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Thursday 12 September 2019
Newport News Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was arrested today on charges of production of child pornography.
According to allegations detailed in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Justin Travis Taylor, 25, began communicating online via Snapchat and Instagram in May 2018 with Jane Doe 1, who informed Taylor that she was 13-years-old and in 8th grade. In February 2019, after months of explicit online communications between Taylor and the minor victim, Jane Doe 1’s mother contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to report the exchanges.
After interviewing the minor victim and reviewing communication devices she allegedly used to communicate with Taylor, law enforcement obtained court authorized search warrants for multiple online accounts registered to Taylor and Jane Doe 1, and discovered numerous communications where Taylor threatened to kill himself if Jane Doe 1 did not send him the sexually explicit images he demanded.
Taylor is charged with production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
If you have information regarding the pending prosecution, contact the FBI’s Norfolk Division at 757-455-0100, or submit an online tip at: https://tips.fbi.gov/. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Taylor was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter G. Osyf and Lisa R. McKeel are prosecuting the case.
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-mj-142.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that GERARD LAWLESS, age 39, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 11, 2019 to a one-count superseding bill of information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, on August 4, 2018, LAWLESS possessed a Ruger .38 caliber firearm in New Orleans. LAWLESS had previously been convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
LAWLESS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and New Orleans Police Department in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
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New Jersey Doctor Pleads Guilty to $13 Million Conspiracy to Defraud Medicare with Telemedicine Orders of Orthotic BracesRead the Press Release
A Toms River, New Jersey physician pleaded guilty today for his role in a $13 million health care fraud scheme, which previously resulted in charges in April 2019 against 23 other defendants in one of the largest health care fraud cases investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey, Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary Cantrell of HHS-OIG and Deputy Administrator and Director Alec Alexander of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) made the announcement.
Joseph DeCorso, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan of the District of New Jersey. DeCorso’s sentencing is set for Jan. 8, 2020, before Judge Sheridan.
In pleading guilty, DeCorso admitted that he worked for two purported telemedicine companies for which he wrote medically unnecessary orders for orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries between July 2017 and March 2019. He admitted that his conduct resulted in a $13 million intended loss to Medicare. In connection with his plea agreement, DeCorso agreed to pay over $7 million in restitution to the United States, as well as forfeit assets and property traceable to proceeds of the conspiracy.
DeCorso admitted that in the course of the scheme, an international telemarketing network lured hundreds of thousands of elderly or disabled Medicare beneficiaries into the scheme, which involved call centers throughout the world, which then sent the beneficiaries’ information to several telemedicine companies. DeCorso further admitted that he wrote brace orders for the telemedicine companies without speaking to the beneficiaries and that he concealed the fraud with falsified orders that stated, among other things, that he had “discussions” or “conversations” with beneficiaries or had conducted diagnostic testing for benficiaries, when, in fact, DeCorso had not spoken to beneficiaries and had not conducted diagnostic testing on beneficiaries in connection with the ordering of orthotic braces.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Newark Field Office and HHS-OIG. Acting Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Darren Halverson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section 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 nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 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.
Any doctors or medical professionals who have been involved with alleged fraudulent telemedicine and DME marketing schemes should call to report this conduct to the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Additional documents related to the investigation and prior indictments are available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-april-9-2019-press-release-health-care-fraud
Milwaukee Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 12, 2019, Tedmund Blankschein, 51, plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by impeding the Internal Revenue Service in connection with his and Albert Golant’s luxury vehicle brokerage businesses, WI Automotive T.R.U.S.T., Lease, Registration, and Consulting LLC, and DOT Automotive of WI LLC, from at least May 2013 to May 2017. This offense carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
According to court documents, Blankschein and Golant were in the business of purchasing luxury vehicles in the United States and then selling them at a substantial profit to foreign buyers overseas, typically in China. Both Blankschein and Golant had control over multiple business and personal bank accounts that they used to divert corporate receipts of WI Automotive T.R.U.S.T., Lease, Registration, and Consulting LLC, and DOT Automotive of WI LLC, which were supposed to be used to purchase specific luxury vehicles. Blankschein and Golant used the diverted funds to gamble and to purchase personal items such as expensive jewelry, which they concealed from their accountant. Instead, Golant falsely told their accountant that these funds were used to purchase luxury vehicles and should be deducted as expenses on their tax returns. As a result, their tax returns substantially overstated business expenses. Blankschein and Golant underreported the income from WI Automotive T.R.U.S.T., Lease, Registration, and Consulting LLC, and DOT Automotive of WI LLC by more than $12 million, generating a tax loss to the United States of more than $5.4 million.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura S. Kwaterski.
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Mexican National Who Illegally Entered the U.S. Seven Times Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national who has illegally entered the United States at least seven times pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the Kansas City, Missouri, area and in the Springfield, Missouri, area.
Armando Quintana-Galaz, 37, a citizen of Mexico residing in Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and to illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.
Quintana-Galaz had been deported from the United States six times before being arrested on Nov. 2, 2017, in Springfield. At that time, he was again illegally present in the United States. When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Quintana-Galaz’s residence on that day, they found approximately 3.159 kilograms of pure methamphetamine in a hamper in the master bathroom and approximately 189 grams of pure methamphetamine in a dresser in the master bedroom. They found a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Norinco SKS 762-caliber rifle, various ammunition, a bag that contained approximately four grams of cocaine, and six cell phones. They also found a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun in his Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Officers also found $40,020 in a dresser in the master bedroom, $6,295 in the pocket of his pants that were on a TV stand, and $293 in a suitcase in the master bathroom closet. According to today’s plea agreement, the $46,608 seized from Quintana-Galaz’s residence would convert to more than 2.6 kilograms (2,642.6 grams) of methamphetamine.
Quintana-Galaz is the fifth defendant in this case to plead guilty. Quintana-Galaz admitted that he sold and distributed methamphetamine, that he received and transported illicit drug proceeds as part of his involvement in the conspiracy, and that he possessed several firearms found at his residence, at least in part, to further his involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Today’s plea agreement cites several instances in which Quintana-Galaz was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine to cooperating law enforcement sources.
Under federal statutes, Quintana-Galaz is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 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 Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Mexican National Sentenced for Transportation of Undocumented Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
St. Louis - Rene Flores-Calderon, 35, of Mexico, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for transportation of undocumented aliens who had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law and to his illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court documents, on August 2, 2018, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman stopped a maroon Chevrolet Suburban eastbound on Interstate 44, just east of the Franklin County line, in St. Louis County, Missouri. The suburban contained 10 undocumented adult aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador and three undocumented unaccompanied minor children. During the vehicle stop, Flores-Calderon fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the next day.
All of the passengers admitted they had illegally entered the United States through various locations in Arizona over the last month and were traveling to various destinations across the United States.
Flores-Calderon knew the passengers were undocumented aliens in the United States in violation of the law and that he transported the passengers within the United States with the intent to further the aliens’ unlawful presence.
Interviews were conducted of the passengers in the vehicle. In summary, they stated that they had crossed at various points into the United States illegally. Flores-Calderon picked them up at various locations in Arizona and drove eastbound. Several of the passengers indicated that they or members of their family had paid a smuggler to get them into the country and to their destination. Others indicated they paid or were going to pay the Flores-Calderon to transport them to various cities in the United States.
Flores-Calderon had previously been deported from the United States following convictions for illegal entry and reentry into the United States at least six times.
“Today’s sentence reflects our firm and lasting commitment to stopping the illicit flow of human beings who are treated as nothing more than cargo,” said Katherine Greer, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City. “HSI, and our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant against those with obvious disregard for our nation’s laws, and we will continue to seek out such people and place them before the bar of justice.”
Homeland Security, Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), St. Louis County Police Department and the Eureka Police Department investigated this case.
Melville-Based Boiler Room Employees Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in $147 Million Stock Manipulation SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Ronald Hardy, a manager at Power Traders Press, My Street Research and predecessor companies located in Melville, New York (the “boiler room”), and Dennis Verderosa, a cold-caller and account executive at the boiler room, were sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to 10 and six years’ imprisonment, respectively, for their participation in a $147 million scheme that defrauded investors in publicly traded companies. Hardy was also ordered to forfeit the contents of a bank account and two properties he owned in Sarasota, Florida, and Verderosa was ordered to pay $341,883 in forfeiture. The amount of restitution to be paid by the defendants will be determined by the court at a later date. Hardy pleaded guilty in August 2018 to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, substantive securities fraud and money laundering, and Verderosa pleaded guilty in April 2018 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.
“Hardy and Verderosa have been punished for luring vulnerable victims, many of them in their 70s, 80s and 90s, into a web of lies in order to steal their life savings,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect investors from calculating con-men.”
Between January 2014 and July 2017, Hardy, Verderosa and 14 co-defendants participated in a scheme that defrauded investors in publicly traded companies by artificially inflating the price and trading volume of stock of the companies, and making misrepresentations in their communications with victim investors concerning the advisability of purchasing the stock and its potential profitability. The defendants, some of whom controlled stock in the manipulated companies, profited while the victim investors lost millions of dollars when the stock prices plummeted. Taped to the wall of the boiler room where the cold callers made these misrepresentations was a sign that read, “WE’LL POUND THE PHONE AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK, WE’LL MAKE A TON OF MONEY AND WON’T GIVE A F---.”
Ten co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Four others are scheduled for trial.
Previously, co-defendant Emin Cohen was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and McArthur Jean to four years’ imprisonment for their roles in the scheme.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Whitman G.S. Knapp and Kaitlin T. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha R. Payne of the Office’s Civil Division is handling the forfeiture aspect of the case.
