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Tuesday 3 September 2019
Gang Member Pleads Guilty After Ballistic Database Links His Guns to Four Drive-By ShootingsRead the Press Release
A gang member involved in several drive-by shootings in Dallas pleaded guilty today to multiple gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
Rafael Rubi, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance Tuesday morning before Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford.
Using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, or NIBIN, federal agents were able to link shell casings found at the scenes of at least four drive-by shootings in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood to firearms found in Mr. Rubi’s home and car.
“Intelligence gleaned from ATF’s ballistic database helped get a violent criminal off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “We are proud to partner with ATF to use every investigative tool at our disposal – from shrewd agents to sophisticated technology – to track criminals wielding unlawful firearms against our communities.”
“Use of ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network can provide essential leads linking firearm evidence recovered from associated or seemingly-unrelated crime scenes, even if the crimes occur in separate jurisdictions,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Every gun tells a story. In this case, the use of NIBIN capture and comparison technology revealed the connection between the firearms seized from Mr. Rubi and several violent crimes committed in the Dallas area. NIBIN is an excellent investigative tool. ATF works with our local, state and federal partners to advance the use of the technology to prevent, solve and prosecute violent crime offense.”
In plea papers, Mr. Rubi, a member of the street gang La Familia Homeboy, admits he was involved in all four drive-by shootings, including one shooting that targeted a driver previously involved in a car accident with Mr. Rubi’s girlfriend and another shooting that targeted the driver’s family members.
In total, approximately 119 cartridge casings were recovered at the scenes of the shootings.
The majority of the casings were later linked to two Glock pistols – one found stashed in a toilet tank in Mr. Rubi’s apartment (along with heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia), and another recovered from his Ford Mustang during a traffic stop hours after the final shooting.
During that traffic stop, officers observed Mr. Rubi’s passenger making “furtive movements” toward the floorboard, where they later located the loaded Glock pistol. Mr. Rubi admits he handed the Glock to the passenger and asked him to hide it.
A convicted felon, Mr. Rubi now faces a sentence of five years up to life in federal prison. He is set to be sentenced on December 18 before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebekah Ricketts and Gary Tromblay prosecuted the case.
Franklin County Man Sentenced to 17+ Years for Selling Drugs, Guns to Undercover OfficersRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A man who lived in Franklin County was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for selling drugs and guns to undercover officers, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Heriberto Armendariz-Garcia, 39, Wellsville, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. In his plea, he admitted he met multiple times with undercover officers, selling them cocaine, methamphetamine and firearms. During the course of the investigation he sold or arranged for the sale of nine kilograms of cocaine, 4.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 16 firearms and 232 rounds of ammunition.
During one meeting with undercover officers, Armendariz-Garcia told them someone had stolen four kilograms of cocaine from him and when “the people down south” found out he might lose his house.
McAllister commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Zabel for their work on the case.
Felon Arrested in East Hartford Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ELVIN GONZALEZ, 38, of Norwich, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 9, 2018, East Hartford Police arrested Gonzalez after he was found in possession of a Charter Arms .44 caliber revolver and a quantity of marijuana.
Gonzalez’s criminal history includes state convictions for sale of hallucinogen/narcotics and escape, and a federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In August 2005, he was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment for the federal firearm offense.
When he is sentenced, Gonzalez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Gonzalez is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the East Hartford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Federal Jury Convicts Colombian Female of International Cocaine Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Lelia Vanessa Perdomo Zapata (26, Colombia) guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as well as one count of possession with the intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine on that vessel. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 5, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Perdomo Zapata was part of an international maritime drug smuggling operation involving at least 440 kilograms of cocaine worth approximately $13 million. Perdomo Zapata was the Colombian load guard for a Cartagena, Colombia-based cocaine smuggling crew. Prior to their interdiction by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Perdomo Zapata and one of her co-conspirators were transporting 18 bales of cocaine onboard a 60-foot sailing vessel from Cartagena, Colombia to Cancun, Mexico. Ultimately, USCG law enforcement officers from Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific boarded the sailing vessel and discovered the 18 bales of cocaine and multiple electronic devices consistent with cocaine trafficking. Subsequent analysis of these devices yielded crucial digital evidence of the cocaine smuggling operation.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas DeRenzo.
Fayette County Felon Illegally Possessed a Handgun and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Grindstone, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Quashawn Priester, 31, pleaded guilty to one count before Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on July 6, 2017 Priester possessed a semi-automatic handgun and ammunition. Priester is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a previous felony drug conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Priester remains on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to prosecution of Priester.
Federal Jury Convicts Man from Roswell of Drug Trafficking and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury in Las Cruces, N.M., found Jose Velarde-Pavia, 37, of Roswell, N.M., guilty at trial on August 28, 2019, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement agents from the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force observed Velarde-Pavia as the driver and only passenger of a pick-up truck driving in Roswell on June 11, 2018. The agents pulled Velarde-Pavia over with a warrant to search him and his car. Inside the car, the agents found methamphetamine weighing at least 50 grams and two pistols with ammunition. The evidence at trial proved Velarde-Pavia possessed the drugs and guns in violation of federal law.
Velarde-Pavia is currently in custody awaiting sentencing at a later date. He faces from 10 to 40 years in prison for methamphetamine possession and a consecutive sentence of five years in prison for possession of the firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Saltman and Christopher Solis are prosecuting the case.
Extortion Scheme Mastermind SentencedRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE- Kelly Custer, 57, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Kelly Custer was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $1,463,437.50 in restitution to the victims of her crime.
U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “We will not tolerate extortion or preying on the trust of others, in this case elderly victims of these perpetrators. Schemes like these lead to the financial and emotional distress of victims. My Office in coordination with our law enforcement partners will aggressively prosecute individuals who harass and torment elderly victims with these egregious schemes.”
"Today’s sentence sends a strong message to scammers such as Ms. Custer that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to hold accountable those who prey upon some of our most vulnerable citizens – in this case hard working seniors who thought they were helping a friend in need and that their own lives, and those of their family, were in danger if they didn’t,” said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division.
According to documents filed in this case, on March 19, 2015, a victim couple reported to law enforcement that they were being extorted by the mafia. The victims provided information detailing an extortion scheme that started in 2007 when they lived in Fort Wayne and continued after their move to Florida.
According to the victims, the extortion began after they were informed by Kelly Custer that she and her family faced death threats from the mafia and she needed help paying them off to protect herself and her family. The scheme then evolved when Kelly Custer then convinced the victims that their lives, their friends’ and families’ lives as well as her life would be in jeopardy if they did not pay the debt to the mafia. The victims initially received all the information concerning the extortion through Kelly Custer, in that she relayed the threats and demands to them personally. After the victims moved to Florida, however the threats from Kelly Custer continued in the form of text messages, causing the victims to fear the messages came from actual mafia members. In February of 2015, the victims were informed that Kelly Custer had been killed as a result of problems she had with the mafia; however they continued to receive threatening text messages from Kelly Custer’s phone by persons identifying themselves as members of the mafia.
The victims made the demanded payments primarily to Kelly Custer, but also directed payments to three other co-defendants, Kelly Custer’s children, on numerous occasions as instructed in the threatening text messages. The victims reported that in response to the threatening communications, they had paid “the mafia” approximately 1.5 million dollars over the past seven years, and approximately $250,000-$300,000 dollars since moving to Florida. According to the victims, in response to threats they usually paid between $3,000 and $10,000 at a time and on at least one occasion they paid $50,000 after receiving a threatening message indicating that, if they did not make that payment, a friend’s daughter would be killed.
Co-defendants William Custer, Jr., Ashley Custer, and Sidney Custer were previously sentenced following their pleas of guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and each was ordered to repay restitution to the victims in the amounts of $119,127.99; $118,583.16; and $14,399.78 respectively.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
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East Bay Resident Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Conspiring to File False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Brandon Jones was sentenced today to 36 months in prison, and ordered to pay $109,394.79 in restitution for conspiracy to file false claims, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Jeffrey S. White, U.S. District Court Judge,
Jones, 44, formerly of Hayward, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on June 12, 2019. According to the plea agreement, Jones admitted he conspired to file 94 fraudulent tax returns, each of which sought payment of a tax refund from the IRS. Jones admitted that to file the false returns, he obtained personal identifying information from individuals who were transient, homeless or incarcerated with him. In 2011, Jones was incarcerated at Santa Rita jail and in 2012, Jones was incarcerated at California State Hospital Prison in Patton, Calif.
A federal grand jury indicted Jones on January 19, 2017, charging him with conspiracy to file false claims, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 286; filing false claims, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 287; theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641; and aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. Jones pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count and the remaining counts were dismissed at sentencing.
In addition to the prison term, Judge White also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. The defendant was remanded to federal custody on April 21, 2017, and will remain in custody to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia Stier and Jose Olivera are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the IRS-CI.
Dover Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – James Aubin, 46, of Dover, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for committing a bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 12, 2018, Aubin entered the Bank of New Hampshire branch on Central Avenue in Dover and demanded money from the teller. The teller gave Aubin a quantity of United States currency. After images from bank surveillance videos were shown on local news outlets, investigators were able to positively identify Aubin as the robber. After being arrested, Aubin admitted to robbing the bank.
