewis, who subsequently placed a recorded telephone call from the county jail in which he described the firearm and drugs that he had tried to discard.
At the time of the offense, Lewis had 20 prior state felony convictions, including multiple drug sales and illegal firearms offenses. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Ocala Police Department jointly investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
$8.5 Million in Grants Awarded in Western District of Wisconsin to Address Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. In the Western District of Wisconsin, $8,498,212 will help public safety and public health professionals combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses.
“The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis this country has ever faced,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. ‘“The Department of Justice is committed to using all means available to bring drug traffickers to justice, disrupt the supply chain, support our law enforcement officers, and help the victims.”
“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”
With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
“In Wisconsin, thousands are struggling with addiction, hundreds have died from overdoses, and too many families have been devastated by opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Blader. “These grant funds will allow our communities to continue to combat this epidemic through education, community outreach, and treatment.”
The awards announced today support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.
The following awards were made to organizations in the Western District of Wisconsin:
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program – Category 1
Category 1 grants are designed to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to the opioid epidemic that expand access to supervision, treatment and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by the opioid epidemic. All projects are expected to involve multiple agencies and partners.
City of Madison $1,200,000
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians $551,170
Juneau County $600,000
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program – Category 2
Category 2 is designed to support states in their efforts to implement, enhance or evaluate effective opioid-related efforts within the criminal justice system.
Wisconsin Department of Justice $5,000,000
Adult Drug Courts and Veterans Treatment Courts Program - Category 1
Category 1 grants are for the implementation of new drug courts.
Juneau County $500,000
Family Drug Court Program
This program is designed to build the capacity of state and local courts to sustain existing family drug courts or establish new ones. These courts serve parents who require treatment for a substance abuse disorder and who are involved with the child welfare system as a result of child abuse, neglect or other parenting issues.
Barron County $646,951
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
12 December 2019
Winchester Man Sentenced for Armed Hobbs Act Robbery of Martin’s Food PharmacyRead the Press Release
Harrisonburg, VIRGINIA – A Winchester man, who in January 2019 committed an armed robbery at Martin’s Food in Winchester, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg to 138 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to a pair of related federal charges. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF] Washington Field Division Ashan M. Benedict made the announcement today.
Carl William Morris, 44, who pleaded guilty in August 2019 to one count of Armed, Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, was also ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, on January 18, 2019, Morris approached a pharmacy clerk at the cash register at Martin’s Food on Gateway Drive in Winchester. While the clerk was ringing up a purchase, Morris pulled a black handgun from his waistband and directed the clerk to “give me all your pain meds.” The clerk complied with Morris’ demand and handed over multiple bottles of controlled substances, including Oxycontin valued at over $2,000.
The defendant took four bottles of the medication and fled the store. A second pharmacy clerk followed Morris out of the store and into the parking lot. Upon seeing the second clerk, Morris discharged his firearm in the clerk’s direction. The bullet did not strike the clerk. After firing his weapon, Morris fled into a nearby wooded area where he was tracked by a police canine officer and ultimately apprehended by law enforcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jeb Terrien is prosecuting the case for the United States.
West Columbia Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- Acting United States Attorney A. Lance Crick announced today that Justice Towan Roundtree, 27, of West Columbia, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of Columbia imposed the sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented in court established that on February 7, 2019, an officer with the West Columbia Police Department conducted a traffic stop on North Street in West Columbia after seeing the driver of the vehicle commit a traffic violation. The officer made contact with the driver and noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The backseat passenger, after giving the officer false identification, was determined to be Roundtree. A search of the vehicle uncovered a quantity of marijuana, three handgun magazines, and 238 rounds of miscellaneous ammunition. During an officer pat-down of Roundtree, a fully loaded Kel-Tec P32 .32 caliber handgun was found concealed on his person. Approximately two grams of crack and a quantity of marijuana and Xanax pills were also located on his person. Roundtree was arrested on state charges and thereafter, a federal warrant was issued.
Federal law prohibits Roundtree from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior state convictions for strong armed robbery and burglary second degree. At the time of the current offense, Roundtree was on state probation. Roundtree is a validated member of a street gang.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. Special Assistant United States Attorney Casey Rankin Smith of the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecuted the case.
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Two Men Charged with Second Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – A grand jury yesterday returned a superseding indictment charging two men with the February 6, 2019 armed robbery of an Albany bank in which approximately $150,000 was stolen.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Chief Eric Hawkins of the Albany Police Department (APD).
The superseding indictment adds charges against Christopher J. Cohn a/k/a “Wolf,” age 26, of Albany, and Ulysses Jessie Walls a/k/a “Guwala,” age 26, of Rensselaer, New York, for armed bank robbery.
According to the superseding indictment and other court filings, Cohn and Walls entered a Trustco Bank branch in Albany on the afternoon of February 6, 2019, each wearing a ski mask and Walls displaying a gun, and threatened to shoot the bank’s employees if they did not comply with the pair’s demands. Approximately $150,000 was taken during the robbery.
The initial indictment in this case, returned on July 24, 2019, charged Cohn and Walls with armed bank robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with a February 26, 2019 robbery of an M&T Bank branch located in North Greenbush.
The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Cohn and Walls have been in custody since February 26, 2019.
If convicted of all charges, Cohn and Walls would each face at least 20 years and up to life in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, the New York State Police, the Town of North Greenbush Police Department, APD, and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Wayne A. Myers.
Two Florida Residents Plead Guilty to Passing Counterfeit Checks in Multiple StatesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Two residents of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to pass counterfeit bank checks, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Calar Braxton, aka Vivian Hugo, aka Taylor Crimson, 45, and Brian Omar Campbell, aka Vincent Hugo, aka Troy Crimson, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in September 2017, Braxton and Campbell flew to Pittsburgh and rented a room at motel located in North Fayette Township. Afterwards, they and another member of the conspiracy went to Imperial and Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, to steal outgoing mail from residential mailboxes. The stolen mail was taken back to the motel, where it was opened. If the mail contained a check, the check’s account information and routing number were used to prepare counterfeit checks. They then used the counterfeit checks to purchase merchandise from stores located in and around the Mall at Robinson. The conspirators targeted national chains with the intention of obtaining a cash refund for ill-gotten merchandise at a counterpart store located in another state. The scheme came to an end when members of the North Fayette Township Police Department obtained a warrant for the motel room and searched. During the search, the police recovered blank check stock; a laser jet printer; a laptop computer; a false identification cards for Braxton and Campbell. As part of their plea agreement, both defendants acknowledged that they had also passed counterfeits checks in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
Judge Horan scheduled Braxton’s sentencing for April 1, 2020, and Campbell’s was scheduled for April 2, 2020. The law provides for a total sentence of 35 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendants’ detention.
