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17 October 2019
Washington Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling Tribal Funds and Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Chad Jeremy Monaghan, age 42, of Omak, Washington, and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on June 3, 2019, to one count of embezzling over $1,000 from a Tribal organization, and one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Monaghan to a 24-month term of imprisonment on each count to run concurrently, to be followed by a three-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Chief Judge Rice also ordered Monaghan to pay $107,980 in restitution.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, over a 3-month period, Monaghan embezzled $107,980 from the Colville Fuels, LLC (d/b/a “Tribal Trails Omak”). Tribal Trails Omak is operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and is located on tribal land. Monaghan committed the thefts while working at the store. During its investigation, Colville Tribal Police Department officers obtained a warrant to search Monaghan’s residence, finding $3,000 in U.S. currency and four firearms. Monaghan is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, "The sentence imposed today sends a strong message to those who may steal monies from a Tribal organization and illegally possess firearms. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is committed to prosecuting aggressively and seeking appropriate punishment for individuals who may engage in such conduct. This case is just one example of the cooperative and successful efforts by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colville Tribal Police Department.”
This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Colville Tribal Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Joseph P. Derrig and Daniel H. Fruchter, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Visalia Man Indicted for Theft in Kings Canyon National ParkRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Dallas Fonseca, 43, of Visalia, charging him with felony theft in Kings Canyon National Park, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 9, and March 11, Fonseca, who worked in the park’s John Muir Lodge, is alleged to have stolen a Rolex and other jewelry belonging to another person with an estimated value of over $16,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McKeon and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fonseca faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The charges are only allegations. Fonseca is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Upshur County Convicted Sex Offender Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation ViolationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 39-year-old Ore City, Texas man has been indicted for child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Jeremy OKieth Kyle, also known as Corey Webster, also known as Rick, also known as Derrick Willis, also known as Eric Sanders, also known as Brad Smith, also known as Jason, also known as J, was named in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Oct. 16, 2019 charging him with coercion and enticement; sexual exploitation of children; travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; and penalties for registered sex offenders.
According to the indictment, on various dates between 2013 and 2018, Kyle, a convicted sex offender, is alleged to have committed numerous offenses against 18 different minor female victims.
If convicted of all counts, Kyle will receive life in federal prison.
Anyone who had contact, in person or on social media, with an individual who identified himself as Jeremy OKieth Kyle, Corey Webster, Rick, Derrick Willis, Eric Sanders, Brad Smith, Jason, or J, is urged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 1-800-804-3547. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will take the necessary steps to protect the individuals’ identities and confidential information.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, the Tyler Police Department, the Longview Police Department, the Ore City Police Department, the Hughes Springs Police Department, the Daingerfield Police Department, and the Red Oak Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney's Office reaches agreement with the Fox Theatre to improve servicesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into an agreement with the Fox Theatre, Inc. (“the Fox”) to improve the quality and availability of auxiliary aids and services for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The agreement with the Fox is the culmination of negotiations that led to greater accessibility for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
“The cooperative process between the Fox and our office led to this agreement and is an example of what can be accomplished through collaboration between private industry and the government,” said U. S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “By strengthening the Fox Theatre's services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, this agreement will make a difference in the lives of people who are hard of hearing or deaf and wish to enjoy a live theatre performance.”
The agreement will resolve complaints regarding a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) that were filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The complaints alleged that customers with hearing disabilities were denied effective communication in violation of the ADA. Under the agreement, the Fox will continue to provide auxiliary aids and services necessary for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to enjoy the programs and services at the Fox. These auxiliary aids and services have been expanded to include closed captioning. Additionally, as set forth in the agreement, the Fox will evaluate the effectiveness of its auxiliary aids and services and explore innovative methods to ensure effective communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This agreement was achieved with extensive input and assistance from the Georgia Advocacy Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia recognizes and appreciates the valuable contribution of our stakeholders.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aileen Bell Hughes, Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, handled this matter.
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.
U.S. Attorney McSwain Announces Charges Against Syrian-American Brothers in Philadelphia Old City Arson CaseRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Imad Dawara, 39, of Swathmore, PA and Bahaa Dawara, 31, of Woodlyn, PA, who are brothers originally from Syria but now American citizens, were arrested and charged by Indictment on October 16, 2019. During a news conference held today, U.S. Attorney McSwain announced that his Office had unsealed the 10-count Indictment charging the defendants with planning and causing the arson of their business, RCL Management LLC, at 239-241 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia on February 18, 2018 in order to receive insurance proceeds from the destruction.
Specifically, the defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson, one count of conspiracy to use fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce, one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, four counts of wire fraud, and two counts of mail fraud. The defendants were arrested yesterday evening at Philadelphia International Airport and are scheduled to appear in U.S. Magistrate Court before Chief Magistrate Judge Linda K. Caracappa at 1:30pm today.
The Indictment alleges that from around December 2012 until February 18, 2018, the defendants owned and operated various restaurants and entertainment establishments in Philadelphia, including a restaurant and hookah lounge at 239-241 Chestnut Street. As the charges lay out, the Dawara brothers were struggling in their Chestnut Street business and had a history of fighting with their landlord. By October 2015, the landlord sent the Dawara brothers a Notice of Default and Breach of Lease, citing numerous violations which included 26 citations from the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. In response, the charges note that Imad Dawara threatened the landlord that he would destroy the place if the landlord attempted to evict the brothers from the premises.
In November 2015, the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County prohibited the defendants from engaging the services of a disc jockey, providing live entertainment, and allowing the use of tobacco products (including hookah) on the premises unless they had the proper permits. Also in November 2015, their landlord sent the defendants a Notice of Intent to terminate their lease. By October 2017, the Dawara brothers had ceased all business operations for RCL Management at 239-241 Chestnut Street. The brothers attempted to sell their business, but as they had failed to renew their lease or pay rent, no one would buy it. On January 31, 2018, their landlord directed the defendants to vacate the premises by February 2, 2018 and advised the defendants that they owed over $64,000 in overdue payments.
On the same day that the defendants were ordered to vacate the premises, the Indictment alleges that despite no longer doing any business at that location, Imad Dawara contacted an insurance broker to inquire about purchasing insurance for 239-241 Chestnut Street. The Dawara brothers had not held an insurance policy on their business at the Chestnut Street location for over a year, but 16 days before the fire, Imad Dawara purchased insurance. In obtaining this new insurance policy, the charges allege that Imad Dawara asked the insurance broker repeatedly how he would be paid “if there was a fire.” The insurance policy purchased on February 2, 2018 provided coverage in the event of an accidental fire at 239-41 Chestnut Street in the amount of $750,000, which consisted of $500,000 for property damage and $250,000 for business interruption.
On February 18, 2018, at approximately 3:11am, the Indictment alleges that a fire was intentionally started with gasoline in the basement of 239 Chestnut Street, which destroyed the entire building, displaced approximately 160 people – some of whom have never been able to return – closed the 200 block of Chestnut Street for months, and closed numerous businesses, including The Best Western, The Little Lion, Gina’s 45, and Capofitto Pizza & Gelato.
According to the Indictment, both Dawara brothers lied under oath about their whereabouts and activities on the night of the arson. Imad Dawara remained in the office at another business he owns (the B-Side Complex located at 939 N. Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia), while defendant Bahaa Dawara traveled to 239 Chestnut Street to start the fire in the basement.
“No one in Old City will forget when this arson lit up the night sky,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “This impacted the heart of our nation’s most historic square mile, which includes Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Pavilion just blocks away. Many people’s lives were permanently altered, losing their homes and livelihoods. If not for the heroism of the Philadelphia Fire Department, the devastation from that night would have been unthinkable. The City is forever in their debt.”
“Acts of arson are violent crimes that threaten the community. ATF is committed to keeping the public safe from those who maliciously set these fires,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson. “We appreciate the dedication of the Arson and Explosives Task Force, which includes ATF, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police and Fire Department personnel, who all worked tirelessly from the early morning hours of the arson on February 18, 2018, through the Indictment of the Dawara brothers and right up to yesterday’s arrests. These investigators will continue to tirelessly work this investigation in order to provide justice for the victims, and to hold those who are responsible, accountable for their actions. I would also like to thank the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Customs and Border Protection for their assistance with the arrests at the Philadelphia International Airport, along with the Taxi and Limousine Enforcement Division of the Philadelphia Parking Authority for their assistance.”
