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27 August 2019
Malaysian Native Guilty of Installing Camera in Airplane BathroomRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The 50-year-old Malaysian man recently charged with video voyeurism has appeared in federal court and admitted his guilt, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Choon Ping Lee admitted he installed a video recording device in the first class lavatory of United Airlines Flight 646 from San Diego, California, to Houston on May 5, 2019.
Another first class passenger had discovered the device in the bathroom after she saw a strange object with a blue blinking light hanging near the door. She gave it to flight attendants who discovered it was a recording device. On the device, authorities observed Lee’s clothing which led to his identification.
He was taken into custody upon his arrival in Houston Aug. 7, 2019, and has remained in custody since that time.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan accepted Lee’s plea today and imposed a $6,000 fine and two months imprisonment. At the hearing, the court considered a written statement that the passenger who discovered the camera had submitted which detailed how the incident has impacted her sense of safety and security. In it, she emphasized that Lee’s act was not harmless.
Not a U.S. citizen, Lee also is expected to face removal proceedings.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter is prosecuting the case.
Kingsmen Regional President, Convicted by A Federal Jury of Racketeering, Sentenced to 240 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Timothy Enix a/k/a Blaze, 60, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The defendant, a Kingsmen Motorcycle Club (KMC) member and Florida/Tennessee Regional President, was sentenced for his conviction following a four-month jury trial of RICO conspiracy, possession of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, and using and maintaining premises for drug distribution.
According to court documents and evidence presented by the government at trial, beginning in 2013, certain KMC members wanted to establish the KMC as a “1% Club.” The “1%” refers to a previous statement by a representative of the American Motorcycle Association that 99 percent of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens with the remaining one percent engaged in certain activities such as drug and firearm trafficking and acts of violence. The defendant, and others, participated in, directly and indirectly, acts of murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. The KMC operated clubhouses in New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Florida, all of which were used for unlawful purposes, including drug distribution and firearms possession.
The KMC also committed numerous acts of violence, including the following:
• The September 6, 2014, murders of KMC members Paul Maue and Daniel “DJ” Szymanski. The two were murdered behind the North Tonawanda KMC Chapter clubhouse;
• On June 7, 2013, the KMC forcibly shut down the Springville KMC Chapter and stripped members of their colors because they were non-compliant members. Brandishing firearms, KMC members struck a victim in the head with a blunt object and stole items from the Springville clubhouse. They then used bleach to clean areas where the victim bled and cut and removed portions of the rug, which contained blood; and,
• On September 12, 2009, a female victim was punched repeatedly in the face by a KMC member and held against her will for three days to conceal her facial injuries from police.
“Following the 2014 murders in North Tonawanda, this Office decided that enough was enough and that it was time to put an end to this criminal organization for good,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “With today’s sentencing of the final KMC member, I can say—thanks to the prosecutors in my office and our law enforcement partners across the region and across the country—‘mission accomplished.’ With two KMC members, including the National President, receiving multiple life sentences, and 18 other KMC members receiving prison sentences of up to 20 years, other outlaw motorcycle gangs and criminal organizations should take notice. 1%’ers are not welcome in the Western District of New York, and if you come here and commit crimes, then know that you will be 100% dismantled.”
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert. Assisting in the investigation were the FBI Knoxville, Tennessee and Jacksonville, Florida Field Offices; Homeland Security Investigations; the North Tonawanda Police Department; the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office; the Buffalo Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the New York State Police; the Olean Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; the Amherst Police Department; the Town of Tonawanda Police Department; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police; the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department; and the Hamburg Police Department. Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Tripi and Brendan Cullinane for the Western District of New York prosecuted the case.
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Justice Department Files Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Against Baltimore County Alleging Race Discrimination by Its Police Department in the Hiring of Entry-Level Police Officers and CadetsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) against Baltimore County and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). The lawsuit alleges that since Jan. 1, 2013, BCPD has engaged in unintended employment discrimination against African American applicants for entry-level police officer and cadet positions by making hiring decisions based on the results of hiring examinations that were not job-related and that disproportionately excluded African American applicants. Through this lawsuit, the United States seeks a Court order that would require BCPD to utilize selection procedures that comply with Title VII, and to provide individual remedies to African American former applicants who are shown to be entitled to them.
