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6 November 2019
Retired Police Officer Sentenced to 10 Years for Transporting Minor Across State Lines for Illegal Sexual PurposeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Larry Woods, 63, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in federal prison, to be followed by 12 years of supervised release, for transporting a minor from Wisconsin to Illinois for an illegal sexual purpose. Woods pleaded guilty to this offense on August 7, 2019.
Woods retired from the Beloit Police Department in 2007 after working for the department for 25 years. After retiring, he worked as a school safety officer with the Beloit Public School system, and as a security monitor for the Beloit Public Library. Woods was a friend of the family of his minor victim, and had known his 13-year-old victim her entire life. Woods gained the trust of his victim’s mother by offering to be a mentor. He groomed his victim for months, and had a sexual relationship with her from late 2017 through his arrest in June 2018. Woods often transported his victim to Rockford, Illinois, where he rented hotel rooms to engage in sexual activity. Woods was convicted of repeated sexual assault of his victim in Rock County, Wisconsin, and was sentenced to 12 years in state prison, to be followed by five years extended supervision, on September 27, 2019.
Judge Peterson ordered the federal sentence to run concurrently with Woods’ state sentence. Judge Peterson noted that Woods targeted an extremely vulnerable victim, and that his crime was truly outrageous.
The charge against Woods is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Beloit Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger.
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. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to 14 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on November 1, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Roxanne Barton, age 36, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
From approximately June 2016 through June 2018, Barton was involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Rapid City area.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Additional co-conspirators are pending trials. Several other co-conspirators have already been sentenced.
Barton was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Trevor Red Bird, age 31, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Red Bird was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 11, 2019. He pled guilty on August 27, 2019.
Red Bird was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court in May 2008. As a result of this conviction, Red Bird is required to register as a sex offender. In April 2019, Red Bird was on federal supervised release and was properly registered and residing in Rapid City. On April 7, 2019, Red Bird moved from his registered address but did not update his registration. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and on June 26, 2019, Red Bird was arrested at a residence in St. Francis, South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Red Bird was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Providence Man Sentenced in Project Safe Neighborhoods Guns and Drugs InvestigationRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who admitted selling fentanyl and firearms on multiple occasions was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Jean Sajous, 28, admitted to the Court in July that between May 24, 2018, and June 20, 2018, he made multiple sales of fentanyl. He also admitted to selling two firearms. The transactions took place at a time when members of the FBI Safe Street Task Force were conducting a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into Sajous’ criminal activity.
At the time of his guilty plea, Sajous admitted to the Court that he sold an individual a total of 5.34 grams of fentanyl, a .25 caliber pistol, and a 9mm pistol. All of the transactions were monitored by members of the Safe Streets Task Force. Agents seized the fentanyl and the firearms immediately following each transaction.
Sajous was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith to 37 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.
Sajous pleaded guilty on July 8, 2019, to two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, one count of unlicensed firearms dealing, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Helen H. Lee and Terrence P. Donnelly.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Providence Man Sentenced for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Providence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a fentanyl conspiracy.
Dario Bier Romero, 28, of Providence, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 70 months in prison and four years of supervised release. On July 25, 2019, Romero pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
On June 21, 2018, investigators seized approximately three kilograms of fentanyl from Romero and co-defendant Gerson Franco Guerrero during a federal investigation. During the execution of a search warrant at Romero’s residence in Providence, investigators seized an additional kilogram of fentanyl and drug packaging paraphernalia.
Guerrero pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 43 months in prison in July 2019.
United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and Woburn and Providence (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
President of Purported Intergovernmental Organization Indicted for Cryptocurrency SchemeRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), today announced charges against ASA SAINT CLAIR for his participation in an investment scheme tied to a purported digital coin offering called IGOBIT. SAINT CLAIR allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud victims into providing loans tied to the launch of IGOBIT by World Sports Alliance, a purported intergovernmental organization focused on promoting international development through sports, and falsely promised investors guaranteed returns and an ownership interest in IGOBIT.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, Asa Saint Clair used World Sports Alliance, a sham affiliate of the United Nations, as a vehicle to defraud lenders. Saint Clair allegedly defrauded investors in IGOBIT, a digital currency he claimed WSA was developing, but which turned out to be the fraudulent bait with which to lure victim investors. What’s real is the felony charge Saint Clair now faces.”
Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh said: “Saint Claire allegedly touted his company as promoting the values of sports and peace for a better world, yet defrauded all those who invested in his sham company. As alleged, Saint Claire used the money he earned through deceit to fund a lavish lifestyle for him and his family. Through the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force and its strong partnerships, Saint Claire will face time for his actions, and it won’t be in the luxury or comfort he has grown accustomed to.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed late yesterday in Manhattan federal court[1] and the previously filed Complaint:
From 2017 through September 2019, SAINT CLAIR solicited investors for the launch of IGOBIT through promised investment returns and representations about World Sports Alliance’s development projects around the world. World Sports Alliance did not in fact participate in any international development projects and SAINT CLAIR did not dedicate investor funds to IGOBIT. Instead, SAINT CLAIR diverted those funds to other entities controlled by him and members of his family, as well as to pay his personal expenses, including dinners at Manhattan restaurants, airline tickets, and online shopping.
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SAINT CLAIR, 47, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of HSI on this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher and Tara M. La Morte are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Pittsburgh Felon Indicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh and charged with violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The four-count Superseding Indictment named Derrick Jones, age 34, as the sole defendant.
According to the Superseding Indictment, from on or about July 1, 2017, to on or about July 21, 2017, Derrick Jones maintained a drug involved premises. On July 21, 2017, Jones is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jones is a convicted felon and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to life, a fine of up to $3,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Peever Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Abusive Sexual Contact and Felony Child AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Peever, South Dakota, man convicted of abusive sexual contact was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Thomas Dion DeMarrias, age 47, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
According to court documents, between on or about May 9, 2010, and continuing through on or about May 8, 2011, in Roberts County, DeMarrias forcefully engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual contact with a juvenile victim, that is, sexual contact, by using force. DeMarrias had the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, and degrade the victim and had the intent to arouse and gratify his sexual desires.
Between on or about June 22, 2009, and continuing through on or about June 21, 2011, in Roberts County, DeMarrias abused, tortured, and cruelly punished a child by using a dangerous weapon during and in relation to such conduct.
“This defendant tortured and sexually abused his child victims in what can only be described as a house of horrors,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “He deserves every day of this lengthy federal prison sentence.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
DeMarrias was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pearl River County Man Sentenced to Almost 3 Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Kirk Johnson, 43, of Pearl River County, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 33 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Resident Agent-in-Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Task Force. Johnson was also ordered to pay a $1500 fine.
On October 18, 2018, in Picayune, Mississippi, Johnson possessed and sold a firearm to a buyer for $80. Johnson was previously convicted of possession of precursor chemicals in Pearl River County, Mississippi, and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On March 5, 2019, Johnson was charged in a federal criminal indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on June 20, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Carter and Stan Harris.
Parker Man Sentenced for Seven Counts of Willful Failure to File Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Parker, South Dakota, man convicted of Willful Failure to File Tax Returns was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Dale Edward Buller, age 71, was sentenced to time served, 5 years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, $305,922.40 in restitution, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $175.
Buller was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 5, 2017. He pled guilty on November 5, 2018.