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxi and Limousine Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanine Linehan.
An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Real Estate Professionals Indicted for Fraud and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shaun Miller, 39, of Bethesda, Maryland, and Thomas Randolph, 49, of Oakton, Virginia, were charged in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a seven-count indictment today. U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
The seven-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury charging Miller and Randolph with conspiracy, mail fraud, and monetary transactions involving criminally derived proceeds; the indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation.
According to the indictment, from at least October 2014 to June 2015, Shaun Miller was a loan broker earning money by coordinating loans for real estate investors from private mortgage lenders; Thomas Randolph was a settlement agent for a settlement company located in the District of Columbia. The indictment alleges that Miller and Marlon Meade, as well as others, submitted inflated Personal Financial Statements, altered bank account statements, and false IRS Forms 1040 Tax Returns to private mortgage lenders in an attempt to trick the lenders into loaning in excess of $5.6 million in loans for the purchase of multiple real estate properties in the District of Columbia. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators, including Randolph and Meade, also falsely inflated the sales price to obtain excess lender funds in order to illegally recycle the lender’s own money as the borrower’s down-payment and to siphon off funds for their own enrichment. The conspirators and others generally failed to repay the loans and the properties fell into foreclosure for a loss to the lenders.
U.S. Attorney Liu and Special Agent in Charge Dunham also announced the plea of Marlon Meade, 40, of northeast Washington, D.C. on September 4, 2019. Meade pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and monetary transactions involving criminally derived proceeds; his case is currently pending before the Honorable James E. Boasberg, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Liu and Special Agent in Charge Dunham commended the work performed by Special Agents from the FBI. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including: Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Tonya Jones; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; Paralegal Specialist Amanda Rohde; Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham who is investigating the case.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on October 16, 2019, Brian Lee Rhodes, age 39, and Jeremy Eugene Jameson, age 46, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for child pornography related offenses. Each defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.
Rhodes was sentenced to 30 years in prison on each of three counts of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, and 20 years in prison for one count of Distribution of Child Pornography. The sentences will run concurrently. Rhodes’ imprisonment will be followed by a term of supervised release of 15 years for each count, also to run concurrently.
Jameson was sentenced to 35 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release of five years for Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.
In March of 2018, a concerned parent made a report to the Creston Police Department regarding an inappropriate conversation she found on her 11 year-old daughter’s Facebook account with Rhodes. During a search of Facebook accounts created by Rhodes, officers located conversations with other minors in which Rhodes asked the minors to send him inappropriate images and videos. The Douglas County Nebraska Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation also received a tip from Facebook that Rhodes, through a fraudulent Facebook account, sent Jameson an image of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Creston Police Department, Atlantic Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation - Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the Douglas County Nebraska Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Two Men Charged in Separate Cases with Illegal Gun Possession at AirportRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Two men have been charged in separate cases with firearms offenses at Will Rogers World Airport, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
On June 9, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted DESMOND DEMETRIUS ANTWINE, 44, of Oklahoma City, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Antwine entered a guilty plea to this charge on October 9, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton. During his plea hearing, Antwine admitted he possessed a 9mm pistol at Will Rogers World Airport on January 11, 2019, and knew he had been convicted of a felony.
At sentencing, Antwine faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. If the court were to determine the Armed Career Criminal Act applies, however, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison a maximum of life. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days.
In a separate case, a federal grand jury has indicted THOMAS LU NGUYEN, 35, of Los Angeles, California, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and entering an airport area in violation of security requirements. On October 1, 2019, Nguyen was charged by complaint with these crimes after Transportation Security Administration screeners at Will Rogers World Airport detected a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol in his backpack at approximately 5:30 a.m. According to the indictment returned by the grand jury on October 16, Nguyen "knowingly and willfully entered an aircraft or airport area that serves an air carrier or foreign air carrier with intent to evade security procedures and restrictions . . . ."
If convicted, Nguyen faces a maximum penalty on each count of ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days. The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Antwine case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives ("ATF"). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Cárdenas. The Nguyen case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation–Oklahoma City Division, and the ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Petermann. Both cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on the most violent offenders and partners with local prevention and re-entry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Two Indicted for Heroin Distribution and Unlawful Firearms Dealing in StocktonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Josevan Arias, 25, of Posen, Illinois, and Elmer Rodriguez-Colio, 30, of Sacramento, charging both with conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, and charging Arias separately with dealing firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2018, Arias explained to a law enforcement informant that he had access to high-powered rifles, including AR-style firearms, and arranged to sell multiple weapons to the informant. Over the course of the investigation, Arias sold the informant four AR-style rifles and two AK-47 rifles. At no time did Arias have a federal firearms license. In addition, Arias worked with Rodriguez-Colio to supply the informant with heroin. Rodriguez-Colio separately sold heroin to the same informant at another time.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Arias and Rodriguez-Colio face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Indicted for Conspiring to Grow over 8,000 Marijuana Plants in Shasta-Trinity National ForestRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Armando Vargas Garcia, 37, of Mexico, and Eduardo Montero Aleman, 37, of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to cultivate marijuana, marijuana cultivation in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and depredation of federal lands and resources, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5, the defendants were involved in the cultivation of 8,656 marijuana plants in the Big Mountain area in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Two compound archery bows, nine arrows, and 42 rounds of hollow-point .22-caliber ammunition were discovered on the site. Officers also discovered bottles of carbofuran, a toxic pesticide, which is banned in the United States. The defendants were arrested on September 5. Both defendants are in custody.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Trinity County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of either of the marijuana charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted of damaging public lands, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account several variables. These charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Turner Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Stemming from Marijuana CultivationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Turner man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Portland to manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants, possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, possessing an unregistered silencer and transferring property subject to forfeiture, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
According to court records, on February 27, 2018, law enforcement officers searched the residence of Andrew Waite, 31, and two warehouses under his control. In the warehouses, agents seized more than 500 pounds of marijuana, 104 sheets of marijuana concentrate and more than 350 marijuana plants. In Waite’s residence, agents seized approximately 100 pounds of marijuana, approximately $216,000 in U.S. currency, a 2010 Ferrari, firearms, ammunition and a silencer with no markings or serial number.
On April 18, 2018, Waite transferred title of his residence to his brother in order to prevent or impair seizure of the property for criminal forfeiture.
Waite faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison and a fine of $5,000,000 on the marijuana manufacturing charge; up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the silencer possession charge; and up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the marijuana possession and property transfer charges. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
The prosecution is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Three Sentenced for Robbery of I-81 Travel Plaza in Wythe CountyRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Three Sarasota, Florida residents, who previously admitted to traveling in a stolen vehicle and committing the May 2018 robbery of the I-81 Travel Plaza in Wythe County, were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen made the announcement.
Christyen Sumpter, 27, was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 20 years. Michael Anthony Wilson, 25, was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 12 years. Perla Isel Pineda-Osorio, 25, was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 2 years and 9 months.
All three defendants pleaded guilty in July to one count of robbery by threatening physical violence, one count of transporting a stolen vehicle in interstate commerce, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, possess a motor vehicle that had crossed a state boundary after being stolen, and transporting in interstate commerce a vehicle that had been stolen.
“The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting, in federal court, individuals who commit acts of violence in our local communities,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “I am grateful for the hard work and collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners on this important case and our violence-reduction initiatives across the district.”
According to court documents, on May 28, 2018, an individual in South Carolina picked up Pineda-Osorio, Sumpter, and Wilson, who posed as hitchhikers. The three defendants pulled guns on the driver and demanded he take them to various ATMs to withdraw money from his account. After taking the driver’s money, the defendants abandoned the victim on the side of the road and stole his vehicle. Pineda-Osorio, Sumpter, and Wilson then proceeded to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they robbed a convenience store. The three committed a similar armed robbery at a store in Jonesville, North Carolina. Later that same night, all three committed another robbery at the I-81 Travel Plaza in Wythe County, Virginia. Soon after the robbery, law enforcement spotted the stolen vehicle in which they were traveling and a high-speed chase ensued. The vehicle eventually crashed and the defendants were taken into custody. The guns used in the robberies were recovered and, although they looked like real firearms, were determined to be BB guns.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Wythe County (VA) Sheriff’s Office, with assistance by the Charlotte Mecklenburg (NC) Police Department, the Jonesville (NC) Police Department, the Montgomery County (VA) Sheriff’s Office, the New River Valley (VA) Regional Jail, the Orangeburg (SC) Department of Public Safety, the Pulaski County (VA) Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota (FL) Police Department, the South Carolina State Police, and the Virginia State Police.
Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case for the United States.
Three Charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Cocaine in StocktonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against Gildardo Barrios, 40, and Marisa Munguia, 40, both of Chowchilla, and Maria Barrios-Alvarez, 44, of Stockton, charging them with multiple counts of distributing narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Barrios and Barrios-Alvarez were also charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, over the course of a year and a half, Barrios sold methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin to a confidential informant on several occasions in the Stockton area. On at least two occasions, Barrios did not deliver the narcotics himself, but had Munguia or Barrios-Alvarez meet the informant to deliver the drugs and receive payment on Barrios’ behalf.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.
All three defendants are currently in federal custody, awaiting trial.
If convicted, Barrios faces a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to a maximum life, and a $10 million fine. Munguia and Barrios-Alvarez each face a statutory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum of 40 years, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Syracuse Man Sentenced to 78 Months for RICO Conviction Relating to 110 GangRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Damani Prince, age 26, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison based on his guilty plea for violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department. In imposing sentence, Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also ordered Prince to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release from imprisonment.
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Prince admitted that he was a member of the 110 Gang operating in the City of Syracuse, and had distributed crack cocaine and possessed a firearm in connection with his membership in the gang. Prince was one of 14 defendants indicted for violating RICO based on their membership in the 110 Gang. The other 13 men have all pled guilty or been convicted at trial, and are awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Syracuse Police Department, and the Gang Violence Task Force, which consists of members of the Syracuse Police, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections, the New York State Attorney General, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Kristen Grabowski.
This case was brought as 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.
Stockton Man Indicted for Possession of Unregistered SilencersRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Alan Alfredo Garcia, 23, of Stockton, charging him with possession of unregistered silencers, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers found two firearms silencers during a search of Garcia’s residence. The silencers were not registered to Garcia in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required under federal law.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty to Aiding in the Robbery of the Richmond Heights Post OfficeRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Arielle Steed, 27, of St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of aiding and abetting the robbery of a United States Postal employee. Steed appeared in federal court today before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry who accepted her plea and set her sentencing date for March 6, 2020.
According to court documents, in early December 2018, Steed and co-defendant Dywane Upchurch planned to rob the U.S. Post Office in Richmond Heights located on Big Bend Boulevard. Steed was a teller at the post office and was in a relationship with Upchurch.
On December 6, 2018, after the post office closed to the public, Steed retrieved all the cash from the registers, sorted it, and placed it in a stack on the counter. At this time, there was only one other employee present at the post office. Upchurch, dressed in all black and wearing a surgical mask, entered the rear door of the post office. He was armed with a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. Once inside, Upchurch brandished the firearm and forced Steed and the other employee into a restroom. Upchurch then went to the counter and stole approximately $8,800 in cash.
Upchurch pled on October 4, 2019 to felon in possession of a firearm and assaulting a U.S. Postal employee while committing a robbery. Sentencing is set for January 16, 2020.
Steed faces up to 25 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.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware is handling the case.
Spokane man sentenced to more than 10 years for meth traffickingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Spokane man accused of bringing pound quantities of methamphetamine to Missoula for distribution was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Donald Shawn Gilbrech, 51, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that in February, a confidential informant stored a backpack containing meth at Gilbrech’s request. The informant consented to a search of the backpack and law enforcement recovered almost four pounds of meth. Four pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 14,496 doses. Another informant told law enforcement that Gilbrech was a meth distributor and had delivered more than one pound of meth to Missoula in the summer of 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Montana Regional Violent Crimes Task Force.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Southern California Doctor Found Guilty in $12 Million Medicare Fraud and Device Adulteration SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury found a southern California doctor guilty yesterday for his role in a $12 million scheme to provide medically unnecessary procedures to Medicare beneficiaries, upcode claims submitted to Medicare, and re-package single-use catheters for reuse on patients.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna of the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Timothy DeFrancesca of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge Lisa Malinowski of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations’ (FDA-OCI) Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement.
After a six-day trial, Donald Woo Lee, 54, of Temecula, California, was found guilty of seven counts of health care fraud and one count of adulteration of a medical device. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 19, 2020, before U.S. District Judge George Wu of the Central District of California, who presided over the trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2012 to 2015, Lee engaged in a scheme in which he recruited Medicare beneficiaries to his clinics, falsely diagnosed the beneficiaries with venous insufficiency and provided the beneficiaries with medically unnecessary vein ablation procedures. The evidence further established that Lee billed these unnecessary procedures to Medicare using an inappropriate code in order to obtain a higher reimbursement, a practice known as “upcoding.” In addition, the evidence showed that Lee repackaged used, contaminated catheters for re-use on patients. These catheters had been cleared by the FDA for marketing as single-use only. Lee submitted claims of approximately $12 million to Medicare for the vein ablation procedures he performed, and received $4.5 million as a result, the evidence showed.
This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG and FDA-OCI, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Trial Attorneys Alexis Gregorian and Emily Culbertson of the 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 more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
South Carolina Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Traffcking Heroin and Cocaine into ConnecticutRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLITOS MOLINA, also known as “Carlos,” 48, of Lexington, South Carolina, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking heroin and cocaine into Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Molina was transporting kilogram-quantities of heroin and cocaine to Connecticut from his home in South Carolina. He and his nephew, Efrain Molina, then sold the drugs in and around Bridgeport. In January 2019, members of the DEA and Bridgeport Police Department arranged a controlled purchase of approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 400 grams of heroin from the Molinas in exchange for $53,000. On January 17, 2019, Carlitos and Efrain Molina were arrested after they arrived at location in Bridgeport in possession of narcotics.
Carlitos Molina has been detained since his arrest. On May 17, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, more than 100 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Carlitos Molina has an extensive criminal history and, at time of this offense, was on parole in the State of Georgia for trafficking methamphetamine. He faces the remaining 10 years of a 20-year state sentence when he is released from federal custody.
Efrain Molina, also known as “Frankie,” pleaded guilty on October 8, 2019, and is awaiting sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bridgeport Police Department and Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez
South Bend, Indiana Man Sentenced to 43 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Donyea Fowler, age 34, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for six counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and six counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Mr. Fowler was sentenced to 516 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,253.19 in restitution.
According to documents in this case, between December 2017 and February 2018, Mr. Fowler robbed six South Bend area businesses at gun point. Mr Fowler was connected to these robberies, in part, because he committed the robberies while wearing the same clothing: maroon sweat pants, a hooded sweatshirt, a mask, gloves, and sneakers. Several times he used a blue satchel to carry the loot. Mr. Fowler repeatedly stole cash, change, lottery tickets, liquor, and tobacco products. When Mr. Fowler was arrested, police found the blue satchel, a gray glove, and the loaded chrome-colored handgun in the trunk of the car in which Mr. Fowler was a passenger. Police also found a picture of stolen items from the robbery that occurred in January of 2018 on Mr. Fowler’s cell phone. Mr. Fowler has four prior felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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Sister of Penitentiary Inmate Sentenced in Federal Case for Role in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that on October 17, 2019, Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Hannah Pauly to a term of imprisonment of 70 months. Pauly, 24, of Kearney, Nebraska, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
In January 2019, investigators received information from the Nebraska State Penitentiary regarding possible drug activity involving defendant’s brother, Dustin Pauly, who was then an inmate at the Penitentiary. Investigators determined that the defendant accepted a parcel containing several pounds of methamphetamine at her residence in Kearney, Nebraska. The delivery of the parcel was coordinated by Dustin Pauly while he was incarcerated. Investigators obtained a warrant to search the residence and recovered five bundles of methamphetamine in varying quantities totaling close to five pounds. Defendant and her roommate, Jose Santos-Zepeda, were arrested and indicted by the Grand Jury with Dustin Pauly. On August 15, 2019, Chief Judge Gerrard sentenced Dustin Pauly to a term of imprisonment of 262 months as a result of his role in the methamphetamine delivery.