Defendants Sentenced Today:
RONALD HARDY
Age: 42
Port Jefferson, New YorkDENNIS VERDEROSA
Age: 67
Coram, New YorkDefendants Previously Sentenced:
EMIN L. COHEN (also known as “Ian Grant”)
Age: 33
Coram, New YorkMCARTHUR JEAN (also known as “John McArthur”)
Age: 34
Dix Hills, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-372-10 (JS)
Maryland Man Facing Federal Arson Charge for Fire at a Pasadena BarRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jamie Clemons, age 34, of Pasadena, Maryland, with malicious destruction of a property by fire, in connection with the fire on July 28, 2017, at a bar in Pasadena. The indictment was returned on September 11, 2019, and unsealed today upon the defendant’s arrest.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; the Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford; and the Anne Arundel County Fire Marshal Division Chief John Lane.
The one-count indictment alleges that Clemons maliciously damaged and destroyed by fire a bar known as Coconut Charlies, located in the 9100 block of Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena.
If convicted, Clemons faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite ordered that Clemons be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, September 16, 2019 at 11:00 a.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 ATF, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, and the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.
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Man Who Raped Four Young Children Sentenced to 60 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jon Anthony Terry, 30, was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Erin Nealy Cox.
On November 14, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents executed a search warrant at a home in Rockwall, Texas where Terry was living. The warrant described several child pornography files that Terry had distributed and law enforcement had intercepted. The videos and images depicted children as young as toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct. After agreeing to speak to agents, Terry admitted to sexually abusing one of the children who was currently residing with him. Several media devices containing incriminating media were seized by the agents.
Upon review of Terry’s media collection, agents discovered over 1000 videos and images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts. Additionally, they uncovered videos and images that Terry himself had produced of four children, including the one Terry had previously admitted to molesting. The children ranged in age from 2-10 years old.
On December 13, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted Terry for four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. On February 19, 2019, Terry pled guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, each punishable from 15-30 years in prison.
On September 11, 2019, Chief Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn heard evidence at the sentencing regarding the abuse of these children. Three of the parents of the victims provided statements that detailed the extreme emotional and physical suffering that the children endured and still endure as a result of Terry’s actions. The Court sentenced Terry to 720 months in federal prison and supervised release for life.
“We will not tolerate criminals who target innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “I am proud of my office and the investigating agents’ efforts in this case. The investigation and prosecution of these horrific crimes reinforces our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our society – our children.”
“As lengthy as it is, 60 years in prison will never compare to the lifetime of pain and suffering the innocent children in this case have been sentenced to. Plain and simple, the criminal in this case is a monster whose disgusting actions stripped these victims of their innocence and dignity,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas. “Homeland Security Investigations special agents won’t ever relent when it comes to protecting children and prosecuting predators whose behavior has no place in our society.”
This case involved the coordinated efforts of HSI and the Ozark Arkansas Police Department. AUSA Camille Sparks prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative designed to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The initiative 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.
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Public Affairs Officer Erin Dooley will be out of the office thru Monday, Sept. 16.
If you need immediate assistance, please contact Suzanne Martin at [email protected] .MS-13 Gang Members Indicted for Murder of 16-Year-Old Victim in Alley Pond Park in QueensRead the Press Release
An 18-count third superseding indictment was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn, charging three members of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, variously with racketeering, murder, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, robberies and related firearms charges. Among the offenses added in the third superseding indictment are murder charges against Melvi Amador-Rios, Josue Leiva and new defendant Luis Rivas for the May 16, 2017 fatal stabbing of 16-year-old-Julio Vasquez in Queens. The defendants will be arraigned at a later date.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“The superseding indictment alleges multiple murder conspiracies, including a kill-or-be-killed plot culminating in the brutal murder of a teen victim who was stabbed to death for not carrying out a lethal order himself,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “The mindless violence embodied by MS-13 presents extreme danger to our communities and underscores the resolve of this Office, together with our law enforcement partners, to eradicate the gang.”
“MS-13 traffics in violence for no other reason than to use mortal fear as a way to control people and territory,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “They have no regard for life, and anyone who shows any kind of normal human empathy pays the ultimate price. The FBI New York Safe Streets Task Forces in Queens and Long Island have not let up on our determination to eradicate this gang from our communities.”
“This case provides an illustration of the extreme violence of gangs and their members,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “And it’s why the NYPD and its law enforcement partners aggressively pursue those who commit violent crimes and put safe communities at risk. I want to thank the FBI and the Eastern District for their work to bring today’s federal indictments against three violent gang members.”
According to court filings, Amador-Rios, Leiva and Rivas are members of the Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (“CLS”) clique of MS-13. In early 2017, Amador-Rios, the leader of the CLS clique, authorized the murder of an individual referred to in the indictment as John Doe 2, a chequeo, or low-level MS-13 member, who was suspected of associating with a rival gang. Subsequently, Amador-Rios suspected that another chequeo, John Doe 3, had warned John Doe 2 that the clique intended to kill him. Amador-Rios then ordered the murder of John Doe 3, and Vasquez, also a CLS chequeo, was tasked with the killing. After Vasquez failed to kill John Doe 3, and because he was also suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Amador-Rios ordered the killing of Vasquez. On May 16, 2017, Vasquez was lured to a wooded area of Alley Pond Park where Leiva and Rivas stabbed him multiple times, killing him. Vasquez’s body was discovererd on May 21, 2017.
The superseding indictment also adds a robbery charge and associated firearms offense against Amador-Rios and Rivas. On January 8, 2017, they allegedly robbed a money transfer business in Jamaica at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped an employee.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants face life in prison.
Today’s superseding indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States, comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 45 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia E. Moore and Phil Selden are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
MELVI AMADOR-RIOS (“Letal” and “Pinky”)
Age: 28
Briarwood, New YorkJOSUE LEIVA (“Colocho”)
Age: 22
Jamaica, New YorkLUIS RIVAS (“Inquieto” and “Kiko”)
Age: 24
Jamaica, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-398 (S-3) (RRM)
MS-13 Defendant Pleads Guilty to Two MurdersRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant in the MS-13 racketeering case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today and accepted responsibility for his involvement in two homicides.
Jose Salvador Gonzalez-Campos, 28, formerly of Columbus, pleaded guilty today to one count of participating in a racketeering conspiracy and one count of murder through the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Interim Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the plea entered into today before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Gonzalez-Campos, also known as “Danger,” is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.
The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.
The second superseding indictment alleges that the defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz, a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.
As part of his plea, Gonzalez-Campos accepted responsibility for his role in the murders of Wilson Villeda and Salvador Martinez-Diaz. He also admitted to being involved in drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering on behalf of the criminal enterprise.
The parties involved in Gonzalez-Campos’ case are recommending a prison sentence of 35 to 40 years.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim, who are prosecuting the case.
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Media AdvisoryRead the Press Release
WHEN: Friday, September 13, 2019 at 11:00am
WHERE: Vance County Courthouse
156 Church Street
Henderson, North Carolina
RE: USMS Roundup – Operation 310
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announces a press conference to discuss the recently completed fugitive roundup in Vance County that has taken place over the last week, called Operation 310. Coordinated by the United States Marshals Service, in partnership with multiple law enforcement agencies including those listed below, these roundup resulted in the arrest of over 25 fugitives in Vance County and the seizure of numerous firearms and U.S. Currency. More information and details about the results of this operation will be provided during the press conference.
The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that took part in Operation 310 included: United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Probation Office, Henderson Police Department, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition to United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. and United States Marshal Michael East, it is anticipated members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies will be present at this event, along with the District Attorney for Vance County, Michael Waters.
Lumberton Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Geroyce Dewayne Sibley, 25, of Lumberton, was sentenced Tuesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 189 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U. S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Sibley was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
In July and August 2017, in Pascagoula, a confidential informant purchased 200 grams of crystal methamphetamine and eight firearms from Sibley.
Sibley was indicted on November 27, 2018, and pled guilty before Judge Starrett on April 24, 2019 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Annette Williams.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Advertising, Transporting, and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings has sentenced Chase Franklin Ramos to 300 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for advertising, transporting and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Russell Coleman.
“When you choose to engage in this district in a marketplace of filth that hurts kids, you should also be prepared to spend decades in federal prison; no parole,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.
On May 17, 2019, Ramos, age 30, of Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to all seven counts of the Indictment; counts 1 through 3 charged Ramos with advertising child pornography, counts 4 through 6 charged the defendant with transportation of child pornography, and count 7 charged possession of child pornography.
According to a Sentencing Memo before the Court, Ramos, using the screen name Hellmage666, accessed “Website A” on multiple occasions from April of 2017 to March of 2018. Hellmage666 was a member of some private groups on “Website A”, and created and administered the groups “Hellmage666” and “Loveoftheb”. The FBI determined that “Hellmage666” was accessing the internet from a specific address in Louisville, Kentucky.
The FBI obtained a search warrant and executed it on October 4, 2018. During that search, the FBI interviewed Ramos who eventually admitted to being “Hellmage666”. He explained that he downloaded and viewed child pornography on his cell phone. He admitted to creating several groups on Website A, including “Loveoftheb,” and “Hellmage666.”
The FBI accessed Dropbox links, and downloaded all of the images and videos Ramos posted in the “Website A” groups. Ramos provided 12 Dropbox links that contained folders with names indicative of child pornography that included 1,215 images and 210 videos. On multiple dates between May 25, 2017, and January 11, 2018, Ramos engaged in the solicitation and transportation of child pornography through “Website A.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Spencer McKiness and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
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Lorain man was indicted for using firearm to rob gas station in Sheffield Village this summerRead the Press Release
A Lorain man was indicted for an armed robbery of a gas station this summer.