Buller, a retired farmer from Turner County, willfully failed to file tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for calendar years 2010 through 2016. During those years, Buller received gross income from the rental of agricultural and pasture land. He was required by law to make and file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, stating specifically the items of gross income. Buller attempted to conceal the income by claiming the land was owned by a Trust. However, because Buller controlled the Trust and all of the assets, all of the income was taxable.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Palm Beach County Tax Return Preparer Convicted of Filing False Tax Returns and Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, convicted Paul Senat today of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and theft of government funds, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from at least 2012 to 2016, Paul Senat was the owner and operator of multiple tax return preparation businesses in Palm Beach and surrounding areas. Through the businesses, Senat falsified his clients’ returns by reporting fictitious business losses and false education credits in order to fraudulently inflate their refunds.
Following the jury verdict, Senat was taken into custody. United States District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2020.
Senat faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government funds and three years for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false returns. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Lauren Archer of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Oshkosh Man Indicted for Making False Statements under Oath in Federal Court ProceedingRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 5, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Shawn Karst (age: 43) of Oshkosh. The indictment charged Karst with Perjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1623(a). If convicted, Karst faces a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
According to the indictment, on or about December 7, 2018, Karst made false statements while testifying under oath in U.S. District Court.
The Appleton Police Department investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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 his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ohio man sentenced for crossing state lines to have illegal sexual contactRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Vincent Scott, of Hudson, Ohio, was sentenced today to 50 months incarceration for a sex charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Scott, age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct” in June 2019. Scott admitted to traveling from Ohio to Harrison County, West Virginia, to engage in illegal sexual conduct in February 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danae Demasi-Lemon prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
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/.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Nine Central Illinois Men Arrested in FBI Springfield Operation, Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – U.S. Attorney John Milhiser and FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Sean M. Cox announced that nine Central Illinois men were arrested over the weekend related to a FBI Springfield Operation. The men have been charged in separate criminal complaints with attempted enticement of a child to engage in sexual activity. The complaints were unsealed on Nov. 4, 2019, as each made their respective initial appearance in federal court in Peoria. Each was ordered detained pending hearings scheduled for today.
According to the affidavits filed in support of the complaints, each of the men allegedly used various social media applications to contact and engage with FBI online covert employees posing as minors under the age of 18 to make arrangements to meet the minor girl or boy with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
As the men arrived at or near the designated address, in the 1900 block of E. Knox St., in Peoria, Ill., they were arrested and taken into custody by FBI Springfield Special Agents; Illinois State Police; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office; and, the Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris is representing the government in the case prosecutions.
The defendants charged with attempted enticement of a child are:
- Thomas R. Alt, 26, of the 1100 block of N. Deibe Rd., Peoria;
- Thomas Bauer, 35, of the 7000 block of N. 1750 East Rd., Bloomington;
- Jacob N. Beeney, 35, of the 200 block of N. Trivoli, Trivoli;
- Travis Koch, 38, of the 1400 block of Park St., Peoria;
- Patrick Lanan, 39, Lake Camelot Dr., Mapleton;
- Tyler D. Lee, 33, of the 100 block of Harrison E., Galesburg;
- Keith Madson, 35, of the 100 block Hemlock Terrace, Canton;
- Hector Martinez, 56, of the 4100 block of N. Chelsea, Peoria; and,
- Bernard Waibel, 55, of the 1600 block of NE Glendale, Peoria.
If convicted, for the offense of attempted enticement of a minor, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nebraska Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Smithfield, Nebraska, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Marcitta Connors, age 25, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Connors was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 11, 2018. She pled guilty on August 19, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy that occurred between January 1, 2015, and September 11, 2018. During the course of this conspiracy, Connors knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Connors worked with others in Nebraska and elsewhere to bring pounds of methamphetamine per trip onto the reservation where it was distributed by Connors and others. This conspiracy involved between 15 kilograms and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Also, during the course of the conspiracy, many firearms were traded between Connors and others for methamphetamine.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, Northern Plains Safe Trials Drug Enforcement Task Force, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Connors was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Woman Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Lee Ann Stenstrom a/k/a LeeAnn Stenstrom, age 36, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Stenstrom was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 13, 2019. She pled guilty on August 12, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in Mission on December 26, 2018. On that date, Stenstrom approached a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Officer at a convenience store and said she wanted to report a crime. The officer detected the odor of alcohol on Stenstrom, and asked to get a statement from Stenstrom outside the store. Stenstrom agreed. Once outside, Stenstrom got in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle. The officer, concerned that Stenstrom was intoxicated, told her not to start the vehicle and attempted to take the keys from the ignition. Stenstrom then started the vehicle and backed up, knocking the officer down, and then drove away. She was arrested later that day at a residence in Mission.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Stenstrom was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons public database training offered at four Montana Indian ReservationsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—The U.S. Attorney’s Office held on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation today the first of four public trainings this week on how to use a national database system for missing persons, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The USAO also recently released a Missing Indigenous Persons Public Service Announcement on what people can do if a loved one goes missing.
A representative for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, showed attendees in Browning how to use the free, online tool to report and find missing persons.
“Native American women suffer high rates of violence, including murder. When women go missing, they need to be found, and murdered victims need their killers brought to justice,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
“By bringing NamUs training to Montana and our Indian reservations, we hope community members will learn how to use this free and secure tool to report and ultimately find their missing loved one. Our public service announcement also provides information on what to do if someone goes missing,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
NamUs trainings also will be offered on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Rocky Boy’s Stone Child College Vo-Tech Center in Box Elder; at 1:30 p.m. at the Fort Belknap Agency Community building in Harlem; and on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Fort Peck Tribal Complex, Phase 3, in Poplar.
Administered by the National Institute of Justice, NamUs is accessible to both law enforcement and the public and allows them to enter and share information about missing persons. NamUs is available online at NamUs.gov.
The recently released a Missing Indigenous Persons PSA with steps people can take if a loved one goes missing was produced with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office. The Missing Indigenous Persons PSA is available at the following link: https://youtu.be/pXNHF8jnZYM.
NamUs training was presented earlier this year to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on the Flathead Reservation, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the Crow Tribe. NamUs training also was offered at two Missing Persons Training sessions for the public and law enforcement held in Helena and in Billings. The statewide training sessions were co-sponsored by the USAO, the Montana Department of Justice, the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Michigan Company and Its Owner Sentenced for Illegally Storing Hazardous WasteRead the Press Release
Electro-Plating Services Inc. (EPS), located in Madison Heights, Michigan, was sentenced in federal court in Detroit to five years of probation, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,449,963.94 joint and several with Gary Sayers to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Sayers, EPS’s owner, was sentenced to one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The Honorable Stephen J. Murphy issued the sentence, having accepted each of their pleas of guilty to a federal hazardous waste storage felony on Feb. 14, 2019.
The crime related to Sayers’s operation of EPS, which used chemicals such as cyanide, chromium, nickel, chloride, trichloroethylene, and various acids and bases, as part of the plating process. After these chemicals no longer served their intended purpose, they became hazardous wastes, which required handling in compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Rather than having EPS’s hazardous wastes legally transported to a licensed hazardous waste facility, Sayers stored the hazardous waste in numerous drums and other containers, including a pit dug into the ground in the lower level of the EPS building in Madison Heights. For years, Sayers stonewalled state efforts to get him to legally deal the hazardous wastes. Ultimately, the EPA’s Superfund program spent $1,449,963.94 to clean up and dispose of the hazardous wastes.
“This case shows that anyone who chooses to do business with dangerous materials must obey federal laws that protect our fellow Americans and the environment. These defendants’ knowing, illegal storage of waste cyanide, highly corrosive wastes, toxic chromium waste, and reactive wastes posed a significant danger and threat to nearby communities and the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “They disregarded the law and numerous warnings and requests by state authorities to comply with their legal obligations. The Department of Justice will act to protect public health and safety.”
“The improper storage of hazardous waste presents a significant danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan. “EPS blatantly disregarded the safety of our community and environment. We hope this case will serve as notice to other businesses that law enforcement will take all necessary action to ensure compliance with our environmental laws and protect the people of Michigan.”
