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Wednesday 21 August 2019
Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Distributing Methamphetamine in Eau ClaireRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Todd Anderson, 38, Centerville, Minnesota, was sentenced on Friday, August 16, by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 90 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Anderson pleaded guilty to this charge on April 30, 2019.
In July 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Eau Claire Police Department, and the West Central Drug Task Force were conducting a joint investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Eau Claire. Officers received information identifying Manuel Small as an individual selling methamphetamine out of an Eau Claire motel room, and providing a description of Small’s source of methamphetamine. Officers were surveilling Small’s motel room on July 30, 2018, when Anderson arrived at the room, went in for a short time, then drove off. Anderson matched the description of Small’s drug source, and was arrested minutes later at a nearby gas station. In the meantime, other officers executed a search warrant at Small’s motel room and found over 50 grams of methamphetamine packaged for resale. Anderson confirmed that he delivered two ounces of methamphetamine to Small, and that he had been supplying Small one to two ounces of methamphetamine daily for about a month.
Small was arrested the same day, and charged in a separate federal indictment. He pleaded guilty April 17, and was sentenced on August 8 to seven years in federal prison.
The charges against Todd Anderson and Manuel Small were the result of a joint investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, the Eau Claire Police Department and DEA. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Przybylinski Finn.
MS-13 Defendant Admits to Being Shooter in 2006 MurderRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant in the MS-13 racketeering case has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court and accepted responsibility for his involvement in multiple homicides, including the murder of a former confidential informant.
Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar (also known as Chele Trece), 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Interim Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the plea entered into today before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Jimenez-Montufar is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.
The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.
The second superseding indictment alleges that the defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz, a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.
As part of his plea, Jimenez-Montufar admitted to being the shooter who killed Jose Mendez in 2006. At that time, Mendez was a confidential informant working with law enforcement agencies in the Columbus area. In December 2006, Jimenez-Montufar and other MS-13 members drove Mendez to a remote location east of Columbus to murder him. Jimenez-Montufar shot Mendez in the head and left his body in Perry County.
Jimenez-Montufar’s plea also details that the defendant participated in other homicides, assaulted victims, set fire to an extortion victim’s car, and took part in drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering.
Jimenez-Montufar faces up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim, who are prosecuting the case.
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Louis "the Coin" Colavecchio Sentenced to Prison for Counterfeiting $100 BillsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A 77 year-old Rhode Island man nicknamed “The Coin,” having previously been convicted of, among other things, counterfeiting massive amounts of slugs used in slot machines in numerous gaming venues and casinos from which he is now banned, was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for counterfeiting $100 bills.
Louis “The Coin” Colavecchio, of Cranston, was arrested in December 2018, when a six-month U.S. Secret Service undercover investigation concluded with agents executing federally authorized search warrants and seizing from Colavecchio’s then Coventry residence $29,000 in counterfeit $100 bills, a mechanical printing press, images of $100 bills, a computer, and other counterfeiting materials.
Colavecchio pled guilty on March 19, 2019, to intent to defraud and possess counterfeit obligations.
According to court documents, prior to his arrest on December 7, 2018, Colavecchio boasted to others that he was already working on a defense should he be arrested again for counterfeiting. If caught, Colavecchio told others he would claim that he was working as a counterfeit deterrence specialist.
In addition to being convicted in 1997 and sentenced to 27-months in federal prison for counterfeiting casino tokens in a massive operation that targeted all of the Atlantic City casinos in New Jersey and the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, Colavecchio has since been convicted of larceny; of obtaining money under false pretenses, after he was caught stealing $100,000 from his 92-year-old aunt; resisting arrest; and for cultivating kilograms of marijuana.
According to court documents, in 2015, Colavecchio published an autobiography detailing his life of crime, including his self-described interaction and activities with the Patriarca Crime Family.
Colavecchio’s sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Stephen Marks.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Marks thank the Coventry and Pawtucket Police Departments for their assistance executing court-authorized search warrants in this matter.
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Littleton Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Keith Baker, 24, of Littleton, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 60 months for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included wiretaps of certain telephones, investigators learned that on April 8, 2018, Baker intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Massachusetts to purchase fentanyl. The Woodstock, New Hampshire, Police Department later seized approximately 41.3 grams of fentanyl from a vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger. The investigation revealed that from February 23, 2018, and continuing through April 8, 2018, Baker ordered fentanyl from drug distributors in Massachusetts on various occasions. He then redistributed that fentanyl to customers in New Hampshire.
Baker previously pleaded guilty on March 7, 2019.
“Fentanyl trafficking has caused grave harm to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we will continue to work closely with all of our law enforcement partners identify, arrest, and prosecute those who bring this deadly substance into the Granite State.”
“Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Those who distribute fentanyl are endangering the safety of the citizens of New Hampshire. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the Drug Enforcement Administration; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe and Debra M. Walsh.
This investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Leader of Large-Scale Marijuana Conspiracy Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to pay a $300,000 forfeiture judgment for his involvement in a large scale marijuana distribution enterprise.
According to court documents, Jamil Taylor-Kamara, 23, was one of two leaders who shipped large quantities of marijuana from California to the Hampton Roads area for further distribution. The packages of marijuana were often shipped using a Ship ‘n Click account through the U.S. Postal Service. During the conspiracy, 222 packages were shipped containing approximately 750 pounds of marijuana. On one occasion, Taylor-Kamara and a co-conspirator were arrested in Illinois transporting 256 pounds of marijuana. The proceeds from the marijuana were sent back to California by depositing the money in various bank accounts in Virginia and then the money withdrawn from those accounts in California.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Muhr and Kevin Hudson prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-42.
Leader of Jamestown Drug Organization Pleads Guilty to Selling CocaineRead 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 Sigfredo Martinez, 47, of Celeron, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura A. Higgins and Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who are handling the case, stated that beginning in early 2016, the defendant led a drug organization responsible for distributing heroin and cocaine in the Jamestown, NY area. The defendant appointed co-defendant Bryan Ferrer-Vazquez to be responsible for the “day shift” transactions, while his co-defendant, Alex Mercado, distributed during the “night shift.”
Every few days, Martinez would distribute a couple hundred bundles of heroin each to Ferrer-Vazquez and Mercado who were then tasked with distributing the heroin to smaller dealers and users. The proceeds were collected by an uncharged co-conspirator, who turned over the proceeds to the defendant. Martinez utilized a second uncharged co-conspirator to distribute quantities of cocaine and heroin.
Between February 11, 2016, and March 2, 2017, investigators conducted at least eight controlled purchases of heroin or cocaine from Ferrer-Vazquez and Mercado.
On April 6, 2017, a federal search warrant was executed at Martinez’s residence at 32 E. Duquesne Street in Celeron. Investigators seized nine cellphones, two electronic tablets, a laptop computer, a notebook, and a GPS device.
The same day, another search warrant was executed at 385 Buffalo Street in Jamestown. Investigators seized 19 cellphones, a quantity of suspected cocaine, a quantity of suspected heroin, $2,994 U.S. currency, three ledger notebooks, and a scale. A loaded semi-automatic handgun was found in the detached garage.
The FBI Cryptanalysis & Racketeering Records Unit performed an analysis on the ledgers and several loose pieces of paper recovered. The analysis determined that the organization was distributing “bundles” of heroin for a price of $75-80. Further, the analysis found that “on January 28, 2016 and between June 22, 2016 and April 5, 2017, the business distributed a minimum total of 8,106 bundles of heroin to approximately 28 separate accounts for a minimum total of $83,150.” 8,000 bundles equates to approximately eight kilograms of heroin.
Bryan Ferrer-Vazquez and Alex Mercado were previously convicted. Ferrer-Vazquez is awaiting sentencing. Mercado was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Charged with Civil Rights Offenses for Shooting an Unarmed Person and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Richard Palmer, 58, was indicted today on charges that he used unreasonable force by shooting an unarmed woman and misleading state investigators about the circumstances of his actions, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and FBI Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas of FBI’s Jacksonville Division.