Evin Ballard, 19, was indicted for on one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Ballard used a handgun when he robbed the BP Gas station at 5219 Detroit Road in Sheffield Village on July 13, 2019, according to the indictment.
This case was Investigated by Sheffield Village Police Department and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Local Man Convicted of Possessing KushRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston man has admitted he possessed 2.57 lbs of synthetic cannabinoids aka “kush” and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Authorities conducted surveillance at Jeffery Alan Foster’s residence on Truxillo Street after he had sold several batches of the illegal substances. The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at that location July 10, 2018. Foster had left this residence, but authorities stopped him for traffic violations, after which he agreed to return to his home.
During the search, law enforcement found synthetic cannabinoids and more than $800 in a backpack. They also found computers, cell phones, a digital scale $4,232, two boxes of ammunition, two firearms as well as a black fire safe containing four large bags of loose kush which totaled 1166.06 grams (2.57 pounds).
Foster admitted he possessed and had been distributing synthetic cannabinoids for human consumption for approximately seven years. He further acknowledged he knew it was illegal to do so.
Foster has prior convictions of cocaine possession and theft. As a convicted felon, Foster is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea today and set sentencing for Dec. 5, 2019. At that time, Foster faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine for the drug conviction and a maximum of 10 years and a $250,000 possible fine for the firearms conviction.
Foster was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Porto prosecuted the case.
Lawrence Men Plead Guilty to Participating in a Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jared Gil, 25, and Yadoris Arias, 26, both of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between February and March of 2019, Arias conspired with Gil to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On March 25, 2019 a confidential source contacted Gil by telephone and arranged to buy $2500 of fentanyl. Gil and Arias arrived at an apartment complex in Manchester, New Hampshire where police officers arrested them. Investigators recovered over 80 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl in the air vent of their vehicle.
Gil pleaded guilty on August 1, 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2019. Arias pleaded guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking promotes drug addiction throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The introduction of deadly drugs into our state has caused untold suffering. In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we will continue to be aggressive in our prosecutions of the drug dealers who bring fentanyl into the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Latin King Gang Member Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Miguel Marines, 25, of East Chicago, Indiana, and a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 66 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, Marines was held responsible for activity involving at least 2 kilograms but less than 3.5 kilograms of cocaine distributed by the Latin Kings street gang.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, have also provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.
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Kalamazoo Woman Sentenced to 25 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Amaris Mae Wyman, 31, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to 25 years in the Bureau of Prisons for producing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Janet Neff also ordered Wyman to spend seven years on supervised release and imposed financial assessments.
Wyman pled guilty in May 2019 to the charge of producing a pornographic video of a child. An investigation found that she had taken several videos of her own child showering and using the bathroom. Wyman forwarded those videos to Matthew Toole; Wyman also sent sexually explicit messages to Toole and discussed plans to provide her child with alcohol and prescription medications to facilitate Toole’s rape of the minor.
Judge Neff commended law enforcement for investigating and stopping them before their plans were put into action. Toole was sentenced earlier this year to 50 to 70 years in state prison for an unrelated criminal sexual assault of an infant girl in Calhoun County.
At sentencing, Judge Neff noted that the victim had a right to grow up safe and protected by the most important person in any child’s life, their mother, but was instead exploited by Wyman. Birge noted that, “Federal law enforcement takes the protection of all victims seriously, but fights particularly for victims who are young, vulnerable, and exploited by those who ought to protect them.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was investigated by the Michigan State Police, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford.
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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Florida Tax Return PreparersRead the Press Release
The United States filed a civil injunction suit seeking to bar Simple Solutions FL LLC, Angela Nurse, Joe Leon, and Wendy Edwards from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
The complaint, filed in United States District Court in Orlando, Florida, also requests that the court require Nurse, Leon, Edwards, and Simple Solutions FL LLC to disgorge ill-gotten fees that they obtained from the U.S. Treasury through the alleged false tax return preparation.
The government’s complaint alleges that the defendants prepare and file tax returns to falsely increase their customers’ refunds, and profit through high, often undisclosed fees—at the expense of their customers and the Treasury. The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in misconduct, including:
• Falsely claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit;
• Fabricating businesses and related business income and expenses;
• Fabricating deductions, such as charitable contributions and phony job-related expenses; and
• Reporting fabricated income tax withholdings
The complaint further alleges that Nurse and Edwards previously prepared tax returns at D&M Tax Services, and that Leon prepared returns at UJM Tax Services. In a separate action, the court previously barred the owners of D&M Tax Solutions and UJM Tax Services from owning or operating a tax preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The government alleges that Simple Solutions FL LLC operates at two locations that were previously occupied by D&M Tax Solutions, in Daytona Beach and Palatka. In addition, the complaint alleges that the business operates at a third location in Bunnell.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Inmate at State Correctional Facility Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An inmate at a Massachusetts correctional facility was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with smuggling drugs into the facility.
Chad Connors, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 48 months incarceration, 30 of which is to be served consecutive to the state sentence he is currently serving and three years of supervised release. In June 2019, Connors pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Suboxone and Alprazolam.
In September 2018, Connors, who was an inmate at Massachusetts Correctional Institute – Cedar Junction (MCI-CJ) in South Walpole at the time, was indicted along with William Guillemette, 39, also an MCI-CJ inmate, Margaret Guillemette, 58, and Lisa Guillemette, 42.
Chad Connors and William Guillemette were inmates housed at MCI-CJ’s Departmental Disciplinary Unit (DDU). Connors was involved in a romantic relationship with Christine Ramos, a nurse assigned to the DDU. At Connors’ request, Ramos agreed to smuggle contraband, including controlled substances, into MCI-CJ. In order to do this, Ramos opened two P.O. Boxes through a third party. Connors sent letters and money to Ramos at these P.O. Boxes and, at William Guillemette’s direction, Lisa and Margaret Guillemette, obtained and sent Suboxone and Alprazolam to the P.O. Boxes. Ramos subsequently smuggled the drugs into the DDU and delivered them to Connors. Connors and William Guillemette then distributed the drugs to other inmates, who sent checks to Lisa and Margaret Guillemette as payment for the drugs. Suboxone and Alprazolam are Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances, respectively.
William Guillemette pleaded guilty and was sentenced to18 months in prison to be served consecutive to the state sentence he is currently serving and three years of supervised release. Lisa Guillemette pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served (5 days), 30 months of supervised release and 300 hours of community service. Margaret Guillemette pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served (five days), two years of supervised release and 200 hours of community service. Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Suboxone and Alprazolam and was sentenced two years of probation.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Carris, of Lelling’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted case.
Hoover Criminal Gang Member Indicted for Racketeering After Murder of Portland ManRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, announced today the indictment of a Hoover Criminal Gang member for the 2015 murder of Portland resident Kyle Polk.
Javier Fernando Hernandez, 23, is charged with murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing the death of Polk through the use of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that on December 16, 2015, Hernandez murdered Kyle Polk for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in the Hoover Criminal Gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in racketeering in California, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere.
Hernandez made his initial appearance in federal court today and was detained pending a four-week jury trial on November 12, 2019 before U.S. Chief District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.
Murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison.
According to the indictment, the Hoovers are a criminal street gang operating in Oregon, and are known to engage in acts of violence including murder, assault, robbery, sex trafficking and the distribution of narcotics. The Hoovers originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and established a presence in Portland in the early 1980s. The gang has a loose hierarchical structure in which members have different amounts of power and influence based on age and gang activity. To maintain status and increase one’s position in the gang, members were expected to carry out violence on behalf of the enterprise.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hobart Resident Pleads Guilty to Selling Drugs via the “Dark Web”Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on Monday, September 9, 2019, Christopher D. Bania, (age: 26) of Hobart, Wisconsin, pled guilty to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. At the hearing, Bania acknowledged selling a variety of illegal drugs nationwide on the "dark web" in exchange for cryptocurrency.
Bania faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and from 3 years to a lifetime on supervised release. Bania also will forfeit approximately $1.5 million worth of cryptocurrency previously seized by the government, along with $85,000 in U.S. Currency. He will be sentenced on December 9, 2019, at the Federal Courthouse in Green Bay.
According to the plea agreement, Bania sold narcotics, including MDMA ("Ecstasy"), cocaine, DMT, ketamine, LSD, MDA, methaqualone, marijuana, and a variety of other controlled substances. To make his sales, Bania utilized dark web marketplaces, including Dream Market, Zion, Wall Street, Hansa, Trade Route, and Alpha Bay. Alpha Bay and Hansa were shut down by law enforcement in July of 2017.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is unreachable by traditional search engines and web browsers. Websites on the dark web have complex web addresses generated by a computer algorithm and must be accessed using special software that is capable of connecting to "The Onion Router" network, or "TOR" for short. The TOR network is encrypted and routes internet traffic dynamically through a series of computers around the world, concealing the true Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers accessing the network and thereby making internet use virtually anonymous. This perceived anonymity has led to a proliferation of criminal activity on dark web marketplaces, where users can find vendors, like Bania, offering illegal goods and services for sale.
"Law enforcement is committed to pursuing drug traffickers wherever they operate, and we will do everything necessary to deprive traffickers of illegal drug profits in whatever their form, cash or cryptocurrency," said U.S. Attorney Krueger.
"Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the value of collaboration among state, local, and federal agencies throughout the criminal justice system. Each entity within this investigation played a critical role in unmasking the offender who preyed on the vulnerable from behind a computer," remarked Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Paul E. Maxwell, Jr.
"As this case shows, drug dealers use modern technology to further their illegal activities," said Attorney General Josh Kaul. "But no matter what method drug dealers use to try to evade detection, law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are committed to stopping them."