“Hazardous wastes pose serious risks to the health of entire communities, so it’s imperative they be handled and disposed of safely and legally,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Lynn of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Michigan. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear signal that EPA and its law enforcement partners are committed to the protection of public health and will continue to pursue those who blatantly undermine those efforts.”
According to court records, Sayers—who owned and was the President of EPS—knew that such storage was illegal and had managed the company’s former Detroit facility where he kept hazardous wastes illegally. Starting in 1996, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) repeatedly sent him warnings about his illegal handling of hazardous waste. In 2005, Sayers was charged with and pleaded guilty to illegally transporting hazardous wastes in state court. During the ensuing years, the MDEQ attempted to get Sayers and EPS to properly manage the amounts of hazardous wastes piling up at the Madison Heights location. The MDEQ issued numerous letters of warning and violation notices to the company regarding its hazardous wastes.
In 2016, the MDEQ identified over 5,000 containers of liquid and solid wastes at the Madison Heights location. That same year, the city of Madison Heights revoked the company’s occupancy permit. In January 2017, the EPA initiated a Superfund removal action, after determining that nature and threats posed by the stored hazardous waste required a time-critical response. The cleanup was completed in January 2018.
Assistant Attorney General Clark and U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Schneider thanked EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources-Environmental Investigation Section for their work investigating this case, as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE, formerly the MDEQ) and the Coast Guard Investigative Service, which provided investigative support. Senior Counsel Kris Dighe of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara D. Woodward of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
Miami Super Bowl Host Committee and Partners Launch Outdoor Stop Sex Trafficking CampaignRead the Press Release
“Station Domination” takes place at Knight Center Metromover Station
The Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, in conjunction with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade, and other partners has launched a comprehensive outdoor campaign to stop sex trafficking in Miami-Dade County leading up to and beyond the February 2020 Super Bowl in Miami.
The campaign includes a rapid response local text or call trafficking hotline, 305-FIX-STOP, introduced to complement national and other hotlines. This means victims or community members who report trafficking crimes to the local hotline will be connected directly with local “305” Miami rapid response resources.
The launch event featured a complete “Station Domination” take over at the Knight Center Metromover Station. The campaign encompasses billboards, Metromover car wrap, transit stations, bus shelters, Metrorail interior posters, Metrorail station posters and Miami Beach local buses, as well as significant social media efforts. The campaign will be expanded to include additional messaging, languages, media, and locations.
“Earlier this year we launched our Stop Sex Trafficking Campaign – an unprecedented effort involving local, state and federal agencies, as well as a significant number of other partners who have come together to combat sex trafficking with new tools and zero tolerance,” said Miami Super Bowl Host Committee Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Since, we’ve worked together and tirelessly to ensure we do our very best to address this critical issue and create a model that will make a difference in our community, future Super Bowl host cities and beyond.
According to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, “This is a highly coordinated rapid response capability to recover victims and arrest offenders, including buyers and traffickers, and engage the local community to help victims escape and report trafficking.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is also a committed partner of the anti-trafficking campaign. The Chief Federal Prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan stated, “Sex traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of our society. They do so without regard to the devastation caused by their criminal acts, as they force and compel victims into prostitution, deprive them of their dignity and profit from their victimization. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands ready to seek justice for the victims and just punishment for the traffickers. We implore the public to help us protect and serve our community by reporting suspected sex trafficking and/or human trafficking.”
Other key partners include:
- Ashley Moody, Attorney General for the State of Florida
- George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami, FL
- Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Miami, FL
- The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force
- The South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force
- Over 300 local participating local community organizations
- Stakeholders from throughout local, state, and federal agencies, and throughout the national anti-trafficking community.
“In our convening activity, our collective theme has been “One Team” to represent the determined work of all of the law enforcement agencies and community partners working together,” said The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade Executive Director Kathy Andersen. “We are united to build the strongest force in the country to combat trafficking. Our community is the eyes and voices of those enslaved against their will in trafficking. It is most significant that the campaign is informed directly by trafficking survivor-leaders and community partner working groups. Beware buyers and traffickers. You will be exposed and prosecuted.”
The campaign focuses on three messages:
- “See It. Snap It. Send It,” which alerts the community to use the Miami local hotline 305-FIX-STOP to activate the local Miami rapid response capabilities by texting or calling.
- “Not What You Think,” which features a middle-aged woman with a preteen girl, informing the community that sex trafficking may be facilitated by women as well as men, and breaking the myths of trafficking “stereotypes.”
- “Buy Sex. Be Exposed,” representing a man having been arrested for buying sex, reminding people that buying sex is illegal in Florida. The sex buyer online database in Florida took effect on July 1, 2019, ensuring buyers will be publicly exposed.
The campaign also includes the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-3737-888, text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages.
The highly collaborative campaign represents a united fight to combat human trafficking because:
- Tragically, Miami-Dade ranks #1 in the State of Florida, which ranks third in the nation, for human trafficking;
- Sex traffickers target our most vulnerable children, particularly those who have been sexually exploited, runaways and children in our child welfare system;
- In Miami-Dade approximately 40% of victims are minors, and 60% are adults with an average age of 18-23 years old;
- In Miami-Dade, there are documented cases of children as young as 12 being sold for sex;
- Children have reported being sold up to 20 times in a day;
- Sex traffickers consider trafficking in children to be a high-profit, low-risk enterprise. Some estimates project that a trafficker can make $150,000-$200,000 per child per year;
- Sex traffickers can be lone individuals, family members or extensive crime networks; and
- Sex trafficking exists within many venues, including homes, fake massage businesses, online escort services, residential brothels, in public on streets, truck stops, strip clubs, hotels and motels and elsewhere.
Mexican Man Indicted on Identity Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A man from Mexico was indicted today on federal charges of identity theft, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Juan Tapia, 33, a citizen of Mexico, who has been living in Wichita, is charged with one count of using another person’s Social Security number, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States.
Tapia also is connected to the case involving Andrew J. Pleviak, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, who is charged with impersonating a federal officer. Pleviak allegedly pretended to be an ICE supervisor in September 2019 when he tried to get Tapia out of the Kingman County Jail. Pleviak was indicted Oct. 9 and is awaiting trial.
If convicted, Tapia could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the Social Security charge, a mandatory two years (consecutive) on the identity theft charge, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Kansas Department of Revenue investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jacob J. Gray, 20, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 1, 2019, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Cory L. Washington, 35, Wichita, Kan., is charged with four counts of theft by a postal employee. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in April, May, June and July 2019 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Menominee Woman Charged with Retaliating against a WitnessRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 5, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Elmira J. Corn (Age: 29), an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and a resident of Neopit, which is on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
The indictment charged Corn with Obstructing Justice by Retaliating against a Witness, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1513(b) and 2. If convicted, Corn faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
According to the indictment, on or about October 7, 2019, Corn engaged in conduct that caused bodily harm in retaliation for the victim giving information to law enforcement about a federal offense.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation’s Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI). The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Menominee Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 5, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Robert J. Kapishkowit (Age: 26), an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and a resident of Neopit, which is on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
The indictment charged Kapishkowit with Sexual Abuse of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2243(a) and 1153(a). If convicted, Kapishkowit faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, from 5 years to life on supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
According to the indictment, on or about June 11, 2018, Kapishkowit engaged in a sex act with a person who had reached the age of 12 years, but had not reached the age of 16 years, and who was at least 4 years younger than him. The assault allegedly occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Menominee Indian Reservation.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Member of Southeastern Connecticut Drug Ring Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BENJAMIN GREGOR, 34, of Uncasville, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking ring.
This matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton and Stonington Police Departments, into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, and firearms.
Gregor and 10 co-conspirators were arrested on February 21, 2019. On that date, a search of Gregor’s residence revealed approximately 470 grams of cocaine.
On March 5, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Gregor and 23 other individuals with various offenses.
Gregor has been detained since his arrest. On July 10, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Gregor’s criminal history includes a prior federal narcotics conviction, and state convictions for domestic violence-related offenses.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton, Stonington, Norwich, Old Saybrook and UConn Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.
Member of Armed Robbery Crew Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Tiffany Edmundson, age 31, of Greenbelt, Maryland, today to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit two armed robberies. Judge Grimm also ordered Edmundson to pay restitution of $1,740.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Director in Charge Timothy R. Slater of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Peter Newsham of the Metropolitan Police Department; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Anthony Morgan of the Mount Rainier Police Department.
According to her plea agreement and other court documents, Edmundson committed two robberies on May 31, 2012. Edmundson’s role in the robberies included conducting surveillance of the target businesses before the robberies, planning the robberies with her co-conspirators—including knowing that at least one co-conspirator would be armed with a gun, participating in the robberies, and dividing and receiving a portion of robbery proceeds. During the robberies, Edmundson and her co-conspirators partially hid their faces with cloths or a mask.
Specifically, Edmundson and two co-conspirators, Anthony Akrah Morris and Chavez Tyrone Smith, robbed a 7-Eleven store at 1:05 a.m. on May 31, 2012, located in the 12000 block of Laurel Bowie Road in Laurel, Maryland. Smith stood at the entrance of the store to watch for other customers or law enforcement. Smith was armed with a gun, which he brandished at people inside the store. The robbers ordered customers to the floor. Morris took approximately $340 from the store cash register. Edmundson and Morris also took $475 worth of cigarettes from the store. Edmundson also took money and items from customers, including an Apple iPhone from a female customer. The co-conspirators fled from the store in a vehicle driven by co-conspirator Cornelius Jennings.
Shortly thereafter, at 2:59 a.m., Edmundson, Morris, and Jennings entered a McDonald’s restaurant located in the 15000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. Jennings brandished a firearm at persons inside the restaurant. Edmundson and her co-conspirators forced employees to open the restaurant’s safe from which they stole $1,400 in cash. They fled in a getaway vehicle driven by Smith.
Edmundson pleaded guilty on February 13, 2013, but her sentencing was delayed as a result of intervening litigation related to a Supreme Court decision which vacated her conviction on the gun charge to which she had pleaded guilty.
After several reported violations of her pre-sentence release conditions, on January 10, 2019, a detention hearing was held before Judge Grimm, in which Edmundson sought to avoid detention pending sentencing. In anticipation of the hearing, Edmundson created a letter from her supervisor at her place of employment extolling her work performance. She provided the letter to her counsel with the hope that it would be shared with the Court. The letter was subsequently relied on by counsel and provided to the Court. The letter, however, was discovered to be false and was created by Edmundson without her supervisor’s knowledge or consent.
Anthony Akrah Morris, age 30, of Burtonsville, Maryland, was convicted after trial and sentenced to 505 months in prison for conspiring to commit robbery, two counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a robbery. Chavez Tyrone Smith, age 40, and Cornelius Jennings, age 32, both of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to their roles in the robberies and were sentenced to 16 years and 111 months in federal prison, respectively.
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 FBI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Mount Rainier Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur praised the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance and coordination. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan, who prosecuted the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Medinger for his work on the appeals.
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Marty Man and Yankton Man Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Marty, South Dakota, man convicted of Kidnapping was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Gavin Little, age 23, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons also announced that a Yankton, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Christian Garcia, age 25, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100
Little and Garcia were indicted by a federal grand jury on January 8, 2019. Both defendants pled guilty on August 15, 2019.
On November 25, 2018, Little and Garcia, along with two juveniles, assaulted an adult male, Keith Cournoyer, at a home in east housing of Marty, on the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation. After the man was severely beaten and unconscious, Little loaded him into a vehicle and left the scene. A high-speed chase ensued near Greenwood before Little abandoned the vehicle and fled away on foot. Tribal officers found Cournoyer in the back of the vehicle, unconscious. He was flown to Sioux Falls for emergency medical treatment.
The investigation was conducted by the Yankton Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper.
Little and Garcia were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lodge Pole man convicted of domestic abuse by habitual offenderRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – After a three-day trial, a jury today convicted a Lodge Pole man accused of assaulting his girlfriend on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The jury found Jeremy Davis Wing, 40, guilty of domestic abuse by habitual offender. Wing faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and set sentencing for Feb. 27, 2020. Wing was detained pending further proceedings. The trial began on Monday.
"Volence against Native American women by a domestic partner occurs far too often. Repeat abusers like Mr. Wing will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Cobell and Kalah Paisley and the prosecution team, along with the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services for their work on the case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
At trial, the parties stipulated that Wing had at least two prior separate domestic assault convictions.
On May 19, 2018 and into the next day, Wing physically assaulted the victim, his girlfriend. Wing and the victim were living together at the time of assault. Wing and victim were drinking alcohol with a man and a woman when the couple argued. Wing became violent with the victim and also told the woman to beat up on the victim. Both Wing and the woman assaulted the victim.
Later, the woman again assaulted the victim at a nearby residence and walked across a yard to get Wing, telling him to “come get your woman.” The woman and Wing continued to assault and kick the victim, before Wing eventually dragged her from a bedroom and pushed her back to their residence. Wing continued beating the victim inside his home. A neighbor called tribal police to report the incident. Tribal officers arrived and arrested Wing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Cobell and Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.
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L.A.-Based U.S. Attorney’s Office to Participate in Procurement Collusion Strike Force that Will Combat Antitrust Crimes and Related Schemes in Government Procurement, Grant and Program FundingRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department has announced the formation of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) that will focus on deterring, detecting, investigating and prosecuting antitrust crimes – such as bid-rigging conspiracies and related fraudulent schemes – which undermine competition in government procurement, grant and program funding. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California will be among participants on the PCSF.
In making the announcement on Tuesday, Justice Department officials said the PCSF will be an interagency partnership consisting of prosecutors from the Antitrust Division, prosecutors from 13 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and investigators from the FBI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and other partner federal Offices of Inspector General.
“I am proud that my office will participate in the new Strike Force and will play a role in ensuring that taxpayer money being paid to contractors will be protected from bid-rigging and other anti-competitive schemes,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna.
The PCSF will lead a national effort to protect taxpayer-funded projects at the federal, state and local level from antitrust violations and related crimes, starting with a focus on 13 districts throughout the country. Prosecutors from the Antitrust Division and the participating U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with agents from the FBI and partner Offices of Inspector General, will work together to conduct outreach and training for procurement officials and government contractors on antitrust risks in the procurement process. In addition, prosecutors and investigators will jointly investigate and prosecute cases that result from their targeted outreach efforts.
“To protect taxpayer dollars, the Justice Department is doing its part to eliminate anticompetitive collusion, waste and abuse from government procurement,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “To ensure taxpayers the full benefits of competitive bidding, experienced investigators and prosecutors with the necessary expertise will partner in this Strike Force to deter, detect and prosecute antitrust crimes and related schemes in government procurements.”
“The investigation and prosecution of individuals and organizations that cheat, collude and seek to undermine the integrity of government procurement are priorities for this administration,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The PCSF will train and educate procurement officials nationwide to recognize and report suspicious conduct in procurement, grant and program funding processes. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who violate our antitrust laws to cheat the American taxpayer.”