Assistant United States Attorney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the North Fayette Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the charges in this case.
Two Dallas Men Plead Guilty to Hate Crimes After Using Dating App to Target Gay Men for ViolenceRead the Press Release
Daryl Henry, 24, and Pablo Ceniceros-Deleon, 19, pleaded guilty today to a federal hate crime and other charges in connection with their involvement in a scheme to target gay men for violent crimes following an investigation by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, announced Assistant Attorney Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Daryl Henry pleaded guilty to a hate crime act, conspiracy to commit hate crimes, kidnapping, and carjacking. Pablo Ceniceros-Deleon pleaded guilty to a hate crime act, carjacking, and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“Kidnappings, carjackings, thefts, sexual assaults, and armed, violent attacks against innocent people are heinous crimes, and when perpetrators commit those crimes against victims because of their sexual orientation, the U.S. Department of Justice will continue zealously to seek justice for the victims and to punish the perpetrators to the full extent of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Prosecuting those who commit such monstrous acts because of victims’ sexual orientation is a priority of the Department of Justice, and we will continue to bring to justice anyone who commits such hateful, violent crimes.”
“These defendants used Grindr to single out their victim based on sexual orientation – something the Northern District of Texas simply will not tolerate,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time a dating app user has fallen victim to a violent crime. I’m urging the public to be vigilant about the dangers lurking online.”
“One of the FBI’s top priorities is to defend the civil rights of the communities we serve. We actively work with our law enforcement partners to investigate hate crimes and achieve justice for the victims impacted by these violent crimes,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The victims in this case were specifically targeted because of their sexual orientation. The FBI wants to reassure the public that we will pursue individuals who commit violent hate acts against any member of our community.”
According to court documents filed in connection with their guilty pleas, both Henry and Ceniceros-Deleon admitted Grindr, a social media dating platform primarily used by gay men, was used to lure gay men to a vacant apartment and other areas in and around Dallas for robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and hate crimes. Henry admitted that he and others held the victims against their will in the vacant apartment. Ceniceros-Deleon admitted that he and others traveled to local ATMs to withdraw cash from the victims’ accounts. Both Henry and Ceniceros-Deleon admitted that while the victims were being held captive they were subjected to taunts based upon the co-conspirators’ perception of the men’s sexual orientation.
In addition, Ceniceros-Deleon admitted to being the gunman in a Dec. 7, 2017, carjacking where he and others used Grindr to lure a man to a location and then forced the man, at gunpoint, to drive the conspirators to local ATMs to withdraw cash from the man’s account.
In March of 2019, Michael Atkinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping charges in connection with this case. Atkinson will be sentenced in February of 2020. Sentencing for both defendants is set for April 1, 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the federal investigation; a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana of the Northern District of Texas along with Special Litigation Counsel Rose E. Gibson and Trial Attorney Kathryn Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Three Plead Guilty to Smuggling More Than $1 Million into St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that Ashen Tirado-Tapia, Jahniel Fuertes-Robles, and Abdiel Rivera-Medina pleaded guilty yesterday to attempting to smuggle over $1 million into St. Thomas by boat.
According to court documents filed in the case, on September 17, 2019, at approximately 1:26 a.m., the defendants, Ashen Tirado-Tapia, Jahniel Fuertes Robles, and Abdiel Rivera Medina, were onboard a 25’ center console vessel travelling with no navigation lights near the western portion of St. Thomas. A Customs Border Patrol Air and Marine (AMO) coastal interceptor vessel (CIV) from St. Thomas responded in an attempt to contact the vessel. When AMO activated blue lights and sirens to initiate a stop, the boat and its occupants increased their speed, forcing the agents to fire several warning shots, and eventually disabling rounds, into the motor. During the pursuit, agents observed Fuertes-Robles and Rivera-Medina throwing a black duffel bag and GPS overboard. After AMO stopped the vehicle, agents boarded and detained all three individuals. Agents identified defendant Ashen Tirado-Tapia as the boat’s captain. AMO agents returned to where they had seen the defendants throwing something overboard and recovered a GPS unit and the black duffel bag in the water. The duffel bag contained one million one hundred and twenty eight thousand nine hundred and forty dollars ($1,128,940.00) in U.S. Currency.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan Albino. The defendants will be sentenced at a later date.
Ten Former NFL Players Charged in Alleged Nationwide Fraud on Health Care Benefit Program for Retired NFL PlayersRead the Press Release
Ten former National Football League (NFL) players have been charged in the Eastern District of Kentucky for their alleged roles in a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players.
The alleged fraud targeted the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan (the Plan), which was established pursuant to the 2006 collective bargaining agreement and provided for tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical care expenses that were not covered by insurance and that were incurred by former players, their wives and their dependents – up to a maximum of $350,000 per player. According to the charging documents, over $3.9 million in false and fraudulent claims were submitted to the Plan, and the Plan paid out over $3.4 million on those claims between June 2017 and December 2018.
“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multi-million dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Today’s indictments underscore that whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”
“The defendants are alleged to have developed and executed a fraudulent scheme to undermine a health care benefit plan established by the NFL – one established to help their former teammates and colleagues pay for legitimate medical expenses,” said U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr., for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “The defendants allegedly submitted false claims to the plan and obtained money for expensive medical equipment that was never purchased or received, depriving that plan of valuable resources to help others meet their medical needs. We have prioritized the investigation and prosecution of health care fraud in our office, and we appreciate the partnership we share with the Criminal Division and the FBI in pursuing these important matters.”
“This investigation serves as an illustration of the rampant and deliberate scams against health care plans occurring daily throughout the country,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the Miami Field Office. “In this case, these fraudsters pocketed money from the Gene Upshaw National Football League Health Reimbursement Account Plan that was intended for former NFL players who are ill or infirm. Over 20 FBI field offices participated in this investigation which demonstrates the level of commitment we have to rooting out this type of fraud.”
Two separate indictments filed in the Eastern District of Kentucky outline two alleged conspiracies involving different players related to the same scheme to defraud the Plan. Those charged in the indictments are the following:
- Robert McCune, 40, of Riverdale, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and nine counts of health care fraud.