Aubin previously pleaded guilty on April 23, 2019.
“Bank robberies are violent crimes that endanger bank employees, customers and members of the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to deter this conduct and maintain community safety, we are fully prepared to seek prison sentences for bank robbers. Those inclined to steal money by threatening bank tellers should consider the consequences before committing the crime.”
"James Aubin told police he 'made a bad decision' when he robbed the Dover branch of Bank of New Hampshire last summer. As a working, middle-aged father, the time to know better was before he terrified a teller into carrying out his demands," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "While today's sentence reflects Mr. Aubin's acceptance of responsibility, it should also teach him there are no excuses that help the innocent traumatized by this inherently violent crime to sleep better at night."
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Dover Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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District Court Orders Tennessee Companies and Their Owner to Stop Distributing Unapproved New Drugs and Misbranded and Adulterated Dietary SupplementsRead the Press Release
A federal court entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against defendants Basic Reset and Biogenyx, as well as their owner, Fred R. Kaufman III, and Kimberly Kaufman, the Department of Justice announced today. The permanent injunction enjoins the defendants from distributing unapproved new drugs and misbranded and adulterated dietary supplements, and a misbranded and adulterated device in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
The Department filed a complaint in the Middle District of Tennessee on Aug. 26, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alleging, among other things, that defendants unlawfully distributed unapproved new drugs and an adulterated and misbranded device. Defendants market their drugs and device with claims that their products can be used to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent conditions, such as inflammation, chronic diarrhea, bacterial infections, head lice, allergies, and pain. The FDA has not approved Basic Reset’s or Biogenyx’s drugs or device for any use.
“Drug and dietary supplement distributors who do not comply with the law risk endangering consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We work closely with the FDA in our efforts to enforce the laws that are designed to keep consumers safe.”
“The public has the right to expect that products perform according to claims included in their labeling and that the products are safe for use,” said U.S. Attorney Don Cochran. “FDA regulations exists to safeguard consumers and when those regulations are circumvented we will take whatever action is necessary to protect the public.”
“Americans expect and deserve products that meet appropriate standards for quality. To ensure safe use by consumers, it’s important that companies who sell products adhere to standards set forth by the FD&C Act, including product labeling and quality,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. “Despite previous warnings, Basic Reset and Biogenyx placed consumers at risk by distributing certain products in violation of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements and products which failed to adequately meet labeling standards. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration remains fully committed to taking enforcement action against companies and owners who place unsuspecting American consumers at risk.”
The complaint also alleges that Basic Reset and Biogenyx misbranded and adulterated dietary supplements. Several of Defendants’ dietary supplements are missing information on their labels required by law. FDA inspections also uncovered numerous violations of the agency’s CGMP regulations for dietary supplements, including failing to establish and follow written procedures to review and investigate product complaints and failing to establish specifications to assure that the products they receive for labeling are adequately identified and consistent with the purchase order. Because Defendants failed to follow CGMP regulations, their dietary supplements are adulterated under the FD&C Act.
Basic Reset/Biogenyx is an own label distributor of various drugs, dietary supplements, and a device, and include, but are not limited to, AquaLyte, Bee Gold, Beta Factor, Body Mass Reset, CBD Reset, Dino-Min, Earth Wash, Energy FX, GH-C, Ionyte, Mello-Tonin, Miracle Facelift Masque, Nuovi Firming Masque, Nuovi Skin Toner, pH-FX, Q-min, SlimUp, TrimUp, Vibrant Energy Drink, and Energy FX.
As part of the court-ordered permanent injunction, Basic Reset, Biogenyx, and the other defendants are prohibited from receiving, labeling, holding, or distributing dietary supplements, drugs, or devices at their facility until they, among other things, recall their drugs, dietary supplements, and device, hire qualified experts, and receive written permission from the FDA to resume operations.
The United States is represented by Trial Attorney Charles Biro of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Sabis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, with the assistance of Associate Chief Counsel Laura Akowuah of the FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Cleveland man sentenced to 37 years in prison for using a firearm to deal fentanyl, heroin and other drugsRead the Press Release
A Cleveland man was sentenced to 37 years in prison for using a firearm to deal fentanyl, heroin and other drugs.
Tyler Hall, 29, was convicted by a federal jury on all 14 counts he faced, including possession a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, being a felon in possession of a firearm and multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine marijuana.
Hall had 1.46 grams of fentanyl, 22 grams of crack cocaine and a Walther 9 mm semiautomatic pistol during a search of his home and business on the west side of Cleveland last year, according to court documents.
Hall was a person of interest in relation to three non-fatal opioid overdoses. Two of the victims had information that their supplier’s name was Tyler and that he worked, resided and sold drugs in the area of West 104th Street and Lorain Avenue, according to court documents.
Law enforcement on July 3 searched Hall’s residence at 10400 Lorain Ave. and business, at auto body shop at 3179 West 104th Street. Hall was detained and found to be carrying two cellular phones, $1,152 in cash and a set of keys to both his residence and business, according to court documents.
Inside his residence was a desk where it appeared drugs were prepared and packaged for sale. Also nearby were 1.46 grams of fentanyl, 22 grams of crack cocaine, a Walther 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and approximately $6,000 in cash, according to court documents.
Hall was prohibited from having a firearm because of previous felony convictions, including for aggravated robbery, robbery, intimidation of a crime victim or witness and multiple drug trafficking and possession convictions, according to court documents.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Brendan O'Shea.
Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Cortney Shelton, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty today to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
“A felon with guns dealing heroin and cocaine base,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “As a result of his conviction, this “Johnny on the Spot” is going to be sent to a new spot – federal prison.”
An investigation was initiated in Scarbro, West Virginia by agents from the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force in November 2017 into drug trafficking activity by an individual known then only as “Johnny on the Spot.” The investigation later revealed that Johnny on the Spot was Shelton. Three controlled purchases of heroin were made from Shelton in late 2017 and early 2018. Agents then obtained a search warrant for a residence in Scarbro believed to be Shelton’s “stash house.” When the search warrant was executed, Shelton was present at the stash house, and detectives recovered two firearms as well as distribution quantities of heroin and cocaine base and other items related to drug trafficking.
At the plea hearing, Shelton, a convicted felon, admitted that he intended to distribute the heroin and cocaine base and that he possessed the firearms in order to protect himself from anyone who might try to steal the drugs or proceeds from the drug trafficking activity. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, a multi-agency task force designed to combat drug trafficking activity in Southern West Virginia.
Shelton faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on November 21, 2019. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.
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California Man Sentenced for Narcotics and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead 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 Juan Alfaro, 52, of Hacienda, California, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who handled the trial, stated that the defendant was a member of a transnational drug trafficking organization that utilized contacts and a source of supply whose territory included Mexico, Arizona, California, and elsewhere. The source of supply was the Sinaloa Cartel, led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Alfaro was convicted, along with co-defendant Martha Aguirre, following a jury trial in March 2019. Martha Aguirre’s brother Herman E. Aguirre was the leader of the organization.
Alfaro and Martha Aguirre used “front” companies to launder over $12,000,000 in drug proceeds from Buffalo to Los Angeles, including Triton Foods, Inc. and Kamora Investment Enterprises, Inc., which were located in the State of California. Another fictitious company, Corral Seafoods, LLC, registered in the State of New York, was allegedly located in Cheektowaga, NY, but proved to be completely fake.
Using these companies, Alfaro and Martha Aguirre disguised kilogram quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine on invoices and other documents as “Sea Cucumbers.” The local organization trafficked thousands of kilograms of illegal narcotics throughout the United States, including Lockport, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized over $5,000,000 worth of illegal narcotics, including:
• 52.5 kilograms of cocaine;
• 17.5 kilograms of heroin; and
• 8.5 kilograms of fentanylAlfaro is one of 17 defendants convicted in this case. Martha Aguirre is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2019.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special-Agent-in Charge Kevin Kelly; the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Steven Preisch; the Montebello, California Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the DEA, Los Angeles.
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Buxton Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Michael Crockett, Jr., 35, of Buxton, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. Crockett pleaded guilty on March 11, 2019.
According to court documents, on April 1, 2018, Crockett possessed and discharged a nine millimeter pistol in the direction of an occupied vehicle parked in his driveway in Buxton. Standing outside the vehicle at the time was a 15-year-old minor female, who reported that she had been in an abusive and sexual relationship with Crockett since she was 14 years old.
Because Crockett was convicted of a felony crime of drug trafficking in the York County Superior Court in Alfred in May 2006, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Several witnesses reported having regularly seen Crockett with a firearm, including one who said he used it to threaten her.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Singal varied upward from the applicable guideline range of 46–57 months, noting that the defendant had engaged in numerous examples of uncontrollable behavior and was unable to abide by the law.
This case was investigated by the Buxton and Kittery Police Departments, the York County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted 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.
Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to ID Theft, Bank FraudRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Bronx, N.Y., man appeared in federal court in Providence today and admitted to his role in various stolen identity and bank fraud schemes and conspiracies that bilked banks, finance companies, car dealerships, and others in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and elsewhere out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Angel L. Morales, 52, is one of ten individuals charged in a series of indictments, informations, and criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Providence for their alleged participation in one or more conspiracies where individuals used stolen personal identifying information to open credit union accounts online and bank accounts in person at various bank branch offices, obtained auto loans using fraudulent documentation, and then quickly withdrew the funds prior to banks discovering the fraudulent activity.
Morales is among six individuals named in a 32-count superseding indictment returned on February 6, 2019. The indictment charges Morales with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and three counts of bank fraud. Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Morales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Morales admitted that as a participant in the conspiracy, he opened bank accounts at various bank branch offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts using stolen personal identifying information provided to him by other members of the conspiracy. Proceeds from fraudulently obtained car loans obtained by others with the use of fraudulent sales documents and vehicle titles were electronically deposited into accounts opened by Morales. Morales and others quickly withdrew the funds prior to banks discovering the schemes.
According to court documents, investigations led by the U.S. Secret Service with the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, East Providence, Warwick, and Pawtucket, R.I., Police Departments, Seekonk and Mansfield, Mass., Police Departments; and the Rhode Island State Police, have determined that the defendants, many known to one another, allegedly participated in various schemes to steal and use individuals’ personal identifying information to defraud banks, credit unions, finance companies, and retailers of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Morales traveled to the Dominican Republic in September 2018, shortly after federal agents executed search warrants at the New Jersey apartment of one of his alleged co-conspirators. Morales returned to the United States on March 30, 2019, and was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic.
Morales, who has been detained in federal custody since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2019.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Ferland and Zachary A. Cunha.
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Bloods Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Cold Case MurderRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Bloods gang member Trendell Walker, also known as “Live Wire” and “Debo,” pleaded guilty to the firearm-related murder of 15-year-old Alvin Brothers on August 7, 2007. The guilty plea was entered before United States Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke. When sentenced, Walker faces a maximum of life in prison.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York Field Office (HSI), and Geraldine Hart, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the guilty plea.
“Today’s plea demonstrates the Department’s unwavering commitment to holding accountable gang members like defendant Walker who show complete disregard for human life,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue working tirelessly to eliminate violent gangs from our communities.”
According to court filings and facts presented at the plea proceeding, on August 6, 2007, several individuals assaulted Walker and attempted to rob him. The next day, Walker met with fellow Bloods gang members and devised a plan to retaliate against his assailants. Walker and other Bloods gang members drove to Bellport, armed with firearms, where they observed Brothers and several young people standing on the corner of Post Avenue and Patchogue Avenue. Walker and other gang members opened fire on the group. Brothers was shot and died from his wounds.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Caffarone and Mark E. Misorek are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
TRENDELL WALKER
Age: 31
Riverhead, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-369 (S-2)(SJF)
Area Man Sentenced to 86 Months in Prison for Sexually Abusing His Niece, Beginning When She Was 11-Years-OldRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 49-year-old man, formerly of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday to 86 months in prison on multiple charges for sexually abusing his niece when she was 11 and 12 years old, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced today.
The defendant, who is not identified here to protect the privacy of the victim, recently resided in Northwest Washington with his wife and children. He was found guilty by a jury on April 3, 2019, of four counts of second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child with aggravating circumstances, and assault. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Craig Iscoe sentenced him to 86 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release with sex offender registration for 10 years.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, the victim lived in Florida with her mother during the year, but visited her father and his family in the District of Columbia every summer. When she visited the District of Columbia, she spent part of her time with the defendant and his family.
In the summer of 2016, when the victim was 11 years old, the defendant began sexually abusing her during these visits. The nature of his abuse escalated over time. The defendant pressured the victim not to tell, and she was afraid to disclose the abuse for fear of not being believed and of causing stress within the family.
Following the defendant’s final act of abuse in June 2017, the victim could not keep the abuse a secret anymore, and she disclosed the abuse to her aunt, the defendant’s wife. The victim later disclosed to her father, as well, and the abuse was then reported to the Metropolitan Police Department. The defendant was arrested in July 2017.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu praised the work of members of the Youth and Family Services Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenechukwu Okocha, who investigated and indicted the case; Appellate Division Deputy Chief John Mannarino; Victim/Witness Assistance Unit Chief Sarah McClellan; Paralegal Specialists Brenda C. Williams and D’Yvonne Key; Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson; Victim/Witness Services Coordinator La June Thames; and Litigation Technology Specialist Jeanie Latimore-Brown.
Finally, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Loeb, who prosecuted the case at trial.
American Citizen, an Alleged ISIS Sniper and Weapons Instructor, Indicted for Providing Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A five-count indictment was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, also known as “Suleiman Al-Amriki” and “Suleiman Al-Kazakhi,” with conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS; providing material support to ISIS in the form of personnel, training, expert advice and assistance and weapons; receipt of military-type training from ISIS; and obstruction of justice. If convicted, Asainov faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Asainov will be arraigned at a later date.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Michael McGarrity, Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department, announced the charges.
As detailed in court filings, Asainov is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kazakhstan, who resided in Brooklyn. As alleged, in December 2013, Asainov traveled on a one-way ticket to Istanbul, Turkey, a common transit point to obtain entry into Syria. He subsequently entered Syria, joined ISIS and became a sniper for the terrorist organization. Over time, Asainov rose through the ranks to become an ISIS “emir” in charge of training other ISIS members in the use of weapons. He also attempted to recruit another individual to travel from the United States to Syria to fight for ISIS.
As further alleged, in March 2015, Asainov asked a confidential informant to send him approximately $2,800 so that he could purchase a scope for his rifle. Asainov subsequently sent the confidential informant two photographs of himself holding an assault rifle fitted with a scope. Asainov messaged one individual, exclaiming in reference to ISIS, “we are the worst terrorist organization in the world that has ever existed,” and added that he wished to die on the battlefield.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Saritha Komatireddy and J. Matthew Haggans are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Jacqueline L. Barkett of the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
The Defendant:
RUSLAN MARATOVICH ASAINOV
Age: 43
Syria and Bay Ridge, BrooklynE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-402
Monday 2 September 2019
United States Attorney Mike Stuart Launches Public Messaging Campaign in Conjunction with National Recovery MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart is launching a public messaging campaign in conjunction with National Recovery Month. The messages, which will begin airing on September 3, 2019, speak to both drug dealers contributing to the state’s opioid epidemic and West Virginians whose lives have been touched by substance use disorder. The messages will be aired on radio stations on a statewide basis.
September is National Recovery Month, which is aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrating the people who recover. For more information about National Recovery Month visit https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/recovery-month/toolkit.
Messages that will air over the next two weeks are attached.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
Audio file Audio file
ADVISORY: Savannah Office of U.S. Attorney to close in advance of Hurricane DorianRead the Press Release
Due to mandatory evacuation orders for the state of Georgia east of I-95 in advance of Hurricane Dorian, the Savannah Office of the United States Attorney will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 3, Wednesday, Sept. 4, and Thursday, Sept. 5. Further advisories will be issued as conditions necessitate.
The Augusta Office of the U.S. Attorney will remain in operation during this period.
Saturday 31 August 2019
Two Men Arrested for Carjacking with Intent to Cause Serious Bodily HarmRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – A grand jury returned an indictment against Randy Rivera-Nevárez and Domingo Emanuel Bruno-Cotto, charging them with carjacking with intent to cause serious bodily harm, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
According to the information contained in an affidavit filed in the case, on August 25 at approximately 9:00pm, an adult female and an adult male went to Balneario Costa de Oro beach in Dorado. At approximately 11:30pm, the male and female victims were swimming when they noticed some individuals near their belongings, so they returned to shore. As soon as they left the water, two armed male subjects approached them and announced a robbery.
The subjects took the wallets and cell phones of the victims and started negotiating with them for money. They threatened to kill the female victim if she did not cooperate. They both raped her and one forced her to perform oral sex.
Eventually, the subjects gave the female victim back her clothes, pepper-sprayed the male victim in the face, then left with male victim’s vehicle, a white 2000 Jeep Cherokee.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Gottfried. If convicted, the defendants could face up to 25 years in prison. An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Friday 30 August 2019
“Block Boyz” gang leader and last two members sentenced to serve time in federal prisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – The “Block Boyz” gang leader and final two defendants have been sentenced to federal prison, announced David C. Joseph, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. DeMarcus D. Morris, 30, Jimmie R. Durden Jr., 30, and Gary J. McCain, 24, all of Shreveport, Louisiana, were sentenced this week in federal court for being part of a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, and for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
DeMarcus D. Morris, the ring leader of the “Block Boyz” gang, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to serve 405 months in federal prison for RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (including crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Roxicodone and ecstasy), distribution of crack cocaine, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
On Thursday, Judge Foote sentenced the remaining two defendants, Jimmie R. Durden Jr., and Gary J. McCain, respectively, to 190 months in federal prison and 110 months in federal prison for RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (including crack cocaine), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Morris, Durden and McCain were named in an 18-count indictment filed in June of 2017 charging nine defendants with various crimes including RICO conspiracy, distributions of controlled substances, convicted felons in possession of firearms, and conspiracies to commit violent crimes. On October 3, 2018, following a two and a half-week trial, Marcus, Durden, and McCain were found guilty along with co-defendants, Lonnie D. Johnson and Larshandra C. Davenport. Defendants, Frank J. Morris, Ravion M. Alford, and Rodrick R. Hicks previously pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy and have been sentenced. Defendant, Golanda W. Atkins, was dismissed from the indictment on September 7, 2018.
