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12 September 2019
South Texas Woman Sent to Prison for Attempting to Smuggle Meth Through CheckpointRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 44-year-old Lyford woman has been sentenced for possessing with the intent to distribute more than 26 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jacqueline Barrera pleaded guilty June 19, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed her a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Morales noted the seriousness of the offense and the potential sentence.
On April 17, 2019, Barrera drove a white Mitsubishi Lancer into the primary inspection area of the Border Patrol Checkpoint located near Sarita. A search of the vehicle revealed bundles of methamphetamine concealed within speaker boxes in the trunk of the car.
She has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
This Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.
South Florida Health Care Facility Owner Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in Largest Health Care Fraud Scheme Ever Charged by the Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal district judge sentenced a south Florida health care facility owner to 20 years in prison today after being found guilty in the largest health care fraud scheme charged by the U.S. Justice Department. The case involves a decades-long scheme of kickbacks and money laundering in connection with fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services deemed medically unnecessary.
Philip Esformes, 50, of Miami Beach, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola of the Southern District of Florida, who also sentenced Esformes to three years supervised release. A hearing to determine restitution and forfeiture has been scheduled for Nov. 21.
After an eight-week jury trial, Esformes was found guilty in April 2019 of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts of receipt of kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program, four counts of payment of kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, nine counts of money laundering, two counts of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and one count of obstruction of justice
“For nearly two decades, Philip Esformes bankrolled his lavish lifestyle with taxpayer dollars, paying bribes with impunity and robbing Medicare and Medicaid by billing for services that people did not need or get,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski. “It is a credit to the tenacity of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners that the man behind one of the biggest health care frauds in history will be spending 20 years in prison.”
“Philip Esformes will now spend years in prison for orchestrating a kick-back and money laundering scheme that defrauded America’s health care system out of millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida remains committed to working with our partners at the Department’s Criminal Division, the FBI and HHS-OIG to root out health care fraud and protect taxpayer dollars for patient care.”
“Philip Esformes is a man driven by almost unbounded greed,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Denise M. Stemen of the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “The illicit road Esformes took to satisfy his greediness led to millions in fraudulent health care claims, the largest amount ever charged by the Department of Justice. Along that road, Esformes cycled patients through his facilities in poor condition where they received inadequate or unnecessary treatment, then improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid. Taking his despicable conduct further, he bribed doctors and regulators to advance his criminal conduct and even bribed a college official in exchange for gaining admission for his son to that university. The FBI and its partners are constantly investigating health care fraudsters, big and small, who steal money from taxpayers at the expense of patients in need of quality medical care.”
“Healthcare fraud is a hidden tax costing billions of dollars every year and, as in this case, too often threatens the very health of vulnerable patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). “Esformes – who provided shoddy medical care – stands convicted of fraud and is now paying the price. We continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect people in government health programs.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, between January 1998 and July 2016, Esformes led an extensive health care fraud conspiracy involving a network of assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities he owned. Esformes bribed physicians to admit patients into his facilities. Then, he cycled the patients through his facilities where they often failed to receive appropriate medical services or received medically unnecessary services billed to Medicare and Medicaid. Several witnesses testified to the poor conditions in the facilities and the inadequate care patients receive.
Esformes concealed the poor conditions and scheme from authorities by bribing an employee of a Florida state regulator for advance notice of surprise inspections scheduled to take place at his facilities. The evidence further showed Esformes used his criminal proceeds to make a series of extravagant purchases, including luxury automobiles and a $360,000 watch. Esformes also used criminal proceeds to bribe the basketball coach at the University of Pennsylvania in exchange for his assistance in gaining admission for his son into the university.
Altogether, the evidence established that Esformes personally benefited from the fraud and received in excess of $37 million.
Esformes’s coconspirator, physician’s assistant Arnaldo Carmouze, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced on April 10, 2019, to 80 months in prison and was ordered to pay $12,590,761 in restitution. Co-conspirator Odette Barcha also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. Barcha was sentenced on April 3 to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $704,516.00 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with assistance from Florida Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The case was prosecuted by Fraud Section Acting Health Care Fraud Chief Allan Medina and Assistant Chief Drew Bradylyons, and Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Young, James Hayes and Jeremy Sanders, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Shipley and Dan Bernstein of the Southern District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Lehr, Nalina Sombuntham and Daren Grove of the Southern District of Florida handled the forfeiture aspects of the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.
Somerset Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Participation in Bank LoanRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Somerset man pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield yesterday to illegally participating in a loan with a financial institution.
Anthony Riccitelli, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of participation in loan with financial institution. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Dec. 11, 2019. In July 2019, Riccitelli was charged by information.
Riccitelli admitted today that he loaned $80,000 to Diecast Connections Company, Inc., based in Chicopee, at the same time that he served as a bank officer for Blue Hills Bank. Riccitelli proposed that Blue Hills Bank enter into a $4.2 million loan package with Diecast without disclosing to Blue Hills Bank the $80,000 in private loans he had made to Diecast. Shortly after the closing on the loan, Riccitelli received $80,000 of the loan proceeds, unbeknownst to Blue Hills Bank.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 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 Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Settlement with the Department of Justice and the EPA Prohibits Performance Diesel Inc. from Selling Diesel Engine Defeat DevicesRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Performance Diesel Inc. (PDI) to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) associated with the manufacture, sale and installation of aftermarket products that defeat the emissions control systems of heavy-duty diesel engines. As part of the settlement, PDI has agreed to stop the sale of all products the government alleges violate the CAA. PDI will also pay a civil penalty of $1,100,000 over two years due to their limited financial ability to pay a higher penalty.
“This settlement prohibits PDI from selling illegal devices that defeat motor vehicle emissions controls and make an end run around federal laws that protect the public’s health,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonathan D. Brightbill of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate this abuse of law and will continue to prosecute those responsible for trading in these illegal products.”
“Performance Diesel Inc. manufactured, sold and installed thousands of aftermarket defeat devices, and as a result thousands of heavy-duty trucks now operate without the filters, catalysts and other emissions controls that keep our air clean,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Susan Bodine. “Today’s settlement will prevent future violations by requiring PDI to ensure that their products do not adversely affect emissions.”
The United States alleges that PDI sold at least 5,549 aftermarket products that defeat the emissions control systems of heavy-duty diesel engines in violation of the CAA. Before May 1, 2018, PDI manufactured, sold and installed electronic tuning software, known as “tunes,” that allowed PDI to disable emissions control devices, or otherwise bypass, defeat or render inoperative parts of the engine used to comply with CAA emission standards. PDI’s aftermarket products are designed for use with numerous models of heavy-duty diesel engines manufactured by Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, International and Paccar.
Included in the terms of this settlement, PDI must:
- Stop sale of all products that violate the CAA according to the government’s complaint.
- For new tuning products, demonstrate a reasonable basis that their products do not increase emissions by obtaining a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) prior to manufacture, sale, offering for sale and installation of products.
- For existing products not currently covered by a CARB EO, demonstrate a reasonable basis by submitting a complete application to CARB that covers the tunes prior to manufacture, sale, offering for sale and installation. Under this consent decree, a complete application includes emission test results sufficient to satisfy CARB’s requirements for obtaining a CARB EO.
The settlement has been lodged in the U.S. District Court for the State of Utah for a period of 30 days for public notice and comment. The first penalty payment is due within thirty days of entry of the Consent Decree. To read the Consent Decree: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA has recently added a National Compliance Initiative on Stopping Aftermarket Defeat Devices for Vehicles and Engines. This case is an important step in that initiative. To read about EPA’s National Compliance Initiative: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines.For more information on the settlement, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/performance-diesel-inc-clean-air-act-settlement-information-sheet.
Serial Robber Sentenced to Prison for 13 Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to more than 12 1/2 years in prison for using a knife to rob over a dozen convenience stores and gas stations within the Eastern District of Virginia.
“Over 10 days earlier this year, the Carter brothers went on a violent and dangerous crime spree,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Michael Carter not only robbed 13 businesses, but he used a knife to threaten, to intimidate, and to terrify innocent individuals inside those businesses. The Carter brothers have shown they are a clear danger to the safety of our communities.”
According to court documents, from January 5 through January 15, Michael Thomas Carter, 29, Michael Carter, with the help of his brother, Joseph Carter, went on a 10 day crime spree that included numerous robberies and an attempted robbery of businesses in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. Wearing a mask and armed with a knife, Michael Carter robbed 13 convenience stores and attempted to rob yet another convenience store. The FBI’s Central Virginia Violent Crimes Task Force (CVVCTF), working with local law enforcement, was able to identify the Carter brothers as the suspects involved in this string of robberies in which one masked man, armed with a knife, entered each business to demand cash from the business before fleeing the scene. Officers of the CVVCTF identified the car used by the Carters and began surveillance.
“In a brief but violent crime spree, Michael Thomas Carter and his accomplices committed more than a dozen armed robberies in the City of Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico Counties, targeting citizens and businesses alike,” said David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “The FBI’s Central Virginia Violent Crimes Task Force worked with its local partners to end Mr. Carter’s criminal activity, and will continue to investigate violent offenders who target commercial institutions for robbery. The FBI is grateful for these partnerships, as well as that of the United States Attorney’s Office, during this investigation.”
On January 15, law enforcement located the car approximately 10 minutes after the Carters robbed a gas station in Chesterfield. Detectives followed the car as the Carters drove into Richmond, and watched as Joseph Carter purchased narcotics from two locations in the city. When a traffic stop was initiated, Michael Carter ran from the car and hid in the woods. With the help of Air Unit and K-9 units, officers were able to locate Michael Carter and the clothing that he attempted to discard in the woods. Knives, clothing, and a black mask were recovered from the car. During the execution of a search warrant on the home of the brothers, some items stolen from the businesses were recovered.