This case was a joint investigation of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, the Brown County Drug Task Force, the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department, and the Oneida Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott J. Campbell, Benjamin W. Proctor, and Daniel R. Humble.
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Heroin trafficker sentenced for transporting 4.24 kilograms of heroin stashed inside car batteryRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Francisco Castaneda Rivera has been sentenced to federal prison for transporting 4.24 kilograms of heroin from Texas to the Atlanta area hidden inside a car battery.
“Drug traffickers employ sophisticated and ever-changing tactics to bring their deadly product into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “However, our law enforcement partners are able to adapt to their methods and combat this scourge. Through the hard work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we were able to stop these drugs from hitting our streets.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “Drug traffickers like Castaneda Rivera often take extreme measures in order to hide the poison they peddle, as was the case in this investigation. This is a perfect illustration of the battle DEA, its law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office face when trying to prevent dangerous drugs from hitting the streets of our communities. As a result of DEA’s unwavering commitment and through the strength of its partnerships, Castaneda Rivera will spend well-deserved time in prison.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In March and April 2018, DEA agents gleaned intelligence about a suspected drug trafficker who would be involved with the delivery of narcotics in the Union City, Georgia area.
Several months later, on September 1, 2018, law enforcement officers in Montgomery, Alabama conducted a traffic stop of a truck which was driven by Rivera. Intelligence gathered from the stop linked Rivera to a DEA investigation.
On October 19 and 20, 2018, through various methods of intelligence, DEA agents learned that Rivera was traveling, via I-20 eastbound, from Houston, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia State Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Rivera's truck in Douglas County, Georgia. Troopers searched the vehicle and observed that the battery in the truck was significantly cleaner than the rest of the engine compartment. Upon closer inspection, agents realized that the battery had been altered. They opened it and found five packages wrapped in electrical tape along with a motorcycle battery wired to provide electrical current sufficient to operate the vehicle. The packages were determined to contain 4.24 kilograms of heroin.
Francisco Castaneda Rivera, 65, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Rivera was convicted on these charges on May 15, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. O'Neal and Garrett L. Bradford prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Brian Williams, 38, was selling heroin in Suffolk, Virginia. When law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at his residence on December 21, 2018, they located numerous loaded firearms, a distribution quantity of fentanyl, digital scales, drug cutting agents, drug packaging materials and approximately $1500 in cash. Williams, a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was also in the residence with many of the firearms within arm’s reach.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 28 HIDTAs, which include approximately 18 percent of all counties in the United States and 66 percent of the U.S. population.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-29.
Haverhill, Ma. Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Nicholas Messina, 28, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Messina was arrested at a hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire, with fentanyl, cocaine, thousands of dollars, and a loaded firearm. In a post-arrest interview, Messina admitted that he possessed the drugs for distribution.
Messina previously pleaded guilty on May 29, 2109.
“Drugs and guns are an extremely lethal combination,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “While fentanyl already has destroyed far too many lives in New Hampshire, the risk that armed drug dealers pose to the public cannot be overstated. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop interstate drug trafficking and the violence that is associated with drug dealing.”
"ATF will continue working with our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts to vigorously combat drug traffickers and the threat they pose to our citizens by illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of their illegal drug trade" said Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities, so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved,” said Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers like Mr. Messina who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison, that DEA and its local, state and federal partners will do everything in our power to bring you to justice.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
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Harvey Man Sentenced for Multiple RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – SAMUEL TAYLOR (“TAYLOR”), age 25, of Harvey, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, was sentenced today to 198 months in the Bureau of Prisons to be followed by a term of five (5) years of supervised release for Hobbs Act Robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), Bank Robbery with a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113(a) and (d), Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery with a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 2113(a) and (d), and two counts of Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), announced United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser.
On the morning of Wednesday, September 27, 2017, members of the New Orleans Police Department responded to a complaint of an active burglary of a residence in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Police entered the residence, and discovered TAYLOR and his two co-defendants inside of the residence. Law enforcement officers also located a loaded Harrington and Richardson “Pardner” Pump 12 gauge shotgun and a Taurus .38 caliber revolver handgun in the residence, as well as homemade ski masks.
Law enforcement agents determined TAYLOR and the other defendants were using the residence as a safe house in anticipation of an armed robbery of a bank on South Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans. Agents also determined that TAYLOR had been responsible for the September 7, 2017, armed robbery of the Fidelity Bank on General De Gaulle Boulevard, in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, as well as the July 9, 2017, armed robbery of the Dollar General store in Avondale, Louisiana.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force, officers with the New Orleans Police Department, and deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Myles Ranier.
Guilty Verdict in First Federal Overdose Death CaseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – This afternoon, a federal jury convicted Donte Jacobs of distributing and conspiring to distribute fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman. Jacobs faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison as a result of his conviction.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jacobs, of New Castle County, had a longstanding agreement to distribute heroin and/or fentanyl-laced heroin with others in the region. By the end of June 2016, Jacobs was distributing fentanyl-laced heroin packaged with a “BUTTER” stamp on it. On June 28, 2016, one of Jacobs’ sub-distributors sold those “BUTTER”- stamped drugs to the victim, whose identity is listed in court documents as T.A. Hours later, in New Garden Township, Pennsylvania, the victim used those drugs and died from a fentanyl overdose. Toxicology records showed that T.A. had 26 ng/ml of fentanyl in her blood stream when she died. Testimony at trial showed that this was clearly a lethal amount.
Members of what is now the Southern Chester County Police Department worked with the DEA to investigate T.A.’s death. They first arrested the sub-distributor who directly sold the “BUTTER” bags of fentanyl-laced heroin to T.A. Officers then recorded a conversation between that sub-distributor and Jacobs, wherein Jacobs acknowledged his involvement in distributing the “BUTTER”-stamped drugs. During the call, Jacobs also explained to his sub-distributor how people, “OD on Fentanyl” and how fentanyl and heroin were causing people to “die every day.”
United States Attorney David C. Weiss stated, “The message from this verdict is simple. If you knowingly sell a substance that may contain fentanyl and that substance causes death, we will hold you accountable. In this case, for the Defendant, that means that he will spend at least the next 20 years in jail.”
"Drug-trafficking is an inherently dangerous and risky business. This same risk will now lead Jacobs to spend at least the next 20 years of his life in federal prison," said Jonathan A. Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. "For the drug-traffickers like Jacobs that seek to sell this poison that is destroying our communities, the penalties are severe."
At the conclusion of the trial, Jacobs also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm that was found during the course of the investigation. Sentencing for all of these offenses is currently set for January 10, 2020. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, other statutory factors, and the applicable twenty year mandatory minimum sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe and Jesse S. Wenger prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 01:19-cr-094.
Goffstown Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jonathan Felch, 37, of Goffstown, was sentenced serve to 96 months in federal prison for participating in a fentanyl drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Felch regularly obtained fentanyl from a source in Lawrence, Massachusetts and then sold the fentanyl in New Hampshire.
On March 14, 2018, investigators learned that Felch had ordered 20 grams of fentanyl and was traveling on Interstate 93. The New Hampshire State Police subsequently stopped a vehicle for motor vehicle violations in which Felch was a passenger. Felch later admitted that he had drugs in his possession and provided the troopers with approximately 18 grams of fentanyl.
Again, on April 6, 2018, investigators learned that Felch intended to travel from New Hampshire to Lawrence to purchase drugs. Agents conducted surveillance of Felch and observed him meet with another individual in Lawrence. Later that day, Felch returned to New Hampshire in a vehicle that was stopped in Manchester for a motor vehicle violation. Officers later located approximately 23 grams of fentanyl and a digital scale in the vehicle. Over the course of the wiretap investigation, Felch ordered more than 600 grams of fentanyl.
Felch previously pleaded guilty on May 30, 2019.
“This case once again highlights the familiar Lawrence to New Hampshire fentanyl distribution route,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The 8 year prison term should serve as a warning to those inclined to introduce this drug into the Granite State. Traffickers should realize that we will continue to seek substantial prison terms for those who engage in this conduct.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with an opioid crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe, and Debra M. Walsh.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Four defendants admit guilt in drug conspiracy to produce and distribute narcoticsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Four defendants have pled guilty to various roles in a wide-ranging drug conspiracy that included mass production of pills and distribution of powerful synthetic opioids.
The defendants are among six indicted in April on federal charges accusing them of participating in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2016 that imported large amounts of drugs purchased with cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, used industrial-grade machinery to manufacture pills, and sold the drugs on the Dark Web and throughout Georgia, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The cases of two of the defendants are not yet resolved.
Entering guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Augusta are:
- Kolbie Hadden Watters, 22, of Augusta, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Watters faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison. He also is under indictment in Walton County, Ga., on state charges of felony murder and aggravated assault of a suspected co-conspirator.
- Jonathan Britt Lester, 22, of Loganville, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and Marijuana) and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Along with Watters, Lester also is under indictment in Walton County, Ga., on state charges of felony murder and aggravated assault of a suspected co-conspirator.
- Armand Sananda Saedi, 27, of Atlanta, Ga., and Morgan McKenzie Slaton, 22, of Hoschton, Ga., have each pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Alprazolam). Each face sentences of up to five years in prison.
Each of the defendants also is subject to fines and penalties, along with supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, the four were indicted, along with Walker Christian Forrester, 24, of Loganville, Ga., after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Sept. 2017 began an investigation after Forrester’s purchase of an industrial-grade pill press. Two months later, Forrester, Watters and a juvenile were arrested on state charges in Harlem, Ga., after a traffic stop in which Harlem police officers found more than 5,200 counterfeit Xanax pills, marijuana and a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.