The case was primarily investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol, the Kearney Police Department, and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force.
Seven people indicted for operating narcotics market from Savannah seafood restaurantRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The owner of a seafood restaurant, three family members and three others have been charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that alleges the store was used as a front for the sale of marijuana and THC vaping pens.
The indictments, unsealed this week, allege The Original Nancy’s Seafood, at 2211 Skidaway Road, Savannah, was used to take in large quantities of marijuana and THC oil for repackaging and sale, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“Savannah is a wonderful city for seafood,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “It shouldn’t be a marketplace for illegal drugs.”
The investigation began in August 2019, when law enforcement agencies tracked the source of marijuana being sold in Bulloch County to Savannah. Those named in the four-count indictment include:
Trinh Kapu, 46, of Savannah, owner of The Original Nancy’s Seafood; Ikaika Kapu, 28, of Savannah; Micah Kapu, 21, of Savannah; Matthew Dulin, 36, of Savannah; and Paul Gonning II, 23, of Savannah, all charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy.
In addition, Thanh Nguyen, 44, of Roseville, Calif., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy; and Chandler McMillian, 20, of Metter, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana.
The charges carry penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, with an additional sentence of up to five years for the firearms charge.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division said, “These indictments should serve as a clear reminder to business operators who facilitate drug trafficking and money laundering schemes: While you think your criminal acts are going unnoticed, they are not. DEA, its law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are watching; it’s just a matter of time before you are caught and brought to justice.”
“Unfortunately, drugs cross boundaries. In this case, they were being sold out of an establishment that was meant to be a safe place for patrons,” said Everett Ragan, Director of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT). “We must remain vigilant when it comes to illegal activity and do our part to ensure our establishments are safe for visitors and not a danger.”
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Chatham-Savannah County Counter-Narcotics Team and the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and Joshua Bearden, in coordination with the Asset Recovery Unit.
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List of indicted defendants and charges
- Trinh Kapu, 46, of Savannah, owner of The Original Nancy’s Seafood, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy;
- Ikaika Kapu, 28, of Savannah, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy;
- Micah Kapu, 21, of Savannah, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy;
- Matthew Dulin, 36, of Savannah, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy;
- Paul Gonning II, 23, of Savannah, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy;
- Thanh Nguyen, 44, of Roseville, Calif., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, and Money Laundering Conspiracy; and,
- Chandler McMillian, 20, of Metter, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana.
Salt Lake City Man Sentenced to over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Francis R. Casildo, 36, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Casildo to serve five years of supervised release once he has completed his prison term.
According to court records, on or about March 12 and March 26, 2018, Casildo traveled to Pocatello, Idaho and distributed methamphetamine. On April 2, 2018, Casildo facilitated a third distribution of methamphetamine. As a result, Casildo caused 206.35 grams of pure methamphetamine to be distributed in Idaho. After a three-day trial earlier this year, Casildo was found guilty on all charged counts.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Idaho State Police, Bannock County Sherriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Blackfoot Police Department, and the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office.
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Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on October 16, 2019, Jason Nicholas Feller, age 38, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Feller was sentenced to 200 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of 5 years. Feller pleaded guilty in April of 2019.
On December 30, 2018, Council Bluffs Police conducted a traffic stop on Feller. Feller admitted he had drugs in the vehicle. During the search of the vehicle, officers recovered two baggies containing approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine. Officers later located a container with a false bottom that held approximately 63 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Philadelphia Man Charged with EscapeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Terrance Baker, age 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 16, 2019, by a federal grand jury for escaping from a Dauphin County correctional facility.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Baker escaped from the Capital Pavilion Community Correction Center in Dauphin County on June 29, 2019.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Baer is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is a term of five years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Philadelphia Bookkeeper Sentenced to 8 ½ Years in Prison for Embezzling Almost $1.6 Million from Former EmployerRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Peter Goodchild, 56, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced 102 months’ incarceration and ordered to pay $1,589,315 restitution by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh for his scheme to embezzle that amount from his former employer, QwikSource, over a ten-year period from 2005 until 2015. The defendant was convicted by a jury in April 2019 on 48 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, one count of aggravated identity theft and six counts of filing false income tax returns.
As the former bookkeeper for QwikSource LLC/GMI Technical Sales LLC of Florham Park, NJ, the defendant operated his scheme by opening a PayPal account using his employer’s name, transfering funds from QwikSource’s bank account to that PayPal account, moving the funds from that PayPal account to another PayPal account belonging to his girlfriend, and then moving the funds from his girlfriend’s PayPal account to one or more of his personal bank accounts. The defendant further concealed the embezzlement by making false financial entries on files he maintained for QwikSource that increased the cost of goods sold by the same amount of money that he had stolen from QwikSource’s bank account.
“My Office takes offenses like embezzlement, tax fraud and money laundering very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The defendant stole more than a million and a half dollars by abusing his position of trust. My Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect innocent individuals and businesses from being victimized by this type of fraud.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
Organizer of Complex Nigerian Fraud and Money Laundering Ring SentencedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday today sentenced Ikechukwu Derek Amadi (38, Mississauga, Ontario) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The court also entered an order of forfeiture against Amadi for $10,632,546.36, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct, and ordered him to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $4,360,740.97.
Amadi had pleaded guilty on July 25, 2019, following his extradition to the United States from Canada.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the trials of his convicted coconspirators, Amadi, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Canada, worked with an international criminal organization based in Nigeria that defrauded dozens of victims across the United States and then laundered the funds through a complex network of bank accounts. The organization, known as the Black Axe Group, or Neo Black Movement of Africa, coordinated fraud and money laundering activity throughout the globe via cells or “zones” in Nigeria, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere.
The fraud schemes took several forms. Conspirators posed as suitors on dating websites, where they befriended widowed or divorced elderly women and then convinced their victims to wire money, often consisting of the victim’s entire retirement savings and cash taken out from home equity, to bank accounts in the United States as part of a purported investment opportunity. The conspirators also defrauded title companies with fake cashier’s checks in phony real estate transactions, leaving the companies on the hook for the losses once the checks bounced. And they targeted businesses using email spoofing and hacking schemes, as well as law firms that they solicited online to perform legal work and then provided fake cashier’s checks for deposit into the firms’ trust accounts.
Victims were instructed to wire their money into numerous funnel accounts held by conspirators in the United States, known as “money mules,” and the funds were then quickly moved to other accounts in the United States and around the world before the victims could discover the fraud. From 2012 to 2015, Amadi was accountable for at least $16.4 million in fraud proceeds that were traceable to the different schemes. Amadi himself recruited more than a dozen individuals in the United States to act as money mules for him and oversaw their activities. He then instructed those individuals to wire most of the victims’ funds overseas, including to Hong Kong, China, Canada and Nigeria, to promote the conspiracy and to conceal the source of the funds.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from various federal and local law enforcement partners throughout the country, including the Toronto Police Service in Ontario, Canada and the Toronto Strategic Partnership. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.
Okmulgee Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with A Child Under 12Read the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carl Ray Smith, age 52, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Abusive Sexual Contact With A Child Under 12 Years, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1152, 2244(a)(5), 2244(c) and 2246(3), punishable by not more than life imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on or about May 1, 2019 and continuing until on or about May 25, 2019, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the defendant, Carl Ray Smith, a non-Indian, did knowingly engage in and cause sexual contact as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2246(3), with an Indian, R.D., a person under the age of 12 years old.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Henryetta Police Department, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah McAmis and Special Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Jordan represented the United States.
New York Man Charged with Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New York man was indicted in federal court in Boston with the Aug. 19, 2019, armed robbery of a branch of the Bank of America in Revere.
David J. Hattersley, 45, was indicted on one count of armed bank robbery. He was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 27, 2019.
According to the charging documents, on Aug. 19, 2019, at approximately 1:30 p.m., an individual entered a branch of the Bank of America in Revere. The individual approached a teller’s station, passed a threatening demand note, and pointed what appeared to be a black semi-automatic pistol at the teller. The teller handed the individual cash from her drawer and the individual exited the bank. Bank surveillance cameras captured images of the bank robber as a 6’ tall, heavily tattooed, white male, wearing a white tank top, and pointing a black semi-automatic handgun at the teller. A post-robbery audit revealed that the individual stole over $13,000 during the robbery.