Joseph Carter will be sentenced on October 10 for his role as the getaway driver for these crimes.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Jin Ah Lee 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. 3:19-cr-56.
Senegalese National Admits Impersonating Deceased U.S. Citizen Since 1988Read the Press Release
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Hill (619) 546-7924
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 12, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Almamy Baba Ly pleaded guilty in federal court today to identity theft charges, admitting that he misused the identity of a deceased American citizen for 31 years in order to obtain identification documents and thousands of dollars in federal, state and local government benefits.
During a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt, Ly acknowledged that in 1988 he assumed the identity of Lyle Lindsey, a native San Diegan and son of a military veteran, who died in a tragic automobile accident as a toddler in 1957. Ly admitted that he was born in Senegal, that he was without legal status to reside in the United States, and that he used an altered copy of Lindsey’s birth certificate to apply first for a Social Security number and then for a California Identification Card and Driver’s License. Over the next 31 years, Ly was convicted of numerous crimes, including drug sales and robbery, under Lyle Lindsey’s identity.
Ly also pleaded guilty to Receiving Stolen Public Money, admitting that from 2012 until 2019, he used Lindsey’s identity to apply for and receive over $80,000 in federal student loans and Pell Grants. In his plea agreement, Ly also admitted to applying for CalFresh / Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in 2017 as Lindsey, and to thereafter receiving thousands of dollars in benefits that he was not legally entitled to receive.
In July 2019, United States Border Patrol agents simultaneously served a search warrant and arrested Ly at his residence in La Mesa, California. During the search, agents seized a recently issued Senegalese national identification card with Ly’s true name and date of birth. The arrest and search warrant were the culmination of a lengthy investigation by the United States Border Patrol, with the assistance of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of State, and the United States Embassy and Homeland Security Investigations in Dakar, Senegal.
“This was an especially sophisticated and devious fraud that victimized U.S. taxpayers for decades and forced a family to revisit a traumatic loss,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Finding out that someone is committing crimes in the name of a child who was lost many years ago brings unacceptable anxiety to his survivors. Identity thieves target hundreds of thousands of deceased Americans every year, but I’m proud to say that because of the efforts of federal agents and prosecutor Jeffrey Hill, one of the most egregious and enduring violators has been stopped.”
On behalf of the United States Border Patrol, San Diego Chief Patrol Agent Douglas E. Harrison stated: “I am grateful and proud of the tenacity, persistence, and hard work that our agents and law enforcement partners have demonstrated over the past several months, which have resulted in this conviction.”
As a part of his plea agreement, Ly agreed to make full restitution to the United States Department of Education and to the County of San Diego for the $88,551 in government benefits that he fraudulently obtained by his crimes. Ly faces up to 55 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million at his sentencing before U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia on December 2, 2019.
DEFENDANT Case Number 19-cr-2864-AJB
Almamy Baba Ly La Mesa, California.
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Unlawful Production of an Identification Document – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison, $250,000 fine
Theft of Public Property – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 641
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison, $721,817.70 fine, restitution
AGENCIES
United States Border Patrol – Sector Intelligence Unit / Chula Vista Station
United States Homeland Security Investigations
California Department of Motor Vehicles Investigations Division
Bureau of Public Assistance Investigations, County of San Diego
Sacramento Man Indicted for Assaulting a Court Security OfficerRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Adam Fuller, 33, of Sacramento, charging him with assault on a federal employee or officer, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 27, Fuller assaulted a court security officer outside the United States Federal Courthouse in Sacramento by punching him in the face, causing injury to the security officer.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Protective Services and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cody are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fuller faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Richmond Man Sentenced to 130 Months for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Edward J. Anderson, IV, 32, of Richmond, was sentenced Thursday to 130 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
In September 2018, officers with the Madison County HIDTA Task Force, arrested Anderson outside his home in Madison County. During a search officers located approximately 8 ounces of fentanyl, approximately 24 ounces of methamphetamine, and a stolen 9mm handgun. During his plea, Anderson admitted the firearm possessed in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Under federal law, Anderson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Tommy Estevan, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division, jointly made the announcement.
The ATF, Madison County HIDTA task force, and the Richmond Police Department conducted the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia T. Rieker.
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 PSN program was reinvigorated 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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Redding Man Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On August 29, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against William Dan Powell, 67, of Redding, charging him with possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Powell possessed pornographic material depicting prepubescent children. Powell is scheduled to be arraigned today in Sacramento.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Powell faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Ramer Man Sentenced to 111 Months in Prison for Federal Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, AL – Yesterday, Willis Lydell Cogburn, 31, of Ramer, Alabama, was sentenced to 111 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., Troy Police Chief Randall Barr, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. Following his prison sentence of just over nine years, he will be subject to five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The evidence presented at his June 2019 trial showed that in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 8, 2017, Troy Police officers were patrolling the downtown area after responding to a disturbance call. After the issues with the initial call were cleared, officers began to patrol the area near a bar on Love Street where a crowd had gathered. There they found Cogburn in a vehicle with his car stereo playing loudly. When officers approached the car to address the noise issue, they noticed an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and detected the smell of marijuana.
Upon questioning, Cogburn became uncooperative and confrontational. Officers asked Cogburn to get out of the vehicle and opened the driver’s door to remove him. Cogburn then placed the vehicle in reverse and drove backwards for approximately 50 feet before hitting another vehicle and coming to a stop. A Troy police officer was standing in the car’s doorway and had to cling to the vehicle to avoid being struck by the open door as the car moved backwards. Luckily, no one was injured.
Once Cogburn was removed from the vehicle, officers searched the car and found a significant amount of marijuana, digital scales, and a .38 caliber revolver. Small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine were also discovered. Having previously been convicted of a felony, Cogburn was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“Unfortunately, carrying guns and selling drugs are synonymous,” stated U.S. Attorney Franklin. “Firearms are used by dealers to protect their drugs and money, with no regard to the danger it presents to our communities or law enforcement. I am thankful for the work of the Troy Police Department and the ATF in this case, and I am grateful that no officers were injured despite the reckless behavior of the defendant.”
“This was a very dangerous situation that escalated quickly,” stated Troy Police Chief Randall Barr. “Our officers did a great job taking this individual into custody and showed great restraint in preventing the situation from escalating any further. We truly appreciate our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s office and the great work that they do to help us bring these cases to a successful conclusion. Cogburn’s arrest, conviction and significant sentence should make a strong statement and go a long way in keeping dangerous criminals and drug dealers off of our streets and out of our community.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge, Marcus Watson remarked, “Protecting the public by the removal of the criminal element that commits acts of violence with a firearm was the result of the combined efforts by ATF, the Troy Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The case was investigated by the Troy Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Wendell and Robert Nichols prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Update: Six Appear in Federal Court for Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that six defendants appeared in federal court this week for various gun crimes.
“As part of PSN, we’re working hard with ATF and state and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime in our communities,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Prosecuting violators of federal gun laws is vital to our efforts. Week after week, we take more prohibited persons with guns off our streets and put them behind bars.”
Four men appeared in United States District Court in Charleston on felon in possession charges:
Tijuan Tyson, 31, of Charleston, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Tyson previously admitted that on October 19, 2015, he was approached by officers because he looked similar to a suspect involved in a robbery. He appeared nervous, had his hands in his pocket, and dropped a bag of suspected marijuana on the ground prior to taking off on foot. He was apprehended and during a search incident to arrest, officers located the loaded and operable Arsenal CO, 9 mm caliber pistol, which was listed as stolen, in his pocket. Tyson is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has been convicted of the felony of Use of an Access Device With the Intent to Defraud. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders handled the prosecution.
Dakota Zachary Williams, 24, of St. Albans, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. At public court hearings, it was established that on January 19, 2019, police stopped Williams for erratic driving in St. Albans. Williams told an officer that he was swerving because he was rolling a blunt while driving and that he had marijuana in his cup holder. Investigators recovered the marijuana and also found a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat. They arrested Williams and found that he was carrying more marijuana, various pills, and around 3 grams of methamphetamine. Further, on February 12, 2019, police arrested Williams again in the parking lot of Walmart in Nitro, where Williams had shoplifted an item. On scene, investigators found Williams carrying another loaded firearm, marijuana, and a box of ammunition. Williams had previously been convicted for felony wanton endangerment in 2016 and his right to possess a firearm was not restored. The St. Albans Police Department, Nitro Police Department, and the ATF conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman handled the prosecution.
Shannon Brown, 43, of Charleston, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brown admitted that on June 6, 2019, he possessed a Smith and Wesson, .40 caliber handgun, in and affecting interstate commerce. Brown had previously been convicted of two prior drug felonies on August 12, 1998 and July 13, 2004, in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, WV, and was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Brown faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on January 30, 2020. The Charleston Police Department and the ATF conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Steven I. Loew is handling the prosecution.
William Ware, 41, of Ohio, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. On May 18, 2017, Charleston Police investigated a call that shots were fired on 6th Street in Charleston. The defendant and his vehicle matched the description provided by witnesses of who fired the shots. Charleston Police found magazine with 12 shot of ammunition in the driver side floor of the vehicle after pulling Defendant over on Bagley Street. Defendant had three prior felony convictions, and did not have his rights restored to possess firearms or ammunition. The Charleston Police Department and the ATF conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Arthur handled the prosecution.