“We hope that today a measure of peace is felt in the Queensborough neighborhood that this gang terrorized,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “These defendants will be behind bars for years and miles away from the people that they harmed.
“And to those terrorizing their neighborhoods with firearm violence, to those poisoning our community with illegal drugs; make no mistake, we are coming for you,” Joseph continued. “If you don’t make a change in your life, your future – assuming that you aren’t killed by the drugs you sell or the firearms you carry – will be in federal prison. This is not a threat, it’s a promise.
“I want to thank the local and federal law enforcement officers who put it all on the line to convict these criminals,” said Joseph. “I also want to thank the prosecutors from my office for their hard work making and trying this case.”
“Along with our partners, the FBI has dedicated significant time, manpower, and resources toward investigating the “Block Boyz” gang,” said the FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Riedlinger. “Justice has been served to those who chose to traffic and distribute illicit narcotics and terrorize their communities with senseless firearm violence. We will continue to enforce the laws and intervene when drugs and violence lead to the death of our citizens.”
The defendants have now been convicted and sentenced for their part in the conspiracy:
Co-Defendant
Date of Conviction
Sentencing/Charge
Demarcus D. Morris, 30, of Shreveport, Louisiana
October 3, 2018 (trial)
August 27 2019 – 405 months in prison and $108,130 restitution
Frank J. Morris, 26, of Shreveport, Louisiana
August 30, 2018 (guilty plea)
July 23, 2019 – 60 months in prison for RICO conspiracy.
Jimmie R. Durden Jr., 30, of Shreveport, Louisiana
October 3, 2018 (trial)
August 29, 2019 – 190 months in prison
Lonnie D. Johnson, 25, of Shreveport, Louisiana
October 3, 2018 (trial)
July 25, 2019 – 240 months in prison for RICO conspiracy, and $108,103 restitution.
Gary J. McCain, 24, of Shreveport, Louisiana
October 3, 2018 (trial)
August 29, 2019 – 110 months in prison
Ravion M. Alford, 24, of Shreveport, Louisiana
December 21, 2017 (guilty plea)
July 23, 2019 – 180 months in prison for RICO conspiracy.
Rodrick R. Hicks, 25, of Shreveport, Louisiana
January 29, 2018 (guilty plea)
September 29, 2019 – 42 months in prison for RICO conspiracy.
Larshandra C. Davenport, 46, of Shreveport, Louisiana
October 3, 2018 (trial)
July 30, 2019 – 71 months in prison for RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (cocaine and Roxicodone), and distribution of powder cocaine.
The “Block Boyz” was a criminal enterprise that primarily used the west side of the Queensborough neighborhood as their base of operations. For many years, the defendants took part in a criminal organization known as the “Block Boyz” and the “Get Money Boyz” or “GMB.” In the federal indictment, gang members were charged with at least 66 criminal acts that members of the organization committed to further the RICO conspiracy. The acts included armed robberies, distribution of drugs, shootings and witness intimidation. The organization sold crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Roxicodone, marijuana, Ecstasy and Alprazolam.
Gang members sold illegal drugs and committed armed robberies. They maintained and circulated a collection of firearms for use in their criminal activity and used cell phones to operate their criminal enterprise. Members of the organization bragged about their illegal activity, such as their possession of firearms, and took pictures of themselves with firearms and money to intimidate others and increase their position in the community. “Block Boyz” members were also the prime suspects in several homicides.
The FBI Northwest Louisiana Violent Crimes Task Force, ATF, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Shreveport Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office the participated in the investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.
York Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Timothy Moroney, 55, of York, Maine and formerly of Massachusetts, pled guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to failing to register as a sex offender in Maine and New Hampshire.
According to court records, in 1985, Moroney was convicted of aggravated rape in Massachusetts. The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requires convicted sex offenders to register in every jurisdiction in which they reside, work and go to school, and to keep their registration information current at all times. Between 2005 and 2007, Moroney registered as a sex offender in Massachusetts. In January of 2007, Moroney moved to Maine, but failed to register until February of 2019. In late 2018 and early 2019, Moroney commuted from Maine to New Hampshire to work, but failed to register in New Hampshire.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the York Police Department.
Washington, D.C. Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Synthetic CannabinoidsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore C. Chuang today sentenced Nathaniel Michael Worthy, age 47, of Washington, D.C., to 135 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Jesse R. Fong of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Peter Newsham of the Metropolitan Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy.
According to Worthy’s plea agreement, from at least January 1, 2016 through February 9, 2019, he conspired with others, including Carjandario Danielle Yarborough, to distribute synthetic cannabinoids and other controlled substances and controlled substance analogues. Controlled substance analogues are substances that are chemically manufactured to mimic and create a “high” similar to other drugs. Worthy, Yarborough, and their co-conspirators obtained synthetic cannabinoids, known by various names, including “Salt” and “Black Bag,” and sold them in Maryland and other locations, including the District of Columbia and Virginia. Worthy and his co-conspirators obtained cash from the drug sales and possessed firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy. Worthy and his co-conspirators routinely rented hotel rooms and vehicles to distribute the synthetic cannabinoids.
On September 29 and September 30, 2016, Worthy and Yarborough rented hotel rooms in Temple Hills, Maryland, to prepare and distribute synthetic cannabinoids. While at the hotel, Worthy and Yarborough believed that another co-conspirator, Victim 1, had stolen money from them in connection with the sale of synthetic cannabinoids. When Worthy confronted Victim 1 about the suspected theft, Yarborough stabbed Victim 1 in the chest with a knife, killing him.
After Victim 1 was killed, Worthy and another co-conspirator removed synthetic cannabinoids and drug proceeds from the hotel room. After the co-conspirators left the hotel room where Victim 1 had been killed, Yarborough called 911 and falsely reported that she had killed Victim 1 in self-defense.
On January 4 and February 2, 2017, Worthy and co-conspirators rented hotel rooms in Arlington, Virginia, and College Park, Maryland, respectively, and possessed synthetic cannabinoids intended for distribution, as well as items to facilitate distribution of these substances. Specifically, on January 4, 2017, Worthy possessed a loaded 9mm pistol in furtherance of the drug conspiracy and on February 2, 2017, he possessed packaging materials and $4,752.18 in cash, which was the proceeds from the sales of the synthetic cannabinoids.
On January 30, 2018, Worthy and Yarborough sold synthetic cannabinoids to a law enforcement officer. On February 9, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence where Worthy and Yarborough lived. Law enforcement recovered synthetic cannabinoids intended for distribution, a different 9mm pistol, a .25-caliber pistol, and $1,640.79 in cash, which was generated from the sale of synthetic cannabinoids.
Carjandario Danielle Yarborough, age 35, of Washington, D.C, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on July 2, 2019, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, and for murder in furtherance of the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the DEA, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and recognized Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and the Arlington County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Gregory D. Bernstein, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Vancleave Woman Sentenced to Almost Three Years in Federal Prison for Credit Union TheftRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Merrideth Christina McMillian, 46, of Vancleave, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 33 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for credit union theft, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and and Michelle A. Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi. Judge Ozerden further ordered that $376,152.60 in restitution be paid to the victims.
While employed as the vice president of Singing River Federal Credit Union’s Moss Point branch, McMillian stole more than $350,000 from the credit union. The fraud was discovered after an audit in August 2018 showed suspicious transactions.
McMillian carried out the fraudulent scheme by going into the bank’s computer system and releasing collateral that was used for other loans. Once the collateral was released, she used that collateral to borrow money. Agents also uncovered that in 2017, McMillian used a customer’s information, without her consent, to take out several unsecured loans. The loans ranged from $5,000.00 to $60,000.00. On another occasion, McMillian used a friend’s name and a customer’s money market account information to take out a fraudulent loan of $47,500. In total, McMillian stole more than $350,000.00.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Sponsors 20th Annual Southern States Victim Assistance ConferenceRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina joined 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands as a co-sponsor of the 20th annual Southern States Victim Assistance Conference. The conference, which took place August 27-29 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, aimed to improve support services for victims of all types of crime by providing training opportunities to federal, state, and local law enforcement, victim assistance professionals, prosecutors, NGOs, and others involved in the criminal justice system.
This year’s theme was Building Partnerships to Expand Our Reach, and the curriculum emphasized a multidisciplinary approach to victim services that is victim-centered, practice-based, and research-informed. Training topics included hate crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, the opioid crisis, elder abuse, and underserved populations.