- John Eubanks, 36, of Cleveland, Mississippi; Tamarick Vanover, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida; and Carlos Rogers, 38, of Alpharetta, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of health care fraud.
- Clinton Portis, 38, of McLean, Virginia; Ceandris Brown, 36, of Fresno, Texas; James Butler, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Fredrick Bennett, 35, of Port Wentworth, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of health care fraud.
- Correll Buckhalter, 41, of Colleyville, Texas, and Etric Pruitt, 38, of Theodore, Alabama, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.
In addition, the government has filed notice that it intends to file criminal informations charging Joseph Horn, 47, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Donald “Reche” Caldwell, 40, of Tampa, Florida, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
The indictments charge that the scheme to defraud involved the submission of false and fraudulent claims to the Plan for expensive medical equipment – typically between $40,000 and $50,000 for each claim – that was never purchased or received. The expensive medical equipment described on the false and fraudulent claims included hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound machines designed for use by a doctor’s office to conduct women’s health examinations and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses.
According to allegations in the indictments, McCune, Eubanks, Vanover, Buckhalter, Rogers and others recruited other players into the scheme by offering to submit or cause the submission of these false and fraudulent claims in exchange for kickbacks and bribes that ranged from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more per claim submitted. As part of the scheme, the defendants allegedly fabricated supporting documentation for the claims, including invoices, prescriptions and letters of medical necessity. After the claims were submitted, McCune and Buckhalter allegedly called the telephone number provided by the Plan and impersonated certain other players in order to check on the status of the false and fraudulent claims.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The investigation included efforts by various FBI Field Offices and Resident Agencies, including: Augusta, Georgia; Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Columbia, South Carolina; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Jackson, Mississippi; Lexington, Kentucky; New Orleans, Louisiana; Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida; Newark, New Jersey; Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Newport Beach, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Washington, D.C.
Trial Attorneys John (Fritz) Scanlon, Alexander J. Kramer and Thomas J. Tynan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul C. McCaffrey and Andrew E. Smith of the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the cases.- Robert McCune, 40, of Riverdale, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and nine counts of health care fraud.
Two Men Charged Federally with Armed Robberies of Cell Phone Stores and a Female Charged with Illegal Purchase and Transfer of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 10, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment against Maurice Tolbert (age 40) of Milwaukee and Richard Tolbert (age 36) of Chicago, charging them with a series of robberies of cell phone stores in Milwaukee and West Allis between April 27, 2019, and October 29, 2019. Further, Angel Price (age 29) of Milwaukee is charged with illegally purchasing and transferring firearms to a felon between March 11, 2019, and October 6, 2019.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to illegally obtain firearms and use those firearms to commit robberies. Maurice Tolbert is charged with committing four robberies of cell phone stores, in violation of the Hobbs Act, and using, carrying, and brandishing firearms during those robberies. Richard Tolbert is charged with committing three robberies of cell phone stores, in violation of the Hobbs Act, and using, carrying, and brandishing firearms during those robberies. Angel Price is charged with four counts of being a straw purchaser of firearms and four counts of providing firearms to a felon.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, defendants Maurice and Richard Tolbert face up to twenty years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine as to each of the Hobbs Act robberies. Each of the brandishing of a firearm counts involves a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence. Angel Price faces a maximum of ten years of imprisonment, three years of supervised released, and a $250,000 fine as to each of the firearm counts. On the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces up to five years of imprisonment, up to three years of supervised released, and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Milwaukee Police Department, the West Allis Police Department, and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which time the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Superseding Indictment Charges Another St. Louis Police Officer for Civil Rights Violations and False Statements to the FBIRead the Press Release
St. Louis – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today against three St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) Police Officers for their conduct in connection with the arrest and assault of a fellow SLMPD police officer who was working undercover in downtown St. Louis during protests following the 2017 acquittal of a former SLMPD officer of a first-degree murder charge brought by the State of Missouri relating to the shooting death of a civilian.
The superseding indictment added Officer Steve Korte, 42, charging him with civil rights violations and providing false statements to the FBI. Officers Dustin Boone, 36; Christopher Myers, 28; Randy Hays, 32; and Bailey Colletta, 26, were indicted in the initial indictment filed on November 29, 2018. The charges include deprivation of constitutional rights, obstruction of justice and perjury.
During the protests, SLMPD officers were deployed throughout the area to monitor protest activity and respond if necessary. According to the indictment, on the evening of September 17, 2017, a SLMPD police officer was working in an undercover capacity in downtown St. Louis in order to document any criminal activity being committed during the protests. Around 10:00 p.m. in the area of 14th Street and Olive Street near the St. Louis Public Library, SLMPD Officers Boone, Myers, and Korte approached the undercover officer, forcefully brought him to the ground, and violently beat him causing severe injuries that have required multiple surgeries.
Randy Hays pled guilty on November 8, 2018 to deprivation of constitutional rights and will be sentenced on March 17, 2020. Bailey Colletta pled guilty on September 6, 2019 to false statements to the grand jury and will be sentenced on April 10, 2020.
Officer Myers also faces a Destruction of Evidence charge for destroying the cellular phone of the beating victim on the night of September 17, 2017.
Officers Boone, Myers, Korte are each charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury, which is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242. That charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.
Officer Korte is also charged with providing false statements to the FBI which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.
The evidence destruction charge carries maximum penalties of twenty years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
As is always the case, the charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Stash house operators convictedRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Three men have been convicted for transporting and harboring illegal aliens in locked and boarded-up trailers in Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Albino Vargas-Hernandez, 48, a Mexican citizen who resided in Houston, and Rene Camacho, 47, Houston pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens. A third man – Mexican national Hiram Lamarca-Gonzalez, 21, who also resided in Houston - entered his plea Dec. 4.
The investigation revealed that from approximately July 9, 2018, through on or about Aug. 22, 2018, multiple suspected aliens had arrived and departed trailers in Houston, which were locked and had boards on the windows. On several occasions, Vargas left his residence, picked up illegal aliens from the stash house and delivered them to others.