In addition, two Huntington men pled guilty before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers to being felons in possession of firearms.
Randall Allen Eplion, Jr., 30, admitted that, on April 5, 2019, officers with the Huntington Police Department executed a search warrant at his residence located at 427 Rear 6th Avenue, Apartment E in Huntington . During the search, officers found Eplion in possession of a number of firearms including a .45 caliber pistol, a 5.56 mm rifle, and a 12 gauge shotgun. Eplion was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior conviction for first degree robbery in Cabell County. Eplion admitted as part of his plea that he possessed a total of 21 firearms that officers located during the search. Some of the firearms were stolen and Eplion admitted that he traded methamphetamine for a number of the firearms. Eplion also admitted that the 5.56 mm rifle qualified as a machinegun, the 12 gauge shotgun qualified as a short-barrel shotgun, and that neither of the firearms were registered as required by federal law. Eplion faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on December 16, 2019. The ATF and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.
Jeremy Bartram, 27, admitted that on July 6, 2019 the West Virginia State Police conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle in the area of 16th Street Road in Huntington. Bartram admitted to the Trooper that he possessed a handgun. The Trooper then searched the vehicle and found the firearm in a bag between Bartram’s feet. Bartram is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted of a felony offense. Bartram faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on December 16, 2019. The West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is handling the prosecution.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, 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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Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Christian Elijah Moore, age 29, pleaded guilty to two counts before Chief United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on September 5, 2017, Moore walked into the First National Bank in Homestead, PA and asked for change. While the teller was providing him with change, Moore placed his wallet on the counter and stated that his friend wanted him to give her a note. In the note, Moore threatened to shoot the teller if he she did not provide him with money.
The teller provided Moore with $1,055.00, as well as a GPS tracking device. As Moore was walking from the bank, he removed identifiable clothing and left the items in the bushes of the homes along his path. Officers later recovered the gray Adidas jacket that he was wearing during the bank robbery from the bushes of a home near the bank. He then walked to a jitney station and asked for a ride to Oakland. The jitney driver proceeded across the Homestead Grays Bridge. Moore observed Homestead police, who were alerted to the area by the GPS device, and instructed the jitney driver to make a U-turn and proceed to Hazelwood. After observing the vehicle make a U-turn, police stopped the vehicle. Moore immediately stated that he had just robbed the bank and the jitney driver had nothing to do with it. Officers recovered a loaded Kel-Tec semi-automatic .9mm pistol as well as the money and tracking device from Moore. As part of his confession, Moore admitted that when he woke up that day, he decided to rob a bank because he needed money and did not like having to wait.
Chief Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for January 16, 2020. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Moore remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homestead Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Moore.
Pharmacy Owner Charged with Illegally Distributing Oxycodone and Operating A Health Care Fraud and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrest of MICHAEL PAULSEN, the owner and operator of a pharmacy located in Staten Island. The Indictment unsealed today charges PAULSEN with conspiring to illegally distribute oxycodone, committing health care fraud, and providing “kickbacks” to customers from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to induce them to obtain substances from his pharmacy. PAULSEN will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott later today. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated: “As alleged, the defendant abused his position as a pharmacy owner and his access to controlled substances for his personal gain, directly contributing to the glut of highly addictive opioids flooding the streets of the New York City area. Now he faces justice for his contribution to the opioid epidemic plaguing our communities.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond P. Donovan said: “Opioid abuse is America’s deadliest enemy killing more than 130 people daily. It is alleged that lives were endangered every time Michael Paulsen opened Regal Remedies’ front or back door to peddle unprescribed opioids. Working with our local, state, and federal partners, DEA’s priority is to investigate those responsible for pushing diverted pills, heroin, and fentanyl into our communities.”
HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert said: “Fueled by greed, opioid fraud schemes have devastated many communities around this country. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, and all available resources will be used to thoroughly investigate such alleged crimes.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “Opioids have a well-known history of destroying lives and devastating communities and this is why the NYPD and its law enforcement partners work relentlessly to bring to justice those who traffic them and seek to profit from them illegally. I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors who worked on this case - it is their dedication and hard work that keeps our communities safe.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment[1]:
From approximately March 2016 to September 2019, PAULSEN, who owned and operated a pharmacy in Staten Island, conspired with others to unlawfully distribute thousands of oxycodone pills to individuals who PAULSEN knew had no legitimate medical need for them, in exchange for lucrative cash payments.
In total, during that period, PAULSEN ordered for his pharmacy more than 170,000 oxycodone pills from pharmaceutical suppliers. However, during the same period, PAULSEN’s pharmacy dispensed approximately only 62,000 of those oxycodone pills with a prescription, or slightly more than one-third of the oxycodone pills that were ordered.
PAULSEN instead distributed significant quantities of oxycodone pills to the pharmacy’s customers, including his co-conspirators, who either did not have a prescription or had fraudulent prescriptions, in exchange for thousands of dollars. PAULSEN knew that at least some of those oxycodone pills would be resold at the street level. PAULSEN is not a registered pharmacist and is not authorized to distribute controlled substances such as oxycodone in New York State.
While operating his pharmacy, and in connection with his unlawful distribution of oxycodone pills, PAULSEN also perpetrated a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance providers. PAULSEN instructed customers of his pharmacy to order particular products that were not medically necessary. PAULSEN then billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance providers for reimbursements for those products, and provided a portion of those reimbursements as financial compensation to the customers.
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PAULSEN, 41, of Staten Island, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone illegally, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of committing health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of paying kickbacks to induce individuals to purchase items under a Federal health care program, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Tactical Diversion Squad, which comprises agents and officers from the DEA, the NYPD, the New York State Police, New York State Department of Financial Services, New York National Guard and New York City Department of Investigation and New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. Mr. Berman also thanked the HHS-OIG and the New York City Human Resources Administration for their work on the investigation.
Parts of this case were conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), a partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Elinor Tarlow and Daniel Wolf are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Pennsylvania Man Admits Role in Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Pennsylvania man today admitted robbing a bank in Carneys Point, New Jersey, in July 2018 while brandishing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Kareem Moore, 29, of North Wales, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden federal court to an indictment charging him with armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Moore admitted that on July 30, 2018, he and a conspirator walked into the Fulton Bank in Carneys Point and that he demanded cash while displaying a loaded handgun. Moore and the conspirator took the cash and fled. Responding officers arrived at the bank within minutes of the robbery, and, after a brief foot pursuit, tackled and arrested Moore.
The armed bank robbery charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The count of brandishing a firearm carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 16, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John T. Lenahan; officers of the Carneys Point Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gerald A. Krivda; and officers of the Penns Grove Police Department, under the direction of Chief John T. Stranahan Sr., with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Harberg of the United States Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Defense counsel: Richard Coughlin Esq., Federal Public Defender, Camden
Pasco County Man Who Threatened Iraqi-American Family Pleads Guilty to Criminal Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – David Allen Boileau (58, Holiday) today pleaded guilty to criminal interference with a right to fair housing. He faces up to one year in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, over the course of several months, Boileau engaged in a course of conduct intended to threaten and intimidate an Iraqi-American family so that they would move out of their neighborhood and, more broadly, leave the United States. The family, now naturalized United States citizens, had immigrated to the United States from Iraq in 2015 through a refugee visa.
Boileau threw screws at a car parked on the family’s property, broke into their house, and went through the family’s mail. Boileau also made several derogatory statements regarding their national origin and religion, referring to them as “ISIS” and an “eyesore to this country,” adding that he disliked Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent. Witnesses reported that, on one occasion, Boileau yelled at the family to get out of his neighborhood and country. Boileau reported that his goal was to “take care of that family” and to “clean up America.” Boileau also threatened to kill witnesses who reported his conduct to local law enforcement authorities. As a result of Boileau’s conduct, the Iraqi-American family was afraid to be in their house and, at one point, left their home to stay with extended family.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
Orange County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in Dark-net Methamphetamine Distribution RingRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Huntington Beach man was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison for being part of a father-and-son crew that illegally distributed methamphetamine on one of the world’s largest dark-net marketplaces.
William Thomas Glarner III, 65, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter, who said that Glarner had “earned” his sentence and had “spent a lifetime” working his way to federal prison.
After a four-day trial, a federal jury in June found Glarner guilty of three methamphetamine distribution-related charges. Glarner was observed mailing packages of methamphetamine, including one to a dark-net customer, according to evidence presented at trial. A search warrant executed on March 14 on Glarner and his vehicle resulted in the seizure of more than 1.4 kilograms (3.1 pounds) of methamphetamine.
The term “dark-net” refers to computer networks that utilize some of the Internet, but provide greater anonymity, allowing vendors to sell goods and services – such as illegal drug sales – often in exchange for virtual currency.
Glarner was identified as part of an overall investigation into the dark-net activity of his son, William Thomas Glarner IV, a.k.a. “Billy,” 34, of Irvine, who pleaded guilty on June 17 to one felony count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The elder Glarner acted as a mailer of drugs for his son’s methamphetamine distribution operation.
Glarner IV admitted in his plea agreement that he used at least three monikers to obscure his true identity on the dark-net, including on the “Tor” dark-net browser, where he conducted more than 1,500 sales of controlled substances, including methamphetamine.
Glarner IV admitted he obtained drugs from various sources, and along with others, mailed drugs to dark-net customers nationwide by using such services as the United States Postal Service and commercial couriers. A search warrant executed at his residence and on his car on March 14 resulted in law enforcement officials recovering 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) of methamphetamine, court papers state. Glarner IV admitted that some of this methamphetamine was packaged for purposes of distribution for orders placed on the dark-net.