Police who interviewed the bank employees, learned that the individual had escaped the area on an MBTA bus. A short time later, a person matching the individual’s description was located in a residential neighborhood. The individual, later determined to be Hattersley, was allegedly in possession of a large sum of cash and a black pistol, which was later determined to be a BB gun. Hattersley was arrested without incident. Police also discovered that Hattersley was the subject of outstanding warrants in New York.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Revere Police Chief James Guido made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nevada Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Federal Prison for His Role in Staged Accident SchemeRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Randy Carl Sharp, age 40, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on July 17, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and one count of mail fraud. Chief United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Sharp to a 10-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Chief Judge Rice also ordered Sharp to pay restitution in the amount of $77,000 and forfeiture of $77,000.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, between September 2013, and November 2017, Sharp was involved in two phony automobile accidents in Henderson, Nevada, that defrauded insurance companies out of $527,967. Sharp played “injured victim” in one of the phony accidents and “at fault” driver in another.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “Staged accident automobile insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It affects every driver, as fraud causes insurance rates to increase. It also distracts police and medical personnel from responding to legitimate distress calls. I commend the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service for their outstanding work investigating this case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington Criminal Healthcare Fraud Investigator, with assistance from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This case was prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III, and Brian
Donovan, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Nearly 14 Years in Federal Prison for Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of Selling Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
A man who sold heroin laced with fentanyl was sentenced on October 16, 2019, to more than 13 years in federal prison.
Reginald Love, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 6, 2019 guilty plea to one count of distributing heroin and fentanyl.
In a plea agreement, Love admitted that on two occasions in November 2018 he sold heroin laced with fentanyl to another individual. At sentencing, Love admitted that he had actually sold over 20 grams of heroin in the Cedar Rapids area. Love had a prior adjudication for aggravated assault in Chicago, during which he had displayed a firearm to another person and stated, “Don’t run, cause I’ll shoot you!” He also had prior convictions in Chicago for assault (after he again threatened to shoot another person), attempted battery, residential burglary, two convictions for delivery of cannabis, and a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Love was on parole for the firearm charge at the time he sold heroin and fentanyl in Cedar Rapids.
Love was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Love was sentenced to 166 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Love is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-00121-CJW-MAR.
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Monongalia County men admit to firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – DeRon Parrish and Andre Parrish, both of Morgantown, West Virginia, have admitted to firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
DeRon, age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm as Convicted Felon.” DeRon, a convicted felon, admitted to having three shotguns in November 2018 in Monongalia County. Andre, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm as Drug User.” Andre, who is prohibited from having a firearm, admitted to having three 12-guage shotguns and a pistol in Monongalia County in November 2018.
DeRon and Andre each face up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Morgantown Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Michigan Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Commerce Township, Michigan, resident pleaded guilty today in Detroit, Michigan to tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents, Firas Hajjar owns and operates Your Fantasy Warehouse Inc. (YFW), an internet-only retail business that sells popular-culture shirts, sweaters, and other items. Hajjar provided fraudulent information to his accountant regarding corporate sales’ deposits for YFW, resulting in the filing of a false corporate return for 2012 underreporting YFW’s income. Hajjar also filed a false personal tax return for 2012, failing to report his full income from YFW.
United States District Court Judge Denise Page Hood scheduled sentencing for Jan. 28, 2020. Hajjar faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Mark McDonald of the Tax Division, who is prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Methamphetamine trafficking in Sanders County sends man to prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—An undercover investigation of methamphetamine trafficking in Sanders County led to a Thompson Falls man being sentenced to prison on Thursday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Derek Alan Dembowski, 41, was sentenced to eight years in prison and four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in July to distribution of meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The prosecution said in court records that during an undercover investigation, a confidential informant bought a half-ounce of meth from Dembowski on Jan. 21in a monitored buy which Dembowski also possessed firearms and ammunition. The informant had purchased meth from Dembowski on two previous occasions. When arrested by a Sanders County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Feb. 12, Dembowski had a loaded revolver, ammunition and a small amount of meth. Dembowski admitted to law enforcement that he distributed meth and had possessed firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Medicaid Biller Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, PAMELA GRACE FAULKNER, 58, of Greensboro, North Carolina, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Fraud.
According to the Criminal Information to which FAULKNER pled guilty, FAULKNER conspired with Renee Christine Borunda to commit Medicaid fraud. FAULKNER was the sole officer of Skeen Services, Inc. which was a company that offered behavioral health services to Medicaid recipients. Borunda submitted claims to Medicaid on behalf of Skeen. In 2013 and 2014, Borunda submitted fraudulent electronic claims that falsely represented that Skeen had provided services to approximately 200 different Medicaid recipients who lived in Beaufort, Greene, Guilford, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Pitt, and Wilson Counties, when in fact these services were never rendered. FAULKNER was aware that Borunda was submitting fraudulent claims. In fact, on numerous occasions, FAULKNER provided Borunda with the names of Skeen clients for whom FAULKNER wanted Borunda to submit false claims. FAULKNER and Borunda had agreed to split the monies received for these claims. Medicaid paid Skeen approximately $213,927 for the fraudulent claims. FAULKNER paid Borunda approximately $144,000 from Skeen’s account.
Borunda previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft for her involvement with the health care fraud involving Skeen, as well as fraud involving another company, and the theft of a therapist’s provider number. On November 7, 2018, Borunda was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Higdon commented: “Medicaid fraud jeopardizes the program that is designed to help serve the most vulnerable members in our society, diverts taxpayers dollars, and increases the cost of healthcare. The USAO-EDNC is committed to aggressively seeking out, charging, and bringing to justice those who compromise the integrity of this program for their own financial gain.”
“This individual wasted taxpayer money that should have gone to people who need health care,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “My office will protect taxpayers and hold health care providers and practices accountable when they commit fraud.”
Agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (“SBI”) assigned to the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office (“MID”), Financial Investigators with the MID, and agents with the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation in this matter. Assistance was provided by the Office of Compliance and Program Integrity of the North Carolina Division of Health Benefits, EastPointe, Sandhills Center, and Trillium Health Resources. The investigation and prosecution of this matter was handled in a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John Parris and Special Assistant United States Attorney Mike Heavner represented the United States.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Sues Orange County Horse Racing Training Center over Violations of Federal Clean Water ActRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter Lopez, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States has filed a civil lawsuit against MARK FORD, MARK FORD STABLES, INC., MARK FORD STAGE ROAD PROPERTY, INC., and FORD EQUINE, LTD. (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties for violations of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) in connection with Defendants’ construction and operation of a horse racing training facility in Orange County.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “The defendants violated the laws protecting our Nation’s wetlands and have repeatedly discharged waste from their horse training facility into the waters of the United States. This lawsuit will hold the defendants accountable for violating our environmental laws and require them to remedy the significant damage they have caused to federal wetlands.”
EPA Regional Administrator Peter Lopez stated: “EPA is taking this action to enforce the Clean Water Act and protect America’s wetlands. The defendants in this case showed a disregard for the law, resulting in the destruction of federal wetlands, among other violations.”
According to the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court:
Defendants own and operate a 76-acre horse racing training center and stables on two adjacent properties in the Town of Wallkill in Orange County, New York. From 2007 to 2017, Defendants destroyed existing federal wetlands and rerouted streams in the course of building a horse racing training center at both properties. In addition, Defendants have operated a concentrated animal feeding operation without a permit, allowing horse washwater and process wastewater to be discharged into waters of the United States. Defendants also violated the terms of a stormwater construction general permit during construction work at one of the properties from January 2016 to February 2017.
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This case is being handled by the Office’s Environmental Protection Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Tomoko Onozawa is in charge of the case.