Law enforcement obtained search warrants on the Vargas residence as well as the stash houses. During that time, authorities found Vargas and Camacho inside one of the trailers along with 12 undocumented aliens. The aliens identified Vargas and Camacho as leaders of the smuggling organization, in charge of documenting alien information in ledgers and collecting payments for the those smuggled into the country. They also recovered multiple firearms, “pollo” lists (alien smuggling ledgers keeping track of alien and payment information), money service wire receipts and approximately $224,000 in cash.
Authorities also arrested Lamarca for guarding the aliens at the stash house.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the pleas today set sentencing for Feb. 13, 2020. Lamarca is also set for that date. At that time, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Camacho was permitted to remain on bond, while the others are in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Bennett prosecuted the case.
South Windsor Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, announced that IGNACIO BRUNO, 33, of South Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 102 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bruno coordinated the shipment of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from suppliers in Puerto Rico to various addresses in Connecticut and elsewhere in the northeastern U.S. Bruno’s co-conspirator, Juan Lugo Del Valle, mailed some of the parcels at Bruno’s direction from Puerto Rico. Bruno paid certain Connecticut residents to use their residences to receive cocaine parcels that had been mailed. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement personnel seized multiple kilograms of cocaine that were attributable to Bruno.
Bruno has been detained since his arrest on April 12, 2018. On September 18, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
“Today’s sentencing should give fair warning to those who use the U.S. Mail to distribute cocaine and other illegal narcotics, that Postal Inspectors will investigate and seek prosecution of those individuals,” said Inspector in Charge Cronin. “We will vigorously pursue traffickers who put our communities at risk by allowing these highly addictive drugs into our state.”
Lugo Del Valle pleaded guilty to the same offense and, on November 19, 2019, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hartford and Southington Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Dave Vatti.
South Beloit Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A South Beloit man pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly to charges of producing child pornography.
ADRIAN C. PETERS, 26, admitted in a written plea agreement that from October 2012 to December 2014 he enticed seven minor victims - ages 14 to 17 - to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a recording of such conduct on computers. Peters then transmitted some of the videos via the internet. The minor victims were from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Arizona.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the FBI. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and the South Beloit Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
Each count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years. Sentencing is set for April 17, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
Six-Time Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Carlos Lamont Holt, III, a/k/a, “Heavy”, 54, of Anchorage, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason, to serve 72 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2018, Holt entered the lobby of the Black Angus Inn and got into a verbal altercation with the front desk clerk. Holt then exited the lobby, pulled out a firearm and fired several shots into the lobby of the Black Angus Inn. Holt then got into the passenger seat of a 2006 Ford Focus and drove away. Holt was identified as the shooter by the front desk clerk, security guard, and several passengers in the Ford Focus. The Anchorage Police did not recover the firearm, but did recover the shell casings of the bullets shot by Holt into the Black Angus Inn lobby. Holt has 30 prior criminal convictions, to include six prior felony convictions, along with multiple drug possession and drug trafficking offenses.
Before imposing a sentence, Judge Gleason commented that civilized society is not a place where people can resolve disputes by firing weapons into hotel lobbies, and this creates a danger to the community. Judge Gleason hoped this sentence would act as a deterrent to other individuals that have felony convictions that seek to possess firearms and that this sentence would protect the community from Mr. Holt while he was in custody.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh.
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 case was made possible by investigative leads generated from ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crime involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
Shallotte Man Sentenced for Cocaine Base (Crack) DistributionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces that United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced SPENCER LAMONT BRYANT, 33, of Shallotte, NC, today. BRYANT was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release.
On August 20, 2019, BRYANT pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and to distribution of a quantity of cocaine base.
In April, 2011, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in Wilmington, North Carolina and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) identified BRYANT as a high-volume cocaine base (crack) supplier in the Brunswick County area. With the assistance of several confidential sources of information (CI), officers conducted ten controlled purchases from BRYANT, seizing a total of 265.55 grams of cocaine base (crack) from BRYANT.
Officers also interviewed multiple witnesses who described BRYANT’s drug trafficking operation. Based on those interviews and the amounts seized by law enforcement directly from BRYANT between at least June 30, 2007, and March 22, 2019, BRYANT was held accountable for the distribution of at least 14 kilograms of crack.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For additional information about this initiative, click here https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted this case for the government.
Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Failing to RegisterRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that Carl N. Decicco, III pled guilty on Monday morning for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender; the day his jury trial was set to begin.
The defendant was previously convicted of first degree sexual contact with a minor under the age of thirteen. As a result of this conviction, defendant was required to register as a sex offender under both Virgin Islands and United States law. From March of 2018 until his arrest in August 2019, defendant failed to appear and update his registration forms as required by law. The defendant was arrested on August 14, 2019 by the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donna Rainwater. The defendant will be sentenced at a later date.
Selma Men Sentenced for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Timical Hall and Tyre J. Webster of Selma, Alabama, were sentenced in federal court for their roles in an armed carjacking. In August 2019, Hall pleaded guilty to two charges—carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. A week later, Webster pleaded guilty on two counts—carjacking and conspiring to commit carjacking.
At approximately 8:50 pm on February 5, 2019, the victim pulled over to the side of the road in Valley Grande, Alabama, to reply to a text message. Hall and his co-defendants, Webster and Rayford D. Mitchell, pulled up behind the victim in a stolen Nissan Altima. The three men exited the Nissan and approached the victim’s vehicle. Hall and Mitchell each wore masks and were armed with loaded firearms. Mitchell approached the driver’s side where the victim was sitting with her window cracked, pointed a gun to the victim’s temple, and ordered her to open the door “before I blow your fucking brains out.” Mitchell repeatedly poked the victim in her shoulder with the barrel of the gun. As she opened the door, Mitchell reached into the vehicle, grabbed the victim, and threw her down on the concrete. Simultaneously, Hall approached the front passenger’s side of the vehicle and beat on the glass window with his gun until it shattered. Mitchell told the victim, “You better be glad I don’t want to kill a bitch tonight or you would be a dead bitch.” One of the men asked the victim for her money and she replied that it was in her wallet in the vehicle. Mitchell grabbed the victim and shoved her into the vehicle, demanding that she retrieve the wallet and give it to him. The victim complied. Hall then approached the victim, put the barrel of his firearm to her chest, and ordered her to give him her cell phone and the code for it. The victim provided the cell phone but not the code. The three men then fled the scene; Mitchell drove away in the victim’s vehicle, which had the victim’s purse inside, while Hall and Webster fled in the stolen Nissan.