According to the indictment, on Oct. 11, 2016, Palmer, while on duty as a Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, shot a woman whose hands were visible and empty. Palmer’s actions resulted in bodily injury to her. Palmer later misled investigators by falsely justifying the shooting, claiming that the woman’s left hand was in her pocket, that the woman was pulling her left hand out of her pocket, and that he saw a dark object in her left hand.
Palmer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for his use of unreasonable force, 20 years in prison for his false statements, and fines. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Jacksonville Division. Special Legal Counsel Mark Blumberg and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Anna Gotfryd of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Kenner Resident Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ANDREW J. SMITH (“SMITH”), age 22, of Kenner, Louisiana, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 15, 2019, and charged with Possession of Child Pornography. SMITH was arrested by Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) on Monday, August 19, 2019. SMITH appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dana M. Douglas, who detained him pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, August 20, 2019.
According to the Indictment, SMITH knowingly possessed pre-pubescent images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of children and those illegal depictions were found on SMITH’s LG phone.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, SMITH faces maximum penalty up to twenty (20) years, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Kenner Police Department, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
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Judge Sentences Altoona Man for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -A resident of Altoona, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court in Johnstown to two years (24 months) in prison and 10 years supervised release on his conviction of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on John F. Boslet, 54.
According to information presented to the court, on Aug. 8, 2013, Boslet knowingly possessed images as computer graphic files containing child pornography, which had been shipped and transported in interstate or foreign commerce by means of a computer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Department of Homeland Security Investigations for their investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Boslet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jamaican national living in Cleveland indicted on fentanyl and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
A Jamaican national living in Cleveland was indicted on fentanyl and firearms charges.
Steven Al-Jay Hinds, 28, was indicted with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of firearms by an alien illegally in the U.S.
Hinds possessed fentanyl and the fentanyl analogue 4-ANPP, as well as a North American Arms .22 Derringer, a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver and ammunition on June 18, 2019. Hinds was prohibited from having a firearm because he was in the country illegally, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Segev Phillips.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Iowa Woman Indicted on Fentanyl and Heroin Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an Iowa woman with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin.
According to the indictment, Latosha Prather, 36, of Des Moines, served as the out-of-state heroin and fentanyl supplier for Hampton Roads regional supplier Michelle Best.
According to the indictment, in December 2017, K.R. fatally overdosed from fentanyl supplied directly by Christopher Bardall. That fentanyl supply was traced to Bardall’s supplier, Darin Milligan, who obtained it from regional supplier Michelle Best. Prather, who operated a home-based child daycare service in Des Moines, supplied Best with multiple kilograms of fentanyl and heroin from her home in September 2017. In January 2018, Prather travelled from Des Moines to Virginia Beach where she sold another kilogram of heroin and fentanyl to Best in a Walmart parking lot located off Virginia Beach Boulevard. The investigative team conducted several controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Milligan and Best in early 2018, and in March 2018, the investigative team arrested Best and seized over $41,000 in cash, five firearms, and approximately 382 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin. To date, the investigative team has traced at least $65,000 in cash deposits from Best to Prather.
Prather is charged with 10 counts including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and various distribution and possession with intent to distribute charges. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Mark Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police made the announcement after Prather’s arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler, Andrew C. Bosse, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Bird are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-138 and 2:18-cr-147.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Being Smuggled Through Mississippi Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Reentering United StatesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Jose Valdez-Santana, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 15 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for unlawful reentry by an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
Upon release from his federal prison sentence, Valdez-Santana will remain in the administrative detention custody of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement. Valdez-Santana will face removal proceedings to remove him from the United States back to his home nation of Mexico. As a result of this felony conviction, if Valdez-Santana were to unlawfully return to the U.S., he could face up to ten years in federal prison. Valdez-Santana pled guilty before Judge Guirola on May 9, 2019.
On April 4, 2019, a Biloxi Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Caravan on I-10. The officer encountered the driver who was a citizen of Honduras and was illegally present in the United States. The officer observed seven Hispanic passengers, five males and two females. Since the officer did not speak Spanish, he contacted the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Lightning Operations Center, and two Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents responded to the traffic stop. All occupants of the vehicle were determined to be illegally present in the U.S. and were transported to the U.S. Border Patrol office in Gulfport, for further processing. After interviewing all occupants, it was determined that they were being smuggled from Houston, Texas to Maryland. Further investigation revealed that three of the passengers, including Valdez-Santana, were aliens who had unlawfully returned after they had been formally removed from the United States.
Valdez-Santana was first encountered by federal officials in 2009, near Joliet, Illinois, where he was serving a 3-year prison sentence with the Illinois Department of Corrections for a state offense of “Aggravated Driving Under the Influence.” An immigration detainer was placed on Valdez-Santana pending completion of his state prison sentence. In 2011, he was removed from the United States. He was encountered again by federal officials in 2017, and again removed from the United States.
The other two illegal aliens who had returned to the United States, after having been formally removed, were separately prosecuted, convicted and given prison sentences, to be followed by Immigration & Customs Enforcement removal proceedings.
The driver of the vehicle pled guilty and was convicted of unlawful transportation of an alien within the United States. He is awaiting sentencing on that charge.
U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the teamwork and cooperation exhibited by the Biloxi Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Customs & Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.
Houston Men Sentenced for Stealing Firearms from FFLRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of one count of aiding and abetting the burglary of a federal firearm licensee (FFL), announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Robert Louis Thomas pleaded guilty Oct. 16, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks ordered him to serve 62 months which will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay $14,624 in restitution.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Hanks noted this is a very serious crime and that there are still guns on the street because of what Thomas and others did.
Co-defendants Cedric Howard Duncan, 32, and Charles Bernard Byrd, 28, both also of Houston, pleaded guilty to the same charge and were previously sentenced to 36 months and 42 months, respectively
On Dec. 18, 2017. Thomas and Duncan burglarized Big Bucks Gun and Pawn, an FFL located at 2201 Bypass 35 N in Alvin. They gained access by using a sledgehammer to break a hole in the wall and ultimately stole 13 firearms.
Byrd admitted he was the get-away driver. He also acknowledged selling 11 of the firearms that ended up in his trunk. The other two firearms were recovered shortly following the burglary after they were abandoned near a dumpster.
All three men have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and police departments in Alvin and Houston conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Basile is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser announced that OMAR ELI PEREZ-MURCIA (“MURCIA”), age 35, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, August 20, 2018 to a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to documents signed by the defendant and filed in open court, MURCIA admitted to being a citizen of Honduras, and being illegally present in the United States. He further admitted to illegally re-entering the United States after being deported in 2006. Sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2019 before U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
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Greensburg Man Pleads Guilty in Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Thomas Ohler, 38, 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 during 2015 and 2016, Ohler obtained multi-ounce quantities of cocaine from Jamie Lightfoot, Jr., which was thereafter sold by Ohler to various customers.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 5 years to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Shaun E. Sweeney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the South Strabane Police Department, the Elizabeth Borough Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department and the Perryopolis Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Thomas Ohler.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Georgia Tech professor pleads guilty to defrauding the National Science FoundationRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Maysam Ghovanloo has pleaded guilty to violating the federal wire fraud statute in furtherance of a scheme to defraud the National Science Foundation. Ghovanloo owned Bionic Sciences, Inc. (BSI), and was a professor at Georgia Tech.
“Federal grants awarded to develop new medical instruments require meticulous and truthful records be kept of how those dollars are applied,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “These funds are designed to help bring new innovations to fulfillment, and hopefully also into the medical arena, where they can be used for wellness.”
“The Small Business Innovation Research Program is a valuable tool in advancing NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science by increasing opportunities for small businesses to undertake cutting-edge scientific research, and it is essential to protect the integrity of this program. The NSF Office of Inspector General is committed to vigorously pursuing oversight of these taxpayer funds and I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our investigative partners for their support in this effort,” said Allison C. Lerner, Inspector General of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Dr. Ghovanloo was a tenured full professor at Georgia Tech, and he owned and operated a Georgia corporation called Bionic Sciences, Inc. Dr. Ghovanloo and BSI received federal grants through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs sponsored by NSF. To be eligible for SBIR grant funds, Dr. Ghovanloo and BSI were required to meet program-eligibility requirements, adhere to award terms and conditions, and provide only truthful information in all documents submitted to NSF. But Dr. Ghovanloo submitted certifications that contained materially false and fraudulent statements and omissions, followed by electronic payment requests to NSF.