Glarner IV is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, at which time he will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison.
This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The La Habra Police Department assisted with the investigation as did the Costa Mesa Police Department, the Brea Police Department, the Cypress Police Department, and the Cass County Drug Task Force of North Dakota. This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Puneet V. Kakkar and Kathy Yu of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section.
Operation Mountaineer Highway Update: Fayette County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Fayette County man was sentenced on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. Greg Coleman, 43, of Scarbro, was sentenced to 300 months, or 25 years, in federal prison. Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department.
“25 years in federal prison. 25 years. To put it in perspective, 25 years ago, there wasn’t an iPhone and Bill Clinton was in his first term. This is a significant sentence for a significant crime,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Coleman, already a felon, was a major poly-drug dealer with an arsenal of firearms. All that got him was a very long sentence in federal prison.”
At an earlier hearing, Coleman admitted that between October 2017 and July 31, 2018, he worked with other members of a drug trafficking organization operating in Fayette County to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and oxycodone pills. Coleman admitted that during this time period, he distributed approximately three kilograms of heroin, approximately one-and-a-half kilograms of methamphetamine, and about 3000 oxycodone pills in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. Coleman also previously admitted that on July 16, 2018 he consented to a search of his residence by law enforcement officers. During the search, officers recovered 182 grams of heroin that Coleman had just obtained from another member of the drug trafficking organization and multiple guns. Coleman knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearms due to a prior felony conviction in Fayette County, West Virginia Circuit Court. As part of his plea agreement, Coleman agreed to forfeit 65 firearms to the United States.
The prosecution of Coleman culminated from a joint investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies known as Mountaineer Highway.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew J. Tessman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
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Oklahoma Woman Coerced a Minor to Travel from Ohio to PA to Engage in ProstitutionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma waived prosecution by Indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information in federal court to violations of Coercion and Enticement of Any Individual to Travel to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity and Conspiracy to Commit the Offense of Coercion and Enticement of an Individual to Travel to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Shelby Summer Brown, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about March 6, 2018, to on or about March 14, 2018, Brown conspired and agreed with another individual, Oscar Carter, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual, Minor A (who had not yet attained the age of 18 years) to travel from Ohio to Pennsylvania, to engage in prostitution from March 6, 2018 through March 14, 2018.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for January 14, 2020. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 25 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Judge ordered Brown remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cranberry Township Police, and the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the rescue of the victim and the prosecution of Brown.
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.
Newport News Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was arrested today on charges of production of child pornography.
According to allegations detailed in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Justin Travis Taylor, 25, began communicating online via Snapchat and Instagram in May 2018 with Jane Doe 1, who informed Taylor that she was 13-years-old and in 8th grade. In February 2019, after months of explicit online communications between Taylor and the minor victim, Jane Doe 1’s mother contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to report the exchanges.
After interviewing the minor victim and reviewing communication devices she allegedly used to communicate with Taylor, law enforcement obtained court authorized search warrants for multiple online accounts registered to Taylor and Jane Doe 1, and discovered numerous communications where Taylor threatened to kill himself if Jane Doe 1 did not send him the sexually explicit images he demanded.
Taylor is charged with production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
If you have information regarding the pending prosecution, contact the FBI’s Norfolk Division at 757-455-0100, or submit an online tip at: https://tips.fbi.gov/. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Taylor was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter G. Osyf and Lisa R. McKeel are prosecuting the case.
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-mj-142.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that GERARD LAWLESS, age 39, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 11, 2019 to a one-count superseding bill of information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, on August 4, 2018, LAWLESS possessed a Ruger .38 caliber firearm in New Orleans. LAWLESS had previously been convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
LAWLESS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and New Orleans Police Department in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
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New Jersey Doctor Pleads Guilty to $13 Million Conspiracy to Defraud Medicare with Telemedicine Orders of Orthotic BracesRead the Press Release
A Toms River, New Jersey physician pleaded guilty today for his role in a $13 million health care fraud scheme, which previously resulted in charges in April 2019 against 23 other defendants in one of the largest health care fraud cases investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey, Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary Cantrell of HHS-OIG and Deputy Administrator and Director Alec Alexander of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) made the announcement.
Joseph DeCorso, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan of the District of New Jersey. DeCorso’s sentencing is set for Jan. 8, 2020, before Judge Sheridan.
In pleading guilty, DeCorso admitted that he worked for two purported telemedicine companies for which he wrote medically unnecessary orders for orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries between July 2017 and March 2019. He admitted that his conduct resulted in a $13 million intended loss to Medicare. In connection with his plea agreement, DeCorso agreed to pay over $7 million in restitution to the United States, as well as forfeit assets and property traceable to proceeds of the conspiracy.
DeCorso admitted that in the course of the scheme, an international telemarketing network lured hundreds of thousands of elderly or disabled Medicare beneficiaries into the scheme, which involved call centers throughout the world, which then sent the beneficiaries’ information to several telemedicine companies. DeCorso further admitted that he wrote brace orders for the telemedicine companies without speaking to the beneficiaries and that he concealed the fraud with falsified orders that stated, among other things, that he had “discussions” or “conversations” with beneficiaries or had conducted diagnostic testing for benficiaries, when, in fact, DeCorso had not spoken to beneficiaries and had not conducted diagnostic testing on beneficiaries in connection with the ordering of orthotic braces.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Newark Field Office and HHS-OIG. Acting Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Darren Halverson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Any doctors or medical professionals who have been involved with alleged fraudulent telemedicine and DME marketing schemes should call to report this conduct to the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Additional documents related to the investigation and prior indictments are available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-april-9-2019-press-release-health-care-fraud
Milwaukee Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 12, 2019, Tedmund Blankschein, 51, plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by impeding the Internal Revenue Service in connection with his and Albert Golant’s luxury vehicle brokerage businesses, WI Automotive T.R.U.S.T., Lease, Registration, and Consulting LLC, and DOT Automotive of WI LLC, from at least May 2013 to May 2017. This offense carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
According to court documents, Blankschein and Golant were in the business of purchasing luxury vehicles in the United States and then selling them at a substantial profit to foreign buyers overseas, typically in China. Both Blankschein and Golant had control over multiple business and personal bank accounts that they used to divert corporate receipts of WI Automotive T.R.U.S.T., Lease, Registration, and Consulting LLC, and DOT Automotive of WI LLC, which were supposed to be used to purchase specific luxury vehicles. Blankschein and Golant used the diverted funds to gamble and to purchase personal items such as expensive jewelry, which they concealed from their accountant. Instead, Golant falsely told their accountant that these funds were used to purchase luxury vehicles and should be deducted as expenses on their tax returns. As a result, their tax returns substantially overstated business expenses. Blankschein and Golant underreported the income from WI Automotive T.R.U.S.T., Lease, Registration, and Consulting LLC, and DOT Automotive of WI LLC by more than $12 million, generating a tax loss to the United States of more than $5.4 million.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura S. Kwaterski.
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Mexican National Who Illegally Entered the U.S. Seven Times Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national who has illegally entered the United States at least seven times pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the Kansas City, Missouri, area and in the Springfield, Missouri, area.
Armando Quintana-Galaz, 37, a citizen of Mexico residing in Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and to illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.
Quintana-Galaz had been deported from the United States six times before being arrested on Nov. 2, 2017, in Springfield. At that time, he was again illegally present in the United States. When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Quintana-Galaz’s residence on that day, they found approximately 3.159 kilograms of pure methamphetamine in a hamper in the master bathroom and approximately 189 grams of pure methamphetamine in a dresser in the master bedroom. They found a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Norinco SKS 762-caliber rifle, various ammunition, a bag that contained approximately four grams of cocaine, and six cell phones. They also found a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun in his Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Officers also found $40,020 in a dresser in the master bedroom, $6,295 in the pocket of his pants that were on a TV stand, and $293 in a suitcase in the master bathroom closet. According to today’s plea agreement, the $46,608 seized from Quintana-Galaz’s residence would convert to more than 2.6 kilograms (2,642.6 grams) of methamphetamine.
Quintana-Galaz is the fifth defendant in this case to plead guilty. Quintana-Galaz admitted that he sold and distributed methamphetamine, that he received and transported illicit drug proceeds as part of his involvement in the conspiracy, and that he possessed several firearms found at his residence, at least in part, to further his involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Today’s plea agreement cites several instances in which Quintana-Galaz was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine to cooperating law enforcement sources.
Under federal statutes, Quintana-Galaz is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Mexican National Sentenced for Transportation of Undocumented Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
St. Louis - Rene Flores-Calderon, 35, of Mexico, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for transportation of undocumented aliens who had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law and to his illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court documents, on August 2, 2018, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman stopped a maroon Chevrolet Suburban eastbound on Interstate 44, just east of the Franklin County line, in St. Louis County, Missouri. The suburban contained 10 undocumented adult aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador and three undocumented unaccompanied minor children. During the vehicle stop, Flores-Calderon fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the next day.
All of the passengers admitted they had illegally entered the United States through various locations in Arizona over the last month and were traveling to various destinations across the United States.
Flores-Calderon knew the passengers were undocumented aliens in the United States in violation of the law and that he transported the passengers within the United States with the intent to further the aliens’ unlawful presence.
Interviews were conducted of the passengers in the vehicle. In summary, they stated that they had crossed at various points into the United States illegally. Flores-Calderon picked them up at various locations in Arizona and drove eastbound. Several of the passengers indicated that they or members of their family had paid a smuggler to get them into the country and to their destination. Others indicated they paid or were going to pay the Flores-Calderon to transport them to various cities in the United States.