The indictment in the case alleges that Forrester purchased equipment used to create counterfeit Xanax pills, Alprazolam as the main ingredient, and binding agents to manufacture tens of thousands of pills per month. The illicit ingredients were purchased on the Dark Web using cryptocurrency, with the counterfeit Xanax likewise sold on the Dark Web or through conventional illegal drug distribution channels. Forrester’s case is still pending.
The conspirators moved their pill presses to various locations in the Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia to avoid detection, and at one point began manufacturing and selling synthetic heroin using Fentanyl and the more-powerful Carfentanil. Another defendant, Larry Overton, 46, of Harlem, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises. His case is still pending.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division (CID), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harlem Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes.
Four Sentenced for Roles in Defrauding the United StatesRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A pair of former employees of Kennedy Industrial Electronics, and their wives, were sentenced this week after previously pleading guilty to defrauding the United States as part of a disability benefits and payroll scheme that dates back at least 15 years, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced.
“Social Security and employment-tax schemes are serious federal crimes and ones that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal, state, and local partners have made investigating a priority,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “Small business owners are required to play by the rules in accounting for their employees, and risk serious consequences when they try to get around these requirements.”
Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Gerald Lee Stevens, 45, of Lebanon, Va., was sentenced to five months incarceration. In July 2019, Stevens pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Also Wednesday, Teena Charlene Stevens, 47, was sentenced to two years’ probation. She previously pleaded guilty to one count of causing to be made a false representation concerning the requirements of the Social Security Act.
Earlier this week, Danny M. Hill, 70, of Lebanon, Va., was sentenced to eight months incarceration. Hill previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Also this week, Geneva Hill, 64, was sentenced to two years’ probation. She previously pleaded guilty to one count of causing to be made a false representation concerning the requirements of the Social Security Act.
Danny and Geneva Hill were ordered to pay $351,239 in joint and several restitution to the Social Security Administration, while Gerald and Teena Stevens were ordered to pay $309,217 in joint and several restitution to the Social Security Administration. Co-defendants Harold Kennedy and Hollie Kennedy will be sentenced in the near future.
According to court documents, between 2001 and 2015 the defendants conspired to defraud the United States through a scheme in which Harold and Hollie Kennedy, the owners of Kennedy Industrial Electronics, failed to report approximately $148,000 in employment taxes. Those taxes were owed through hours worked by employees Danny Hill, Gerald Stevens, and Ricky Matney.
However, Danny Hill, Gerald Stevens, and Ricky Matney were each receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration and therefore unable to earn additional income without reporting. As a result, the conspirators issued checks to their spouses, Geneva Hill and Teena Stevens, and others.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (Criminal Investigations), the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Founder of Oakland County Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 36 Years for Distributing Fentanyl-Laced Heroin that Resulted in Dozens of OverdosesRead the Press Release
Kristopher “Flip” Anderson, 43, of Pontiac, was sentenced in United States District Court by the Hon. Robert H. Cleland to 36 years in prison for his role in a multi-year heroin and fentanyl distribution conspiracy that operated from Pontiac and distributed drugs in Oakland and Macomb Counties between 2008 and 2017, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Rainer S. Drolshagen, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard made the announcement.
Following a two-week trial in April and May 2019, a jury convicted Anderson of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl that resulted in death and serious bodily injury. The jury also convicted Anderson of distribution of heroin and fentanyl and using a telecommunications device to facilitate drug trafficking.
According to court records and the evidence at trial, Anderson had been convicted of drug offenses in 2008 and 2009, and before reporting to prison, he provided his drug phone to his nephew and co-defendant, Timothy Williams, so Williams could sell heroin to his customers while he was in prison. The conspiracy grew over the next several years as Williams joined forces with friends and other family members to serve an ever-growing customer base. Soon, the group had over 100 daily customers—each buying at least 0.5 to 1 gram of heroin per day at a price of $40 per half gram and $80 per gram. Several members of the group adopted the name, “T.E.A.M.” (To Eat and More) as they expanded the drug business.
Over time, the conspiracy started to sell heroin laced with fentanyl or, in many instances, straight fentanyl. Multiple customers overdosed. Some died. In 2015, Anderson was released from prison and rejoined the group. He sold fentanyl to customers and resumed control of the conspiracy when Williams was arrested. Fentayl sold by Anderson was linked to the fatal overdose of at least one customer.
In addition to Anderson, eleven other members of the conspiracy were charged for their role in distributing heroin and fentanyl. Ten of Anderson’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty, and one died from a heroin overdose awaiting trial.
Pleaded guilty were:
• Timothy Williams, a/k/a “T2,” of 28, of Independent Township, to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl and multiple counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Awaiting sentence, guidelines range of 360 months to life.
• Deaire Rayford, a/k/a “Mun” and “D-Mun,” of 28, of Auburn Hills, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 240 months in prison.
• Christopher Light, 27, of Commerce Township, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Sentenced to 72 months in prison.
• Kourvoisiea Pittman, a/k/a “Kaos,” 28, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 180 months in prison.
• Robert Bell, Jr., a/k/a “Boosha,” 30, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 188 months in prison.
• Deandre Mullen, a/k/a “4-Shot” and “4,” 28, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 225 months in prison.
• Steven Erkins, a/k/a “SQ” and “Kool,” 26, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 211 months in prison.
• Quanzay Milton, a/k/a “Q,” 25, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 121 months in prison.
• Antonio Bell, a/k/a “Tone,” 28, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 166 months in prison.
• James Bellmore, 52, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 74 months in prison.
“This conviction and sentence is particularly important given the breadth of the damage and destruction of lives that this group caused while distributing heroin and fentanyl”, stated US. Attorney Schneider. “Our aggressive prosecution of these offenses and Mr. Anderson’s sentence sends a strong message of deterrence to those who may want to pursue the drug trade as a way of life.”
“This sentence is the culmination of numerous hours of dedicated work by FBI’s Oakland County Violent Gang Task Force members” said Acting Special Agent Rainer S. Drolshagen. “The FBI will continue to aggressively target and prosecute drug trafficking crimes involving heroin as part of the effort to address the ongoing opiate crisis that is threatening the safety of our citizens.”
“I am excited to see this case which was initiated by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET) have a successful conclusion,” said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. “As the case developed, the Oakland County Violent Crime Gang Task Force (VCTGF) joined the investigation and together we were able to successfully identify and prosecute several individuals for federal narcotic crimes. This is a great example of local and federal authorities working together to take down those who pedal this death in our communities.”
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Donald Stevenson and Sgt. Perry Dare of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane Cralle and John O’Brien of the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.
Former Union Official Pleads Guilty to Interstate Transportation of Stolen PropertyRead the Press Release
A former president of Local 2463 of the American Federation of Government Employees pleaded guilty today to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, in connection with his theft of tens of thousands of dollars from the union, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and District Director Mark Wheeler of the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards Washington District Office.
Audonus A. Duplessis, 25, of Washington, D.C., appeared before Judge Richard J. Leon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and pleaded guilty to the sole count in an indictment returned against him in June 2018. Judge Leon scheduled sentencing of this matter for Dec. 5, 2019.
According to a statement of facts signed by Duplessis in connection with his guilty plea,
Duplessis stole more than $80,000 from the union during his tenure as President of Local 2463, making unauthorized cash withdrawals from the Local’s checking account and charging purchases of personal items to a debit card associated with that account. As charged in the indictment, on Sept. 25, 2017, Duplessis withdrew $11,300 from the Local 2463 checking account at a Wells Fargo branch in Washington, D.C. He then transported that stolen money to the Honda dealership in Tysons Corner, Virginia, where he used it to purchase a 2013 Dodge Charger for his personal use. Other unauthorized items that Duplessis purchased with union money included clothing from Armani, a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun and a subscription to an online dating service.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) represents over 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide. Local 2463 represents approximately 2,400 employees at the Smithsonian Institution and Kennedy Center, the majority of whom are located in the Washington, D.C. area. Duplessis, a security guard at the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture, was elected to serve as President of Local 2463 in May 2017. While serving as President, Duplessis worked one day a week at the Smithsonian and received four days of “official time” to work full-time at the union.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards and Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexander Gottfried of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
Former President of Massachusetts State Police Union and Union’s Former Lobbyist Indicted on RICO and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former President of the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) and the union’s former Massachusetts lobbyist were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of racketeering, fraud, obstruction of justice and tax crimes.
Dana A. Pullman, 57, of Worcester, and Anne M. Lynch, 68, of Hull, were indicted on one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, one count of honest services wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Pullman was charged with two additional counts of wire fraud and two counts of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return, and Lynch was charged with an additional count of obstruction of justice and four counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return. The defendants will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on a date yet to be determined. Pullman and Lynch were charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Aug. 22, 2019.
According to the indictment, the SPAM was an association consisting of more than 1,500 troopers and sergeants from the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). SPAM acted as the exclusive bargaining agent between its members and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding the terms and conditions of SPAM members’ employment. Pullman, who was an MSP trooper from 1987 to at least 2018, was the President of SPAM from 2012 until his resignation on Sept. 28, 2018. Lynch’s lobbying firm represented SPAM during the same time period, in exchange for monthly retainer payments.
It is alleged that, from at least 2012 until Pullman resigned as the President of SPAM in September 2018, Pullman, Lynch and others were involved in a conspiracy to defraud SPAM members and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of their right to honest services from Pullman through fraud and deceit. This included illegal bribes and kickbacks that Pullman received from Lynch and her firm. Pullman, Lynch and others were also allegedly involved in a scheme to defraud two different companies that sought to do business with the Commonwealth. They are further charged with conspiring to defraud the United States by hiding the payments from Lynch and her lobbying firm to Pullman in a manner designed to avoid reporting and paying taxes on that income to the IRS.