As part of this guilty plea, Dr. Ghovanloo paid a lump sum of $40,000 in restitution and was barred from doing business with the federal government for a period of three years. In addition, Dr. Ghovanloo resigned from his position at Georgia Tech, effective June 21, 2019.
Sentencing for Maysam Ghovanloo, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled for November 5, 2019, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Garfield Heights woman indicted for making straw purchase of firearm; her brother previously indicted on firearms chargeRead the Press Release
A Garfield Heights woman was indicted for making a straw purchase of a firearm earlier this year.
Sarah Werman, 32, was indicted on one count of making a false statement in the acquisition of a firearm.
Werman stated on March 14, 2019 at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters in Middleburg Heights that she was the actual buyer of a Ruger 9 mm pistol, when, in fact, she was not the actual buyer of the firearm, according to the indictment.
Her brother, Alfred Werman, 29, also of Garfield Heights, was indicted earlier this year on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Alfred Werman possessed a Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol and 45 rounds of ammunition on May 20, 2019, despite having previously been convicted of burglary, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Kane.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Four Paterson, New Jersey, Men Charged with Stealing $450,000 in Checks from Dozens of Mail Collection BoxesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Four Paterson, New Jersey, men are charged for their roles in a scheme to break into U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail collection boxes throughout northern New Jersey and steal the mail – particularly, checks – inside, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Aneuris Henriquez-Lopez, 24, Eleazer Peralta, 19, Fernando Santiago, 26, and Rikinson Rodriguez-Sanchez, 25, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Henriquez-Lopez, Peralta and Santiago were arrested today and are scheduled to make their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court. Rodriguez-Sanchez remains at large.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The defendants allegedly stole checks from USPS mail collection boxes in Passaic, Bergen, Morris, Essex, and Middlesex counties, and elsewhere, and fraudulently deposited those checks into various bank accounts, often within a day of being stolen. Some of the mail collection boxes were broken into with the use of pry bars, usually late at night.
The conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge James Buthorn, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. He also thanked the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking pled guilty August 15, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Matthew Guthrie, age 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearing, Guthrie admitted that from January 2019 through April 16, 2019 he and others distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. On three separate occasions Guthrie distributed a total of more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a later search of Guthrie’s residence, law enforcement seized four firearms (two of which were loaded), methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, scales, a drug ledger, and other items indicative of drug distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Guthrie remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy conviction, Guthrie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the firearm conviction, Guthrie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment which must be served consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed on the conspiracy conviction, and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and no more than five years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Drug Task Force, Carroll County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3019. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Forsyth County man arrested for soliciting child pornography from teenage girls on SnapchatRead the Press Release
ATLANTA, Ga. – Edward “Eddie” Okenica has been charged on a criminal complaint alleging he produced, received, and possessed child pornography, and committed related charges.
“Okenica allegedly produced, received, and collected images portraying the sexual exploitation and abuse of young teenage girls,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “The allegations in this case are heinous, but it also serves as a reminder that parents must be aware of their children’s social media activity. Predators continue to prey on our youth through social media more than any other method.”
“Sextortion remains a huge threat to our youth. Unfortunately once a child’s image is shared online it can never be brought back,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan. “HSI remains committed to both aggressively investigating those who try to prey on our children as well as working diligently to try and educate both parents and their children of the dangers that exist in this digital world.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, and the other information presented in the federal complaint: Federal agents determined that since at least November 2018, Eddie Okenica had contacted minor girls using a Snapchat account and allegedly solicited nude photographs or videos from these children. Agents determined that Okenica contacted dozens of teenage girls across the country using Snapchat and successfully persuaded them to send him nude photographs and videos. In some instances, Okenica offered to pay the minors for these materials.
Investigators uncovered evidence that Okenica also allegedly threatened to publicly expose at least three of the victims if they refused to send him the nude photographs and videos. Okenica, for example, threatened to send nude photographs of a 12-year-old girl to all her Instagram friends if she did not comply with his demands.
Edward “Eddie” Okenica, 23, of Cumming, Georgia, was arrested on August 14, 2019, and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janet F. King.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Anyone with information, or who may have been a victim in this case, please contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations at 404-346-2831.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Erin Sanders, are prosecuting the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former President of Massachusetts State Police Union and Union’s Former Lobbyist Charged with Fraud and ObstructionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former President of the State Police Association of Massachusetts and the union’s former Massachusetts lobbyist were arrested today on charges of fraud and obstruction of justice.
Dana A. Pullman, 57, of Worcester, and Anne M. Lynch, 68, of Hull, were charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and obstruction of justice. The defendants will appear at 1:00 pm today in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) was an association consisting of more than 1,500 troopers and sergeants from the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). SPAM acted as the exclusive bargaining agent between its members and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding the terms and conditions of SPAM members’ employment. Pullman, who was an MSP trooper from 1987 to at least 2018, was the President of SPAM from 2012 until his resignation on Sept. 28, 2018. Lynch’s lobbying firm represented SPAM during the same time period, in exchange for monthly retainer payments.
It is alleged that, from at least 2012 until Pullman resigned as the President of SPAM in September 2018, Pullman, Lynch and others were involved in a conspiracy to defraud SPAM members and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of their right to honest services from Pullman through fraud and deceit. This included illegal bribes and kickbacks that Pullman received from Lynch and her firm. Pullman, Lynch and others were also allegedly involved in a scheme to defraud two different companies that sought to do business with the Commonwealth.
In addition, Pullman is also charged with wire fraud in connection with his alleged embezzlement and misuse of SPAM funds for personal use by (1) submitting expense reimbursement checks to SPAM without receipts; (2) circumventing and bypassing SPAM’s governing Executive Board; and (3) using a debit card tied to a SPAM bank account. Specifically, Pullman used the SPAM debit card to pay for thousands of dollars of meals, flowers, travel, and gifts for an individual with whom Pullman was having a romantic relationship.
The charges of fraud and conspiracy each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Pollock correctional officer sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for briberyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a former corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock, Louisiana, was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months in prison and two years of supervised release for accepting bribes to smuggle contraband to prisoners.
Byron A. Wyatt, 39, of Marksville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. He was previously found guilty of the offense on April 5, 2018, after a three-day trial.
Wyatt worked as a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock where he accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from a prisoner in 2014, in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison. Wyatt smuggled items into the prison such as tobacco, cell phones, pills and marijuana. The defendant would make contact with the inmate to set up the transfer. Individuals outside of the prison would then pay the defendant and supply him with the contraband items to deliver.
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Earl M. Campbell and Tiffany E. Fields prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Extensive Cyberstalking and Threats CampaignRead the Press Release
A Florida man who was charged with conducting an extensive cyberstalking campaign that targeted his former schoolmate, a 30-year-old Massachusetts woman, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston. The victim’s name is being withheld to protect her privacy.
Byron A. Cardozo, 35, who previously resided in Jacksonville and Tamarac, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking and one count of making interstate threats. Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled the sentencing hearing for Nov. 12. Cardozo was arrested in August 2018 and has been held in custody since.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling of the District of Massachusetts, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI’s Boston Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment to which Carozo pleaded guilty, Cardozo engaged in an 18-month-long, multi-faceted cyberstalking and threats campaign targeting the victim. He launched his campaign in February 2017, shortly after the victim wrote, and had published in an online magazine, an essay describing a one-time, traumatic sexual encounter she had with Cardozo when she was approximately 13 and he was approximately 17 and they attended the same school in Florida. She used pseudonyms for Cardozo and others in the essay. He then sent hundreds of online communications, many of which he made in the “comments” section to the essay and on the victim’s personal website. In those communications, Cardozo claimed that the victim had fabricated her claims about the coercive nature of the 2001 sexual encounter, he provided graphic descriptions of his purported consensual sexual encounter with the victim, and he described how he continued to masturbate to the victim’s photographs. Cardozo also made express and implicit threats to injure the victim.