The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners have a history of prosecuting criminal antitrust conspiracies that take advantage of government contracts. In late 2018 and early 2019, for instance, five South Korean oil companies agreed to plead guilty for their involvement in a decade-long bid-rigging conspiracy that targeted contracts to supply fuel to U.S. military bases in South Korea. The Antitrust Division also indicted seven individuals for conspiring to rig bids and to defraud the government, and one executive was also charged with obstruction of justice. In total, the companies have agreed to pay $156 million in criminal fines and over $205 million in separate civil settlements. This year, the Justice Department, in partnership with the GSA Office of Inspector General, also indicted individuals for involvement in rigging bids submitted to the GSA.
The PCSF’s investigative partners include the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General; and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
The PCSF has launched a publicly available website at https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force, where government procurement officials and members of the public can review information about the federal antitrust laws and training programs, and report suspected criminal activity affecting public procurement.
Individuals and companies are encouraged to contact the PCSF if they have information concerning anticompetitive conduct involving federal taxpayer dollars by emailing [email protected].
Justice Department Settles with Public Accommodations to Protect the Rights of Veterans Who Use Service DogsRead the Press Release
As we mark Veterans Day 2019, the Justice Department announced two settlement agreements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to protect and advance equal access for veterans with disabilities who use service dogs. One agreement is with Deerfield Inn & Suites, in Gadsden, Alabama. The second agreement is with the Landmark Hotel Group in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which manages the Holiday Inn Express in Hampton, Virginia. These matters were investigated and resolved in furtherance of the Department’s commitment to ensuring that our veterans enjoy equal access to public accommodations, such as restaurants, hotels, and shops.
The ADA generally requires public accommodations to provide access to individuals with disabilities who use service animals, including those who use service dogs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety. Yet, in public accommodations across the country, individuals with disabilities are frequently barred from entering with a service animal.
“Individuals with disabilities, including veterans who have sacrificed for our country, have a right under federal law to the equal enjoyment of the services that a public accommodation provides to the public,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring equal access for our veterans, and we commend these businesses – the Deerfield Inn & Suites and the Landmark Hotel Group – for acknowledging their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and agreeing to implement policies and practices to ensure equal access for individuals who use service dogs.”
The Deerfield Inn & Suites agreement resolves allegations that, after driving many hours, a veteran arrived at the Deerfield Inn & Suites at 4:00 in the morning. When the desk clerk learned that the veteran was accompanied by her service dog, the desk clerk refused to honor the reservation, insisting that no dogs were permitted in the hotel. Despite numerous attempts by the veteran to explain that the dog was not a pet, but a highly trained animal required for disabilities she acquired in the service of our country, the clerk would not allow the veteran to stay at the hotel. As a result, and given the late hour, the veteran ended up sleeping in her car in the parking lot of a church.
Similarly, the complaint underlying the Landmark Hotel agreement alleged that, at the Holiday Inn Express managed by the Landmark Hotel Group, the desk clerk refused to honor a reservation by a veteran because he would not provide documentation that the dog with him was a service dog. The veteran informed the clerk that it was unlawful to ask for documents to establish that a dog is a service animal, but the desk clerk informed him that such documentation was corporate policy. The veteran then requested to speak to the hotel manager, who confirmed that it was the hotel’s policy to require such documentary proof. The veteran was forced to find another hotel.
Under the ADA, public accommodations generally must make modifications to their policies, practices or procedures – such as a no-pet policy – to permit the use of a service animal by a person with a disability. A service dog generally may go wherever the public is allowed to go, and a public accommodation may not require documentation about the service dog.
Under these agreements, both entities will adopt and implement a service dog policy; provide training on the service dog policy to employees and managers; post the service dog policy at their facilities and in their advertising; and pay money damages to the two veterans. All entities cooperated with the Department throughout the investigations.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA or this settlement agreement can call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA website at http://www.ada.gov.
Jury convicts Nevada man in methamphetamine trafficking caseRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A jury on Tuesday convicted a Nevada man of methamphetamine trafficking charges after an investigation in which he distributed the drug during an undercover purchase, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The jury found Ryan McGuire, 38, of Mound House, Nevada, guilty of conspiracy to distribute meth and distribution of meth. McGuire faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. The two-day trial began on Monday.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and set sentencing for March 12, 2020. Judge Watters continued McGuire’s release pending sentencing.
“Mr. McGuire’s conviction sends the message that we will charge and prosecute to the full extent of the law persons who try to push this poison to our community. I want to thank Assistant U. S. Attorney Cassady Adams and the prosecution team, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration for their work on the case,” Attorney Alme said.
The prosecution presented evidence at trial that DEA agents learned in May 2016 that a Billings woman, Angela Killen, was selling pills. In September 2016, an undercover agent met with Killen, who indicated she could introduce him to a source for meth. The agent purchased hydromorphone pills from Killen and paid a referral fee for Killen to introduce him to her meth source.
Later in September 2016, undercover agents returned to Killen’s residence and bought about 26 grams of meth from Killen and McGuire. McGuire pulled a package of meth from his jacket and passed it to Killen, who then gave it to one of the agents. The other agent paid Killen $2,200 for the meth. The investigation also showed that McGuire’s phone was in contact with Killen’s phone on the dates leading up to the meth deal as well as on the day of the transaction.
Killen was convicted in the investigation and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The 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.
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Jury convicts Cleveland man of attempting to possess and distribute blue fentanyl pills marked as oxycodoneRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Cleveland man for attempting to possess and distribute over 600 grams of blue fentanyl pills marked as oxycodone.
Rayshawn D. Ligon, 39, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, two counts of attempt to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and escape, following a one-week trial. The jury found that Ligon intended to distribute blue pills marked to look like 30 milligram oxycodone hydrochloride pills, but were in fact pills laced with fentanyl. Ligon attempted to receive packages containing the blue fentanyl-laced pills through the U.S. mail. While Ligon was attempting to receive and distribute the blue fentanyl-laced pills, he was residing in a halfway house as he served the remainder of a 100-month federal sentence for trafficking heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. When agents and investigators attempted to apprehend Ligon, he fled and was later apprehended in a neighboring state.
Ligon will be sentenced early next year. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Burke and Danielle Angeli following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Jury Convicts KC Man of Illegal Firearms After Fatal CollisionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of illegally possessing firearms following a three-vehicle collision in which he struck and killed another motorist.
Keith L. Carnes, 30, was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
Kansas City police officers responded to an accident at the intersection of 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue on Aug. 30, 2016. Three vehicles were involved in the accident, including a 2008 Pontiac G6 driven by Carnes. Witnesses told police officers that the Pontiac, which had multiple bullet holes in the driver’s side doors, was traveling southbound on Prospect Avenue at a high rate of speed and failed to stop for the red traffic signal. The Pontiac struck a Dodge Ram, which was westbound on 63rd Street, killing the driver and causing it to strike a Nissan Quest and a pole on the southwest corner of the intersection.
Carnes, who had blood on his t-shirt, told officers, “I have been shot, I know I have been shot.” Police officers broke a window in the Pontiac so they could reach Carnes and provide medical assistance. Officers saw a bag of marijuana and a Bersa Thunder .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun on the driver’s side floorboard. The handgun had blood on it. Carnes was transported by emergency medical service to an area hospital for treatment. The driver of the Dodge Ram was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Evidence introduced during the trial indicated Carnes had used the same Bersa Thunder .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun in a shooting on Aug. 16, 2016, in the 3600 block of Wabash Avenue. The victim of that shooting positively identified Carnes in a photographic lineup as the person who fired four shots at him. Officers recovered shell casings from the scene of the shooting and a forensics expert later confirmed they were fired by the same firearm found in Carnes’ vehicle on Aug. 30, 2016.