Video surveillance depicts all three assailants rummaging through the victim’s purse at an apartment complex minutes after the carjacking. Law enforcement located the victim’s purse and items belonging to the victim within approximately 15 feet of that location. Later during the evening of the carjacking, police officers located the defendants in the stolen Nissan at a local convenience store. Mitchell unsuccessfully attempted to flee but was apprehended in possession of a .9mm pistol. Police located Hall and a 7.62x39 caliber, AK-style firearm in the stolen Nissan. Webster eluded capture and was arrested approximately a week later.
On December 4, 2019, Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade sentenced Hall to a term of 121 months’ imprisonment, consisting of 37 months on the carjacking charge and 84 months on the gun charge, ordering that the sentences run consecutively. Hall will serve a term of five years on supervised release upon the completion of his sentence. For his role in the offense, on December 4, 2019, Judge Granade sentenced Webster to 63 months’ imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release. Hall and Webster were not ordered to pay a fine, but the judge withheld an order on restitution in an amount to be determined. The court also ordered each defendant to pay $200 in special assessments. The court sentenced Mitchell to 130 months’ imprisonment in November 2019.
The Selma, Alabama Firearms Enforcement (S.A.F.E.) Task Force investigated the case and brought it to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The S.A.F.E. Task Force is comprised of the Selma Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the 4th Judicial Drug Task Force, the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the State of Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gina Vann and Erica Hilliard.
Rocky Mount Woman Sentenced for FEMA FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced SHEILA RUFFIN, 51, of Rocky Mount, to thirty days of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release.
RUFFIN was charged in an Indictment with 15 counts of fraud related to the Hurricane Matthew recovery effort conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On May 22, 2019, RUFFIN pled guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement to one count of Disaster Fraud.
On October 8, 2016, Hurricane Matthew impacted the coast of North Carolina, bringing record storm surge levels and catastrophic flooding. In the aftermath, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration was issued covering certain eastern North Carolina counties. The declaration enabled various forms of federal disaster assistance that was administered by FEMA.
From February 2017 to April 2018, on 15 occasions, RUFFIN made false statements and submitted fraudulent documentation in connection with applications for FEMA assistance. RUFFIN falsely claimed that her pre-hurricane residence remained uninhabitable, requiring her to pay for temporary housing. As a result, RUFFIN received $11,250 in rental assistance to which she was not entitled. As part of the sentence, RUFFIN was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,250.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, conducted investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan prosecuted the case for the government.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Irondequoit Chase BankRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Kevin Connell, 27, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who is handling the case, stated that on May 21, 2019, Connell robbed the Chase Bank at 1982 East Ridge Road in Irondequoit, NY. The defendant entered the bank and handed the teller a note that demanded money and alleged that Connell had a hostage outside. The defendant also threatened to shoot if the teller did not hurry. The teller handed Connell a quantity of currency and he fled the bank.
The defendant was later identified as the robber through photographs from the robbery, facial recognition technology, and a fingerprint left on the robbery note that was handed to the teller.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rochester Area Major Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron D. Singletary.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2020, at 10:15 am before Judge Siragusa.
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Rochester Man Arrested on Charges of Threatening CongressmanRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Rochester, Ill., man has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a threatening communication against U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis. Randall E. Tarr, 64, of the 200 block of E. Mill St., Rochester, Ill., was arrested today and appeared in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins in Springfield.
The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint alleges that in the morning of Nov. 25, 2019, Tarr called the Decatur, Ill., office of Congressman Davis and left a profanity-filled voicemail message in which he threatened to shoot the congressman.
According to the affidavit, the voicemail message was forwarded to U.S. Capitol Police, in Washington, D.C. Through caller ID, police identified Tarr as the alleged caller and U.S. Capitol Police contacted the Rochester Police Department to ask officers to make contact with Tarr. Rochester police officers made initial contact with Tarr on Nov. 25, at his residence. According to the affidavit, FBI officers subsequently interviewed Tarr.
The complaint charges Tarr with one count of communication of a threat to injure a person, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, and one count of making a threat to a federal official, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
During today’s hearing, Judge Schanzle-Haskins appointed the federal public defender to represent Tarr for purposes of determining bond. Tarr was released from custody under conditions, including home detention and location monitoring; prohibited contact with any victims and witnesses; prohibited from consumption of alcohol; and further, that Tarr cooperate in drug and alcohol screening and mental health evaluation. Judge Schanzle-Haskins scheduled the next court appearance for Tarr on Dec. 17, 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crystal Correa is representing the government in the prosecution. The FBI and Rochester Police Department are conducting the investigation.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Rapid City Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wildlife TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced Troy Fairbanks, age 56, of Rapid City, South Dakota, appeared before Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 6, 2019, and pleaded guilty to an Indictment that charged him with Conspiracy to Commit Wildlife Trafficking.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and restitution.
Fairbanks conspired with his sons and other individuals to traffic in wildlife—specifically, bald and golden eagles, various species of hawks, and fifteen other bird species—and parts of those birds. Fairbanks, the owner/operator of a Native American dance business called Buffalo Dreamers, bought, sold, traded, and bartered eagles and hawks and their parts on numerous occasions between July 17, 2014, and February 11, 2016. Fairbanks sold and traded hundreds of eagle feathers, as well as eagle wings, eagle heads, eagle claws, raptor claws, hawk feathers, and parts from other CITES I protected birds. Testing of carcasses and parts recovered after a search warrant conducted at Fairbanks’s home revealed at least 112 eagles and/or parts thereof passed through his home during the transactions he conducted there.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Kelderman and Meghan Dilges.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for May 4, 2020. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.
Quapaw Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment this month charging a man from Quapaw with sexually abusing a child under the age of 12, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. The indictment was unsealed Monday.
Wilkie Bill Burtrum, 60, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 in Indian Country and with abusive sexual contact with a child under 12 in Indian Country. The indictment alleges that from Aug 2018 to October 2019, Burtrum knowingly touched the child sexually on multiple occasions. At a hearing held today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul J. Cleary ordered the defendant to be detained pending trial.
“We’ve made an effort to focus on crimes involving child victims this year, including in Indian Country. Sadly, there seems to be no end to the number of child predators we encounter. But law enforcement and child advocates remain undeterred,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “It takes courage for any victim – especially child victims – to come forward to disclose sexual abuse. We are proud to stand with victims to pursue justice in the courtroom to hold accountable their abusers.”