“Employers must be mindful that an employment selection device, like a test, must be shown to be job-related if it disproportionately excludes members of one of Title VII’s protected groups,” stated Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Title VII is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, and religion. More information about Title VII and other federal employment laws is available on the Civil Rights Division’s website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Ithaca Man Arrested for Attempting to Entice and Coerce Minors into SexRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jeffrey Blake, age 49, of Ithaca, New York, was arraigned yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with attempting to entice and coerce two minors into a sexual act.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The complaint charges Blake with attempting to entice and coerce two minor females, whom he believed to be 9 years old and 13 years old, to engage in various sexual acts with him. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge filed against Blake carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Blake was arraigned yesterday in Johnson City, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, and detained pending further proceedings.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sahar L. Amandolare.
Illinois Resident Convicted at Trial in South Florida for Carrying Out a $2 Million Fraud Scheme Targeting Nigerian Oil CompanyRead the Press Release
On August 23, 2019, Oyeyemi Olatunji Owagboriaye, 63, of Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 (Case No. 18cr20361). A jury returned a guilty verdict following a five-day trial before United States District Judge Kathleen M. Williams, in Miami, Florida.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR), made the announcement.
The evidence presented at trial established that Owagboriaye participated in a $2 million dollar advance fee scheme targeting a Nigerian oil company called Zone 4. In particular, Owagboriaye’s partner, Vincent Zubero, persuaded Zone 4 to hire him to raise a $45 million dollar loan to refinance an oil tank farm in Nigeria. Zone 4 would provide a $2 million “equity contribution” toward the loan, which would be held in escrow until the first tranche of the loan was funded. Instead, however, Zubero and the defendant split the proceeds of the $2 million equity contribution and never funded the loan. Owagboriaye’s portion of the equity contribution was more than $835,000. Owagboriaye and Zubero quickly covered their tracks by signing a bogus “memorandum of understanding” in which they purported to agree that the $835,000 being transferred to Owagboriaye was for the purpose of supporting a phony “trade platform” by which Owagboriaye would raise the financing for the oil tank farm project. Then, Owagboriaye created a phony invoice for dump trucks to cover up the fact that Zubero was wiring him $835,000 of Zone 4’s money. Owagboriaye also created phony bank instruments purporting to establish his control over hundreds of millions of dollars to be used for Zone 4’s loan. In reality, Owagboriaye was spending Zone 4’s money, including a more than $300,000 transfer to himself in Nigeria, $190,000 in cash withdrawals, and thousands more on personal expenses.
Owagboriaye is scheduled for sentencing on October 31, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. and faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
Zubero previously pled guilty for his participation in the wire fraud scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12th, 2019 at 2 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and OFR in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Perwin, Marty Elfenbein, and Roger Cruz.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Illegal Alien Indicted on Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Mexican national has been indicted for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Jaime Cruz-Romero was originally charged by criminal complaint. Today, the grand jury returned the one-count indictment. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon in the near future.
On or about Aug. 10, 2019, Cruz-Romero was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition during a traffic stop, according to the charges.
The complaint alleges that on or about Aug. 10, 2019, Cruz-Romero was driving a 2008 Hummer H3 when law enforcement stopped him for disregarding a traffic signal. He did not have any identification, according to the charges.
Authorities then searched the vehicle and found a 9-millimeter pistol and a magazine containing ammunition.
If convicted, Cruz-Romero faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam E. Harper is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.Houston, Texas Agrees to Implement Comprehensive Measures Aimed at Eliminating Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Illegal Discharges from Wastewater Treatment PlantsRead the Press Release
In a settlement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the city of Houston, Texas, has agreed to implement a comprehensive set of corrective measures and improvements to the city’s sewer system to resolve longstanding problems with sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and discharges into various water bodies of pollutants in excess of permitted limits from the city’s 39 wastewater treatment plants.
The agreement, upon final approval by a U.S. District Court Judge, will resolve the city’s noncompliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and provisions of the Texas Water Code (TWC). These violations were alleged in a joint Complaint filed on Sept. 20, 2018, by the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of EPA, and the state of Texas, on behalf of the TCEQ. The city also has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $4.4 million, which will be shared equally with the State of Texas.
“The settlement, done in partnership with the state of Texas, will see that the city of Houston attains compliance with state and federal environmental laws by expanding its wastewater treatment capacity and thus reducing sewage overflows into city streets and waterways,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The city should have acted faster to make the necessary infrastructure investments to avoid public health problems but today’s settlement is a substantial step towards meeting the legal requirements enacted to protect the public from unsanitary conditions, dangerous bacteria, and the contagious diseases that pose intolerable risks to the city’s residents and visitors.”