Manhattan Man Charged with 1995 Double MurderRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging RAMON SOLLA, a/k/a “Ray,” a/k/a “RB,” with the March 3, 1995, murders of Ricky Santiago and Christopher Torro, a/k/a “Christopher Rossy,” in New York, New York. SOLLA was arrested today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “For more than two decades, the families of Ricky Santiago and Christopher Torro have been waiting for justice. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI and the NYPD, Ramon Solla will now face justice for his alleged role in the brutal murder of two teenage boys. We hope today’s arrest brings some measure of comfort to the victims’ families.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Decades have gone by since these young boys were murdered, but the detectives and agents working the case never gave up on finding the killer who pulled the trigger. The fact that we have an alleged suspect in handcuffs today is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and our strong partnerships with the NYPD through the FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force and working with the NYPD Cold Case Squad. Time doesn’t wear away the guilt of anyone who takes a human life, and it doesn’t erode our determination to find those responsible.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “The ability of investigators to bring justice for these two victims and provide a sense of closure to their loved ones is paramount. The identification and arrest of the suspect in this case would not have been possible without the collaboration between the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners. I thank the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the FBI, and the hardworking members of the NYPD, who efforts resulted in this arrest.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court[1]:
On March 3, 1995, on the rooftop of 250 East 105th Street in New York, New York, SOLLA shot and killed both Ricky Santiago, 17, and Christopher Torro, 17. SOLLA committed both murders in furtherance of a conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.
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SOLLA, 45, of New York, New York, is charged with two counts of using a firearm to commit murder, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and with two counts of murder in furtherance of a drug crime, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum and minimum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Maurene Comey and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Madre e hija de Luisiana condenadas por vulnerar los derechos civiles de una mujer discapacitadaRead the Press Release
Raylaine Knope, de 43 años, fue condenada hoy en el Distrito Oriental de Luisiana a 336 meses de cárcel por obtener trabajo y servicios domésticos forzosos y sin paga de D.P., una mujer adulta con discapacidades cognitivas, así como por conspirar a obtener el trabajo forzoso de D.P. y encubrir un delito grave. La hija de Knope, Bridget Lambert, de 22 años, fue condenada a 48 meses de cárcel por conspirar con Knope y otros miembros de su familia a obtener trabajo forzoso de D.P.
«Knope y Lambert conspiraron a coaccionar brutalmente a una víctima vulnerable con discapacidades a trabajar muchas horas en condiciones deplorables y sin compensación monetaria alguna», informó el Fiscal General Auxiliar Eric Dreiband. «El Departamento de Justicia sigue luchando contra la trata de personas por trabajo forzoso, y la condena de hoy refleja el compromiso de la División a buscar la justicia para las víctimas más vulnerables en nuestra sociedad».
«Lambert y Knope participaron en un delito verdaderamente horroroso contra uno de los miembros más susceptibles de nuestra sociedad. Espero que estas condenas aporten un atisbo de justicia a la víctima. Alarmantemente, delitos como este son cada vez más comunes», confirmó Peter G. Strasser, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Oriental de Luisiana. «Nuestra oficina, junta con el Departamento de Justicia, está comprometida a buscar la justicia en nombre de toda víctima, incluyendo en nombre de individuos vulnerables como D.P., y seguiremos colaborando con la policía federal, estatal y local para hacer que los autores rindan cuentas de sus delitos».
«Las acciones de las acusadas en este caso fueron crueles e inhumanas. Raylaine Knope y Bridget Lambert maltrataron y abusaron psicológicamente de otro ser humano, un miembro de su familia y a quien debían considerar como un ser querido», declaró Bryan A. Vorndran, el Agente Especial Encargado de la Oficina Local del FBI en Nueva Orleans. «En nuestro carácter como la agencia federal principal encargada de la investigación de alegatos relacionados con vulneraciones de leyes federales de derechos civiles, el FBI seguirá defendiendo los derechos civiles de toda persona, tanto de ciudadanos como de no ciudadanos. Quisiera agradecer a los hombres y mujeres de la Oficina Local del FBI en Nueva Orleans, la Oficina del Sherriff de Tangipahoa, el Departamento de Justicia, la Fiscalía Federal – Distrito Oriental de Luisiana y la Fiscalía del Distrito de Tangipahoa por su enorme esfuerzo en llevar a las acusadas ante la justicia».
El 20 de mayo del 2019, Knope se declaró culpable ante un cargo de conspiración al trabajo forzoso, un cargo de vulneración de trabajo forzoso substantiva y un cargo de encubrimiento de un delito grave. En la audiencia en la que se declaró culpable, Knope admitió que entre el 13 de agosto del 2015 y el 30 de junio del 2016, en Amite, Luisiana, ella conspiró con otros miembros de su familia para obtener de D.P. trabajo y servicios domésticos sin pagar por los mismos, por distintos medios, entre ellos la fuerza, amenazas de fuerza y la restricción física. Knope admitió que obligó a D.P. a vivir encerrada en una jaula en el patio y a realizar tareas domésticas y de jardinería a cambio de comida y agua. Más aún, admitió que ella y sus coconspiradores sometieron a D.P. a abusos físicos rutinarios, amenazas y abusos verbales y psicológicos con el fin de garantizar el cumplimiento continuo de D.P. con las ordenes de la familia. Como ejemplo de estos abusos, la acusada admitió que en una ocasión le obligó a D.P. a consumir las cenizas incineradas de su madre difunta. Knope también admitió que empleó este abuso generalizado para obtener el trabajo forzoso de D.P. y que había ayudado a otro coconspirador a robarle a D.P. sus beneficios federales de discapacidad.
El 27 de septiembre del 2018, Lambert se declaró culpable ante un cargo de conspiración a trabajo forzoso. En la audiencia en la que se declaró culpable, Knope admitió que entre el 13 de agosto del 2015 y el 30 de junio del 2016, en Amite, Luisiana, ella conspiró con otros miembros de su familia, incluyendo a Raylaine Knope, para obtener de D.P. trabajo y servicios domésticos sin pagar por los mismos, por distintos medios, entre ellos la fuerza, amenazas de fuerza y abusos verbales y psicológicos. Más aún, Lambert admitió que, en una ocasión, ella fomentó la conspiración al golpear a D.P. en la cabeza con una tabla de madera, lo que causó a D.P. sangrar de la cabeza, y en otra ocasión fomentó la conspiración al restringir el brazo de D.P. para que otro coconspirador pudiera castigar a D.P. quemándola con un mechero.
El caso fue investigado por la Oficina Local del FBI en Nueva Orleans, Luisiana, la Oficina del Sheriff de la Parroquia de Tangipahoa y la Fiscalía de Distrito de la Parroquia de Tangipahoa. El caso ha sido enjuiciado por la Abogada de Litigios Risa Berkower, de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia, la Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Julia Evans, de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Oriental de Luisiana, y la Fiscalía de Distrito de la Parroquia de Tangipahoa.
Louisiana Mother and Daughter Sentenced for Violating Civil Rights of Woman with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Raylaine Knope, 43, was sentenced to 336 months imprisonment today in the Eastern District of Louisiana for obtaining forced, unpaid household labor and services from D.P., an adult woman with cognitive disabilities, as well as for conspiring to obtain D.P.’s forced labor and misprision of a felony. Knope’s daughter, Bridget Lambert, 22, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment for conspiring with Knope and their other family members to obtain forced labor from D.P.
“Knope and Lambert conspired to brutally coerce a vulnerable victim with disabilities to work long hours in despicable conditions and with no monetary compensation,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Department of Justice continues to combat human trafficking by forced labor and today’s sentencing reflects the Division’s commitment to seeking justice for the most vulnerable victims in our society.”
“Lambert and Knope participated in a truly horrific crime against one of the most susceptible members of our society. I hope that these sentences will bring a measure of justice to the victim. Shockingly, crimes such as this are becoming more common,” said Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser. “Our office, along with DOJ, is committed to seeking justice on behalf of all victims including vulnerable individuals such as D.P., and we will continue to partner with federal, state and local law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes.”
“The defendants’ actions in this matter were nothing short of cruel and inhumane. Both Raylaine Knope and Bridget Lambert mistreated and psychologically abused another human being, a family member, and someone who should have been considered a loved one,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “As the primary federal agency responsible for investigating allegations regarding violations of federal civil rights statutes, the FBI will continue to protect the civil rights of all persons—citizens and non-citizens alike. I applaud the tremendous efforts put forth by the men and women of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Louisiana, and Tangipahoa District Attorney’s Office to bring these defendants to justice.”