Flores-Calderon had previously been deported from the United States following convictions for illegal entry and reentry into the United States at least six times.
“Today’s sentence reflects our firm and lasting commitment to stopping the illicit flow of human beings who are treated as nothing more than cargo,” said Katherine Greer, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City. “HSI, and our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant against those with obvious disregard for our nation’s laws, and we will continue to seek out such people and place them before the bar of justice.”
Homeland Security, Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), St. Louis County Police Department and the Eureka Police Department investigated this case.
Melville-Based Boiler Room Employees Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in $147 Million Stock Manipulation SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Ronald Hardy, a manager at Power Traders Press, My Street Research and predecessor companies located in Melville, New York (the “boiler room”), and Dennis Verderosa, a cold-caller and account executive at the boiler room, were sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to 10 and six years’ imprisonment, respectively, for their participation in a $147 million scheme that defrauded investors in publicly traded companies. Hardy was also ordered to forfeit the contents of a bank account and two properties he owned in Sarasota, Florida, and Verderosa was ordered to pay $341,883 in forfeiture. The amount of restitution to be paid by the defendants will be determined by the court at a later date. Hardy pleaded guilty in August 2018 to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, substantive securities fraud and money laundering, and Verderosa pleaded guilty in April 2018 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.
“Hardy and Verderosa have been punished for luring vulnerable victims, many of them in their 70s, 80s and 90s, into a web of lies in order to steal their life savings,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect investors from calculating con-men.”
Between January 2014 and July 2017, Hardy, Verderosa and 14 co-defendants participated in a scheme that defrauded investors in publicly traded companies by artificially inflating the price and trading volume of stock of the companies, and making misrepresentations in their communications with victim investors concerning the advisability of purchasing the stock and its potential profitability. The defendants, some of whom controlled stock in the manipulated companies, profited while the victim investors lost millions of dollars when the stock prices plummeted. Taped to the wall of the boiler room where the cold callers made these misrepresentations was a sign that read, “WE’LL POUND THE PHONE AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK, WE’LL MAKE A TON OF MONEY AND WON’T GIVE A F---.”
Ten co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Four others are scheduled for trial.
Previously, co-defendant Emin Cohen was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and McArthur Jean to four years’ imprisonment for their roles in the scheme.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Whitman G.S. Knapp and Kaitlin T. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha R. Payne of the Office’s Civil Division is handling the forfeiture aspect of the case.
Defendants Sentenced Today:
RONALD HARDY
Age: 42
Port Jefferson, New YorkDENNIS VERDEROSA
Age: 67
Coram, New YorkDefendants Previously Sentenced:
EMIN L. COHEN (also known as “Ian Grant”)
Age: 33
Coram, New YorkMCARTHUR JEAN (also known as “John McArthur”)
Age: 34
Dix Hills, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-372-10 (JS)
Maryland Man Facing Federal Arson Charge for Fire at a Pasadena BarRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jamie Clemons, age 34, of Pasadena, Maryland, with malicious destruction of a property by fire, in connection with the fire on July 28, 2017, at a bar in Pasadena. The indictment was returned on September 11, 2019, and unsealed today upon the defendant’s arrest.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; the Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford; and the Anne Arundel County Fire Marshal Division Chief John Lane.
The one-count indictment alleges that Clemons maliciously damaged and destroyed by fire a bar known as Coconut Charlies, located in the 9100 block of Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena.
If convicted, Clemons faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite ordered that Clemons be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, September 16, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, and the Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.
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Man Who Raped Four Young Children Sentenced to 60 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jon Anthony Terry, 30, was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Erin Nealy Cox.
On November 14, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents executed a search warrant at a home in Rockwall, Texas where Terry was living. The warrant described several child pornography files that Terry had distributed and law enforcement had intercepted. The videos and images depicted children as young as toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct. After agreeing to speak to agents, Terry admitted to sexually abusing one of the children who was currently residing with him. Several media devices containing incriminating media were seized by the agents.
Upon review of Terry’s media collection, agents discovered over 1000 videos and images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts. Additionally, they uncovered videos and images that Terry himself had produced of four children, including the one Terry had previously admitted to molesting. The children ranged in age from 2-10 years old.
On December 13, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted Terry for four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. On February 19, 2019, Terry pled guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, each punishable from 15-30 years in prison.
On September 11, 2019, Chief Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn heard evidence at the sentencing regarding the abuse of these children. Three of the parents of the victims provided statements that detailed the extreme emotional and physical suffering that the children endured and still endure as a result of Terry’s actions. The Court sentenced Terry to 720 months in federal prison and supervised release for life.
“We will not tolerate criminals who target innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “I am proud of my office and the investigating agents’ efforts in this case. The investigation and prosecution of these horrific crimes reinforces our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our society – our children.”
“As lengthy as it is, 60 years in prison will never compare to the lifetime of pain and suffering the innocent children in this case have been sentenced to. Plain and simple, the criminal in this case is a monster whose disgusting actions stripped these victims of their innocence and dignity,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas. “Homeland Security Investigations special agents won’t ever relent when it comes to protecting children and prosecuting predators whose behavior has no place in our society.”
This case involved the coordinated efforts of HSI and the Ozark Arkansas Police Department. AUSA Camille Sparks prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative designed to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Public Affairs Officer Erin Dooley will be out of the office thru Monday, Sept. 16.
If you need immediate assistance, please contact Suzanne Martin at [email protected] .MS-13 Gang Members Indicted for Murder of 16-Year-Old Victim in Alley Pond Park in QueensRead the Press Release
An 18-count third superseding indictment was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn, charging three members of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, variously with racketeering, murder, attempted murder, murder conspiracy, robberies and related firearms charges. Among the offenses added in the third superseding indictment are murder charges against Melvi Amador-Rios, Josue Leiva and new defendant Luis Rivas for the May 16, 2017 fatal stabbing of 16-year-old-Julio Vasquez in Queens. The defendants will be arraigned at a later date.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“The superseding indictment alleges multiple murder conspiracies, including a kill-or-be-killed plot culminating in the brutal murder of a teen victim who was stabbed to death for not carrying out a lethal order himself,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “The mindless violence embodied by MS-13 presents extreme danger to our communities and underscores the resolve of this Office, together with our law enforcement partners, to eradicate the gang.”
“MS-13 traffics in violence for no other reason than to use mortal fear as a way to control people and territory,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “They have no regard for life, and anyone who shows any kind of normal human empathy pays the ultimate price. The FBI New York Safe Streets Task Forces in Queens and Long Island have not let up on our determination to eradicate this gang from our communities.”
“This case provides an illustration of the extreme violence of gangs and their members,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “And it’s why the NYPD and its law enforcement partners aggressively pursue those who commit violent crimes and put safe communities at risk. I want to thank the FBI and the Eastern District for their work to bring today’s federal indictments against three violent gang members.”
According to court filings, Amador-Rios, Leiva and Rivas are members of the Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (“CLS”) clique of MS-13. In early 2017, Amador-Rios, the leader of the CLS clique, authorized the murder of an individual referred to in the indictment as John Doe 2, a chequeo, or low-level MS-13 member, who was suspected of associating with a rival gang. Subsequently, Amador-Rios suspected that another chequeo, John Doe 3, had warned John Doe 2 that the clique intended to kill him. Amador-Rios then ordered the murder of John Doe 3, and Vasquez, also a CLS chequeo, was tasked with the killing. After Vasquez failed to kill John Doe 3, and because he was also suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, Amador-Rios ordered the killing of Vasquez. On May 16, 2017, Vasquez was lured to a wooded area of Alley Pond Park where Leiva and Rivas stabbed him multiple times, killing him. Vasquez’s body was discovererd on May 21, 2017.
The superseding indictment also adds a robbery charge and associated firearms offense against Amador-Rios and Rivas. On January 8, 2017, they allegedly robbed a money transfer business in Jamaica at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped an employee.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants face life in prison.
Today’s superseding indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States, comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 45 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia E. Moore and Phil Selden are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
MELVI AMADOR-RIOS (“Letal” and “Pinky”)
Age: 28
Briarwood, New YorkJOSUE LEIVA (“Colocho”)
Age: 22
Jamaica, New YorkLUIS RIVAS (“Inquieto” and “Kiko”)
Age: 24
Jamaica, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-398 (S-3) (RRM)
MS-13 Defendant Pleads Guilty to Two MurdersRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant in the MS-13 racketeering case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today and accepted responsibility for his involvement in two homicides.
Jose Salvador Gonzalez-Campos, 28, formerly of Columbus, pleaded guilty today to one count of participating in a racketeering conspiracy and one count of murder through the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Interim Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the plea entered into today before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Gonzalez-Campos, also known as “Danger,” is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.
The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.
The second superseding indictment alleges that the defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz, a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.
As part of his plea, Gonzalez-Campos accepted responsibility for his role in the murders of Wilson Villeda and Salvador Martinez-Diaz. He also admitted to being involved in drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering on behalf of the criminal enterprise.
The parties involved in Gonzalez-Campos’ case are recommending a prison sentence of 35 to 40 years.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim, who are prosecuting the case.