At other times, he also apologized to her for the traumatic sexual experience in 2001, asked for forgiveness, expressed his love for her, and made veiled threats to commit suicide “because of you.” Cardozo continued to harass and threaten the victim despite the fact that she had obtained a state court order in April 2017, forbidding him from communication with her.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Boston Field Office. Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Harman Burkart, Chief of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit in the District of Massachusetts, are prosecuting the case.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Extensive Cyberstalking and Threats CampaignRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to cyberstalking and threatening his former schoolmate, a 30-year-old Massachusetts woman.
Byron A. Cardozo, 35, who previously resided in Jacksonville and Tamarac, Fla., pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking and one count of making interstate threats. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2019. Cardozo was arrested in August 2018 and has been in custody since.
Cardozo engaged in an 18-month-long, multi-faceted cyberstalking and threats campaign targeting his former schoolmate. He launched his campaign in February 2017, shortly after the victim wrote and published an essay in an online magazine describing a one-time, traumatic sexual encounter she had with Cardozo when she was approximately 13-years-old and he was approximately 17-years-old while they attended the same school in Florida. The victim used pseudonyms for Cardozo and others in the essay. In response, Cardozo sent hundreds of online communications, many of which he made in the “comments” section to the essay and on the victim’s personal website, where he claimed that the victim fabricated her claims about the coercive nature of the 2001 sexual encounter. Cardozo provided graphic descriptions of his purported consensual sexual encounter with the victim, and he described how he continued to masturbate to the victim’s photographs. Cardozo also made express and implicit threats to injure the victim. At other times, he also apologized to her for the traumatic sexual experience in 2001, asked for forgiveness, expressed his love for her, and made veiled threats to commit suicide “because of you.” Cardozo continued to harass and threaten the victim despite the fact that she had obtained a state court order in April 2017, forbidding him from communicating with her.
The charges of cyberstalking and making interstate threats each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Harman Burkart, Chief of Lelling’s Cyber Crime Unit, and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.
Five Fraudsters Indicted for Million Dollar Scheme Targeting Thousands of U.S. Servicemembers and VeteransRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 14-count indictment has been unsealed today in San Antonio, Texas, charging five individuals with coordinating an identify-theft and fraud scheme targeting servicemembers and veterans. The charged defendants, who were based both in the Philippines and the United States, are alleged to have used the stolen personal identifying information (PII) of thousands of military members to access Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs benefits sites and steal millions of dollars.
The defendants, Robert Wayne Boling Jr., Fredrick Brown, Trorice Crawford, Allan Albert Kerr, and Jongmin Seok, were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identify theft based on their alleged leading roles in the theft and exploitation of victim PII to conduct their fraud scheme. Boling (a U.S. citizen), Kerr (an Australian citizen), and Seok (a South Korean citizen) were arrested in the Philippines. Brown and Crawford, both U.S. citizens, were arrested in Las Vegas and San Diego respectively. Brown has been detained pending trial. Crawford is awaiting a detention hearing.
“The crimes charged today are reprehensible and will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice. These defendants are alleged to have illegally defrauded some of America’s most honorable citizens, our elderly and disabled veterans and servicemembers,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through today’s action, the Department is honoring our pledge to target elder fraud schemes, especially those committed by foreign actors using sophisticated means, and to protect the veterans of our great country. I am proud of the quick and effective work done on this case by our Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, with strong investigative support from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. We all will continue to work together to ensure that our veterans and servicemembers are protected from fraud.”
“Our message is pretty simple,” said U.S. Attorney Bash. “It doesn’t matter where on this planet you reside. If you target our veterans, we’re coming for you. Our veterans were willing to risk everything to protect this Nation from foreign threats. Now it’s our turn to seek justice for them.”
“The compromise of personally identifiable information can significantly harm our service members, veterans and their families and we will aggressively investigate such matters,” said Glenn A. Fine, Principal Deputy Inspector General, performing the duties of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. “This indictment and the coordinated actions of our criminal investigative component, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, demonstrate our commitment to swift action against those who attempt to enrich themselves through identify theft, money laundering, and conspiracy. The DoD OIG, working in partnership with the Department of Justice, will continue to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who threaten military members, retirees, and veterans through fraud and corruption.”
“VA is working with DoD to identify any instances of compromised VA benefits accounts,” said James Hutton, VA assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs. “Just as importantly, VA has taken steps to protect Veterans’ data and are instituting additional protective measures.”
According to the indictment, the defendants’ identity-theft and fraud scheme began in 2014 when Brown, then a civilian employee at a U.S. Army installation, stole thousands of military members’ PII, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and Department of Defense identification numbers. Brown is alleged to have then provided the stolen information to Boling, who exploited the information in various ways together with his Philippines-based co-defendants Kerr and Seok.
As asserted in the indictment, Boling, Kerr, and Seok specifically used the stolen information to compromise a Department of Defense portal designed to enable military members to access benefits information online. Once through the portal, the defendants are alleged to have accessed benefits information. Access to these detailed records enabled the defendants to steal or attempt to steal millions of dollars from military members’ bank accounts. The defendants also stole veterans’ benefits payments. After the defendants had compromised military members’ bank accounts and veterans’ benefits payments, Boling allegedly worked with Crawford to recruit individuals who would accept the deposit of stolen funds into their bank accounts and then send the funds through international wire remittance services to the defendants and others. Evidence of the defendants’ scheme was detected earlier this year, advancing the investigation that led to the indictment.
The unsealed indictment was announced today in San Antonio by U.S. Attorney John Bash of the Western District of Texas, Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Morrell, and Director Gustav Eyler of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are coordinating with the Department of Justice to notify and provide resources to the thousands of identified victims. Announcements also will follow regarding steps taken to secure military members’ information and benefits from theft and fraud.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States is represented by Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The matter was investigated by agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and counsel Matthew Freund, along with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Philippine law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, the Southern District of California, and the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the matter’s investigation and prosecution.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, this past March, the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; information on the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Five Fraudsters Indicted for Million Dollar Scheme Targeting Thousands of U.S. Servicemembers and VeteransRead the Press Release
A 14-count indictment has been unsealed today in San Antonio, Texas, charging five individuals with coordinating an identify-theft and fraud scheme targeting servicemembers and veterans. The charged defendants, who were based both in the Philippines and the United States, are alleged to have used the stolen personal identifying information (PII) of thousands of military members to access Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs benefits sites and steal millions of dollars.
The defendants, Robert Wayne Boling Jr., Fredrick Brown, Trorice Crawford, Allan Albert Kerr, and Jongmin Seok, were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identify theft based on their alleged leading roles in the theft and exploitation of victim PII to conduct their fraud scheme. Boling (a U.S. citizen), Kerr (an Australian citizen), and Seok (a South Korean citizen) were arrested in the Philippines. Brown and Crawford, both U.S. citizens, were arrested in Las Vegas and San Diego respectively. Brown has been detained pending trial. Crawford is awaiting a detention hearing.
“The crimes charged today are reprehensible and will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice. These defendants are alleged to have illegally defrauded some of America’s most honorable citizens, our elderly and disabled veterans and servicemembers,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through today’s action, the Department is honoring our pledge to target elder fraud schemes, especially those committed by foreign actors using sophisticated means, and to protect the veterans of our great country. I am proud of the quick and effective work done on this case by our Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, with strong investigative support from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. We all will continue to work together to ensure that our veterans and servicemembers are protected from fraud.”
“Our message is pretty simple,” said U.S. Attorney Bash. “It doesn’t matter where on this planet you reside. If you target our veterans, we’re coming for you. Our veterans were willing to risk everything to protect this Nation from foreign threats. Now it’s our turn to seek justice for them.”