The Conference recognized the distinguished service of two South Carolinians during its Crime Victims Service Awards ceremony. Easter LaRoche, Coordinator of Victim Services for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, was recognized as an outstanding victim advocate. LaRoche supervises eight victim advocates and carries her own caseload, working to make sure that victims and their families who come into contact with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office have their voices heard and their interests protected. The Medical University of South Carolina’s Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, led by Dr. Dean Kilpatrick, Ph.D., was recognized as an outstanding victim services provider. Since its opening in 1977, the Center has provided specialized mental health and clinical services for crime victims and their families and conducted innovative research, education, and training to advance scientific and public understanding of the mental health impacts of exposure to crime.
“One of the highest callings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to seek justice for victims of crime, ensuring they have a voice in our legal system and working to find, prosecute, and convict those who have harmed them,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “The Southern States Victim Assistance Conference provides invaluable training for the women and men on the front lines of victim services, and we are proud to be a part of it. We are especially proud of the hard work and dedication of Easter LaRoche, Dr. Dean Kilpatrick, and his team at the Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, who have rightfully been recognized for the important work they do to serve crime victims throughout our state.”
Representing the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the Conference’s Executive Committee was Victim Witness Coordinator Clarissa W. Whaley, who also serves as Chair of Program Development. Through the annual Southern States Victim Assistance Conference, Whaley and the Executive Committee support the Department of Justice’s mission to ensure continued education and increased awareness regarding issues affecting victims of crimes.
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Two Duluth Men Charged in 15-Count Indictment Alleging A Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a 15-count federal indictment charging ERIC ANTOINE BLACK, a/k/a “J,” 36, and OTIS JASON WEAVER, a/k/a “O,” 39, in a heroin distribution conspiracy. BLACK was also charged with possession of cocaine and firearms violations. BLACK and WEAVER will be arraigned on these charges before a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court at a later date.
According to the allegations in the indictment, between March 20, 2019, through May 30, 2019, BLACK and WEAVER conspired with each other and others to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. According to the indictment, BLACK and WEAVER distributed heroin on several occasions between those dates. BLACK was also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The indictment further alleges that on May 30, 2019, BLACK illegally possessed a firearm, namely, a Glock model 27 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Because he has prior felony convictions in Cook County, Illinois and LaPorte County, Indiana, BLACK is prohibited under federal law from possessing any type of firearm or ammunition at any time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Duluth Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
ERIC ANTOINE BLACK, a/k/a “J,” 36
Duluth, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to distribute heroin, 1 count
- Distribution of heroin, 9 counts
- Possession with intent to distribute heroin, 1 count
- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 1 count
- Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count
- Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, 1 count
OTIS JASON WEAVER, a/k/a “O,” 39
Duluth, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to distribute heroin, 1 count
- Distribution of heroin, 9 counts
- Possession with intent to distribute heroin, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Turkish National Charged with Bulk Cash SmugglingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Ahmet Sakarya (30, Istanbul, Turkey) with bulk cash smuggling. If convicted, Sakarya faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Sakarya that the United States intends to forfeit any assets that are traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, on August 13, 2019, Sakarya attempted to board a flight from Tampa International Airport to Frankfort, Germany after falsely declaring that he was only carrying $14,000 in U.S. Currency. Upon further investigation, U.S. Custom and Border Patrol officers discovered that Sakarya was transporting $55,000 in cash that was hidden in his luggage.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Baggé-Hernández.
Toledo man sentenced to 35 years for sex trafficking of a minorRead the Press Release
A Toledo man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for sex trafficking involving a minor.
Lawrence Jones, 32, previously pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Jones met a minor via social media who had run away from home. Jones transported the girl to a home on Coventry Avenue in Toledo, where he took nude photographs of her and posted them online, offering commercial sex acts in the Toledo area in January, according to court documents.
The minor performed approximately 25 commercial sex acts, with all the money going to Jones. The minor told Jones several times that she was not yet 18 years old, according to court documents.
“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable child for his own financial gain,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will continue to work to prosecute people who treat children like property.”
"This child predator is deserving of this lengthy prison sentence, 35 years behind bars where he will not have access to children,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said. “The FBI will continue working this repulsive violation to ensure individuals sexually violating children are held accountable to fullest extent of the law."
Jones was also ordered to pay $17,656 in restitution and other assessments.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Toledo office and the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling, Tracey Tangeman and Suzana Koch.
Three Men Arrested on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead 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 Reno Sayles, Jr., 29, of Cheektowaga, NY, as well as Kevin Brown, 27, and Marlon Worthy, 32, both of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that on or about August 22, 2019, Sayles, Brown and Worthy were observed leaving a residence on Wanda Avenue in Cheektowaga, NY. Upon leaving that residence, Brown and Worthy walked towards a vehicle. Brown retrieved a backpack from inside the vehicle. Law enforcement seized the backpack and upon searching it, discovered that it contained 2 loaded handguns, approximately 1 ounce of heroin, ammunition, magazines, scales, and a bulletproof vest. Officers recovered over 50 grams of cocaine from inside Worthy’s vehicle and another 10 grams inside his pocket. Pursuant to a search warrant of Sayles’s residence, officers recovered narcotics paraphernalia.
The defendants were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, and are being held pending their detention hearings.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David J. Zack; and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy B. Howard with the assistance of their narcotics K-9.
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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Three Arrested on Drug, Gun Charges in RoanokeRead the Press Release
Roanoke, VIRGINIA – Three Roanoke residents were arrested Wednesday on federal drug and gun charges during the execution of a series of search warrants at residences in the City of Roanoke, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced today. The arrests were made as part of the Western District of Virginia’s ongoing Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to reduce gun and violent crime.
“We are committed to working with the Roanoke Police Department to reduce violent crime, unlawful gun possession, and the distribution of deadly substances like heroin and fentanyl in this community,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “With the help of our local partners across the district, we have significantly increased, over the past year, the number of federal cases involving firearms, violence, and drug trafficking, and will continue these critical initiatives in the Roanoke Valley to make our community safer.”
Arrested and charged this week were Jarod Sylvester Alston, 26, Antonio Lemar Waddell, 29, and Dwayne Parnell Leftwich, 31. Waddell and Alston were charged on a criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. Leftwich currently faces a firearms-related charge.
According to court documents, beginning on or about July 2019, investigators with the Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Unit developed evidence that Waddell, Alston, and Leftwich were distributing narcotics in and around the Roanoke area. Warrants were executed on August 28, 2019 to search residences associated with the three defendants, located on Crescent Street, Grayson Avenue, and Elm Street in the City of Roanoke. During those searches, investigators recovered more than 100 grams of suspected heroin, more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl, and more than 400 grams of suspected methamphetamine, in addition to firearms and more than $38,000 in cash.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATFE), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Roanoke City Police Department, and members of the region’s High Intensity Drug Task Areas (HIDTA) program. Assistant United States Attorney Kari Munro is prosecuting the case for the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. 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.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Threat Caller Goes to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Samuel Santellan sentenced to one year for threatening a mass shooting
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —Samuel Adam Santellan, 55, of Florida, was sentenced to a year in prison for communicating a threat in interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today. In imposing the sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker stated that one of his considerations was to deter such threats, which endanger public safety whether or not the caller intends to carry them out.
In December, 2018, Santellan called the Kalamazoo office of the Social Security Administration, from Florida, about a rejected disability claim. Santellan became angry when he did not receive the relief he was hoping for, and told the clerk he was going to "get a gun, come to the [Social Security] office and shoot everyone." The Kalamazoo office was placed on alert, and a uniformed officer of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety was temporarily dispatched to provide armed security.
At sentencing, Santellan claimed he did not possess a gun and had no intention of carrying out a mass shooting. Special Agents of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and officers of the Daytona Beach Shores (Florida) Police Department expended significant resources tracking and locating Santellan, both before he was indicted and after he failed to appear for court while out on bond. "Law enforcement has to take every threat of mass firearms violence seriously," said U.S. Attorney Birge. "Every officer and agent diverted to deal with an aborted threat or a hoax is unavailable to stop another shooter."
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Daytona Beach Shores Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler.
END
Tampa Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Aaron Michael Rohrer (25, Tampa) with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl that resulted in the death of an individual, B.G. If convicted, Rohrer faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on March 10, 2019, Rohrer distributed a substance containing fentanyl to B.G. B.G. used the substance containing fentanyl, and subsequently overdosed and died. The distribution took place within 1,000 feet of Time of Wonder Academy, a primary school, and the National Louis University.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Baggé-Hernández.
Statements of the United States Attorney and the FBI Special Agent in Charge on the Arrest and Charging of a Grand Junction Man for Making Threats to Kidnap and Murder WomenRead the Press Release
"Above everything else, our most important job is keeping Coloradans safe," said United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn. "Threats to the public always need to be taken seriously. We commend the quick thinking and fast work of the FBI and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, who make responding to potential threats a top priority."
"The arrest in this case highlights the success that can be obtained when federal, state, and local agencies combine resources to pursue potential threats to our community," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. "We extend our gratitude to our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office for working together to quickly address this matter."