Burtrum was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse with children committed within Indian Country in 1993.
The Quapaw Tribal Marshals Service and Miami Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni is prosecuting the case.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Terry Porterfield, age 44, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Porterfield participated in an identity theft ring, through which he broke into unoccupied vehicles and stole means of identification and access devices of individuals, including driver licenses, credit cards, debit cards, and Social Security cards. Porterfield and other members of the conspiracy used the stolen means of identification and access devices to make and attempt to make fraudulent purchases at various retail establishments, including Target and Best Buy.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for April 23, 2020. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 22 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Allegheny County Police, Ross Township Police, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Porterfield.
Perkins Man Who Killed His Father Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JERRY RAY CRAINE, 37, of Perkins, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for possessing a firearm after a misdemeanor conviction of domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to an indictment filed on January 15, 2019, Craine possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in Payne County on July 29, 2018. Because of his March 2018 misdemeanor conviction in state court for domestic assault and battery in the presence of minor children, his firearm possession was a federal crime.
According to court filings, Craine killed his own father with the firearm he possessed illegally. On July 29, 2018, he learned that his mentally unstable father had gained access to another firearm Craine possessed at his residence in Perkins. After his father threatened to shoot him, Craine retreated to his vehicle and retrieved the 9mm semi-automatic handgun, along with two magazines of ammunition. He then went back into the house, where his father shot at him and he returned fire. After shooting a dozen rounds, Craine retreated, reloaded, and killed his father by firing more shots. On October 24, 2018, the Payne County District Attorney’s Office charged him with manslaughter in the first degree.
On March 6, 2019, Craine pleaded guilty to the federal firearm charge. Citing a recent Supreme Court case, he later asked permission to withdraw his guilty plea because he claimed he did not know his misdemeanor conviction made it illegal for him to possess a firearm. The court denied his motion because that case did not change the principle that a prohibited person commits a federal crime by possessing a firearm, even if unaware of the prohibition.
Today, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Craine to ten years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. During the sentencing hearing, the court found that a cross-reference to first-degree murder applied under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Perkins Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Payne County District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas and her office also provided support. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiatives to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. For more information about Project Guardian, please see the Attorney General’s announcement here. The case is also part of "Operation 922," the district’s local implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Guardian. "Operation 922" prioritizes firearms prosecutions connected to domestic violence, including domestic violence abusers who possess a firearm and are subject to a victim protective order or have been previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Reference is made to court filings for further information. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a Minor on Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mississippi man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for sexually assaulting a minor during a cruise from Boston to Bermuda.
Adam Christopher Boyd, 32, of Bay Springs, Miss., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 42 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In April 2019, Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor.
In August 2017, Boyd was a passenger on a seven-day cruise from Boston to Bermuda. While the ship was docked in Bermuda, Boyd sexually assaulted a minor passenger while the two were onboard the ship. The child subsequently reported that he had been raped to ship security, who notified Bermudian authorities. In the course of the Bermuda Police Service’s initial investigation, they arrested Boyd and notified authorities in the United States, where he was ultimately charged. Subsequent forensic testing revealed the presence of Boyd’s DNA in the minor victim’s underwear.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bermuda Police Service, Massachusetts Port Authority and FBI Legat Bridgetown, Barbados, Sub Office Nassau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Milwaukee Man Indicted for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced on December 10, 2019, that a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Otis T. Anderson (age: 30) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges Anderson robbed the Old National Bank at 790 N. Jefferson Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while brandishing a firearm, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113 and 924(c). Anderson is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). If convicted of the charges alleged, Anderson faces a mandatory minimum of seven years imprisonment and up to a lifetime term of imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Taskforce and the Milwaukee Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Wesley.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JORGE MEJIA-COLIN, age 28, a native of Mexico, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information charging him with illegal reentry of a removed alien.
United States District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced MEJIA- COLIN to time served (4 months of imprisonment), followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee. The defendant will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
According to court documents, MEJIA-COLIN was previously removed from the United States on September 30, 2008. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on July 24, 2019, and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.
Member of Montgomery Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 30 Years for Conspiracy, Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Thursday, December 5, 2019, Cyrus Phyfier, a 51-year-old resident of Montgomery, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for multiple drug and firearm related charges, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay Morris, Secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Hal Taylor, and Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley.
Phyfier received a significant sentence because the Court determined that based on his criminal history, which included multiple drug distribution convictions, he is a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. Following his 30-year prison sentence, Phyfier will be on supervised release for ten years.
Evidence presented at Phyfier’s August 2019 trial showed that in 2013 law enforcement began to investigate a cocaine and marijuana distribution organization operating in Montgomery County, Alabama. The organization was supplied from persons operating in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. Following the arrest of a member of the organization, agents discovered Phyfier was a major illegal drug supplier. Utilizing a number of investigative tools, agents determined Phyfier was responsible for distributing approximately five to eight kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride during some months. In addition, five controlled purchases were made from Phyfier at his home. Video footage presented during the trial revealed Phyfier weighing and selling various illegal drugs. Additional testimony presented at trial revealed Phyfier distributed in excess of 28 kilograms of cocaine base during the course of the conspiracy. Law enforcement found that Phyfier and his co-conspirators would buy and sell various drugs to each other to support their enterprise with one of them stating that he had purchased cocaine from Phyfier for ten years.
During the execution of a search warrant at Phyfier’s residence, law enforcement seized marijuana and a firearm. Again, Phyfier had two prior felony convictions for the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Therefore, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The jury found Phyfier guilty as charged on all counts in the indictment. Specifically, he was found guilty of various narcotics related offenses, which included conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. The jury also found Phyfier guilty on the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The other charged members of the conspiracy previously pled guilty and most have been sentenced for their crimes, including: Haywood Norman, 48 years old, sentenced to 180 months; George Edward Jones, 42 years old, sentenced to 92 months; Gene Easterling, 48 years old, sentenced to 63 months; Erwin Smith, 59 years old, sentenced to 51 months; and Ernest Lee Rhodes, 37 years old, sentenced to eight months.
U.S. Attorney Franklin said, “Make no mistake, Phyfier was not your average, run-of-the-mill drug dealer. He was a major player in a drug trafficking organization that infested the city with illegal drugs and violence. This sentence will finally bring his days of poisoning and terrorizing our communities to an end. I commend all of the investigative agencies involved for their efforts in dismantling this organization”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Watson remarked, “Protecting the public by the removal of the criminal element that commits acts of violence with a firearm was the result of the combined efforts by ATF and our partners as part of ‘Project Guardian.’”