“The compromise of personally identifiable information can significantly harm our service members, veterans and their families and we will aggressively investigate such matters,” said Glenn A. Fine, Principal Deputy Inspector General, performing the duties of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. “This indictment and the coordinated actions of our criminal investigative component, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, demonstrate our commitment to swift action against those who attempt to enrich themselves through identify theft, money laundering, and conspiracy. The DoD OIG, working in partnership with the Department of Justice, will continue to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who threaten military members, retirees, and veterans through fraud and corruption.”
“VA is working with DoD to identify any instances of compromised VA benefits accounts,” said James Hutton, VA assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs. “Just as importantly, VA has taken steps to protect Veterans’ data and are instituting additional protective measures.”
According to the indictment, the defendants’ identity-theft and fraud scheme began in 2014 when Brown, then a civilian employee at a U.S. Army installation, stole thousands of military members’ PII, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and Department of Defense identification numbers. Brown is alleged to have then provided the stolen information to Boling, who exploited the information in various ways together with his Philippines-based co-defendants Kerr and Seok.
As asserted in the indictment, Boling, Kerr, and Seok specifically used the stolen information to compromise a Department of Defense portal designed to enable military members to access benefits information online. Once through the portal, the defendants are alleged to have accessed benefits information. Access to these detailed records enabled the defendants to steal or attempt to steal millions of dollars from military members’ bank accounts. The defendants also stole veterans’ benefits payments. After the defendants had compromised military members’ bank accounts and veterans’ benefits payments, Boling allegedly worked with Crawford to recruit individuals who would accept the deposit of stolen funds into their bank accounts and then send the funds through international wire remittance services to the defendants and others. Evidence of the defendants’ scheme was detected earlier this year, advancing the investigation that led to the indictment.
The unsealed indictment was announced today in San Antonio by U.S. Attorney John Bash of the Western District of Texas, Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Morrell, and Director Gustav Eyler of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are coordinating with the Department of Justice to notify and provide resources to the thousands of identified victims. Announcements also will follow regarding steps taken to secure military members’ information and benefits from theft and fraud.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States is represented by Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The matter was investigated by agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and counsel Matthew Freund, along with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Philippine law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, the Southern District of California, and the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the matter’s investigation and prosecution.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, this past March, the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; information on the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Federal inmate charged with using a cell phone to post Facebook live videos from prisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Brian J. Wilson, an inmate in Atlanta’s U.S. Penitentiary has been charged with possessing a contraband cell phone that he used to post photographs to and live stream content onto a social media platform from his prison cell.
“The proliferation of contraband cell phones in federal prisons has reached epidemic proportions,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Inmates tempted to use a phone in Atlanta’s federal prison – when we catch you using a cell phone from prison, it will equal more cell time in prison.”
“Unauthorized cell phones in prisons are often used to conduct further illegal activity and can create serious security concerns,” said Chis Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will continue to use our resources and investigate how contraband is smuggled into any federal prison.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia (“USP Atlanta”) is a medium-security federal prison for male inmates operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
On or about March 24, 2015, Wilson was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment after incurring a conviction for possession of a stolen firearm. Since approximately May 3, 2018, Wilson has been an inmate at USP Atlanta, with a scheduled release date of November 28, 2022.
As an inmate, Wilson possessed a cell phone in USP Atlanta. From approximately late-May to July 2019, Wilson used a cell phone to post images to and to live stream content onto a social media platform from his prison cell. In fact, Wilson posted a photograph onto his Facebook account of himself holding a cell phone while in his prison cell.
Brian J. Wilson, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been charged via criminal information with possessing a contraband cell phone in prison.
Members of the public are reminded that the information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The FBI and the Bureau of Prisons are investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey W. Davis, Chief of the Public Integrity and Special Matters Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Cain Burch are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Federal Jury Convicts Michigan Man of Impersonating an Assistant United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal jury found a Michigan man guilty today on charges of impersonating an Assistant United States Attorney. After a two-day trial, the jury convicted Joseph Ziegler, 55, on two counts of impersonating a federal officer or employee.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in April 2019, in an attempt to avoid an arrest or charge for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Ziegler told Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Samples that he was a U.S. Attorney on assignment by Mike Stuart. Ziegler also told towing company employees that he was a Federal Prosecutor and would prosecute the towing company if the company did not return the vehicle Ziegler was driving, despite Ziegler not having any proof of ownership.
“Clearly not the type of person that could ever work for me. First - not smart. Second - an absolute fraudster. Finally - an absolute fake,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Impersonating a federal officer is a serious offense that we will prosecute every time. It can be potentially dangerous to the public and we will not tolerate it. If you want to work for me, you need to work hard, study hard, get awesome grades and be prepared to work even harder. My team doesn’t fake its way through. It is the best and toughest United States Attorney’s Office in the nation. I want to thank Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Samples and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this case. I commend the work of Stefan Hasselblad and Monica Coleman, the real Assistant United States Attorneys on assignment by me, as well as the rest of our trial team.”
Ziegler faces 3 years in prison when sentenced on December 2, 2019.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Stefan Hasselblad and Monica Coleman prosecuted the case. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the trial.
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Federal Inmate Admits Illegally Possessing BuprenorphineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pa. pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to a charge of possession of a prohibited object in prison, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
David Smeltzer, 37, pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on August 5, 2018, Smeltzer possessed a quantity of Buprenorphine.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for December 19, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and 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 of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Correctional Institution, Special Investigative Staff, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smeltzer.
Federal Authorities Seek Additional Information in Child Exploitation InvestigationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain and Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division announced that their offices and law enforcement partners are asking for the public's assistance to identify potential victims of Robert Dean Caesar, 56, most recently of Oxford, Pennsylvania. Caesar, who is currently in federal custody, was charged by indictment on November 15, 2018 with production, receipt, and possession of child pornography. He is expected to go on trial beginning September 30, 2019.
The Indictment alleges that on or about each of two separate dates (September 16, 2017 and December 30, 2017), Caesar manufactured child pornography. The Indictment further alleges that Caesar received child pornography on December 20, 2017, and possessed child pornography on January 18, 2018.
Caesar, who most recently resided in Oxford, Pennsylvania, has also lived in Philadelphia, Norristown, Cranberry Township, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richland, New York; and Silverthorne, Colorado.
If you have information regarding the pending prosecution, or you believe you or someone you know may have been victimized by Robert Dean Caesar, the FBI requests that you contact the Philadelphia Division at 215-418-4000 or go to www.fbi.gov/RobertCaesar. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 100 years’ imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment, supervised release for a minimum term of five years and a lifetime maximum term, a $1,000,000 dollar fine, mandatory restitution, and up to $20,400 in special assessments.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case is being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police – Avondale Barracks, the Cranberry Township Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Butler County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Schlessinger.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
East Aurora Woman Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Hire A Hitman on the Dark Web to Cripple Her Ex-BoyfriendRead 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 Yanyan Lesser, 48, of East Aurora, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to transmitting in interstate or foreign commerce a communication containing a threat to injure another person. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that via a website on the dark web, the defendant, using the screenname “Tree1,” solicited what she believed to be a hitman to commit a crippling assault against G.Z., a former boyfriend in Florida. In her solicitation, Lesser posted the following messages:
• On February 14, 2019, the defendant posted, “Because of a business dispute, I would like to give this guy a lesson. Give him a good beating and legs broken, waist broken and even cripple the mark of his legs.” The defendant also shared an image of a person’s lower back with the words “broken waist” written on it;
• On February 16, 2019, the defendant posted, “Please give him a good beating and let he always walk in wheelchair;”
• On February 18, 2019, the defendant posted, “And also give him good beating of his body, and must be broken his legs to make him walk by wheelchair or crutches forever;”
• On February 19, 2019, the defendant posted, “Make the crippling be permanent, so that Chinese guy will always walk in wheelchair” and “must be broken his legs that he will never heal and never be back to normal, so that he always walk in wheelchair. Remember: crippling! Robbery!”An unknown subject on the dark web site initially responded to Lesser’s job request on February 14, 2019, urging the defendant to prepare funds for payment. The subject stated: “Sometimes kids or trolls do jokes and are not serious about their job.” On February 16, 2019, Lesser transferred 1.26 bitcoins (approximately $4,577) to a bitcoin address to pay for the beating. On February 19, 2019, the defendant transferred an additional .694 bitcoins (approximately $2,707) to pay for the crippling. Lesser made cash withdrawals in East Aurora relating to these transactions on February 15 and 18, 2019.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. Additional assistance was provided by HSI St. Paul, Minnesota, and HSI Orlando, Florida.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.