Carnes had also been arrested for driving while intoxicated following a traffic stop on Feb. 10, 2013. Kansas City police officers stopped Carnes, who was driving a Jeep Liberty, when radar indicated Carnes was driving 54 miles per hour in a 35-miles-per-hour zone. Officers, who smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle, found a loaded Glock .45-caliber pistol in Carnes’ waistband.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Carnes has prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and assault.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for approximately 50 minutes before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, Nov. 4.
Under federal statutes, Carnes is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each of the three counts. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. Foley. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Jury Convicts Joplin Man of Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Missouri, man has been convicted by a federal jury of illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.
Ty Cole Kitchingham, 24, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
On July 19, 2018, a postal inspector alerted other law enforcement authorities to a suspicious package that had been shipped from Long Beach, California, to a Joplin residence. The parcel included a shipping address that did not exist and a recipient’s address in Joplin that appeared to be an abandoned home. The package had been checked through the U.S. Postal Service mail tracking system four times during the day. A police support canine indicated the package contained illegal drugs.
The next day, officers conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the vacant Joplin residence. Within 15 to 20 minutes of the package being checked again through the mail tracking system, Kitchingham arrived in a Ford Ranger pickup and parked near the residence. Kitchingham walked up to the porch and picked up the package, which he carried back to his vehicle. As Kitchingham got to the driver’s side door, he saw the officers approaching. Kitchingham ran with the box down an alleyway between two houses. As officers chased him, Kitchingham dropped the box and continued running.
Officers lost sight of Kitchingham and requested a manhunt. A county sheriff support canine was called to help track. Officers found Kitchingham inside a small shed in the back yard of a nearby residence and he was taken into custody.
Officers opened the package Kitchingham had dropped, which contained a toy lawnmower. Inside the toy lawn mower was 336.9 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded Springfield Armory 9mm pistol and a loaded Beretta 9mm pistol inside Kitchingham’s pickup.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for less than 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, Nov. 5, ending a trial that began Monday, Nov. 4.
Under federal statutes, Kitchingham is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II and Special U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Ozark Drug Enforcement Team, Jasper County Sheriff Office, Joplin, Mo., Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Iowa Man Charged with Production and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Iowa man is scheduled to appear in court today on charges of producing and distributing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Donavon Oliphant, 37, of Independence, Iowa, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of producing visual depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of distribution of child pornography. Oliphant is expected to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case:
In August 2019, Oliphant produced 11 images and four videos of child pornography. The videos depicted sexual acts involving a pre-pubescent child and an adult male. Oliphant then used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to share these images and videos with an individual located in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
Oliphant was arrested on Oct. 15, 2019, in Iowa and was detained without bail following an appearance before a federal magistrate judge in Cedar Rapids.
The production of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The distribution of child pornography offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman and Deputy U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Indiana Woman Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Bloomington, Indiana, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Sarah Worthman, age 26, was sentenced to time served as of December 2, 2019, (125 days), followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Worthman was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2019. She pled guilty on August 19, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on February 21, 2019, where Worthman, and co-defendant Branden Lee, were stopped by law enforcement for speeding on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation while driving a U-Haul truck. The traffic stop uncovered approximately 150 pounds of marijuana hidden in couches in the cargo hold. Lee had purchased the marijuana in California and was planning to distribute it in and around Chicago, Illinois.
Lee previously pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Hebbronville man guilty of smuggling nearly 130 pounds of marijuanaRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 48-year-old resident of Hebbronville has entered a guilty plea to conspiring to possess with intent to deliver 58.5 kilograms of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Jaime Saul Benavides admitted he knowingly attempted to smuggle the narcotics through the a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint.
On Aug. 11, Benavides attempted to drive a tan Chevrolet pick-up truck through the Border Patrol Checkpoint near Hebbronville. Upon arrival, a K-9 alerted to the possible presence of concealed narcotics in the truck. Authorities conducted an X-ray examination which revealed anomalies in the truck’s diesel tank. They found a hidden trap door connecting the toolbox to the diesel tank which resulted in the discovery of nine bundles of marijuana.
The drugs had a total weight of weighing 58.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of $48,000.
Sentencing will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has At that time, Benavides faces up to 30 years in prison as well as a possible $2 million maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens is prosecuting the case.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced under Project EJECT to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Mitchell Dewayne May, Jr., 28, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $3000 fine, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
May was previously convicted of armed robbery in Forrest County in 2006 and was sentenced to serve 20 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with fourteen of those years suspended. On October 2, 2018, May was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop. On July 23, 2019, he pled guilty before Judge Starrett to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
In the time between his change of plea and this sentencing, May also pled guilty to a different felon in possession charge and an aggravated assault charge in Forrest County, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in state custody, with 15 of those years to serve, all to run consecutive to his federal charges. May’s 60-month sentence for his federal case also represented an upward variance from the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYLON CEASAR, 19, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of distribution of heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on five occasions in November and December 2018, law enforcement made five controlled purchases of heroin and crack cocaine from Ceasar in the vicinity of his Putnam Street residence. Some of the purchased heroin contained fentanyl. In pleading guilty, Ceasar also admitted that he sold a firearm to a government witness in January 2019.
Ceasar was arrested on criminal complaint on January 17, 2019. He has been detained since August 13, 2019.
Ceasar is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 11, 2020, at which time Ceasar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.
Grant County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Timothy Elliot Wheeler, of Petersburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms violation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Wheeler, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime.” Wheeler admitted to having a 9mm pistol during a drug trafficking crime in March 2019 in Grant County.
Wheeler faces at least five years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Douglas County Man Charged with Robbery & Gun Crimes
Patrick Staton, 29, Maple, Wisconsin, is charged with robbing a Brule, Wisconsin business and with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he robbed a Cenex gas station, a business in Brule engaged in interstate commerce, on August 30, 2019. The indictment further alleges that on September 2, 2019, Staton possessed a .45 caliber revolver and ammunition, a rifle, and a 9mm handgun and ammunition.
If convicted, Staton faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the robbery charge, and a maximum of 10 years on the felon in possession of firearms and ammunition charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; Superior Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; St. Louis County (Minn.) Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the prosecution.
Minnesota Man Charged with Robbery of River Falls Business
Larry Darnell Armstrong, 49, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with robbing North Town Cleaners, a business engaged in interstate commerce in River Falls, Wisconsin, on June 13, 2019. The indictment alleges that Armstrong’s accomplice brandished a firearm during the robbery.
If convicted, Armstrong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the River Falls Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow is handling the prosecution.
Rock County Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms
Austin L. Hedges, 24, Clinton, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing firearms after previously being committed to a mental institution. The indictment alleges that on October 9, 2019, he possessed three handguns, three rifles, and a shotgun.
Hedges was charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison on October 9, 2019, with illegally possessing one firearm knowing he had previously been committed to a mental institution. He was arrested and made an initial appearance in federal court that day. He was released from custody following a detention hearing on October 11.
If convicted, Hedges faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Clinton and St. Francis Police Departments; and Rock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes
Donte Moore, 32, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing heroin and fentanyl, possessing heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute, possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that Moore distributed a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl on four occasions in August and September 2019. The indictment also alleges that on October 9, 2019, he possessed 40 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. The indictment also alleges that on October 9, 2019, Moore possessed a .40 caliber handgun and ammunition.
If convicted, Moore faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the four distribution charges. The charge alleging 40 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, and the charge alleging 28 grams or more of crack cocaine each carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years. The felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. The charges against Moore are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Corey is handling the prosecution.