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Media AdvisoryRead the Press Release
WHEN: Friday, September 13, 2019 at 11:00am
WHERE: Vance County Courthouse
156 Church Street
Henderson, North Carolina
RE: USMS Roundup – Operation 310
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announces a press conference to discuss the recently completed fugitive roundup in Vance County that has taken place over the last week, called Operation 310. Coordinated by the United States Marshals Service, in partnership with multiple law enforcement agencies including those listed below, these roundup resulted in the arrest of over 25 fugitives in Vance County and the seizure of numerous firearms and U.S. Currency. More information and details about the results of this operation will be provided during the press conference.
The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that took part in Operation 310 included: United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Probation Office, Henderson Police Department, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition to United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. and United States Marshal Michael East, it is anticipated members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies will be present at this event, along with the District Attorney for Vance County, Michael Waters.
Lumberton Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Geroyce Dewayne Sibley, 25, of Lumberton, was sentenced Tuesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 189 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U. S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Sibley was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
In July and August 2017, in Pascagoula, a confidential informant purchased 200 grams of crystal methamphetamine and eight firearms from Sibley.
Sibley was indicted on November 27, 2018, and pled guilty before Judge Starrett on April 24, 2019 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Annette Williams.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Advertising, Transporting, and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings has sentenced Chase Franklin Ramos to 300 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for advertising, transporting and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Russell Coleman.
“When you choose to engage in this district in a marketplace of filth that hurts kids, you should also be prepared to spend decades in federal prison; no parole,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.
On May 17, 2019, Ramos, age 30, of Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to all seven counts of the Indictment; counts 1 through 3 charged Ramos with advertising child pornography, counts 4 through 6 charged the defendant with transportation of child pornography, and count 7 charged possession of child pornography.
According to a Sentencing Memo before the Court, Ramos, using the screen name Hellmage666, accessed “Website A” on multiple occasions from April of 2017 to March of 2018. Hellmage666 was a member of some private groups on “Website A”, and created and administered the groups “Hellmage666” and “Loveoftheb”. The FBI determined that “Hellmage666” was accessing the internet from a specific address in Louisville, Kentucky.
The FBI obtained a search warrant and executed it on October 4, 2018. During that search, the FBI interviewed Ramos who eventually admitted to being “Hellmage666”. He explained that he downloaded and viewed child pornography on his cell phone. He admitted to creating several groups on Website A, including “Loveoftheb,” and “Hellmage666.”
The FBI accessed Dropbox links, and downloaded all of the images and videos Ramos posted in the “Website A” groups. Ramos provided 12 Dropbox links that contained folders with names indicative of child pornography that included 1,215 images and 210 videos. On multiple dates between May 25, 2017, and January 11, 2018, Ramos engaged in the solicitation and transportation of child pornography through “Website A.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Spencer McKiness and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
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Lorain man was indicted for using firearm to rob gas station in Sheffield Village this summerRead the Press Release
A Lorain man was indicted for an armed robbery of a gas station this summer.
Evin Ballard, 19, was indicted for on one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Ballard used a handgun when he robbed the BP Gas station at 5219 Detroit Road in Sheffield Village on July 13, 2019, according to the indictment.
This case was Investigated by Sheffield Village Police Department and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Local Man Convicted of Possessing KushRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston man has admitted he possessed 2.57 lbs of synthetic cannabinoids aka “kush” and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Authorities conducted surveillance at Jeffery Alan Foster’s residence on Truxillo Street after he had sold several batches of the illegal substances. The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at that location July 10, 2018. Foster had left this residence, but authorities stopped him for traffic violations, after which he agreed to return to his home.
During the search, law enforcement found synthetic cannabinoids and more than $800 in a backpack. They also found computers, cell phones, a digital scale $4,232, two boxes of ammunition, two firearms as well as a black fire safe containing four large bags of loose kush which totaled 1166.06 grams (2.57 pounds).
Foster admitted he possessed and had been distributing synthetic cannabinoids for human consumption for approximately seven years. He further acknowledged he knew it was illegal to do so.
Foster has prior convictions of cocaine possession and theft. As a convicted felon, Foster is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea today and set sentencing for Dec. 5, 2019. At that time, Foster faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine for the drug conviction and a maximum of 10 years and a $250,000 possible fine for the firearms conviction.
Foster was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Porto prosecuted the case.
Lawrence Men Plead Guilty to Participating in a Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jared Gil, 25, and Yadoris Arias, 26, both of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between February and March of 2019, Arias conspired with Gil to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On March 25, 2019 a confidential source contacted Gil by telephone and arranged to buy $2500 of fentanyl. Gil and Arias arrived at an apartment complex in Manchester, New Hampshire where police officers arrested them. Investigators recovered over 80 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl in the air vent of their vehicle.
Gil pleaded guilty on August 1, 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2019. Arias pleaded guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking promotes drug addiction throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The introduction of deadly drugs into our state has caused untold suffering. In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we will continue to be aggressive in our prosecutions of the drug dealers who bring fentanyl into the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Latin King Gang Member Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND-Miguel Marines, 25, of East Chicago, Indiana, and a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to 66 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to documents in the case, Marines was held responsible for activity involving at least 2 kilograms but less than 3.5 kilograms of cocaine distributed by the Latin Kings street gang.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, have also provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.
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Kalamazoo Woman Sentenced to 25 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Amaris Mae Wyman, 31, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to 25 years in the Bureau of Prisons for producing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Janet Neff also ordered Wyman to spend seven years on supervised release and imposed financial assessments.
Wyman pled guilty in May 2019 to the charge of producing a pornographic video of a child. An investigation found that she had taken several videos of her own child showering and using the bathroom. Wyman forwarded those videos to Matthew Toole; Wyman also sent sexually explicit messages to Toole and discussed plans to provide her child with alcohol and prescription medications to facilitate Toole’s rape of the minor.
Judge Neff commended law enforcement for investigating and stopping them before their plans were put into action. Toole was sentenced earlier this year to 50 to 70 years in state prison for an unrelated criminal sexual assault of an infant girl in Calhoun County.
At sentencing, Judge Neff noted that the victim had a right to grow up safe and protected by the most important person in any child’s life, their mother, but was instead exploited by Wyman. Birge noted that, “Federal law enforcement takes the protection of all victims seriously, but fights particularly for victims who are young, vulnerable, and exploited by those who ought to protect them.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was investigated by the Michigan State Police, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford.
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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Florida Tax Return PreparersRead the Press Release
The United States filed a civil injunction suit seeking to bar Simple Solutions FL LLC, Angela Nurse, Joe Leon, and Wendy Edwards from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
The complaint, filed in United States District Court in Orlando, Florida, also requests that the court require Nurse, Leon, Edwards, and Simple Solutions FL LLC to disgorge ill-gotten fees that they obtained from the U.S. Treasury through the alleged false tax return preparation.
The government’s complaint alleges that the defendants prepare and file tax returns to falsely increase their customers’ refunds, and profit through high, often undisclosed fees—at the expense of their customers and the Treasury. The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in misconduct, including:
• Falsely claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit;
• Fabricating businesses and related business income and expenses;
• Fabricating deductions, such as charitable contributions and phony job-related expenses; and
• Reporting fabricated income tax withholdings
The complaint further alleges that Nurse and Edwards previously prepared tax returns at D&M Tax Services, and that Leon prepared returns at UJM Tax Services. In a separate action, the court previously barred the owners of D&M Tax Solutions and UJM Tax Services from owning or operating a tax preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
The government alleges that Simple Solutions FL LLC operates at two locations that were previously occupied by D&M Tax Solutions, in Daytona Beach and Palatka. In addition, the complaint alleges that the business operates at a third location in Bunnell.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Inmate at State Correctional Facility Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An inmate at a Massachusetts correctional facility was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with smuggling drugs into the facility.
Chad Connors, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 48 months incarceration, 30 of which is to be served consecutive to the state sentence he is currently serving and three years of supervised release. In June 2019, Connors pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Suboxone and Alprazolam.
In September 2018, Connors, who was an inmate at Massachusetts Correctional Institute – Cedar Junction (MCI-CJ) in South Walpole at the time, was indicted along with William Guillemette, 39, also an MCI-CJ inmate, Margaret Guillemette, 58, and Lisa Guillemette, 42.
Chad Connors and William Guillemette were inmates housed at MCI-CJ’s Departmental Disciplinary Unit (DDU). Connors was involved in a romantic relationship with Christine Ramos, a nurse assigned to the DDU. At Connors’ request, Ramos agreed to smuggle contraband, including controlled substances, into MCI-CJ. In order to do this, Ramos opened two P.O. Boxes through a third party. Connors sent letters and money to Ramos at these P.O. Boxes and, at William Guillemette’s direction, Lisa and Margaret Guillemette, obtained and sent Suboxone and Alprazolam to the P.O. Boxes. Ramos subsequently smuggled the drugs into the DDU and delivered them to Connors. Connors and William Guillemette then distributed the drugs to other inmates, who sent checks to Lisa and Margaret Guillemette as payment for the drugs. Suboxone and Alprazolam are Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances, respectively.
William Guillemette pleaded guilty and was sentenced to18 months in prison to be served consecutive to the state sentence he is currently serving and three years of supervised release. Lisa Guillemette pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served (5 days), 30 months of supervised release and 300 hours of community service. Margaret Guillemette pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served (five days), two years of supervised release and 200 hours of community service. Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute Suboxone and Alprazolam and was sentenced two years of probation.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Carris, of Lelling’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted case.
Hoover Criminal Gang Member Indicted for Racketeering After Murder of Portland ManRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, announced today the indictment of a Hoover Criminal Gang member for the 2015 murder of Portland resident Kyle Polk.