On May 20, 2019, Knope pleaded guilty to one count of a forced labor conspiracy, one count of a substantive forced labor violation, and one count of misprision of a felony. At her plea hearing, Knope admitted that, between Aug. 13, 2015, and June 30, 2016, in Amite, Louisiana, she conspired with other family members to obtain D.P.’s uncompensated household labor and services through a number of means, including by force, threats of force, and physical restraint. Knope admitted that she forced D.P. to live in a locked backyard cage and to perform housework and yard work in exchange for food and water. She further admitted that she and her co-conspirators subjected D.P. to routine physical abuse, threats, and verbal and psychological abuse designed to ensure D.P.’s continued compliance with the family’s orders. As examples of this abuse, the defendant admitted that she once forced D.P. to eat D.P.’s deceased mother’s cremated ashes. Knope also admitted that she used this overarching abuse to obtain D.P.’s forced labor, and that she helped another co-conspirator steal D.P.’s monthly federal disability benefits.
On Sept. 27, 2018, Lambert pleaded guilty to one count of a forced labor conspiracy. At the plea hearing, Lambert admitted that, between Aug. 13, 2015, and June 30, 2016, in Amite, Louisiana, she conspired with other members of her family, including Raylaine Knope, to obtain D.P.’s uncompensated household labor and services by a number of means, including by force, threats of force, and verbal and psychological abuse. Lambert further admitted that, on one occasion, she advanced the conspiracy by striking D.P. in the head with a wooden board, causing D.P. to bleed from her head, and on another occasion advanced the conspiracy by holding D.P.’s arm in place so that a fellow conspirator could punish D.P. by burning her with a cigarette lighter.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Field Office in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office. The case has been prosecuted by Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Assistant United States Attorney Julia Evans of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and by the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Louisiana Mother and Daughter Sentenced for Violating Civil Rights of Woman with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Raylaine Knope, 43, was sentenced to 336 months imprisonment today in the Eastern District of Louisiana for obtaining forced, unpaid household labor and services from D.P., an adult woman with cognitive disabilities, as well as for conspiring to obtain D.P.’s forced labor and misprision of a felony. Knope’s daughter, Bridget Lambert, 22, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment for conspiring with Knope and their other family members to obtain forced labor from D.P.
“Knope and Lambert conspired to brutally coerce a vulnerable victim with disabilities to work long hours in despicable conditions and with no monetary compensation,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Department of Justice continues to combat human trafficking by forced labor and today’s sentencing reflects the Division’s commitment to seeking justice for the most vulnerable victims in our society.”
“Lambert and Knope participated in a truly horrific crime against one of the most susceptible members of our society. I hope that these sentences will bring a measure of justice to the victim. Shockingly, crimes such as this are becoming more common,” said Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser. “Our office, along with DOJ, is committed to seeking justice on behalf of all victims including vulnerable individuals such as D.P., and we will continue to partner with federal, state and local law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes.”
“The defendants’ actions in this matter were nothing short of cruel and inhumane. Both Raylaine Knope and Bridget Lambert mistreated and psychologically abused another human being, a family member, and someone who should have been considered a loved one,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “As the primary federal agency responsible for investigating allegations regarding violations of federal civil rights statutes, the FBI will continue to protect the civil rights of all persons—citizens and non-citizens alike. I applaud the tremendous efforts put forth by the men and women of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Louisiana, and Tangipahoa District Attorney’s Office to bring these defendants to justice.”
On May 20, 2019, Knope pleaded guilty to one count of a forced labor conspiracy, one count of a substantive forced labor violation, and one count of misprision of a felony. At her plea hearing, Knope admitted that, between Aug. 13, 2015, and June 30, 2016, in Amite, Louisiana, she conspired with other family members to obtain D.P.’s uncompensated household labor and services through a number of means, including by force, threats of force, and physical restraint. Knope admitted that she forced D.P. to live in a locked backyard cage and to perform housework and yard work in exchange for food and water. She further admitted that she and her co-conspirators subjected D.P. to routine physical abuse, threats, and verbal and psychological abuse designed to ensure D.P.’s continued compliance with the family’s orders. As examples of this abuse, the defendant admitted that she once forced D.P. to eat D.P.’s deceased mother’s cremated ashes. Knope also admitted that she used this overarching abuse to obtain D.P.’s forced labor, and that she helped another co-conspirator steal D.P.’s monthly federal disability benefits.
On Sept. 27, 2018, Lambert pleaded guilty to one count of a forced labor conspiracy. At the plea hearing, Lambert admitted that, between Aug. 13, 2015, and June 30, 2016, in Amite, Louisiana, she conspired with other members of her family, including Raylaine Knope, to obtain D.P.’s uncompensated household labor and services by a number of means, including by force, threats of force, and verbal and psychological abuse. Lambert further admitted that, on one occasion, she advanced the conspiracy by striking D.P. in the head with a wooden board, causing D.P. to bleed from her head, and on another occasion advanced the conspiracy by holding D.P.’s arm in place so that a fellow conspirator could punish D.P. by burning her with a cigarette lighter.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Field Office in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office. The case has been prosecuted by Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Assistant United States Attorney Julia Evans of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and by the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Lewis County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA –Dustin Lee Watson, of Roanoke, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 13 months incarceration for a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Watson, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in May 2019. Watson, having previously been convicted of a felony and domestic violence, admitted to having a .380 caliber pistol in October 2017 in Upshur County.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Level 1 Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Zachary Feeterman, 24, of Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 8, 2019, two Erie County Probation Officers were conducting a routine home visit at the defendant’s residence where they discovered a cellular telephone. In November 2015, Feeterman was convicted of Attempted Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child less than 16 years old, and was a Level 1 Sex Offender on probation. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing a cell phone.
During a search of the phone, the probation officers several anonymous chatting and social media applications. One of the applications was KEEPSAFE, a vault storage application that looks like a calculator. The application contained files with images and videos of child pornography. Investigators also found numerous other images and videos of child pornography on the phone. Some of the images and videos included prepubescent children and depictions of violence.
A detention hearing was held today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and Feeterman was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by members the Erie County Probation Department, under the direction of Commissioner Brian McLaughlin; the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Levant Man Sentenced on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: A Levant, Maine man was sentenced today in federal court in Bangor for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony crime, United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.
U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Damian A. Ouellette, 27, to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. Ouellette pleaded guilty on January 30, 2019.
According to court records, on November 2, 2018, deputies responded to a report of domestic violence at Ouellette’s Levant residence, where they recovered a 9 mm pistol that he hid in a bin of clothes in his bedroom. Ouellette was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he had three prior felony convictions for robbery and theft.
The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Leader of Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JAMEL JONES, a/k/a “Mel Murda,” was sentenced to 135 months in prison in connection with his participation in the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods (“Nine Trey”) and the distribution of narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl. JONES pled guilty on April 3, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Under Jamel Jones’s leadership, the Nine Trey gang acted with impunity to ensure their narcotics business remained intact, including shootings, assaults, and robberies. Now, Jones faces more than a decade behind bars for his role and involvement in this violent gang.”
According to court documents and the evidence presented at the trial of JONES’ co-defendants:
Nine Trey was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in and around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of Nine Trey, and to protect the gang’s narcotics business. Members and associates of Nine Trey enriched themselves by committing robberies and selling drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, furanly fentanyl, MDMA, dibutylone, and marijuana.
The leadership structure of Nine Trey is divided into two parts: the Prison Lineup, which consists of incarcerated members, and the Street Lineup, which consists of members who are not incarcerated. JONES was the Godfather of the Street Lineup.
JONES pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy for his participation in the Nine Trey enterprise and to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute ten grams and more of an analogue of fentanyl.
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In addition to the prison term, JONES, 39, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $10,000.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Longyear, Jacob Warren, Jonathan Rebold, and Sebastian Swett are in charge of the prosecution.
Latin Counts Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Drive-By Shooting in Southwest DetroitRead the Press Release
A Latin Counts gang member was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider, Special Agent in Charge James Deir of the ATF’s Detroit Division, and Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department.
Alberto Jackson, a/k/a “Berto,” 20, of Detroit, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert H. Cleland for planning and carrying out with fellow Latin Counts gang members a drive-by shooting in a residential neighborhood of southwest Detroit that occurred on October 7, 2017, killing one victim and injuring two others.