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Colorado Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on August 20, 2019, Chad Alan Soderman, age 43, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Soderman was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment for the drug charge and 60 months of imprisonment for the gun charge. The time will run consecutively. He will serve a term of supervised release for five years when released from prison.
On July 7, 2018, while driving from Colorado to Minnesota, two-time convicted felon Chad Alan Soderman was stopped by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper in Pottawattamie County for speeding. Soderman’s vehicle was found to have contained 223.2 grams of methamphetamine, 576.4 grams of marijuana, a loaded 9mm pistol, 61 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a digital scale, and $3,417 in cash.
This case was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Chicopee Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in A Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Chicopee man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a cocaine conspiracy.
Carlos Mares Jr., 40, of Chicopee, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2019.
Between 2015 and 2016, one of Mares’ co-conspirators, David Cruz, obtained cocaine from sources in Mexico and arranged for the cocaine to be transported to the Springfield area via concealed compartments in a Nissan Juke. Mares then purchased more than 400 grams of cocaine from Cruz with the intent to distribute it. Cruz has pleaded guilty to cocaine and firearms offenses and is awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman.
Because Mares has a prior drug conviction, he faces up to 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation in Boston and the Westfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine A. Wagner of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Canadian National Who Ran ‘Grandparent Scam’ that Swindled U.S. Senior Citizens Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Canadian telemarketer has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for conning American senior citizens out of their money by impersonating their grandchildren over the telephone and asking for financial help to get their purportedly distressed relatives out of trouble in a foreign country.
Kelen Magael Buchan, 27, of Westphal, Nova Scotia, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who noted Buchan’s lead role in the scheme and said he may not have seen a fraud case “so cruel and heartless” in design. In addition to the prison term, Judge Carney ordered Buchan to pay $519,400 in restitution to more than 80 victims.
Buchan pleaded guilty on May 21 to one felony count of wire fraud. Buchan – who has been in federal custody, along with three co-defendants, since they were extradited from Canada in January – admitted in his plea agreement that he and his co-conspirators contacted their elderly U.S. victims by telephone. Buchan and his co-conspirators fraudulently induced their victims to send them money by pretending to be the victim’s grandchild or some other relative who was in distress in a foreign nation, such as Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, or the Dominican Republic.
For example, Buchan, while pretending to be the victim’s grandchild, would say that he had been involved in a car crash and needed money to cover purported automobile accident expenses. On other occasions, Buchan, once again pretending to be the victim’s grandchild, said that he had been arrested and needed his grandparents’ money to be released on bail. Other times, Buchan lied to his victims by telling them that he was a lawyer in contact with their grandchild or other relative. He then would direct the victims to wire money via Western Union or MoneyGram, listing the grandchild, other relative or the name of the purported lawyer as the intended recipient.
When the victims wired the money, Buchan and his co-conspirators converted the funds to cash as quickly as possible before the victims could discover that they had been fooled. On some occasions, Buchan or his co-schemers called the victims again to solicit more money, falsely claiming that additional funds were needed by the grandchild or other relative to fully resolve the problem.
Buchan admitted in his plea agreement that in February 2012 that one of the scheme’s targeted victims was a Camarillo resident.
One of the scheme’s other victims was an 86-year-old man who wired $4,300 at the urgings of an imposter posing as the man’s grandson who claimed to have been involved in an accident in Bolivia, according to court documents. Law enforcement later found the victim’s contact information in Buchan’s residence and the transaction information was recovered from a phone seized from Buchan’s bedroom, court papers state.
A federal grand jury charged Buchan and four Canadian nationals from the Montreal area in July 2013 in a 25-count indictment alleging wire fraud. Agiyl Kamaldin, 32, pleaded guilty on May 23 to one count of wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Carney on September 9. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Co-defendants Clifford Kirstein, 29, and Mark El Bernachawy, 33, are scheduled to go to trial in this matter on December 3.
Peter Iacino, 29, also was charged in the indictment and is a fugitive believed to be in Canada.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Federal Trade Commission’s East Central Regional Office in Cleveland provided substantial assistance.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Monica E. Tait and Kimberly D. Jaimez of the Major Frauds Section.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In addition to a nationwide elder fraud sweep earlier this year, the Department has conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is one of six federal prosecutorial offices participating in the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of federal law enforcement and non-governmental organizations to combat international fraud schemes that disproportionately affect American seniors.
Canadensis Man Sentenced to 12 Years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking Highly Pure MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that James Counterman, age 56, of Canadensis, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment followed by ten years’ supervised release, by U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley, for distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine, and money laundering. In addition to receiving a 144-month sentence, Counterman forfeited $128,000 to the government, representing proceeds from the sale of the various properties Counterman owned at the time of his arrest.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, in October 2017, a federal search warrant was executed on Counterman’s residence in Canadensis that resulted in the seizure of 142 grams of pure methamphetamine, together with drug distribution paraphernalia. A financial investigation of his drug distribution activities resulted in the discovery of a scheme by which Counterman acquired residential investment properties in and around the Pocono region of Pennsylvania utilizing illegal drug distribution proceeds.
In addition to Counterman, the “Game of Homes” OCDETF investigation resulted in four additional individuals being sentenced by Judge Munley:
- Kelly Brady, age 56, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, sentenced to 55 months’ imprisonment followed by five years’ of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 1,500 grams of actual methamphetamine;
- Levi Roopchand, age 28, of Las Vegas, Nevada, sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Roopchand is subject to deportation to Trinidad upon completion of his federal sentence;
- Sean Martin, age 38, of Marshals Creek, Pennsylvania, sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine. Judge Munley ordered that Martin’s federal sentence to run consecutively to a Monroe County, Pennsylvania, 16 to 36 month sentence Martin was serving at the time of his conviction; and,
- Michelle Christie, age 56, of Garden Grove, California, sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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Bronx Man Sentenced for Importation of Synthetic MarijuanaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mansoor Ghaleb, age 30, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
In pleading guilty, Ghaleb admitted that from September 2016 through June 2017, he conspired with a supplier in China to import at least 8 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, with the goal of processing the raw chemicals into “spice” or “K2” for distribution in Schenectady. Ghaleb specifically admitted to coordinating the payment of $48,000 to the supplier via multiple electronic funds transfers, and arranging for delivery of the synthetic cannabinoids to various locations in the Capital Region.
This case was investigated by the DEA, HSI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The Albany Police Department also assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
Boothville Man Sentenced in Cocaine-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that defendant JERRELL ENCALADE, age 35, of Boothville, LA, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced ENCALADE to 90 months’ incarceration as well as 4 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office (PPSO), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), Kenner Police Department (KPD), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Houston Police Department (HPD) in their investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.
Boardman man indicted for making threats against federal law enforcement officersRead the Press Release
A Boardman man was indicted in federal court for making threats against federal law enforcement officers.
Justin Olsen, 18, was indicted on one count of threatening to assault and abet others to assault federal law enforcement officers engaged in the performance of official duties and one count of making threatening communications interstate.
Olsen, on June 2, 2019, threatened to shoot every federal agent on sight, according to the indictment.
“Every law enforcement officer takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Anyone who threatens those same law enforcement agents is committing a crime, not engaging in some form of protected speech. When those threats are made, especially where someone possesses the means to act on those threats, we take it seriously and will seek criminal charges.”