The defendant in this case is charged by a criminal complaint. The charge in the complaint is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
CASE NO. 19-mj-198
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Statement on deaths at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical CenterRead the Press Release
There is an ongoing and comprehensive federal criminal investigation underway into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of certain patients at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. The investigation, conducted by my office, along with the FBI and the VA OIG, was initiated as soon as potential criminal conduct was discovered and continues to be a top priority. We fully understand the desire for a speedy resolution and need for closure. The VA will continue to coordinate with the affected families, but in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we will not be making any additional comments until the investigation is complete.
Bill Powell
U.S. Attorney
Northern District of West Virginia
St. John the Baptist Man Indicted on Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that on August 29, 2019, JONATHAN WEBRE, age 35, a resident of Reserve, Louisiana, was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury in a three count indictment, charging him with distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
These charges stem from an investigation by both the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration into the illegal activities of JONATHAN WEBRE over the last two years.
If convicted of the drug charges he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of not more than $4,000,000.00, and a five year term of supervised release. If convicted of the firearms charges, he faces a sentence of not more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of not more than three years.
This indictment is just an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.), the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the St. John the Baptist District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu is in charge of the prosecution.
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St. Francis Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on August 26, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Justin Covey, a/k/a Justin Night Shield, age 19, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Covey was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 11, 2018. He pled guilty on May 29, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy that occurred beginning no later than October 15, 2018, and continuing to November 2, 2018, in which Covey knowingly and intentionally conspired with his co-defendants to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in the District of South Dakota. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered 256 grams of methamphetamine, scales, baggies, and other drug trafficking items.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Covey was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on August 27, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Damon Clyde Has Horns, age 38, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Has Horns was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2019. He pled guilty on July 23, 2019.
Has Horns was convicted of Aggravated Assault in March 2001. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. Between December 3, 2018, and March 12, 2019, Has Horns failed to properly register as a sex offender and update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Has Horns was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Savannah man ordered detained until trial on charges related to firebombingRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been ordered held without bond on federal charges related to the July 2 firebombing that badly burned a Savannah woman.
After a Friday morning, Aug. 30, detention hearing, Barry Wright, 52, of Savannah, was ordered to be detained pending trial by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Christopher L. Ray on federal charges of possession of an unregistered destructive device, and one count of the use of fire or explosive to commit a felony offense, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each charge carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
According to testimony during Wright’s detention hearing, he is alleged to have constructed and placed an incendiary device inside a woman’s vehicle. The device set the vehicle on fire, and the woman received severe burns.
“We applaud the quick work of our federal and local law enforcement partners in bringing these charges,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office will vigorously prosecute those whose violent and destructive actions bring harm to others.”
“This arrest was made after countless hours of meticulous investigation,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Arthur Peralta, with the Atlanta Bureau. “These types of crimes require an immediate response, intense investigation and collaboration at every level.”
Wright’s charges in the case are not a finding of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania Groover and Joseph McCool.
Santa Fe Springs ‘Shotcaller’ and Mexican Mafia Member Convicted of Racketeering, Narcotics Offenses, and 2016 Murder of Rival GangsterRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Mexican Mafia member and “shotcaller” of the Santa Fe Springs- and Whittier-based Canta Ranas street gang has been found guilty by a federal jury of multiple crimes resulting from his control of a wide-ranging racketeering criminal enterprise, including the murder of a rival Mexican Mafia member at a San Gabriel Valley restaurant.
Jose Loza, 40, the lead defendant in a 2016 federal grand jury indictment charging 51 Canta Ranas members and associates, was convicted Thursday afternoon of 12 felonies. Canta Ranas is a multi-generational criminal enterprise engaged in murder, attempted murder, assault, extortion, money laundering, and drug distribution.
Specifically, the jury found Loza guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, four counts of engaging in violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR), one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips has scheduled a December 16 sentencing hearing, at which time Loza will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison stemming from his conviction for the murder alone.
According to the evidence presented at Loza’s month-long trial, Loza implemented the orders of David Gavaldon, an imprisoned senior Mexican Mafia member who was himself a long-time member of the Canta Ranas street gang and who was not charged in this case as he is serving a life-without-parole sentence in Pelican Bay State Prison. Gavaldon exerted control over Canta Ranas and other gangs in Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Riverside, and Stockton, and he received compensation in the form of “rent” or “taxes” generated by drug trafficking and other offenses committed in gang territory, according to trial evidence.
In addition to implementing Gavaldon’s orders, Loza murdered Dominic Gonzales, a fellow Mexican Mafia member who was marked for death by the prison gang after he was perceived as encroaching upon the territories of other Mexican Mafia members. During the April 19, 2016 incident at a restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley community of Basset, Gonzales was shot six times, including to the head and chest, his bodyguard was severely wounded, and an innocent restaurant patron was wounded, receiving six gunshots to the abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.
In what’s believed to be a first-time occurrence, Loza as well as other Mexican Mafia members and high-level associates of the prison gang, including a death row inmate from San Quentin, took the unusual step of testifying about the gang’s existence, activities, and power both inside and outside prison systems.
Prosecutors have secured more than 40 convictions so far in this matter, which is the result of Operation Frog Legs. During the course of that three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 51 firearms and made several narcotics seizures, including nearly one pound of methamphetamine seized during the execution of search warrants after Loza murdered the other Mexican Mafia member.
Loza’s accomplice in the 2016 murder, Leonardo Antolin, 25, of Whittier, pleaded guilty to five felonies in this case and has agreed to a prison sentence of 33 years to 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 23.
Operation Frog Legs is the result of an investigation by the Southern California Drug Task Force, which is led by the Drug Enforcement Administration as part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative. The Task Force members that participated in Operation Frog Legs were U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation, the Whittier Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Correctional Safety, Special Service Unit.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol Alexis Chen, Chief of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, and Assistant United States Attorneys Victoria A. Degtyareva and Kathy Yu, also of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section.
San Diego Man Convicted of Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Griffith (619) 546-8970 or Janet Cabral (619) 546-8715
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 30, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Carsten Igor Rosenow was convicted by a federal jury today of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
Rosenow, a former chief marketing officer for a San Diego tech company, came to the attention of law enforcement when the FBI received information that Rosenow was communicating through Facebook with what appeared to be minor females living in the Philippines, using an account under the name “Carlos Senta.” The FBI also uncovered evidence that Rosenow traveled regularly to the Philippines, and appeared to be engaging in sexual activities with minors.
The FBI was alerted that Rosenow was scheduled to return to the United States from the Philippines in June of 2017, and he was arrested by FBI agents when he arrived at the airport in San Diego on June 21, 2017. Rosenow’s baggage and residence were searched pursuant to search warrants. According to evidence presented at trial, three devices seized from Rosenow’s luggage contained videos, produced by Rosenow while in the Philippines, showing Rosenow engaging in sexual acts with minor females. Additional devices seized from his residence also contained visual depictions of Rosenow engaged in sexual acts with minors while in the Philippines.
Facebook records introduced into evidence at trial established that prior to meeting with one of the girls, Rosenow was told she was 12 years old. While engaged in the sexual activity with the girl, she told Rosenow she was 15. Rosenow also admitted as part of the evidence at trial that he knew that another video, which showed him engaged in sexual acts with three minor females, one of whom was a prepubescent female, was produced by him while in the Philippines
Rosenow testified at trial and admitted that while he was abroad in the Philippines for work, he had sex with girls who he knew were minors, which is defined under federal law as anyone under the age of 18. The jury found the defendant guilty of both charges. The court set sentencing for December 2, 2019.
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Formed in 2019, by U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer, Jr., the VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking. The VCHT Section oversees the Southern District of California Coordinators for Project Safe Neighborhoods, Human Trafficking, and Project Safe Childhood.
DEFENDANT Criminal Case No. 17cr3430-WQH
Carsten Igor Rosenow Age: 55 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
- Count One – Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(c), Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child – Production of Child Pornography
- Count Two – Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B), Possession of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
Maximum penalties:
- Count One - 30 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison
- Count Two – 20 years in prison
- As to all Counts, $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Saint Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Johnzell Moorehead, 29, of Saint Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. Moorehead appeared today before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for December 6, 2019.
According to the plea agreement and among other things, Moorehead, his girlfriend, and an associate, Daryaun Wines, were travelling inside a vehicle in the early morning hours of October 12, 2017. The group was being followed by two additional associates who were in a separate vehicle. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Federal Officer Archie Shaw was on-duty and, as part of an on-going investigation, began to follow the second of the two vehicles. Special Federal Officer Shaw was utilizing an unmarked law enforcement vehicle.
Moorehead noticed Special Federal Officer Shaw's vehicle. Moorehead, his girlfriend, and Wines split-up from their other associates (who were being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw). The vehicle being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw led Special Federal Officer Shaw to the intersection of Miami and Iowa streets within the City of Saint Louis. As Special Federal Officer Shaw drove through the intersection, Moorehead and Wines shot Special Federal Officer Shaw. Moorehead and Wines travelled to that location for the purpose of committing the shooting.