Javier Fernando Hernandez, 23, is charged with murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing the death of Polk through the use of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that on December 16, 2015, Hernandez murdered Kyle Polk for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in the Hoover Criminal Gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in racketeering in California, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere.
Hernandez made his initial appearance in federal court today and was detained pending a four-week jury trial on November 12, 2019 before U.S. Chief District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.
Murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison.
According to the indictment, the Hoovers are a criminal street gang operating in Oregon, and are known to engage in acts of violence including murder, assault, robbery, sex trafficking and the distribution of narcotics. The Hoovers originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and established a presence in Portland in the early 1980s. The gang has a loose hierarchical structure in which members have different amounts of power and influence based on age and gang activity. To maintain status and increase one’s position in the gang, members were expected to carry out violence on behalf of the enterprise.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hobart Resident Pleads Guilty to Selling Drugs via the “Dark Web”Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on Monday, September 9, 2019, Christopher D. Bania, (age: 26) of Hobart, Wisconsin, pled guilty to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. At the hearing, Bania acknowledged selling a variety of illegal drugs nationwide on the "dark web" in exchange for cryptocurrency.
Bania faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and from 3 years to a lifetime on supervised release. Bania also will forfeit approximately $1.5 million worth of cryptocurrency previously seized by the government, along with $85,000 in U.S. Currency. He will be sentenced on December 9, 2019, at the Federal Courthouse in Green Bay.
According to the plea agreement, Bania sold narcotics, including MDMA ("Ecstasy"), cocaine, DMT, ketamine, LSD, MDA, methaqualone, marijuana, and a variety of other controlled substances. To make his sales, Bania utilized dark web marketplaces, including Dream Market, Zion, Wall Street, Hansa, Trade Route, and Alpha Bay. Alpha Bay and Hansa were shut down by law enforcement in July of 2017.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is unreachable by traditional search engines and web browsers. Websites on the dark web have complex web addresses generated by a computer algorithm and must be accessed using special software that is capable of connecting to "The Onion Router" network, or "TOR" for short. The TOR network is encrypted and routes internet traffic dynamically through a series of computers around the world, concealing the true Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers accessing the network and thereby making internet use virtually anonymous. This perceived anonymity has led to a proliferation of criminal activity on dark web marketplaces, where users can find vendors, like Bania, offering illegal goods and services for sale.
"Law enforcement is committed to pursuing drug traffickers wherever they operate, and we will do everything necessary to deprive traffickers of illegal drug profits in whatever their form, cash or cryptocurrency," said U.S. Attorney Krueger.
"Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the value of collaboration among state, local, and federal agencies throughout the criminal justice system. Each entity within this investigation played a critical role in unmasking the offender who preyed on the vulnerable from behind a computer," remarked Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Paul E. Maxwell, Jr.
"As this case shows, drug dealers use modern technology to further their illegal activities," said Attorney General Josh Kaul. "But no matter what method drug dealers use to try to evade detection, law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are committed to stopping them."
This case was a joint investigation of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, the Brown County Drug Task Force, the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department, and the Oneida Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott J. Campbell, Benjamin W. Proctor, and Daniel R. Humble.
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Heroin trafficker sentenced for transporting 4.24 kilograms of heroin stashed inside car batteryRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Francisco Castaneda Rivera has been sentenced to federal prison for transporting 4.24 kilograms of heroin from Texas to the Atlanta area hidden inside a car battery.
“Drug traffickers employ sophisticated and ever-changing tactics to bring their deadly product into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “However, our law enforcement partners are able to adapt to their methods and combat this scourge. Through the hard work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we were able to stop these drugs from hitting our streets.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “Drug traffickers like Castaneda Rivera often take extreme measures in order to hide the poison they peddle, as was the case in this investigation. This is a perfect illustration of the battle DEA, its law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office face when trying to prevent dangerous drugs from hitting the streets of our communities. As a result of DEA’s unwavering commitment and through the strength of its partnerships, Castaneda Rivera will spend well-deserved time in prison.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In March and April 2018, DEA agents gleaned intelligence about a suspected drug trafficker who would be involved with the delivery of narcotics in the Union City, Georgia area.
Several months later, on September 1, 2018, law enforcement officers in Montgomery, Alabama conducted a traffic stop of a truck which was driven by Rivera. Intelligence gathered from the stop linked Rivera to a DEA investigation.
On October 19 and 20, 2018, through various methods of intelligence, DEA agents learned that Rivera was traveling, via I-20 eastbound, from Houston, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia State Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Rivera's truck in Douglas County, Georgia. Troopers searched the vehicle and observed that the battery in the truck was significantly cleaner than the rest of the engine compartment. Upon closer inspection, agents realized that the battery had been altered. They opened it and found five packages wrapped in electrical tape along with a motorcycle battery wired to provide electrical current sufficient to operate the vehicle. The packages were determined to contain 4.24 kilograms of heroin.
Francisco Castaneda Rivera, 65, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Rivera was convicted on these charges on May 15, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. O'Neal and Garrett L. Bradford prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Brian Williams, 38, was selling heroin in Suffolk, Virginia. When law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at his residence on December 21, 2018, they located numerous loaded firearms, a distribution quantity of fentanyl, digital scales, drug cutting agents, drug packaging materials and approximately $1500 in cash. Williams, a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was also in the residence with many of the firearms within arm’s reach.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 28 HIDTAs, which include approximately 18 percent of all counties in the United States and 66 percent of the U.S. population.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-29.
Haverhill, Ma. Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Nicholas Messina, 28, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Messina was arrested at a hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire, with fentanyl, cocaine, thousands of dollars, and a loaded firearm. In a post-arrest interview, Messina admitted that he possessed the drugs for distribution.
Messina previously pleaded guilty on May 29, 2109.
“Drugs and guns are an extremely lethal combination,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “While fentanyl already has destroyed far too many lives in New Hampshire, the risk that armed drug dealers pose to the public cannot be overstated. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop interstate drug trafficking and the violence that is associated with drug dealing.”
"ATF will continue working with our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts to vigorously combat drug traffickers and the threat they pose to our citizens by illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of their illegal drug trade" said Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities, so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved,” said Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers like Mr. Messina who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison, that DEA and its local, state and federal partners will do everything in our power to bring you to justice.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
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Harvey Man Sentenced for Multiple RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – SAMUEL TAYLOR (“TAYLOR”), age 25, of Harvey, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, was sentenced today to 198 months in the Bureau of Prisons to be followed by a term of five (5) years of supervised release for Hobbs Act Robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), Bank Robbery with a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113(a) and (d), Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery with a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 2113(a) and (d), and two counts of Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), announced United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser.
On the morning of Wednesday, September 27, 2017, members of the New Orleans Police Department responded to a complaint of an active burglary of a residence in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Police entered the residence, and discovered TAYLOR and his two co-defendants inside of the residence. Law enforcement officers also located a loaded Harrington and Richardson “Pardner” Pump 12 gauge shotgun and a Taurus .38 caliber revolver handgun in the residence, as well as homemade ski masks.
Law enforcement agents determined TAYLOR and the other defendants were using the residence as a safe house in anticipation of an armed robbery of a bank on South Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans. Agents also determined that TAYLOR had been responsible for the September 7, 2017, armed robbery of the Fidelity Bank on General De Gaulle Boulevard, in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, as well as the July 9, 2017, armed robbery of the Dollar General store in Avondale, Louisiana.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force, officers with the New Orleans Police Department, and deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Myles Ranier.
Guilty Verdict in First Federal Overdose Death CaseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – This afternoon, a federal jury convicted Donte Jacobs of distributing and conspiring to distribute fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman. Jacobs faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison as a result of his conviction.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jacobs, of New Castle County, had a longstanding agreement to distribute heroin and/or fentanyl-laced heroin with others in the region. By the end of June 2016, Jacobs was distributing fentanyl-laced heroin packaged with a “BUTTER” stamp on it. On June 28, 2016, one of Jacobs’ sub-distributors sold those “BUTTER”- stamped drugs to the victim, whose identity is listed in court documents as T.A. Hours later, in New Garden Township, Pennsylvania, the victim used those drugs and died from a fentanyl overdose. Toxicology records showed that T.A. had 26 ng/ml of fentanyl in her blood stream when she died. Testimony at trial showed that this was clearly a lethal amount.
Members of what is now the Southern Chester County Police Department worked with the DEA to investigate T.A.’s death. They first arrested the sub-distributor who directly sold the “BUTTER” bags of fentanyl-laced heroin to T.A. Officers then recorded a conversation between that sub-distributor and Jacobs, wherein Jacobs acknowledged his involvement in distributing the “BUTTER”-stamped drugs. During the call, Jacobs also explained to his sub-distributor how people, “OD on Fentanyl” and how fentanyl and heroin were causing people to “die every day.”
United States Attorney David C. Weiss stated, “The message from this verdict is simple. If you knowingly sell a substance that may contain fentanyl and that substance causes death, we will hold you accountable. In this case, for the Defendant, that means that he will spend at least the next 20 years in jail.”
"Drug-trafficking is an inherently dangerous and risky business. This same risk will now lead Jacobs to spend at least the next 20 years of his life in federal prison," said Jonathan A. Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. "For the drug-traffickers like Jacobs that seek to sell this poison that is destroying our communities, the penalties are severe."
At the conclusion of the trial, Jacobs also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm that was found during the course of the investigation. Sentencing for all of these offenses is currently set for January 10, 2020. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, other statutory factors, and the applicable twenty year mandatory minimum sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe and Jesse S. Wenger prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 01:19-cr-094.