Pullman is also charged with wire fraud in connection with his alleged embezzlement and misuse of SPAM funds for personal use by (1) submitting expense reimbursement checks to SPAM without receipts; (2) circumventing and bypassing SPAM’s governing Executive Board; and (3) using a debit card tied to a SPAM bank account. Specifically, Pullman used the SPAM debit card to pay for thousands of dollars of meals, flowers, travel, and gifts for an individual with whom Pullman was having a romantic relationship.
Pullman and Lynch are also charged with attempting to obstruct the grand jury’s investigation of this matter by manipulating subpoenaed records, and Lynch is charged with attempting to obstruct the grand jury’s investigation by lying to investigators.
The charges of racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, fraud and fraud conspiracy each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and fine of $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Philadelphia City Controller’s Office Employee Indicted on Federal Public Corruption ChargesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Jeffrey Blackwell, 46, of Philadelphia, PA was charged by Superseding Indictment with honest services wire fraud, federal program bribery, filing a false tax return, and failure to file a tax return. In a news conference today, U.S. Attorney McSwain discussed the charges against the defendant and the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigating and prosecuting all types of public corruption.
The 13-count Superseding Indictment, unsealed this morning, alleges that the defendant – a former City of Philadelphia employee in the Office of the City Controller – committed a series of frauds, accepting more than $22,000 in bribes and kickbacks from individuals seeking City permits and contracts. Between 2013 and 2015 while serving in the Investigations Division of the Controller’s Office, Blackwell misused his official position to enrich himself by soliciting money in exchange for official actions or the promise of official actions, but rarely provided the promised permits or contracts. These promised services included lucrative city contracts and licenses, permits for home renovation work, and even mundane permits to park a storage container on the street. Blackwell is also charged with one count of federal program bribery for allegedly accepting a bribe to award a contract with the City to install decals on Philadelphia Police vehicles and a license to operate a used car sales business. Finally, the defendant faces charges related to making a false claim on his tax return in 2012, and failing to file federal tax returns in 2014 and 2015.
“Corruption is an insidious crime. It is a cancer that must be attacked and destroyed wherever it is found. It is lethal and can literally suck the life out of an organization, or even a city,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “My Office is committed to the fight against corruption: if you are an elected official, a public official or a public employee and you debase yourself and your position and betray the public through corrupt acts, you will be prosecuted and jailed. And when doing your job, don’t try to walk up to the line between corrupt and honest behavior. Stay far away from that line. Instead, do your job honestly and faithfully every day in every possible way. That is what the public deserves.”
“When government employees seek bribes and kickbacks, they’re blatantly putting their own greed ahead of the interests of the people they serve,” said Christian Zajac, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “As alleged, Blackwell traded on his official position in order to enrich himself. In doing so, he deprived the citizens of Philadelphia of their right to honest services from their city workers. The FBI is committed to investigating public corruption, in order to protect the integrity of government at all levels. We’d ask anyone who may be aware of criminal misconduct by a public official to call our Philadelphia field office, or go to tips.FBI.gov and share the information.”
“This indictment is an important victory for America's taxpayers who play by the rules,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Guy Ficco. “Those Americans who file accurate, honest and timely tax returns can be assured that the government will hold accountable those who don't.”
“This indictment sends a message that you can’t skirt City permitting rules,” said Philadelphia Inspector General Amy Kurland. “The rules ensure that construction work will be done safely and honestly. We were pleased to have played a role in this investigation, and we look forward to working with our law enforcement partners to continue aggressively pursuing anyone who doesn’t play by the rules.”
“The vast majority of city employees are good people who work hard each and every day to improve the city,” said Philadelphia City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. “However, there are a few bad actors who abuse their positions and the public’s trust. We cannot turn a blind eye to those individuals. They must be rooted out and held to account. Today’s announcement sends a clear message that these kinds of egregious actions won’t be tolerated.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of more than thirty years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service with assistance from the Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Ignall. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former District of Columbia Attorney Sentenced to Prison for $2 Million Investment Fraud Scheme and Failure to File Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A former District of Columbia attorney was sentenced to prison today in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia for operating a fraudulent trading program for investors and failing to file a tax return announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Brynee Baylor, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for conspiracy and securities fraud, one year of prison (concurrent) for her other fraud convictions and for failure to file a tax return and pay taxes, three years of supervised release, and restitution to her victims in the amount of $2.2 million dollars. In May 2019, a jury convicted Baylor of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of securities fraud, and five counts of first-degree fraud under District of Columbia law. In June 2019, Baylor pleaded guilty to one count of willfully failing to timely file a 2010 individual income tax return and to pay taxes.
According to court documents, Baylor, a former partner in the D.C. law firm Baylor & Jackson PLLC, conspired with a Pennsylvania man and his company, the Milan Group, to recruit investors to a purported trading program. Investors were promised extremely large profits in a short time with little or no risk.
The evidence presented at trial showed that in 2010 and 2011, Baylor caused more than $2 million of investor funds to pass through the Baylor & Jackson lawyer trust account. More than half of the investor funds were used for the benefit of Baylor, the Pennsylvania man, the Milan Group, and Baylor & Jackson. Baylor falsely assured investors that the purported trading program was legitimate and that she had personally observed investors successfully complete transactions with the Milan Group. In reality, the Milan Group did not complete any such transactions and the investors lost all their funds.
In 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Baylor and others for fraud in connection with the purported trading program. In 2013, Baylor was permanently enjoined from promoting investment programs and ordered to pay disgorgement and a civil penalty.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman thanked the SEC for its invaluable assistance and commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Jeffrey McLellan and Eric Powers of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Former Chattanooga Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Desmond Logan, 38, formerly an officer with the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD), pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Tennessee to two counts of violating the civil rights of victims while performing his duties as a law enforcement officer. Specifically, the defendant sexually assaulted one woman and, in a separate incident, entered the car of another victim and refused to let her out, causing her to fear for her physical safety.
According to court documents filed in connection with the guilty plea, the defendant, while on duty on June 12, 2018, handcuffed and arrested K.B.V. Rather than transporting K.B.V. directly to the Hamilton County Jail, the defendant drove K.B.V. in his squad car to an empty and isolated parking lot. There, Logan sexually assaulted K.B.V. Additionally, on Jan. 2, 2016, in the evening hours, the defendant, while working on a security detail at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, got in the passenger seat of D.H.’s car and claimed he needed a ride to his car, which he maintained was parked in a different lot. The defendant intentionally directed D.H. to a secluded parking lot with no people. There, the defendant took out his taser and pressed it against D.H.’s leg, causing D.H. to fear that he would cause her physical harm. When D.H. tried to escape, Logan prevented her from getting out of the car.
In addition to these two victims, the defendant admitted as part of his guilty plea that he also sexually assaulted two more female victims who were in his custody. In each of these two incidents, the defendant drove the victim in his squad car to a deserted area where he sexually assaulted them. None of these victims consented to having sexual contact with the defendant.
“The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting officers who violate their oath by sexually assaulting and unlawfully seizing persons while on duty,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to send the strong message that the federal government will not tolerate such egregious abuses of power.”
“This case exhibits our continued efforts to prosecute those who would use their power to commit acts of violence and injustice against members of our community,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey of the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Our office will continue to stand by and protect the victims of such crimes.”
"Civil Rights violations, particularly when they involve a member of law enforcement, are of tremendous concern. The entire law enforcement profession is tarnished when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve. The FBI will vigorously investigate any officer or agent of the law who is breaking the rules that he or she is sworn to uphold or is violating the civil rights of others," said Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico.
With his guilty plea, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition to the sentence that the Court ultimately imposes, the defendant must forfeit his law enforcement certification.
A sentencing date has been set for February 10, 2020..
This case was investigated by the Knoxville Division of the FBI, with the support of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney James Brooks of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Olimpia Michel of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.
Former Chattanooga Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
Desmond Logan, 38, formerly an officer with the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD), pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Tennessee to two counts of violating the civil rights of victims while performing his duties as a law enforcement officer. Specifically, the defendant sexually assaulted one woman and, in a separate incident, entered the car of another victim and refused to let her out, causing her to fear for her physical safety.
According to court documents filed in connection with the guilty plea, the defendant, while on duty on June 12, 2018, handcuffed and arrested K.B.V. Rather than transporting K.B.V. directly to the Hamilton County Jail, the defendant drove K.B.V. in his squad car to an empty and isolated parking lot. There, Logan sexually assaulted K.B.V. Additionally, on Jan. 2, 2016, in the evening hours, the defendant, while working on a security detail at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, got in the passenger seat of D.H.’s car and claimed he needed a ride to his car, which he maintained was parked in a different lot. The defendant intentionally directed D.H. to a secluded parking lot with no people. There, the defendant took out his taser and pressed it against D.H.’s leg, causing D.H. to fear that he would cause her physical harm. When D.H. tried to escape, Logan prevented her from getting out of the car.
In addition to these two victims, the defendant admitted as part of his guilty plea that he also sexually assaulted two more female victims who were in his custody. In each of these two incidents, the defendant drove the victim in his squad car to a deserted area where he sexually assaulted them. None of these victims consented to having sexual contact with the defendant.
“The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting officers who violate their oath by sexually assaulting and unlawfully seizing persons while on duty,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to send the strong message that the federal government will not tolerate such egregious abuses of power.”
“This case exhibits our continued efforts to prosecute those who would use their power to commit acts of violence and injustice against members of our community,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey of the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Our office will continue to stand by and protect the victims of such crimes.”