According to court records, the Latin Counts gang operates primarily in southwest Detroit and the downriver communities of Lincoln Park and Ecorse. The Latin Counts are a criminal enterprise responsible for murders, robberies, and the distribution of illegal drugs. The Latin Counts use violence to retaliate against rivals, intimidate citizens in the community, and advance members’ positions within the gang.
Under the Detroit One initiative, and through the lead efforts of the ATF, FBI, and the Detroit Homicide Task Force, law enforcement identified and charged a total of seven violent members of the Latin Counts gang responsible for the drive-by shooting, all of whom have since pleaded guilty.
“Gang violence is a grave threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Schneider. “Today’s stern sentence is the latest example of how our office is aggressively prosecuting violent gang members who endanger the citizens of Michigan.”
“The ATF with our law enforcement partners will continue to relentlessly investigate gang and gun crimes to protect the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Deir. “This sentence shows that our efforts are working.”
Detroit One is a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community to reduce homicides and other violent crimes in Detroit. By working together, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies strive to maximize their ability to identify and arrest individuals and groups initiating violence in Detroit.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Louis Crisostomo, Robert VanWert, and Eric Straus.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Nearly 18 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Chief Judge Miranda Du to a total of 17 ½ years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children and possessing more than 200 images and videos of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.
Danny Ray Salzer, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2019, to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Salzer must register as a sex offender for life.
According to court documents, in August 2017, detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call reporting concern that Salzer was sexually abusing children in the home. The detectives were given a tablet belonging to Salzer that contained sexually explicit images of the three children. During an interview, two of the children disclosed that Salzer had sexually abused them and their siblings. The third child was not interviewed. Later, in September 2017, Salzer was located living at a storage facility and admitted that the tablet turned over to law enforcement and cell phones left in the storage shed belonged to him. A forensic review of the seized devices revealed 214 images and 17 videos of child pornography of the three children and other known victims. In his plea agreement, Salzer acknowledged that the children he abused were under his care, custody or supervisory control.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elham Roohani prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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LaPorte Man Sentenced to 60 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Eric R. Weiler, 46, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after entering a plea of guilty to production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and making a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Weiler was sentenced to 720 months in prison, 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay 26,250 in restitution.
“The facts of this case are horrific,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch. “Mr. Weiler’s crimes caused great pain to the victim’s family and could have, but for the swift intervention of law enforcement, resulted in severe and permanent injury to other potential victims. His 60 year sentence reflects the seriousness of his heinous crimes.” Mr. Kirsch went on to express his sincere thanks to all the law enforcement officials involved in this case.
“This lengthy sentence will deliver some justice to the young victims and their families and ensure this defendant will never harm again,” said Special Agent in Charge Tim Jones of the ATF Chicago Field Division. “We will continue to investigate these serious crimes with our law enforcement partners and appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence in prosecuting this particular case.”
"Mr. Weiler took advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of our society and his sentence reflects the heinous nature of his crime," said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall, FBI Indianapolis. "It also is a testament to the strong partnerships the FBI has with our law enforcement partners and should send a strong message that we will identify and pursue charges against those who perpetrate these illegal activities."
According to documents in this case, Weiler drugged several people so that they would be unconscious while he recorded a video of himself performing sex acts on an unconscious child. Weiler relived the abuse by writing about it many times in drawings and notes that were later recovered from his house. In the summer of 2017, Weiler fixated on another child, who, according to his writings, he intended to kidnap and sexually abuse after killing the child’s guardians. During that summer, Weiler became suspicious of a person and jerry-rigged that person’s car to explode by re-routing turn signal wires into the gas tank to create a spark. Weiler had also been going into an abandoned house to watch the child playing outside. Investigators went into the vacant house and discovered writings on interior walls documenting the writer’s attempts to acquire a girl under the age of twelve, ideally a newborn baby, for sexual contact. Investigators recovered two incendiary devices, in Weiler’s home, one of which is commonly referred to as an improvised explosive device (IED) and had to later be detonated at the LaPorte County Fair Grounds. Investigators also recovered multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices in his home, which contained over 24,000 images and over 80 videos of child pornography, including the videos he had produced of himself with the unconscious drugged child. Weiler’s electronic devices also contained videos of him threatening to use one of the explosive devices to extort sex from an unidentified woman.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, LaPorte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department, and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department and Bomb Squad. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Maciejczyk and Molly E. Donnelly.
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La Crosse Man Charged with Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury, sitting in Madison, returned an indictment yesterday charging Martin W. Curlee, Jr., 38, La Crosse, Wisconsin, with a gun crime.
The indictment alleges that Curlee was a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. It alleges that he possessed a loaded 9mm handgun and 9mm ammunition on October 8, 2019.
If convicted, Curlee faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Kentucky Physician Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Distributing OpioidsRead the Press Release
A Floyd County, Kentucky-based physician pleaded guilty today for his role in unlawfully distributing opioids by pre-signing blank prescriptions that were ultimately completed by others and delivered to patients not seen by him.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. of the Eastern District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Derrick Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Field Office, Special Agent in Charge D. Christopher Evans of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Louisville Field Division and Director Michelle Rudovich of the Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) made the announcement.
Mohammed A.H. Mazumder, M.D., 48, of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 19, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove of the Eastern District of Kentucky, who accepted his plea.
Mazumder was a licensed physician employed by a family practice clinic located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. A substantial part of the clinic’s practice was pain management, and Mazumder routinely prescribed controlled substances, including opioids, to patients of the clinic. According to admissions made as part of his plea agreement, on occasion, when Mazumder was planning to be absent from the clinic, in anticipation of patients nevertheless coming to the clinic, Mazumder pre-signed prescriptions for opioids, which later were completed by other staff members of the clinic and ultimately delivered to patients not seen by Mazumder. Specifically, as part of his plea, Mazumder admitted to pre-signing prescriptions for opioids prior to traveling abroad.
HHS-OIG, the DEA and the Kentucky MFCU investigated the case. Assistant Chief Dustin M. Davis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Smith of the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the ARPO Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 70 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 40 million pills.
KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for a $145,000 fraud scheme in which he purported to sell classic automobiles that he did not actually own.
Travis D. Oberg, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court sentenced Oberg to eight years and four months for the conviction in this case, plus 20 months consecutively for violating the terms of his supervised release on an unrelated conviction for an earlier fraud scheme. The court also ordered Oberg to pay a total of $145,070 in restitution to his victims.
On April 4, 2019, Oberg pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of transporting a stolen vehicle. Oberg admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud persons who could be induced to purchase automobiles he offered for sale, although he did not own the automobiles and had no authority to sell the automobiles.
During the time he was engaged in this criminal fraud scheme, Oberg was under supervised release for a prior felony conviction. Oberg had been sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison after defrauding dozens of victims of more than $900,000. He was released to supervision in 2016 and immediately embarked on the fraud scheme in this case.
Oberg operated under the business name “Maaco” (after establishing “maaco sales and reconditioning LLC”) as a pretense to imply that he was involved in a legitimate automobile-related business. Oberg obtained photographic images of the automobiles and images of title documents. He showed the images of the automobiles and title documents to buyers to bolster the pretense that he was authorized to sell the automobiles. After a buyer agreed to purchase an automobile, and after a buyer sent payment for an automobile, Oberg sent text messages and email messages giving false excuses and false information regarding failure to deliver the automobile.
For example, a victim in Connecticut paid $53,000 to purchase four classic automobiles: a 1973 BMW, a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL, a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe, and a 1967 Jaguar XKE 2+2 Coupe. Oberg did not own these vehicles, and had no authority to sell them. He refused the victim’s demand to refund the money when he failed to deliver the automobiles. Oberg then induced another victim in California to purchase the same 1967 Jaguar and 1985 Porsche he had purported to sell to the victim in Connecticut. The California victim paid Oberg $37,000, but the automobiles were never delivered, nor did Oberg refund the purchase prices.
Oberg also admitted that he induced another victim into a consignment agreement for the restoration and sale of a 1957 Thunderbird. Oberg falsely represented that he would restore the Thunderbird and sell it on the victim’s behalf. Oberg did not tell the owner that he sold the automobile to a person in Connecticut for $12,500 and shipped the automobile from Missouri to Connecticut.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Larson and Matthew N. Sparks. It was investigated by the FBI.