Special Federal Officer Shaw's vehicle was struck several times by the gunfire. Special Federal Officer Shaw himself was also struck by gunfire. After being shot, Special Federal Officer Shaw was able to drive himself to safety. Moorehead and his associates fled the area.
Under the firearm charge, Moorehead faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges. As part of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed to recommend a 25-year sentence at the time of Moorehead’s sentencing.
In addition to Moorehead’s conviction, this on-going investigation into the shooting of Special Federal Officer Shaw also resulted in the federal convictions of Daryaun Wines; Paris Gordon; Don Collins; Joseph Paster; Clifton Hudson; and Darlene Calhoun.
“Police Officer Shaw has provided nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Saint Louis. The courage he exhibited in this incident, demonstrates his level of commitment to the protection of the community,” said Chief John Hayden, Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department. “The Saint Louis Police Department truly appreciates the support and assistance we receive from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and all our federal partners.”
"Mr. Moorhead and Mr. Wines ambushed FBI Special Federal Officer Shaw as he was simply doing his job, a dangerous job requiring courage and dedication. When any officer is threatened or attacked, the Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable anyone directly or indirectly involved. We hope Mr. Moorehead’s case, along with the other individuals charged and convicted during the course of this on-going investigation makes that clear,” said Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Rea after today's proceeding.
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is investigating this case.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Derek Rand, 31, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between late 2017 and December 18, 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New Hampshire State Police conducted an investigation of drug trafficking by Rand, who used runners to obtain fentanyl in Massachusetts and bring it to New Hampshire for distribution. During the investigation, over one kilogram of fentanyl was seized from members of Rand’s drug trafficking organization.
DEA arrested Rand on December 18, 2018.
Rand will be sentenced on December 16, 2019.
“Fentanyl traffickers make a lethal substance available for purchase in Rochester and other communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The results have been devastating. In order to stop the flow of fentanyl, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest, and prosecute traffickers.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Davis.
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Queens Man Planning Knife Attack Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charged Awais Chudhary, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Chudhary was arrested yesterday, and made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James Orenstein. Chudhary was ordered held without bail.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest.
“As alleged, Awais Chudhary planned to kill innocent civilians on behalf of ISIS and record the bloodshed in the hope of inspiring others to commit attacks,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office, together with the FBI, the NYPD and all members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue working tirelessly to identify ISIS sympathizers like the defendant and prevent them from carrying out their murderous intentions.”
“The defendant allegedly planned to conduct a deadly attack in New York on behalf of ISIS,” stated Assistant Attorney General Demers. “The National Security Division, working with our partners, will remain vigilant in our efforts to identify, disrupt and hold accountable those who would conduct a terrorist attack on our soil. I want to thank the agents, analysts and prosecutors who are responsible for this case and prevented this defendant from carrying out his deadly plans.”
“There’s no doubt Chudhary allegedly wanted to make headlines by attacking innocent people going about their daily lives. Thanks to the diligent work of the agents, analysts, and detectives on the FBI New York JTTF, the only thing to report today is his arrest, and the only photos Chudhary will be featured in are the ones taken in our prisoner processing room prior to his arrival in federal prison,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.
“Awais Chudhary had accepted the call from ISIS to kill fellow New Yorkers in the city he called home,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “He had carefully planned, conducted reconnaissance, picked a target, and was in the process of obtaining the weapon. All he has left to do was to strike. The FBI agents and NYPD detectives of the JTTF should be commended for the disruption of this plot. Their work almost certainly saved lives.”
As alleged in the complaint, in August 2019, Chudhary communicated to undercover law enforcement officers through text messaging that he planned to conduct a stabbing or bombing attack on behalf of ISIS. Chudhary also wanted to record his attack to inspire others to commit similar acts of violence. Chudhary identified the pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway to the Flushing Bay Promenade (the Promenade) and the area of the World’s Fair Marina (the Marina) as locations for the attack. On August 23, 2019, Chudhary told an undercover agent that he intended to use a knife “because that’s what he knows,” but if the undercover agent could instruct him on how to build a bomb, he would consider using an explosive device at a “mini-bridge over a busy road with many cars.” On the same day, Chudhary texted another undercover agent a screenshot of a document entitled “Islamic State,” with the subheadings: “Places to Strike,” “The Ideal Knife” and “Knives to Avoid.” The instructions included a diagram of the human body with directions where to stab a victim. Chudhary also sent the undercover agent videos of pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway, and stated that he was considering throwing explosives over the fencing at vehicles passing below.
Chudhary conducted multiple reconnaissance trips to the targeted locations. On August 24, 2019, FBI agents surveilled Chudhary enter the Promenade in the vicinity of 27th Avenue and Ditmars Boulevard and take videos and photos with his cellphone of various locations, as well as the Marina, a nearby gas station, a donut shop and a security camera near the donut shop.
Between August 25 and August 26, 2019, Chudhary ordered online a tactical knife, a mask, gloves and a cellphone chest and head strap to facilitate his recording of the attack. Chudhary was arrested yesterday as he attempted to retrieve the items from an online vendor’s retail location in Queens.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Chudhary faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Algor and Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Hanft are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Kevin C. Nunnally of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The Defendant:
AWAIS CHUDHARY
Age: 19
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-MJ-778
Pharmacy Owner Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Commit Health Care Fraud and Pay Illegal Bribes to DoctorRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for his role in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and to bribe a doctor, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Eduard Shtindler, a/k/a “Eddy,” 36, of Paramus, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks to a doctor. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2012 through at least 2017, Shtindler owned and operated Empire Pharmacy – now closed – in West New York, New Jersey. Starting in 2015, Empire began filling prescriptions for expensive specialty medication that required “prior authorization” before being approved for reimbursement by Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurance providers. Shtindler intended to entice doctors to use Empire for specialty medication prescriptions by showing that, among other things, Empire received prior authorization approval more successfully than any other pharmacies. To do that, he directed Empire employees, including two pharmacists, to repeatedly falsify prior authorization forms for medications for various conditions, including psoriasis and Hepatitis C. In recorded conversations, Shtindler admitted to his and Empire’s practice of falsifying prior authorization forms in order to receive approval for medication that would not have otherwise been approved. Shtindler and Empire received approximately $2 million in reimbursement payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance carriers that they otherwise would not have received.
From 2012 through early 2017, Shtindler also participated in a conspiracy to pay bribes to a psychiatrist in Hudson County, New Jersey, to induce the doctor to send prescriptions to Empire. Shtindler sent Empire employees to deliver some of the bribe payments to the doctor. On occasion, Shtindler secreted cash bribes, in $100 denominations, in pill bottles that were delivered to the doctor. In exchange for these bribes, the doctor steered patients to Empire pharmacy, even though the patients used other pharmacies closer to their homes for all of their other prescriptions. In one recorded conversation between Shtindler and a former Empire employee who had delivered a bribe to the doctor on Shtindler’s behalf, Shtindler stated: “You think [the doctor]’s going to go to the FBI and rat himself out?” In another conversation with the same former employee, Shtindler said: “First off, I didn’t make you do it. I didn’t put a gun to your head. We all made money together.” Empire dispensed approximately $3 million in medications prescribed by the psychiatrist.
The count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The count of conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Both counts are also punishable by a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; special agents of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; and the N.J. Office of the State Comptroller, under the direction of Comptroller Philip James Degnan, with the ongoing investigation leading to today’s arrest.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Haber of the Health Care and Government Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pain Clinic Owner from South Florida Sentenced for Oxycodone Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Pete Anthony Tyndale, 47, of Hollywood, Florida, was sentenced to 29 years of imprisonment by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier for conspiring to distribute oxycodone and other drugs, and for money laundering.
Tyndale was the co-owner of the Tennessee Pain Institute (TPI), a pain clinic that operated from 2011 to 2016 near Chattanooga. After a month-long trial earlier this year in federal court, a jury convicted Tyndale, his business partner Anwar Mithavayani, and physician Timothy Gowder, of operating TPI as a pill mill, and for money laundering related to proceeds from TPI. The three men were responsible for the illicit distribution of more than 1.6 million oxycodone 30mg pills, and hundreds of thousands of other narcotic pills and sedative pills, such as Xanax. Approximately half of TPI’s pill customers were traveling from eastern Kentucky.
In earlier proceedings this month, Judge Wier sentenced Gowder to 21 years of imprisonment and Mithavayani to 25 years of imprisonment. A third co-defendant, James Bradley Combs, 41, of Woodbine, Kentucky, received a 151-month sentence. Combs was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute oxycodone, and he was a regular customer at TPI. Another co-defendant, Larry Karr of Keavy, Kentucky, pled guilty to the oxycodone conspiracy charge in May of 2018 and was later sentenced to 108 months in prison.
Under federal law, Tyndale and his co-defendants each must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon release, they will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable, to the full extent of the law, those who would profit from the illicit distribution of highly addictive drugs like oxycodone,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “Hiding behind the ruse of a ‘medical clinic’ will not protect any drug trafficker from facing the consequences of the substantial harm caused by their actions.”
U.S. Attorney Duncan, Special Agent in Charge D. Christopher Evans of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Line of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Andy Beshear, Kentucky Attorney General, and Richard W. Sanders, Commissioner of Kentucky State Police jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the IRS and the Kentucky Attorney’s General Office as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg.