"Civil Rights violations, particularly when they involve a member of law enforcement, are of tremendous concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI’s Knoxville Field Office. “The entire law enforcement profession is tarnished when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve. The FBI will vigorously investigate any officer or agent of the law who is breaking the rules that he or she is sworn to uphold or is violating the civil rights of others."
With his guilty plea, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition to the sentence that the Court ultimately imposes, the defendant must forfeit his law enforcement certification.
A sentencing date has been set for Feb. 10, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Knoxville Division of the FBI, with the support of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney James Brooks of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Olimpia Michel of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.
Former Bookkeeper Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Scheme to Embezzle in Excess of $99,000 from Greater Spokane County Meals on WheelsRead the Press Release
Spokane –William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Michelle Susan Ferrell, age 59, of Spokane Valley, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty on February 26, 2019, to wire fraud. Senior United States District Judge Robert H. Whaley sentenced Ferrell to a 36-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court supervision after she is released from federal prison. Judge Whaley also ordered Ferrell to pay restitution, and forfeiture of $99,871. Judge Whaley ordered that Ferrell be immediately taken into custody to begin serving her sentence.
According to information disclosed during the court proceedings, Ferrell worked as a bookkeeper for Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels (Meals on Wheels) between May 2013 and April 2018. Meals on Wheels, which is part of the nationwide Meals on Wheels America organization operating throughout the United States, relies on government funding and private donations to provide over 1,000 meals each day to elderly and disabled residents of Spokane County. As a bookkeeper for Meals on Wheels, Ferrell had access to the organization’s bank accounts, debit cards, and payroll system.
While employed at Meals on Wheels, Ferrell used the organization’s funds and bank accounts to pay for her unauthorized personal expenses, including mortgage, utility, and property tax payments on her residence, and to electronically transfer funds to herself and her businesses. Ferrell concealed her thefts by making false and misleading entries in Meals on Wheels’ internal accounting system, creating the appearance that she was paying legitimate operating expenses of the organization. Over a five-year period, Ferrell stole in excess of $99,000 in Meals on Wheels funds.
Ferrell also defrauded the United States Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Ferrell was responsible for withholding and paying Meals on Wheels’ quarterly payroll taxes to the IRS. As part of her scheme, Ferrell withheld payroll taxes but did not remit all the taxes to the IRS, or failed to file the organization’s quarterly payroll tax returns for certain quarters, and made false entries in the organization’s internal accounting records representing that the quarterly payroll taxes were paid in full. By engaging in these fraudulent actions, Ferrell ensured there would be sufficient funds in the Meals on Wheels account to cover her personal expenses.
United States Attorney Hyslop stated, “The sentence imposed today holds Ferrell accountable for abusing her position of trust as a bookkeeper for Meals on Wheels, a charitable organization that provides critical services to so many vulnerable people in our community. By lining her pockets, Ferrell put herself above the needs of others. I commend the excellent work done by the FBI in investigating this case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute white collar crime and fraud.”
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Dan Fruchter, Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Brian Donovan, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Former Assistant Director of Real Estate for the City of Boston Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former Assistant Director of Real Estate working for the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with accepting $50,000 in bribes.
John M. Lynch, 66, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery involving an organization receiving federal funds and one count of filing a false federal tax return. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 24, 2019. According to the terms of a plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of 46 to 57 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine and forfeiture.
“The residents of Boston deserve honesty and integrity from their public officials, whether elected or appointed,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Government is supposed to work on behalf of – for the benefit of – all citizens, and public officials, paid with taxpayer dollars, should be above reproach. John Lynch’s actions were an affront to these ideals. This office will pursue and prosecute all public officials whose greed leads them to breach the public trust and break federal law.”
“John Lynch saw more value in lowering his ethical standards than raising the profile of Boston as a metropolitan mecca for economic growth and prosperity. Today, he finally accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct, admitting he accepted $50,000 in bribes to help a real estate developer secure a key vote from the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Putting one’s official position up for sale to help others cash in further erodes the public’s trust in their government and cheats them out of the honest services they deserve.”
“Public officials, whether elected or appointed, hold positions of trust in the eyes of the public. That trust is broken when they abuse their authority and commit crimes,” said Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office. “Mr. Lynch used his influence at the BPDA in exchange for a substantial bribe, then failed to report $60,000 on his tax return. As part of a steadfast law enforcement team, IRS will continue to hold financial fraudsters and tax evaders accountable.”
In 2017, a Boston real estate developer sought to sell a parcel of residential real estate in Boston, but needed Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) approval to extend a permit that would allow the property to be sold as a multi-unit development. In order to secure the permit extension, the developer agreed to pay $50,000 in bribes to Lynch, in return for Lynch using his influence at the BPDA to secure a vote from a ZBA member. In May 2017, the ZBA member voted to grant the permit extension, enabling the developer to sell the property at an additional half million dollar profit that the developer otherwise would not have received. Per their agreement, the developer then paid Lynch $25,000 in cash and gave Lynch a $25,000 check, which Lynch used to pay a personal bill. Lynch then failed to report those and another $10,000 payment he had received from the real estate developer on this 2018 tax returns.
The charge of bribery involving an organization receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greater, and forfeiture. The charge of filing a false federal tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Lelling, FBI Boston SAC Bonavolonta, and IRS-CI SAC O’Connell made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Asbestos Abatement Contractor Sentenced to 12 Years for Violating Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Lloyd Robl, 49, New Richmond, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in prison, and three years of supervised release.
On June 20, 2019, Robl pleaded guilty to wire fraud and a Clean Air Act violation. Judge Conley imposed a 72-month sentence on each count to run consecutive to each other. The court also ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to Robl’s current state prison sentence of 30 months for felony possession of methamphetamine.
Robl worked as a self-employed asbestos abatement contractor in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He performed asbestos removal and disposal services for residential and commercial clients in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Robl engaged in a scheme to defraud his clients by: (1) falsely advertising on Craigslist he was licensed, insured and bonded to do asbestos abatements; (2) failing to tell his clients that his Minnesota license had been revoked in July 2001 and he was permanently enjoined by the State of Minnesota from providing asbestos abatement services; and (3) providing his clients with falsified records including falsified insurance policy documents, falsified Minnesota asbestos abatement licenses, falsified air sampling results, and falsified asbestos waste manifests.
In addition, Robl violated the Clean Air Act by knowingly releasing asbestos into the ambient air which placed others in imminent danger of death and serious bodily harm. Robel improperly disposed of asbestos-laden waste by: (1) burning the materials in burn piles or in 55-gallon drums at his home; and (2) spreading the ashes collected in the 55-gallon burn barrels along the tree line and in the farm field behind his home.
At today’s sentencing, nine victims testified against Robl, including four individuals who were methamphetamine addicts hired by Robl to do asbestos removal jobs with Robl. These victims explained that Robl paid them with methamphetamine, and failed to properly train them or equip them with respirators, suits, or cleaning materials. Two customers testified that Robl provided them with licenses purporting to show he was licensed by the State of Minnesota to remove asbestos. Finally, two fire fighters with the New Richmond Fire Department testified about fires they put out at Robl’s home that involved out-of-control fires in burn pits and in 55-gallon drums. The fire fighters were never told there was asbestos waste in these fires.
Judge Conley noted at today’s sentencing that Robl “has a lack of any moral compass,” and that while Robl may have been a victim to his own methamphetamine addiction, “the gravity of his ways, and his use of other addicts, shows a depth of conduct not typically seen by other persons acting under the influence of drugs.” Judge Conley added that Robl exposed people to a cancer-causing substance without their knowledge or consent. “His willful conduct caused harm to society and the environment, and countless others who will never be known.”
After the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Blader said, “My office is committed to holding accountable those who endanger their fellow citizens by degrading the environment for their own selfish financial gains.”
Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Lynn of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division added, “The defendant improperly handled asbestos, presenting a serious health threat to workers and the general public, and then tried to conceal evidence of the illegal acts. Today’s sentencing shows EPA’s commitment to prosecute those who try to undermine environmental laws and the protection of human health and the environment.”
The charges against Robl are the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- Criminal Investigation Division, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Law Enforcement. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber.
Florida Man Sentenced to 52 Months for Credit Card Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Janoy Garcia-Prieto, 31, Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 52 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit access device fraud and possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices. Garcia-Prieto pleaded guilty to these charges on May 29, 2019.
On September 12, 2016, Garcia-Prieto, Pedro Lorenzo-Concepcion, and Jorge Consuegra-Rojas attempted to use a counterfeit credit card inside of a grocery store in Mauston, Wisconsin. The group’s vehicle, which had been rented by Garcia-Prieto in New Orleans, was stopped by law enforcement shortly after leaving the store. Officers searched the vehicle and found multiple false identification documents, counterfeit credit cards, multiple cellular telephones, two computers, three flash drives, six credit card skimmers, a credit card reader/writer, and 280 gift cards valued at over $23,000.
A forensic search of the flash drives and computers revealed a total of 1,679 stolen credit card numbers, some of which had been used to purchase the recovered gift cards. The investigation also revealed that Garcia-Prieto, Lorenzo-Concepcion, and Consuegra-Rojas used fraudulent credit cards to conduct dozens of purchases at Sam’s Club stores throughout Minnesota between September 9 and September 12, 2016, for a total of $20,279.78 in fraudulent charges.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson recognized that Garcia-Prieto played a critical role in a large-scale multi-state credit card fraud scheme and was actively involved in the scheme throughout the timeframe of the conspiracy. Judge Peterson also noted that Garcia-Prieto actively avoided arrest for over eight months after he was indicted by the federal grand jury in Madison on February 15, 2018. Judge Peterson also noted that Garcia-Prieto had a prior federal conviction in the Southern District of Florida for alien smuggling in 2011 and served a 30-month prison sentence.