"Protecting citizens’ freedom of speech is a main priority for the FBI, but when you call for the killing of federal officers you have crossed the line,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to assess and disrupt threats of physical harm to any citizen. Law enforcement encourages the public to report suspicious online or in person behavior -- see something, say something."
Boardman Police Chief Todd Werth said: “This case is a good example of how local and federal law enforcement work together to address threats to the safety of our community. The federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this matter highlights the serious nature of his actions.”
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Boardman Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bladenboro Man Sentenced to 7 Years’ Imprisonment After Confronting Police with a Semi-Automatic RifleRead the Press Release
RALEIGH — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Marcus Theodore Hill, 30, of Bladenboro to 84 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. HILL pled guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on March 18, 2019.
The evidence established that during the evening of February 22, 2018, state probation officers were conducting a search of a residence with assistance from a Bladen County Sheriff’s Office detective. During that search, the detective had stepped outside to retrieve items from his truck when he heard someone yell, “Hey, who is that.” Looking up, he saw a man’s silhouette under a street lamp. The detective identified himself as law enforcement, and the man, later identified as the defendant MARCUS HILL, pulled an assault rifle style firearm from behind his back. In response, the detective drew his weapon, and HILL turned and ran. The detective and one of the probation officers pursued HILL, who they found crouching with the rifle at a nearby tree line. Hill gave himself up, and officers seized the firearm, a Norinco SKS 7.62mm semi-automatic rifle with an extended magazine.
HILL’s federal conviction follows multiple state felony convictions. In total, he has accrued seven felony drug convictions in Virginia and North Carolina, with multiple convictions in each of the years 2014, 2015, and 2016.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017, the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pugh represented the government.
Billings man sentenced for drug trafficking, firearmsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—Billings resident Kevin James Maslen, who admitted trafficking methamphetamine and pain pills along with having firearms, was sentenced today to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Maslen, 56, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.
Evidence in the case showed that in June 2017, an undercover agent bought meth, morphine and oxycodone from Maslen on several occasions, the prosecution said in court records. In one of the deals, the agent bought morphine and two firearms from Maslen. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Maslen’s residence in May 2018 and found meth, 83 oxycodone tablets and firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Billings man admits firearms crimes related to drug trafficking on Fort Peck ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Billings man on Tuesday admitted to illegally possessing firearms after he was arrested last year on suspicion of driving under the influence on the Fort Peck Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Gabriel Hazard, 35, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hazard faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and detained Hazard pending further proceedings. Sentencing is set for Nov. 27, 2019.
The prosecutor said in court documents that law enforcement arrested Hazard for driving while under the influence after a Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputy saw a vehicle, driven by Hazard, going significantly slower than the speed limit on Highway 2 on the Fort Peck Reservation on Dec. 16, 2018. The deputy interacted with Hazard at the scene and observed that Hazard appeared to be under the influence of meth.
The officer looked into the vehicle and saw a pistol on the back seat, ammunition, a tactical-style vest, the grip of a handgun between the driver’s seat and center console, and a scale on the dash. Hazard had two rounds of ammunition in a pants pocket and a pistol holster on his belt. While Hazard was being booked into jail, an officer found a bag of meth in Hazard’s wallet. Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found three firearms and ammunition.
The investigation determined Hazard was aware there were three firearms in his vehicle, that he used the guns for protection, and had sold meth on the Fort Belknap and Fort Peck reservations. Because of a prior felony conviction, Hazard was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Peck Tribes law enforcement.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Baltimore Felon Pleads Guilty to Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On August 20, 2019, Benjamin Fowlkes, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of a convenience store and the armed robbery of a bank.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on November 26, 2018, shortly before 11 p.m., Fowlkes robbed a convenience store located in the 2700 block of West Franklin Street in Baltimore, displaying what appeared to be a silver semiautomatic handgun, but was in fact an air gun. Fowlkes ordered the store employees to open the cash register and give him the cash, which they did. Fowlkes then fled.
The next day, Fowlkes robbed a bank located in the 3600 block of Boston Street in Baltimore. Shortly after the bank opened, Fowlkes entered the bank and asked to open an account. Fowlkes was directed to a customer service employee in another part of the bank. Fowlkes pulled a yellow folder from a white mesh laundry bag, asked for a pen, and then wrote a note demanding money, which he passed to the employee. The employee advised that there was no money in the customer service area. Fowlkes took the note back, stated that he had a gun, and drew what appeared to be a silver semiautomatic handgun—but that was in fact an air gun—from the white mesh laundry bag. Fowlkes told the employee, who was on crutches, to get up slowly. The victim employee complied and walked to the teller area of the bank, where two other employees were working, to get the money Fowlkes demanded. Fowlkes followed her there. While in the teller area, Fowlkes again displayed the silver air gun and demanded money, and also demanded one of the tellers’ car keys. One employee handed over the keys to his car—a Hyundai Sonata—and another employee handed Fowlkes the cash from the teller drawers, which Fowlkes placed in the white mesh laundry bag. Fowlkes then escaped in the stolen Hyundai Sonata.
Fowlkes was arrested on November 29, 2018, after a Baltimore Police Officer in the Southwestern District determined that the tags on a Hyundai Sonata driven by Fowlkes had been stolen. When Fowlkes was pulled over, he was wearing the same zip-up hoodie worn during the robberies, and he had $2,021 in cash on him, which was stolen from the bank. A subsequent search warrant executed at his residence resulted in law enforcement recovering the white mesh laundry bag, yellow folder, and demand note used at the bank robbery, mail addressed to the owner of the Hyundai Sonata, which Fowlkes had taken from the stolen car, and the silver air gun used in connection with both robberies.
As part of his plea agreement, Fowlkes will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $7,250.
Fowlkes and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Fowlkes will be sentenced to between 120 months and 235 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for November 1, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case.
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Assault on elderly woman sends Lame Deer man to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Lame Deer man who admitted hitting and kicking an elderly woman was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jonathan Mark Limpy, 25, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in April.
U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.
The prosecution said in court records that the assault happened at a Busby residence on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation on Sept. 7, 2018. Limpy had been out drinking with friends and relatives during the day. That night, he argued with a woman and then assaulted another woman, who was elderly, by hitting her in the head and kicking her after she fell to the ground. The victim was transported to Billings Clinic where she ultimately had surgery.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the BIA.
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40 Year-Old Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Coercion and Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Rubén Darío Báez-Aponte from Mayagüez, PR, to 11 years and three months in prison followed by a supervised release term of 20 years for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Báez-Aponte was arrested on October 26, 2018 and pleaded guilty on April 23, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, during the months of May through August of 2018, Báez-Aponte used the Facebook Messenger application to communicate with a 12 year-old male minor to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce him to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant requested sexually explicit photos from the male minor, and sent him pictures of his penis. The sexually explicit conduct occurred in at least four times at the defendant’s residence.
“This sentence should serve to reassure the public that we are paying close attention to the well-being of our children, and that we will spare no expense to take child predators off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “All child sexual predators will be held accountable for the unspeakable crimes they commit and the harm they cause to their victims and their families.”
Homeland Security Investigations was responsible for investigation of the case. The criminal prosecution was handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina Caraballo.
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Tuesday 20 August 2019
York Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Fernandino Rodriguez-Colon, age 40, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 15, 2019, by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to 262 months’ imprisonment followed by six years of supervised release, for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Rodriguez-Colon distributed and possessed with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base in January 2018, in York. Rodriguez-Colon, a prohibited person, also possessed a stolen Remington .45 caliber pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. After selling heroin and crack cocaine to undercover officers, a search warrant was executed and Rodriguez-Colon was found with 11.75 grams of crack cocaine and 21.57 grams of heroin (which is equivalent to approximately 719 individual doses of heroin).