On Overdose Awareness Day: A Mother’s Grief, a Top Prosecutor’s Dire Warning and Photos of Lives Lost in the Opioid EpidemicRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cindy Cipriani (619) 546-9608 and Larry Casper (619) 546-6734
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 30, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Keri Cuppage is on a scuba diving trip to Florida this Labor Day weekend to visit her daughter.
But it’s not what you think.
Her daughter, Tiffany Hansen, who died in San Diego on January 23, 2018 at age 26 of a fentanyl overdose, is resting at the bottom of the ocean she dearly loved. Her ashes were used to create a sea turtle sculpture which was placed in a manmade underwater memorial reef about 3 miles east of Key Biscayne near Miami, Florida.
Cuppage, who lives in San Diego, chose to commemorate Opioid Awareness Day, which is tomorrow, by descending 40 feet to the ocean floor to see that turtle and to honor, remember and grieve the young woman whose nickname was “Princess” and whose passions were the beach, mermaids and all things Disney, and whose death shattered her mother’s world. Cuppage managed to beat the hurricane that’s heading toward Miami by doing the dive a day earlier than planned.
“She brought love, joy and silliness; spreading infectious laughter into everyone’s life,” Cuppage wrote in an email about her daughter. “She was deeply loved by her family and friends. She is missed every day.” Cuppage said she plans to spend every “Opioid Awareness Day” like this.
In conjunction with Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2019, U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer is again warning the community about the dangers of opioids and fentanyl-laced drugs and sharing photos of numerous victims whose lives were cut short due to overdose.
They include an avid fisherman and father of three girls. A gifted soccer player. A young man who loved riding dirt bikes, listening to music and going to concerts. And others. All under 50. All died of opioid overdoses – mostly fentanyl.
“We are losing far too many San Diegans to a drug that many don’t even know they are taking,” Brewer said. “Counterfeit oxycodone pills – known as blue M-30s – have stolen the lives of husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and even a toddler who swallowed a pill that fell out of his dad’s pocket. Cocaine laced with fentanyl is another danger: It nearly killed two college students who had no idea they were ingesting an opioid 50 times stronger than heroin. Please understand the huge risks of street and ‘dark web’ drugs – they can kill you! Be smart, don’t take that risk.”
Addiction and overdose cause tremendous suffering not only to the victim but to surviving family members, friends and communities.
Erica Sanfillipo, a 27-year-old registered nurse and mother of a young child, became addicted while trying to manage pain associated with two car accidents in a six-month period. She died of an opioid overdose on June 28, 2015.
Her mother, Patricia Gary, wrote in an email that Erica’s addiction “quickly became something not only she was battling, but our entire family as well. See, this disease has no barriers nor does it discriminate. Eventually all the things that she loved and that were important to her no longer mattered – all that mattered was the next fix. In the end, Erica not only paid the ultimate price, but so did her child, parents, brother, aunts, uncles and many close friends! WE WERE ALL IMPACTED BY ADDICTION!”
Fentanyl-related deaths are rapidly climbing to unprecedented levels. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office reports 50 confirmed fentanyl-related overdose deaths so far this year, plus another 28 suspected but yet-to-be confirmed cases with four months remaining in the year. Should this trend continue for the remainder of 2019, the death toll could potentially reach 130, which would amount to a 47 percent increase over last year’s total of 90 deaths, and a staggering 787 percent hike over five years ago when there were 15. The victims are overwhelmingly male, and the average age is 36, with the youngest 18 and the oldest 66.
Fentanyl is 30-50 times more powerful than heroin and so dangerous that in its purest form, even a tiny amount can be deadly. According to law enforcement reports, the price of fentanyl in 2019 – whether in powder form and pill form – is declining, meaning that availability of both forms are is increasing in our community.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and District Attorney’s Office are working closely with the Medical Examiner’s Office and its law enforcement partners on overdose cases involving fentanyl to trace the origin of these deadly substances and build cases against suppliers.
Under federal law, sellers and suppliers of drugs that cause death or serious bodily injury face a very stiff penalty -- a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence. So far, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged about a dozen alleged dealers with that 20-year mandatory minimum offense.
In one such case, the defendant in U.S. v. Maxwell Gaffney (17CR3330-MMA) was swiftly convicted after a week-long trial and is now awaiting imposition of what could be at least a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence. In another recent case, defendant Corey Green (18CR2249-AJB) entered a guilty plea to heroin distribution charges and acknowledged that a death ensued; he was sentenced to 151 months in custody.
“These death investigations cannot bring back beloved family members but they do get deadly drugs off the street quickly,” Brewer said. “Moreover, the ensuing prosecutions send a clear message that traffickers will face serious repercussions. We hope these cases also bring a measure of comfort, peace and justice to beloved family members who face this devastating loss, with no option but to grieve for what might have been.”
In addition to prosecuting opioid dealers and smugglers, the U.S. Attorney's office raises awareness of harm reduction, prevention and education efforts, through the district's newly named Opioid Coordinators Larry Casper and Dylan Aste, and Outreach Director Cindy Cipriani, who Co-Chairs the San Diego Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has implemented a Fentanyl Forum and a Fentanyl Working Group, both of which offer training and enable law enforcement partners to easily share knowledge and best practices. The office is also co-sponsoring the Western States Opioid Summit in San Diego on Nov. 7-8, which will bring multiple disciplines together to address every aspect of the Opioid Crisis. U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams will be a featured speaker, along with leaders from the prevention, public health, treatment and law enforcement communities.
U.S. Attorney Brewer urged those struggling with substance use disorder and their family members to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about Naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose.
If you encounter fentanyl in the form of counterfeit pills or bulk powder, please reach out to law enforcement and/or refer to resources listed at https://www.sandiegorxabusetaskforce.org/community-resources
To learn how to assist a person who is overdosing, including how to administer Naloxone, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nurz9qPGKws&feature=youtu.be.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting several cases associated with victims listed below, including the alleged dealer who provided fentanyl to Tiffany Hansen, resulting in her death. That case, U.S. v. Uriah Odish, 18-CR-1812, is scheduled for trial on October 28. Please scroll down to see photos and details.
*Family members of victims who are willing to do interviews are indicated below.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 168 months Imprisonment for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that John Nichols, 54, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 30, 2019, to 168 months in prison by United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. After serving his sentence, Nichols will serve a 5-year term of supervised release.
Nichols was arrested on March 2, 2018, after being found outside of his South Omaha residence in possession of a firearm. A search of his residence revealed approximately 13 pounds of methamphetamine, four firearms, and more than $13,000 in U.S. currency. In a post arrest statement, Nichols admitted that he had been involved in distributing pound quantities of methamphetamine in the Omaha area.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Ohio Woman Admits ATM Skimming Activity that Victimized Banks in Connecticut, Other StatesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MAYA FLORINA LUIZA DeSTEFFANO, also known as “Maya-Luisa Pastorelli” and “Maria,” 61, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to conspiracy and identity theft charges stemming from ATM skimming activity that defrauded banks in Connecticut and other states.
According to court documents and statements in court today, between February and June 2017, a Connecticut bank experienced approximately 35 incidents of ATM skimming at locations in Stratford, Monroe, Trumbull, Greenwich, Fairfield and elsewhere in Connecticut. As part of the scheme, conspiracy members placed skimming devices at the ATMs to capture account numbers and personal identification numbers (“PIN numbers”) from customers who used their ATM cards at the ATMs while the devices were in place. Conspiracy members then used the captured information to make substitute ATM cards, and obtained money and made purchases using those cards. The bank suffered losses of approximately $286,069 during the scheme.
In pleading guilty, DeSteffano admitted that she installed and removed ATM skimming equipment at several locations, and used re-encoded cards and PINs to obtain money from several bank locations. She further admitted that, in December 2017, she participated in ATM skimming activity in Virginia and Maryland and, in September and October 2018, she participated in skimming activity Georgia. The banks victimized in these schemes suffered total losses of more than $191,000.
DeSteffano was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 14, 2018. She has been detained since her arrest.
DeSteffano pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive prison term of imprisonment of two years. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on November 22, 2019.
On August 23, 2019, George Dragusin, a co-conspirator of DeSteffano in the Connecticut ATM skimming activity, pleaded guilty to the same charges. Dragusin, a citizen of Romania, also admitted that, between March and September 2018, he participated in ATM skimming activity in Nevada, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and California, causing multiple banks to suffer total losses of more than $645,000. He is detained pending sentencing.
The investigation is being conducted by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force; the U.S. Secret Service in New Haven and Las Vegas; the Greenwich Police Department; the Monroe Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the New York Police Department; the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; the Lawrenceville (Georgia) Police Department; the Dixon (Calif.) Police Department, and the Hayward (Calif.) Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Norris Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Norris, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on August 27, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Michael Bettelyoun, age 26, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Bettelyoun was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 11, 2018. He pled guilty on May 29, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from 2017 through 2018, wherein Bettelyoun conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Bettelyoun was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.