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Morris said, “Phyfier was clearly a dangerous criminal and a member of a drug trafficking organization that poured drugs into Montgomery, Alabama. The cooperation and dedication of all the law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly on this investigation should send a clear message to those who try to destroy our families and communities. We will not tolerate your criminal behavior and lifestyle. We will investigate you and ensure we find a prison bed for you for years and years. The wonderful people of Alabama deserve our full effort and attention. We will not stand by and allow others to cause harm and destroy lives.”
Secretary Taylor of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said, “One of Alabama’s greatest assets is a solid multi-level law enforcement partnership. Such collaboration is effective as evidenced by the investigation and prosecution of Cyrus Phyfier.”
Montgomery Police Chief Finley said, “At MPD, we appreciate our close working relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and want to thank our federal partners for bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion with the sentencing of Cyrus Phyfier and the other members of the drug trafficking organization.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the State of Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Curtis Ivy, Jr., Stephanie Billingslea, Alice LaCour, and Brett Talley.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for two armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Eric Matthew Reddick, 23, of Albuquerque was sentenced in federal court on December 10 to 217 months in prison for two armed robberies he committed in 2017.
According to public court records, Reddick committed the first armed robbery in Albuquerque on October 3, 2017. Reddick and another man went inside a gas station carrying firearms. They wore masks, gloves, and hats to conceal their identities. Reddick and the other man pointed their guns at a clerk and demanded money. The clerk told them to calm down and assured them he would get the money. However, Reddick shot his pistol at shelves of liquor behind the clerk. The clerk then handed over money from the cash register. Reddick and the other man fled the store.
On October 6, 2017, Reddick went to a convenience store in Albuquerque. He picked up a pack of gum and put in on the counter with a dollar bill. When the clerk opened a cash register, Reddick pulled out a pistol and demanded money. This was the same gun Reddick used in the previous robbery three days earlier. Reddick took money from the clerk and left the store with two witnesses watching him. One of the witnesses took a cell photo picture of Reddick as he ran towards a car. Reddick fired several shots at the witnesses, striking one in the neck and the other in the leg. Reddick fled the scene in a stolen vehicle but police later tracked him down at a restaurant parking lot. Officers stopped the vehicle, arrested Reddick, and seized the gun used in the robberies.
On November 30, 2017, Reddick pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with interference with interstate commerce by robbery and carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. These charges stemmed from the robbery on October 6, 2017. On March 25, 2019, Reddick pleaded guilty to an information charging him with interference with interstate commerce by robbery. This charge stemmed from the robbery on October 3. Reddick received concurrent sentences of 97 months in prison for the two robbery offenses. He received a consecutive sentence of 120 months in prison for the firearm offense for a total sentence of 217 months imprisonment.
The FBI investigated this case with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley prosecuted the case as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s “SAUSA Partnership” with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, a joint initiative designed to reduce violent crime in Albuquerque.
Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that in federal court yesterday, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced CHARLES JUNIOR ANDERSON, 55, of Little River, South Carolina, to 55 months’ imprisonment, followed by a 3 year term of supervised released.
On February 21, 2019, ANDERSON was named in a one-count Indictment in which he was charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On September 17, 2019, ANDERSON pled guilty to the Indictment.
On October 26, 2018, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Vice and Narcotics officers observed a vehicle leave a known drug area and commit multiple traffic infractions while traveling to a grocery store parking lot in Calabash, NC, where the vehicle came to a stop and was approached by officers. A firearm was observed on the floor of the front passenger seat of the vehicle where ANDERSON was seated. ANDERSON admitted that the firearm belonged to him. This was ANDERSON’s third federal conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
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. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted 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.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For more information about this initiative click here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Vice and Narcotics Division, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Bryan M. Stephany prosecuted the case for the government.
Lumberton Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that Chief United States District Terrence W. Boyle, sentenced DEMETRIS SEAN ROBINSON, a/k/a “Bo Bo,” 27, of Whiteville, North Carolina, to life imprisonment plus 10 years to be served consecutively, followed by 5 years of supervised released. ROBINSON was ordered to pay $40,302 in restitution.
On May 1, 2019, ROBINSON was convicted following a jury trial of Armed Bank Robbery and Aiding and Abetting, Discharging a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. On November 14, 2019, Robinson’s co-defendant, DAQUAN MADRID PRIDGEN, was sentenced by Chief Judge Boyle to Life imprisonment, plus ten years’ imprisonment to be served consecutively. Robinson’s other two co-defendants, JERAMIE ROSS VAUGHN and RASHAD DEVONTE YOUNG, a/k/a “Rep,” each received 180 months imprisonment.
The evidence presented at trial showed that sometime in late 2017, the four men began planning to rob a bank and gathered high-quality masks to wear during the robbery, and several firearms, including a rifle, shotgun, and two handguns. On January 23, 2018, the four men travelled to Lumberton and cased banks before deciding to rob the PNC Bank. ROBINSON, PRIDGEN, and YOUNG each brandished firearms and ordered the tellers to hand over money. A bank employee was also ordered to the bank vault where additional money was taken. In all, the four men fled the bank with over $40,000 in cash.
Officers of the Lumberton Police Department (LPD) quickly caught up with the robbers and a two-county high-speed chase ensued. Other law enforcement officers from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) also joined the chase. The defendants drove through residential areas and reached speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. At various points in the chase, ROBINSON fired at officers both while the getaway vehicle was in motion and while the vehicle stopped several times. Several law enforcement vehicles were struck, but there were no injuries to law enforcement. The chase ended when ROBINSON, PRIDGEN, and VAUGHN abandoned the vehicle on the side of the road in Columbus County and fled on foot into the woods. YOUNG ran on foot when the vehicle stopped at an earlier time. All four were eventually apprehended and charged.
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. Since 2017, the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted 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 is also part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violence crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The FBI, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Lumberton Police Department, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin C. Blondel and Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case for the government.