These indictments against these individuals have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Gilmer County man admits to role in drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Waitman Larry Frederick, of Glenville, West Virginia, has admitted to his role in a drug distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Frederick, also known as “Cornbread,” age 42, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine ,” one count of “Aiding and Abetting Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises ,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.”
Frederick admitted to working with others to distribute large quantities of crystal methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” from July 2018 to November 2018 in Gilmer County and elsewhere. Frederick also admitted to operating a residence located at 18 East Main Street, Apartment C in Glenville for the purpose of distributing the drug. He also was illegally in possession of 10 different firearms.
Frederick faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the conspiracy count, faces at least 10 years and up to life incarceration for the aiding and abetting count, faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $500,000 for the drug premises count, and faces at least five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Lakes Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Fugitive and Tax Fraud Promoter Captured and Set to Serve His 10 Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
A fugitive and former Hillsboro, Oregon, tax fraud promoter, who had been on the run since he was supposed to start serving a 10 year prison sentence, was caught in Arizona and apprehended on Nov. 1, 2019, by the U.S. Marshals Service, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Winston Shrout, 70, was convicted by a jury in April 2017 of submitting fraudulent financial instruments to banks and the U.S. Treasury, and failing to file income tax returns. According to the evidence presented at his trial and sentencing, from approximately 2008 through 2015, Shrout created and submitted more than 300 such fraudulent instruments. He also held seminars and private meetings to promote and market the use of these instruments to pay off debts, including federal taxes. Shrout sold recordings of his seminars, templates for fraudulent financial instruments and other materials through his website.
In addition, Shrout did not file his 2009 through 2014 tax returns despite earning substantial income from seminars, licensing fees associated with the sale of his products, and annual pension payments. Shrout admitted during trial that he had not paid income tax for at least 20 years.
On Oct. 22, 2018, Judge Robert E. Jones sentenced Shrout to 10 years in prison, to serve five years of supervised release, and to pay restitution to the IRS. Shrout failed to report to prison as ordered in March 2019, and was a fugitive until his arrest late last week. Shrout appeared in district court and will be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his prison term.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended the diligent investigation of the U.S. Marshals Service in Portland, Oregon, and Phoenix, Arizona, for bringing Shrout to justice. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman also commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, Trial Attorneys Stuart Wexler and Lee Langston of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bounds, for their support during the investigation, prosecution, and apprehension of the defendant in this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Four Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging ANDRES CANDELA-CRUZ, age 39, of Mexico, DARWIN MIGUEL GODOY-CARCAMO, age 30, of Honduras, MELQUIADES HERNANDEZCASTRO, age 38, of Mexico and EDWIN LOPEZ-MEDRANO, age 46, of Honduras with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.
If convicted of illegal reentry of a deported alien, CANDELA-CRUZ, previously deported four times and found in Wake County, GODOY-CARCAMO, previously deported two times and found in Wake County, and HERNANDEZCASTRO, previously deported and found in Cumberland County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
LOPEZ-MEDRANO, previously deported twice and found in New Hanover County, is alleged to have been previously removed subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction (aggravated assault). Therefore, if convicted, he would face a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.
Former Texas mayor and two others found guilty in $150 million money laundering and health care fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas - A federal jury found three men associated with a Texas health care company guilty today for their roles in a $150 million health care fraud scheme, one of which was a mayor in Texas at the time.
After a three-week trial, the jury found Rodney Mesquias, 47, San Antonio, Henry McInnis, 47, Harlingen, and Francisco Pena, 82, Laredo, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, Mesquias and McInnis were found guilty of six counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Pena was also convicted of one count of health care fraud, obstruction of health care investigations and one count of false statements, while Mesquias and Pena were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera presided over the trial and set sentencing for June 17.
“Rodney Mesquias and his co-conspirators preyed on the most vulnerable population – those in need of hospice and home health care – to line their pockets with millions of dollars and engage in lavish spending,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “I thank our law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication to bringing these health care fraudsters to justice. We look forward to continuing our partnership as we expand the Strike Force into the Rio Grande Valley.”
“It’s disgusting how these three made millions by lying about and manipulating people’s end of life care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “These men won’t have season tickets or nice cars where they are headed.”
“Hospices should provide meaningful quality of life care for patients in the final stage of their disease. Rather than help these vulnerable patients, Mesquias and McInnis operating as the Merida Health Care Group along with Dr. Francisco Pena, exploited them and their families to steal millions of dollars from the American taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating and bringing to justice those who undermine our health care system.”
“The decision to provide hospice services should be based on a patient’s medical condition and desire for palliative care, not the selfish motives of hospice executives intending to line their own pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region. “Our agency will continue to protect Medicare patients and Medicare itself from such unscrupulous individuals.”
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2009 to 2018, Mesquias, McInnis and Pena engaged in a scheme that involved over $150 million in false and fraudulent claims for hospice and other health care services. Mesquias owned and controlled the Merida Group, a large health care company that operated dozens of locations throughout Texas. McInnis was CEO. Pena, a licensed physician, was a medical director for the Merida Group and was at the time also the mayor of Rio Bravo. According to evidence presented at trial, the Merida Group enrolled patients with long-term incurable diseases, such as Alzheimers and dementia, at group homes, nursing homes and in housing projects by falsely telling them they had less than six months to live and sent chaplains to lie to the patients and discuss last rites and preparation for their imminent death. In fact, the patients were not suffering from a terminal illness that was expected to result in their death within six months, as is required to qualify for hospice services, and were in some instances walking, driving, working and even coaching athletic sporting events. However, the defendants kept the patients on services for multiple years in order to increase revenue. Mesquias also fired employees who refused to go along with the fraud and directed them not to “[expletive] with his patients, or [expletive] with his money” by discharging patients from services. Pena told a cooperating witness that, with respect to hospice patients, “the way you make money is by keeping them alive as long as possible,” according to trial testimony.
The evidence further established Pena gave a false statement to the FBI and directed others to obstruct the FBI’s investigation by covering up Pena’s involvement in accepting kickbacks for hospice patients from his mayoral office at Rio Bravo City Hall and elsewhere. The evidence also established that Mesquias and McInnis obstructed justice by causing the creation of false and fictitious medical records and produced them to a federal grand jury in order to avoid indictment. The records added false diagnostic information making it appear that patients were dying when, in fact, they were not.
According to evidence presented at trial, the scheme involved laundering the proceeds of the fraud. For example, they placed a company in the name of the girlfriend of a co-conspirator physician to conceal the distribution of hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks that were provided to the physician in exchange for home health and hospice referrals. Mesquias and McInnis used proceeds derived from the scheme to purchase expensive vehicles such as a Porsche, expensive jewelry, luxury clothing from high-end retailers such as Louis Vuitton, exclusive real estate, season tickets for premium seating to see the San Antonio Spurs, and a security detail and bottle service at high end Las Vegas nightclubs such as Hakkasan and Omnia. Mesquias and McInnis treated physicians to lavish parties at these elite nightclubs, plying them with tens of thousands of dollars in alcohol and other perks in exchange for medically unnecessary patient referrals.
Mesquias caused kickbacks and bribes to be paid to medical directors, including Pena, for the Merida Group’s affiliated entities in exchange for certifying that patients qualified for services when, in fact, they did not, and for referring patients for such services.
HHS-OIG’s McAllen Field Office; the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office, including the Laredo and McAllen Resident Agency Offices; and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission investigated the case with the assistance of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell and Assistant Chief Jacob Foster of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and SDTX Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Former Station Square Club Owner and Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Prison Time for Repeat Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment and six years of supervised released on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Honorable Joy Flowers Conti sentenced Vernon Jackson, 50, after his guilty plea in May of this year. Jackson’s supervised release violation for committing this offense while on federal supervised release is still pending and will be determined at a later date.