Judge Rambo also ordered Rodriguez-Colon to forfeit to the United States the firearm he possessed in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
This case was investigated by the York County Drug Task Force with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case also was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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Witness Indicted for False Declarations Before a Grand Jury and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury has indicted a Washington woman for false declarations before the grand jury and obstruction of justice.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Raymond Duda of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office and Chief of Police Carmen Best of the Seattle Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment unsealed today in the Western District of Washington, on Feb. 28, 2018, Shawna Reid, 34, of Everett, Washington, made false material declarations to a federal grand jury when she denied before the federal grand jury that she previously told a Seattle Police Department Detective and FBI Special Agent during an interview on Aug. 23, 2017, that Suspect #1 told her that Suspect #1 bragged about involvement in the murder of a judge or attorney that lives on top of a hill. Reid further denied before the federal grand jury that she previously told the detective and special agent on Aug. 23, 2017, that Suspect #1 bragged that the murder victim was someone of importance like a judge or an attorney general.
According to the indictment, Reid is also charged with obstruction of justice for making false material statements to law enforcement officials on Aug. 25, 2017, and Dec.7, 2017, and then on Feb. 28, 2018, before a federal grand jury. All of the false statements pertained to whether Suspect #1 told Reid about Suspect #1’s involvement in the murder of a lawyer, judge, or attorney general who lived on a hill.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Seattle Police Department. Section Chief David Jaffe and Trial Attorneys Joseph Wheatley and Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer are prosecuting this case.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Efforts of DEA Operation Crystal MountainRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Robert M. Duncan, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, recognizes and commends the efforts of the DEA, for its Operation Crystal Mountain. Operation Crystal Mountain was a sweeping methamphetamine enforcement action that culminated in several impactful investigations this year. Since January, DEA special agents from the Louisville Field Division, with support from state and local law enforcement agencies across the region, have arrested 235 individuals on federal drug-related charges, seized more than $800,000.00 in cash and 52 firearms, and seized significant quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs. During this same timeframe, DEA assisted its state and local counterparts with the arrest of 140 additional offenders, on state-level drug charges.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug and this enforcement operation demonstrates the hard work of our law enforcement partners, in their efforts to diminish its impact in Southeastern Kentucky and throughout the region,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our Office remains committed to using all available resources to combat methamphetamine trafficking. Working with the DEA and our state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to prioritize the prosecution of these important cases and work to make our communities safer.”
For more information about the DEA and Operation Crystal Mountain, go to: https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2019/08/20/dea-targets-methamphetamine-three-states-operation-crystal-mountain.
U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan and Federal Task Force Host Event Raising Public Awareness About National Human Trafficking HotlineRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Ariana Fajardo Orshan and the Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force hosted an event today to raise public awareness about the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888). The training reached full capacity with more than 150 attendees.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and support. The National Hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force in certain cases. Through information received by the National Hotline, law enforcement authorities can connect investigations that span jurisdictions across the country.
The Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Miami-Dade Police Department, and International Rescue Committee, works to increase public awareness, identify victims, ensure that survivors receive assistance, and prosecute traffickers. The Task Force is composed of federal agencies including, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (specifically, its Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force), State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, and U.S. Department of Labor. Several other state and local law enforcement entities in South Florida are supportive task force members. Additionally, the Task Force collaborates with non-law enforcement entities, including the Florida Department of Children and Families, service providers, victim advocates, faith-based organizations, academic representatives and community members. Presently, the Task Force includes more than 300 non-law enforcement members.
“Partnerships and collaboration are vital to our fight against human trafficking,” stated U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan. “We cannot rescue victims, provide services to survivors, or successfully prosecute traffickers without our expanded partnerships and ongoing collaboration.”
Since being appointed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida in 2018, Ariana Fajardo Orshan has continued to make human trafficking cases a priority for the Office. She currently serves on the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Human Trafficking. Recently, she expanded the Special Prosecution’s Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Section has helped to oversee the district’s Human Trafficking and Project Safe Childhood Programs (PSC), and the Office’s Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) Program, while prosecuting cases involving victims of violent crimes (resulting in death or serious bodily injury), human trafficking, child exploitation, and other criminal offenses. As a native of Miami and concerned citizen, U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan is committed to raising public awareness and promoting community outreach – in order to help us all to combat human trafficking.
Since the beginning of 2019, the Task Force has participated in more than 100 human trafficking community outreach events. Audiences include grade school, university, and college students, teachers, professors, medical professionals, faith-based organizations, immigration and labor attorneys, federal, state, and local government employees, as well as hotel and motel employees. These efforts come in advance of Miami Super Bowl 54 in February. In preparation for the event, the Task Force will continue its efforts to expand partnerships, collaboration, training of state, local, and federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors, and community outreach.
For example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Task Force will be hosting a Human Trafficking Symposium at Nova Southeastern University on Tuesday, October 15, 2019. The program is free and will provide advanced human trafficking training and resources for victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals, and the local community. To register for the symposium visit https://nsuinfo.nova.edu/chcs/human-trafficking-symposium/.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the entire Task Force is fully committed to utilizing a victim-centered approach to rescuing victims and aggressively prosecuting traffickers. Since January of 2019, the International Rescue Committee has provided services to survivors in more than 30 cases of human trafficking. “We will continue to pursue and hold traffickers accountable for exploiting victims for labor or sexual services; modern-day slavery cannot be tolerated in our community,” stated Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. From 2013 through April 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has prosecuted 69 offenders in 48 human trafficking cases, including labor and sex trafficking. These cases collectively involved the victimization of more than 75 survivors of human trafficking. This Fiscal Year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has charged 9 human trafficking cases against 12 defendants in federal court, an increase from Fiscal Year 2018. Presently, 5 human trafficking cases are charged federally in Miami.
“We cannot do this work alone; we also rely on the members of our diverse community to continue to raise public awareness and report suspected trafficking,” stated U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan. “So please, spread the word about how to report human trafficking and help victims to come out of the shadows, where they can be seen and set free.”
To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org. The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously.
To learn more about the National Resource Hotline visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
U.S. Attorney Alme to attend tribal consultation on violence against womenRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme will join U.S. Department of Justice officials in New Buffalo, Mich., this week for a two-day consultation with tribal leaders on violence against women.
The meeting will be held on Aug. 21 and 22 at the Silver Creek Event Center Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich.
The gathering of federal and tribal officials is for the 14th annual Government-to-Government consultation to solicit recommendations from tribal leaders on enhancing safety and strengthening federal law enforcement efforts to the crimes of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Native women. There also will be consultation on administering funds and programs for tribal governments established by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation.
“I look forward to hearing from tribal leaders on how we can improve safety for American Indian women and reduce the violence they experience. Eighty four percent, or more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women, have experienced violence in their lifetime, the National Institute of Justice reports. We must work together to address solve this chronic problem through law enforcement responses and federal support of prevention and victim services programs,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
U.S. Attorney Alme is vice chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.
Participants will include the U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services and Interior, along with tribal leaders of federally-recognized Indian Tribes.
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Telemarketer Sentenced to Prison in Connection with $10 Million International Fraudulent Sweepstakes SchemeRead the Press Release
A telemarketer was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for his role in a $10 million telemarketing scheme that defrauded primarily elderly victims in the United States from call centers in Costa Rica.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U. S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray of the Western District of North Carolina, Inspector in Charge David M. McGinnis of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Charlotte Division, Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) and Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
Carlin Woods, 35, of Merrillville, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina. Woods pleaded guilty on May 15, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to admissions made as part of his plea agreement, Woods worked in a call center in Costa Rica in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as employees of U.S. government agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Customs and Boder Protection and the IRS, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable, that they stood to receive a significant financial reward, Woods and his co-conspirators fraudulently told victims that they needed to make up-front payments for a “refundable insurance fee” before collecting their supposed prize. The members of the conspiracy used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which made it appear that they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other places in the United States.
Woods arranged for victims to transmit payments to Costa Rica or through people in the United States who collected money from victims and forwarded the payment to Woods and others in Costa Rica, he admitted.
At sentencing it was determined that Woods and his co-conspirators stole more than $1.5 million from victims.
This case was investigated by USPIS, the IRS and the FBI, with assistance from the FTC and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Bowne and Jennifer Farer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina provided substantial assistance with this matter.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, this past March the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.