Long Island Man Charged with Possessing Child Pornography in New PaltzRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jacob Delaney, age 22, of Holtsville, New York, and currently residing in New Paltz, was charged and arrested today for possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
A criminal complaint filed against Delaney alleges that he possessed child pornography on his computer and an external hard drive while residing in New Paltz. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Delaney faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a mandatory term of supervised release of 5 years and up to life, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and a maximum $250,000 fine. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and the New York State Police Troop F Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Unit and Highland Barracks, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Giglio Suarez.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Local Nail Salon Owners Arrested and Charged with Forced Labor and Debt BondageRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Christopher P. Tenorio (619) 546-8413
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 12, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Cindy Mydung Luu and Jason Luu, siblings who own two Rancho Bernardo nail salons, were arraigned in federal court late today following their indictment by a federal grand jury on charges they were part of a forced labor conspiracy.
The brother and sister were arrested this morning at their home in Tierrasanta by members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. According to the indictment, they lured the victim – their second cousin - from Vietnam to San Diego to work long hours in their salons, Eden Nails Lounge & Spa (“Eden”) and Majestic Nail Salon (“Majestic).
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division also investigated the defendants’ nail salon for minimum wage and overtime violations, according to Wage and Hour District Director Rodolfo Cortez.
“We are very grateful that this matter came to the attention of the Human Trafficking Task Force upon the suggestion and support of two caring and vigilant nail salon customers who had befriended the victim,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “With their assistance, Task Force officers were able to assist the victim immediately and to investigate these alleged crimes.”
“There’s never an excuse for coercing someone into forced labor,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on behalf of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. “We are all proud of the work done by our team and task force partners that led to this indictment.”
The indictment alleges the defendants recruited the victim to travel to San Diego from Vietnam in 2014 on a student visa. Beginning in September 2014, the victim was held at a home owned by the defendants and began working at Majestic. She worked at Majestic until February 2018, and then at Eden until June 2019.
Although the victim initially attended Grossmont College, she left in the spring of 2016 and was married to Jason Luu, her second-cousin, who petitioned for a visa for the victim as his spouse. Jason Luu is also charged with Visa Fraud for falsely swearing on the visa application in 2015 that the victim had lived with him as his spouse, and that she intended to continue living with him. As the indictment alleges, the victim was actually residing at a separate residence owned by the defendants.
To maintain the victim’s labor, the defendants allegedly engaged in a scheme intended to cause the victim to believe she would suffer financial and reputational harm if she did not continue working. The defendants are also charged with benefitting financially from their forced labor and peonage venture, which required that the victim’s work proceeds be used to pay outstanding debts, both imaginary and real.
The United States is also seeking the forfeiture of property used to facilitate the crimes, and property involved in the offense, plus at least $300,000.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The defendants were arraigned on the indictment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford. Bond was set at $30,000 secured by real property for each defendant.
They are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey T. Miller on January 17, 2020 at 11 a.m. for a motion hearing and trial setting.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 19CR4970-JM
Cindy Mydung Luu Age: 53 San Diego, CA
Jason Luu Age: 44 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Forced Labor Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1594
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine
Peonage – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1581
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine
Forced Labor – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1589
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine
Document Servitude – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1592
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $500,000 fine
Benefitting Financially from Peonage – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1593A
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine
Visa Fraud/False Swearing in Immigration Matter – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1546(a)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section. Formed in 2019, by U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer, the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood. The VCHT Section also provides federal prosecutors to the downtown San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, the North County Gang Task Force, and the East County Gang Task Force.
Leader of Colombian Cocaine Trafficking Organization Sentenced to over 24 YearsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Roberto Andrade-Caceres (47, Cali, Colombia), a/k/a “Yiyo,” to over 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Andrade-Caceres was indicted on May 4, 2017, arrested in Colombia, and subsequently extradited to the United States. On May 2019, he pleaded guilty to the offense.
According to court records, since at least 2014, Andrade-Caceres was an organizer and leader of a Cali, Columbia based drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) engaged in the maritime transportation of large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Panama and Costa Rica using small go-fast style vessels. Andrade-Caceres directed, managed, and oversaw virtually all aspects of the maritime cocaine-smuggling operation, including organizing and supervising at least twelve maritime cocaine smuggling ventures, two of which were interdicted by the United States Coast Guard.
In 2015 and 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted two go-fast smuggling vessels dispatched from Colombia by the DTO. During those interdictions, the Coast Guard seized approximately 684 kilograms of cocaine. The crewmen aboard these vessels were arrested and prosecuted in the Middle District of Florida.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice provided significant support with the defendant’s extradition. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas DeRenzo.
LRGP Member Going to Prison for 25 Years for Drug Conspiracy, Murdering Man He Thought Was A Rival Drug MemberRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Matthew Johnson, 28, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between late 2014 and May 2015, the defendant, along with several other members and associates of the L.R.G.P. Gang, sold and distributed crack cocaine in the areas of Lombard, Rother, Gibson, and Playter Streets in Buffalo. Johnson also sold cocaine out of 41 Houghton Street in Buffalo to various drug customers, including an undercover police officer.
During this conspiracy, on December 14, 2014, the defendant shot and killed Terrell Taylor as he was walking in the area of Brinkman Avenue and Rohe Street in Buffalo. Johnson mistakenly believed that Taylor was a member of a rival gang.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Nevada Tax Return PreparerRead the Press Release
The United States filed a civil injunction suit seeking to bar Gregory C. Diedrich and Saginaw Financial from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, alleges that the defendants prepare and file tax returns that overstate their customers’ refunds, and that they fail to conduct the required due diligence, including taking reasonable steps to ensure that information provided by customers is accurate. The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in misconduct, including fabricating business income and claiming false deductions, such as for charitable contributions and phony business expenses. For example, according to the complaint, Saginaw and Diedrich prepared a tax return for a married couple claiming over $16,000 in false deductions for travel, mileage, and a cell phone without receiving any supporting documentation, and prepared a return for another customer that reported income not received by the customer in order to maximize her Earned Income Credit. In the complaint, the government estimates the lost tax revenue from Saginaw and Diedrich’s actions to be over $1.5 million for the 2017 tax year alone.
According to the complaint, the IRS has taken multiple steps to correct Diedrich and Saginaw Financial’s unlawful behavior, including scheduling personal visits, and, later, assessing substantial financial penalties, but these efforts have failed to curb Saginaw and Diedrich’s unlawful behavior.
The complaint seeks an order permanently barring Diedrich and Saginaw Financial from preparing federal tax returns for others, and requiring Diedrich and Saginaw Financial to send a notice of the injunction to all customers who have retained them since 2016.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.