In 2018, Judge Peterson sentenced Consuegra-Rojas to 60 months and Lorenzo-Concepcion to 46 months for their respective roles in the conspiracy.
The charges against Garcia-Prieto were a result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mauston Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with the fraudulent abuse of the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) Informed Delivery electronic notification system.
Lucson Appolon, 27, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec. 5, 2019. Appolon and his co-conspirators, Fred Alcius, Peter Belony, and Kevens Louis were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud on April 9, 2019. Belony and Louis have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Alcius remains a fugitive.
Informed Delivery is a free electronic notification service provided by the USPS that gives residential and P.O. Box customers the ability to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages.
According to the indictment, the defendants accessed victims’ personal identifying information, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses on the “dark web” and then used the information to open credit cards in the victims’ names. The defendants then subscribed to Informed Delivery using the victims’ personal identifying information and a fraudulent email address created to track the delivery of credit cards to the victims’ residential mailboxes. The defendants subsequently intercepted the credit cards at the victims’ mailboxes before the victims could receive them and used those credit cards at ATMs and to purchase gift cards and other items for resale at retail establishments. The defendants traveled to states across the East Coast in furtherance of the fraud, including New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; the Concord, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.), Harvard, Kittery (Maine), Norfolk, Plantation (Fla.), Sherborn, and Weston Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five Paterson, New Jersey, Men Admit Stealing over $300,000 in Checks from Dozens of Mail Collection BoxesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Five Paterson, New Jersey, men have admitted their roles in a scheme to steal checks worth more than $300,000 from U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail collection boxes throughout New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jerry Lake-Rodriguez, 26, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Co-defendants Ismael Alicea Jr., 26, Yerrisson Garcia-Rodriguez, 24, Brayan Ulloa-Ulloa, 24, and Johan Lake-Rodriguez, 27, previously pleaded guilty to separate informations charging each with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Jerry Lake-Rodriguez and his conspirators stole checks from USPS mail collection boxes in Passaic, Bergen, Morris, Essex, and Middlesex counties, and elsewhere, and fraudulently deposited them into various bank accounts, often within a day of being stolen. The stolen checks had a total value of over $300,000.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a penalty of a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Sentencing for Jerry Lake-Rodriguez is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel:
Jerry Lake-Rodriguez: Curtis LaForge Esq., Saddle Brook, New Jersey
Johan Lake-Rodriguez: Tim Donohue Esq., West Orange, New Jersey
Garcia-Rodriguez: Kevin Buchan Esq., Roseland, New Jersey
Ulloa-Ulloa: Frank Galluccio Esq., Paterson
Alicea: Bruce Rosen Esq., Florham Park, New JerseyFive Men Charged with Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Five men have been charged in federal court in Boston as a result of a federal investigation targeting offenders of document and benefit fraud.
The following individuals have each been charged with aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number:
- Manuel Enrique Arias Aguasvivas, 32, a Dominican national residing in Methuen. According to court records, Arias Aguasvivas obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license in the name of a U.S. citizen.
- Richard Zapata Suarez, 32, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence. It is alleged that Zapata Suarez obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license in the name of a U.S. citizen.
- Jairo Samuel Andujar Ruiz, 26, a resident of Lawrence. Andujar Ruiz is charged with using the identification of another person to obtain a Massachusetts identity card.
- Robely Eladio De Jesus Guerrero, 32, a resident of Lawrence. De Jesus Guerrero is charged with using the identification of another person to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license.
- John Doe (true identity unknown), a resident of Jamaica Plain. Doe is charged with using the identification of another person to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license.
Arias Aguasvivas and Zapata Suarez were arrested on complaints and had initial appearances in federal court in Boston on Sept. 5, 2019. Andujar Ruiz and De Jesus Guerrero are currently in state custody awaiting trial on state charges, and John Doe is currently incarcerated in state prison. Indictments were returned against all five men today.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
The DBFTF is currently investigating suspected aliens who are believed to have obtained stolen identities of U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico. The DBFTF has investigated individuals who have used stolen identities to obtain public benefits that they otherwise would not be eligible to receive, including Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles identity documents, Social Security numbers, MassHealth benefits, public housing benefits, and/or unemployment benefits.
In July 2018, a DGFTF-led investigation resulted in the arrests of 25 individuals on charges of identity theft and Social Security fraud. In April 2019, a separate DBFTF-led investigation resulted in 11 additional arrests, and in June 2019 another investigation led to five arrests.
The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jason Molina, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Office; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Boston; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General; the Lawrence Police Department; and the Methuen Police Department.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five Men Charged with Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Five men have been charged in separate Criminal Complaints this week for allegedly conspiring to distribute heroin in the Northern District of Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
Pablo Soriano-Villareal, Diego Carrillo-Lopez, Felix Gil-Cardenas, David Hernandez-Perez, and Oscar Delgado-Trujillo were apprehended by authorities in Tulsa, on Wednesday, as part of a joint operation which began in June 2019. The Criminal Complaint alleges that the defendants were involved in a drug trafficking organization that sold heroin in Tulsa.
“Drug traffickers working in Oklahoma should know that the DEA and U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue them to disrupt and dismantle their organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “These types of cases involve collaborative investigative efforts. I commend the DEA for their role as the lead agency in this case and am appreciative of the important contributions by the FBI and Tulsa Police Department as well. We must get heroin off our streets.”
A Criminal Complaint is a set of allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case.
Five Indicted for Stealing Copper Wire from Cellular TowersRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Christina Weaver, 40, of Collinsville, IL; Wendell Ragsdale, 45, of Springfield, IL; Bradley Quinelle Warren, 32, of Collinsville, IL; Taylor D. James, 20, of Collinsville, IL; and Haley S. James, 21, of Collinsville, IL; were indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to maliciously interfere with communication lines by entering onto cellular tower sites.
According to the Indictment, between April 3, 2018 and August 1, 2018, Weaver, Ragsdale, Warren, Taylor James and Haley James conspired to obtain money by stealing copper grounding bars and copper wiring from cellular telephone towers and thereafter selling the stolen copper to metal salvage dealers in exchange for cash. They entered onto over 80 cellular tower sites located in 21 different jurisdictions thereby damaging cellular communications systems in the affected areas.
Defendants Warren and Weaver are also charged with one count of malicious interference with communications lines for their role in stealing copper grounding bars and copper wiring from a cellular telephone tower in Montgomery County, Missouri.
If convicted, the conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the malicious interference with communications lines carries a penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay McClure-Hartman is handling the case for the United States Attorney’s Office.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Jury Finds Local Man Guilty of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possessing a Firearm in a School ZoneRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a three-day federal jury trial, Herbert Graham, 32, was found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in a school zone. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on January 30, 2018, Memphis Police Officers responded to a burglary/aggravated assault call at a residence. The residents of the home advised they observed a family friend, Herbert Graham, steal a laptop from their back bedroom and escape through the window. They drove around the neighborhood and found Graham walking toward Raleigh Lagrange. They demanded he return the laptop and Graham pulled a gun and threatened to kill them "if they did not back off." The victims left and called police.
As officers drove toward the scene, they saw Graham walking on Chiswood Street with the laptop in his hands. Graham saw the officers, dropped the laptop and fled from law enforcement onto the school property of Memphis Rise Academy. Officers gave chase and observed Graham toss a magazine and a gun on the ground. The school was placed on lock down for the safety of the students. Minutes later, Graham was apprehended on the school campus.
The firearm and magazine were recovered on the property. The magazine was loaded with 15 live rounds and the gun held one live round in the chamber. The gun, a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, had also been reported stolen in 2016, in Shelby County. A criminal history check on Graham revealed he had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a handgun on May 29, 2015, in Shelby County Criminal Court.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous felons from our streets. Clearly, this felon had no hesitation in committing a violent crime with a firearm,
and he will now be removed from our community. We are FED UP. Gun Crime is Max Time."
Sentencing is scheduled for December 20, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Graham faces up to fifteen years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, who have all joined together to address gun-related crimes through targeted investigations and aggressive prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raney Irwin and Marques Young are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Elyria man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for drug trafficking and firearms convictionRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Joshua Novak, 28, was sentenced to 151 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of crack cocaine, one count of distribution of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Novak sold crack cocaine and a mixture of heroin and fentanyl on multiple occasions in February of 2019, according to court documents. On February 19, 2019, when police executed a search warrant at his residence, they located nearly 7 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, a firearm, ammunition, and other drug trafficking tools.
During his sentencing hearing, Novak was found by the court to be a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, having previously been convicted of at least two felony offenses of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.
This case is one of nearly eighty prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), in which any cases involving heroin, fentanyl or any synthetic opioid are prosecuted in federal court. Lorain County is one of 10 communities around the nation selected as a pilot for Operation SOS. The program demonstrates the Justice Department’s continued to commitment to working with local partners to make our community safer by targeting those offenders who have made a career of drug trafficking.
This case was investigated by the Elyria Police Department and FBI, with assistance from the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Corts, Vasile Katsaros, and Robert J. Kolansky.
Ellwood City Woman Sentenced to Prison for Probation ViolationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release after the Court found that she violated her probation by committing perjury at a federal trial, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Kacie Zito, 33.
According to information presented to the court, on June 12, 2019, at the trial of Taurean Potter, Ms. Zito committed perjury when she denied that Potter provided her cocaine that she later sold. Despite Zito’s false testimony, the jury convicted Potter and he is awaiting sentencing.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Schwab stated that, in his nearly 20 years as a Judge, he had never seen anyone lie so blatantly as Zito.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Yvonne Saadi prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for its assistance in Zito’s probation violation hearing.