Goffstown Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jonathan Felch, 37, of Goffstown, was sentenced serve to 96 months in federal prison for participating in a fentanyl drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Felch regularly obtained fentanyl from a source in Lawrence, Massachusetts and then sold the fentanyl in New Hampshire.
On March 14, 2018, investigators learned that Felch had ordered 20 grams of fentanyl and was traveling on Interstate 93. The New Hampshire State Police subsequently stopped a vehicle for motor vehicle violations in which Felch was a passenger. Felch later admitted that he had drugs in his possession and provided the troopers with approximately 18 grams of fentanyl.
Again, on April 6, 2018, investigators learned that Felch intended to travel from New Hampshire to Lawrence to purchase drugs. Agents conducted surveillance of Felch and observed him meet with another individual in Lawrence. Later that day, Felch returned to New Hampshire in a vehicle that was stopped in Manchester for a motor vehicle violation. Officers later located approximately 23 grams of fentanyl and a digital scale in the vehicle. Over the course of the wiretap investigation, Felch ordered more than 600 grams of fentanyl.
Felch previously pleaded guilty on May 30, 2019.
“This case once again highlights the familiar Lawrence to New Hampshire fentanyl distribution route,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The 8 year prison term should serve as a warning to those inclined to introduce this drug into the Granite State. Traffickers should realize that we will continue to seek substantial prison terms for those who engage in this conduct.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with an opioid crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe, and Debra M. Walsh.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Four defendants admit guilt in drug conspiracy to produce and distribute narcoticsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Four defendants have pled guilty to various roles in a wide-ranging drug conspiracy that included mass production of pills and distribution of powerful synthetic opioids.
The defendants are among six indicted in April on federal charges accusing them of participating in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2016 that imported large amounts of drugs purchased with cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, used industrial-grade machinery to manufacture pills, and sold the drugs on the Dark Web and throughout Georgia, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The cases of two of the defendants are not yet resolved.
Entering guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Augusta are:
- Kolbie Hadden Watters, 22, of Augusta, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Watters faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison. He also is under indictment in Walton County, Ga., on state charges of felony murder and aggravated assault of a suspected co-conspirator.
- Jonathan Britt Lester, 22, of Loganville, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and Marijuana) and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Along with Watters, Lester also is under indictment in Walton County, Ga., on state charges of felony murder and aggravated assault of a suspected co-conspirator.
- Armand Sananda Saedi, 27, of Atlanta, Ga., and Morgan McKenzie Slaton, 22, of Hoschton, Ga., have each pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Alprazolam). Each face sentences of up to five years in prison.
Each of the defendants also is subject to fines and penalties, along with supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, the four were indicted, along with Walker Christian Forrester, 24, of Loganville, Ga., after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Sept. 2017 began an investigation after Forrester’s purchase of an industrial-grade pill press. Two months later, Forrester, Watters and a juvenile were arrested on state charges in Harlem, Ga., after a traffic stop in which Harlem police officers found more than 5,200 counterfeit Xanax pills, marijuana and a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.
The indictment in the case alleges that Forrester purchased equipment used to create counterfeit Xanax pills, Alprazolam as the main ingredient, and binding agents to manufacture tens of thousands of pills per month. The illicit ingredients were purchased on the Dark Web using cryptocurrency, with the counterfeit Xanax likewise sold on the Dark Web or through conventional illegal drug distribution channels. Forrester’s case is still pending.
The conspirators moved their pill presses to various locations in the Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia to avoid detection, and at one point began manufacturing and selling synthetic heroin using Fentanyl and the more-powerful Carfentanil. Another defendant, Larry Overton, 46, of Harlem, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises. His case is still pending.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division (CID), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harlem Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes.
Four Sentenced for Roles in Defrauding the United StatesRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A pair of former employees of Kennedy Industrial Electronics, and their wives, were sentenced this week after previously pleading guilty to defrauding the United States as part of a disability benefits and payroll scheme that dates back at least 15 years, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced.
“Social Security and employment-tax schemes are serious federal crimes and ones that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal, state, and local partners have made investigating a priority,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “Small business owners are required to play by the rules in accounting for their employees, and risk serious consequences when they try to get around these requirements.”
Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Gerald Lee Stevens, 45, of Lebanon, Va., was sentenced to five months incarceration. In July 2019, Stevens pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Also Wednesday, Teena Charlene Stevens, 47, was sentenced to two years’ probation. She previously pleaded guilty to one count of causing to be made a false representation concerning the requirements of the Social Security Act.
Earlier this week, Danny M. Hill, 70, of Lebanon, Va., was sentenced to eight months incarceration. Hill previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Also this week, Geneva Hill, 64, was sentenced to two years’ probation. She previously pleaded guilty to one count of causing to be made a false representation concerning the requirements of the Social Security Act.
Danny and Geneva Hill were ordered to pay $351,239 in joint and several restitution to the Social Security Administration, while Gerald and Teena Stevens were ordered to pay $309,217 in joint and several restitution to the Social Security Administration. Co-defendants Harold Kennedy and Hollie Kennedy will be sentenced in the near future.
According to court documents, between 2001 and 2015 the defendants conspired to defraud the United States through a scheme in which Harold and Hollie Kennedy, the owners of Kennedy Industrial Electronics, failed to report approximately $148,000 in employment taxes. Those taxes were owed through hours worked by employees Danny Hill, Gerald Stevens, and Ricky Matney.
However, Danny Hill, Gerald Stevens, and Ricky Matney were each receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration and therefore unable to earn additional income without reporting. As a result, the conspirators issued checks to their spouses, Geneva Hill and Teena Stevens, and others.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (Criminal Investigations), the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Founder of Oakland County Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 36 Years for Distributing Fentanyl-Laced Heroin that Resulted in Dozens of OverdosesRead the Press Release
Kristopher “Flip” Anderson, 43, of Pontiac, was sentenced in United States District Court by the Hon. Robert H. Cleland to 36 years in prison for his role in a multi-year heroin and fentanyl distribution conspiracy that operated from Pontiac and distributed drugs in Oakland and Macomb Counties between 2008 and 2017, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Rainer S. Drolshagen, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard made the announcement.
Following a two-week trial in April and May 2019, a jury convicted Anderson of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl that resulted in death and serious bodily injury. The jury also convicted Anderson of distribution of heroin and fentanyl and using a telecommunications device to facilitate drug trafficking.
According to court records and the evidence at trial, Anderson had been convicted of drug offenses in 2008 and 2009, and before reporting to prison, he provided his drug phone to his nephew and co-defendant, Timothy Williams, so Williams could sell heroin to his customers while he was in prison. The conspiracy grew over the next several years as Williams joined forces with friends and other family members to serve an ever-growing customer base. Soon, the group had over 100 daily customers—each buying at least 0.5 to 1 gram of heroin per day at a price of $40 per half gram and $80 per gram. Several members of the group adopted the name, “T.E.A.M.” (To Eat and More) as they expanded the drug business.
Over time, the conspiracy started to sell heroin laced with fentanyl or, in many instances, straight fentanyl. Multiple customers overdosed. Some died. In 2015, Anderson was released from prison and rejoined the group. He sold fentanyl to customers and resumed control of the conspiracy when Williams was arrested. Fentayl sold by Anderson was linked to the fatal overdose of at least one customer.
In addition to Anderson, eleven other members of the conspiracy were charged for their role in distributing heroin and fentanyl. Ten of Anderson’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty, and one died from a heroin overdose awaiting trial.
Pleaded guilty were:
• Timothy Williams, a/k/a “T2,” of 28, of Independent Township, to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl and multiple counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Awaiting sentence, guidelines range of 360 months to life.
• Deaire Rayford, a/k/a “Mun” and “D-Mun,” of 28, of Auburn Hills, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 240 months in prison.
• Christopher Light, 27, of Commerce Township, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Sentenced to 72 months in prison.
• Kourvoisiea Pittman, a/k/a “Kaos,” 28, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 180 months in prison.
• Robert Bell, Jr., a/k/a “Boosha,” 30, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 188 months in prison.
• Deandre Mullen, a/k/a “4-Shot” and “4,” 28, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 225 months in prison.
• Steven Erkins, a/k/a “SQ” and “Kool,” 26, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 211 months in prison.
• Quanzay Milton, a/k/a “Q,” 25, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 121 months in prison.
• Antonio Bell, a/k/a “Tone,” 28, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 166 months in prison.
• James Bellmore, 52, of Pontiac, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more heroin and fentanyl. Sentenced to 74 months in prison.
“This conviction and sentence is particularly important given the breadth of the damage and destruction of lives that this group caused while distributing heroin and fentanyl”, stated US. Attorney Schneider. “Our aggressive prosecution of these offenses and Mr. Anderson’s sentence sends a strong message of deterrence to those who may want to pursue the drug trade as a way of life.”
“This sentence is the culmination of numerous hours of dedicated work by FBI’s Oakland County Violent Gang Task Force members” said Acting Special Agent Rainer S. Drolshagen. “The FBI will continue to aggressively target and prosecute drug trafficking crimes involving heroin as part of the effort to address the ongoing opiate crisis that is threatening the safety of our citizens.”
“I am excited to see this case which was initiated by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET) have a successful conclusion,” said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. “As the case developed, the Oakland County Violent Crime Gang Task Force (VCTGF) joined the investigation and together we were able to successfully identify and prosecute several individuals for federal narcotic crimes. This is a great example of local and federal authorities working together to take down those who pedal this death in our communities.”
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Donald Stevenson and Sgt. Perry Dare of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane Cralle and John O’Brien of the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.