According to information provided to the court, on or about March 8, 2018, detectives from the City of Pittsburgh Police Narcotics and Vice Unit executed a search warrant at Vernon Jackson’s residence in Brookline. Jackson was the only occupant at the home at the time of the search. Detectives recovered multiple bags of cocaine, two digital scales, and drug packaging material from the kitchen of the home. Jackson, the former owner of Chauncy’s in Station Square, was on federal supervised release at the time of the execution of the search warrant for a prior federal conviction. Jackson was originally sentenced to 151 months on that offense but his sentence was reduced resulting in his early release.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jackson. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Former Ridgway Resident Receives 23 years in Jail for Producing Child Pornography Involving Two Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 23 years in jail, lifetime supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,396 on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Jesse Porter, 42.
According to information presented to the court, Porter took sexually explicit photos and video of two minor victims. One victim was three years of age when Porter recorded himself sexually abusing her. The other victim was 15 when Porter took sexually explicit surreptitious video of her.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Baxter stated that the defendant’s acts were horrific.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Ridgway Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Porter.
Former East Glacier teacher sentenced for sex abuse of minorRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—An East Glacier woman who taught elementary school on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to two years in prison and five years of supervised release for sexually abusing two students, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Sierra Shawnee Taylor, also known as Sierra Schildt, 36, pleaded guilty in July to sexual abuse of a minor.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
“Our children need to be protected from abusers like Ms. Taylor, particularly those who hold a position of trust. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley, the FBI, the Blackfeet Multidisciplinary Team and the Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services for their good work in bringing this case to justice,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
The prosecution said in court records that Taylor was employed as a teacher at the East Glacier Elementary School during the 2014-2015 school year. She taught a mixed-grade class that included some eighth-grade students. Taylor entered a sexual relationship with one of the boys, who was an eighth-grade student, and twice had intercourse with the victim. Investigators identified a second victim, also an eighth grade student, with whom Taylor committed a sexual act in 2012.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the Blackfeet Multidisciplinary Team and the Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
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Former D.C. Apartment Manager Facing Federal Indictment for Allegedly Defrauding Her Employer by Submitting Fraudulent InvoicesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Lachann Alexis Green, age 36, of Laurel, Maryland, on federal wire fraud charges in connection with a scheme to embezzle money from her employer. The indictment was returned on November 4, 2019, and was unsealed at her initial appearance today.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, from October 2017 through December 2018, Green defrauded her employer, a business that managed residential apartment buildings in several states, including Maryland. Green was the general manager of Rhode Island Row, an apartment complex in Washington, D.C. that was managed by her employer. Her employer opened and maintained a business bank account to pay expenses for Rhode Island Row.
The indictment alleges that on October 4, 2017, Green registered a fraudulent shell business, “Executive Property Staffing” (“EPS”) with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (“SDAT”). EPS was a business purportedly located in Beltsville, Maryland. Although her employer required that employees report any financial interest they had in any firm that did business with the employer, as well as any conflict or potential conflict of interest, Green did not disclose her association with EPS to her employer. Green allegedly created and submitted or caused to be created and submitted fraudulent invoices in the name of EPS to her employer for staffing, cleaning, and maintenance work at Rhode Island Row that had not been done by EPS. After Green’s employer transferred money as payment for the fictitious invoices to a bank account Green had opened in EPS’s name, Green allegedly transferred the funds to bank accounts opened in her own name or used the funds for her own personal gain.
The EPS scheme was one of several that Green allegedly operated as general manager of Rhode Island Row. Green also allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices to her employer for expenses that she falsely claimed she had incurred in the course of her duties. In addition, she submitted fraudulent invoices in the name of another business owned and operated by a personal associate (“Individual 1”) in return for a kickback from Individual 1 of a portion of the proceeds. Finally, the indictment alleges that Green submitted or caused to be submitted fraudulent resident application information to her employer on behalf of two relatives so that the relatives could live at Rhode Island Row under fake names and under favorable lease terms.
If convicted, Green faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of wire fraud. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan ordered that Green be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for November 7, 2019, at 3:30 p.m.
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 FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Burden H. Walker, who is prosecuting the case.
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Former Controller of Export, PA Company Stole Nearly $200K and Falsified Financial Statements to Conceal the FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A Plum Boro resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of wire fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Victoria Mazur, 52, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Donetta Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Mazur was employed as a Controller for Gateway Packaging Corporation, which was located in Export, PA. From December 2012 until December 2017, she issued herself and her husband a total of approximately 189 fraudulent credit card refunds through the company’s point of sale terminal. The total loss from the fraudulent refunds was $190,829.01. The Court also was advised that Mazur fraudulently used the company’s credit cards for personal use for an additional loss of approximately $4,200.00. In order to conceal her fraud, Mazur supplied the owners with false financial statements that understated the company’s true sales figures.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for March 24, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conviction The law also provides for a fine of $250,000.00. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court permitted Mazur to remain out of prison on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mazur.
Former Boy Scout Troop Leader Indicted on Charges of Trafficking Child PornographyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury today returned an indictment that charges Milton Forsberg, 79, of the 800 block of West Charles Street, in Champaign, Ill., with trafficking child pornography. The indictment charges Forsberg with one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography.
Forsberg was previously arrested and charged in a criminal complaint on Oct. 16, 2019. Forsberg made his initial court appearance on Oct. 21, 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, in Urbana. Judge Long ordered that Forsberg remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Forsberg has been active in a local amateur radio club and has been involved with Boy Scouts for more than 40 years. In September 2019, the Champaign Police Department and the Illinois State Police received mandated notification of abuse from the Boy Scouts of America National Council to report that a California attorney represents a victim who alleges that Forsberg sexually abused him in Champaign in 1965.
The affidavit further alleges that when officers executed a search warrant of Forsberg’s home, they found numerous sexually explicit images at the foot of his bed, including some with prepubescent males, and that Forsberg attempted to conceal the photos with his cane when officers began their search. Officers recovered more than 100 images of minor males and a review of Forsberg’s computer showed that he had more than 30 open tabs to a Russian website that is known to law enforcement as a site used to share images of child pornography.
Anyone with additional information about Forsberg is encouraged to contact the Champaign Police Department at (217) 403-6900.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty for receipt of child pornography is 20 years in prison; for possession of child pornography the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. Each of the counts includes a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Champaign Police Department and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Blackfeet Tribe’s chairman admits wire fraud in Head Start overtime schemeRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – The former chairman of the Blackfeet Tribe today admitted charges in an overtime pay scheme in which persons who worked in the tribe’s Head Start program, including his wife, defrauded the child assistance program of $174,000, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Willie Sharp, 66, of Browning, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Sharp faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Judge Morris set sentencing for March 3, 2020 and continued Sharp’s release.
The prosecution said in court records that Sharp authorized and approved overtime at the Blackfeet Head Start Program knowing that the overtime claims were false. The falsely claimed overtime pay totaled $174,000 in federal funds for more than 5,800 hours claimed over a 15-month period. Sharp’s wife, Denise Sharp, and four other co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced in the case.
When the fraud was uncovered, two different firms audited the Blackfeet Head Start program. Both audits questioned the overtime claims, identifying them as “beyond necessary and reasonable” and lacking any supporting documentation.
The Blackfeet Tribe did its own internal review, agreed it could not justify the overtime claims and repaid the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services $250,620.29 for disallowed costs and other expenses.
The investigation has resulted in the indictment and conviction of Denise Sharp, Theresa Calf Boss Ribs, Patrick Calf Boss Ribs, Carol Bird and Allen Shane Gross.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General.
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