“Fixing Houston’s sewer system will be a massive undertaking. But it is necessary to protect public health and the environment,” said Susan P. Bodine, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA and the State of Texas worked with the city to develop a comprehensive solution that will improve the quality of life of Houston’s citizens as well as the quality of water in and around Houston.”
“This settlement sets a roadmap of what needs to be done to preserve health and safety for millions of Texans and protect our state’s water resources for generations to come,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “We will continue working alongside our federal partner to assure the city of Houston fulfills all its obligations under this agreement and the laws of Texas.”
The city of Houston operates one of the largest sewer systems in the nation, which serves nearly two million people. The system includes more than 6,000 miles of sewer lines, 390 lift stations, and more than 120,000 manholes.
To come into compliance with the CWA and the TWC, the city will implement over a period of 15 years extensive measures to prevent SSOs and effluent violations, at an estimated cost of $2 billion.
Preventing raw sewage in the form of SSOs from going onto the streets of the city and from entering waters of the United States and waters of the state eliminates a significant threat to human health and the environment. These discharges have contributed to bacteria contamination of Houston water bodies, degraded water quality, and contain viruses that may cause illnesses.
During implementation of the work required under the consent decree the release of raw sewage from the city’s sewer system will be reduced by approximately six million gallons a year. Currently, this sewage is entering various water bodies in, around and near the city, including the Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel.
Under the consent decree, Houston will address the insufficient capacity of its sewer system in identified areas where large-volume SSOs have occurred during major rain events. In addition, some non-wet weather SSOs occurring in the city over the years have been caused by defective conditions such as cracked and broken sewer lines. The city has agreed to conduct a system-wide inspection of all its gravity sewer lines and manholes to assess their structural condition. The city will annually remediate no less than 150 miles of sewer lines based upon the results of the inspection and assessment. Further, to address another major cause of SSOs in the form of blockages caused by debris and fats, oil and grease (FOG), the city will implement two major cleaning programs. Under the first program, the city will target SSO-prone areas for cleaning in the first two years and complete cleaning of all gravity sewer lines in the first 10 years of the consent decree with additional cleaning requirements thereafter. A second cleaning program will target areas that require more frequent cleaning to prevent SSOs from occurring, primarily due to FOG.
Finally, the city has agreed to implement a number of measures as early action projects to address SSOs and effluent violations within the first few years of the consent decree. Several of the early action projects involve wastewater treatment plants. The city, the United States and the state identified 10 wastewater treatment plants that have experienced a significant number of effluent violations, including such pollutants as E. Coli, ammonia and total suspended solids. The city will implement improvements and repairs that will address the causes of violations at these plants, as well as implement a maintenance program to cover all of its wastewater treatment plants. As additional early action projects, the City will renew / replace more than 100 lift stations and more than 35 miles of the sewer system’s force main sewer lines, which transmit wastewater under pressure.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period before the court can give final approval and enter the consent decree as a final judgment, at which time it will become effective. The consent decree is available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/city-houston-clean-water-act-settlement-information-sheet.
Hattiesburg Felon Pleads Guilty under Project EJECT to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Sacory Brown, 28, of Hattiesburg, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On March 8, 2018, Brown was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop. He was previously convicted of burglary of a dwelling in Forrest County in 2012. He was on state parole at the time of his 2018 arrest.
Brown will be sentenced by Judge Starrett on November 21, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hattiesburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Justice Expel Crime Together." PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Harrison County man sentenced for role in methamphetamine distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Byron Higginbotham, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 14 months incarceration for his role in a methamphetamine distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Higginbotham, age 36, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Unregistered Firearm” in March 2019. Higginbotham admitted to having an unregistered .20 caliber sawed-off shotgun in March 2018 in Harrison County.Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The United States Marshal Service assisted.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Gilmer County man admits to role in a methamphetamine distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremiah Lee Carr, of Glenville, West Virginia, has admitted to his involvement in methamphetamine distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Carr, age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Methamphetamine in Proximity to a Protected Location.” Carr admitted to selling methamphetamine near Glenville State College in September 2018 in Gilmer County.Carr at least one year and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Lakes Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Gavin Reyes Duenas Sentenced to Prison in Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant GAVIN REYES DUENAS, age 33, from Talofofo, was sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to 87 months imprisonment for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered five years of supervised release following imprisonment, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory $100 assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On November 19, 2016, the U.S. Postal Inspector and the Drug Enforcement Administration intercepted two packages in the mail. The packages were found to contain approximately 3,113.9 net grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (“ice”). Further investigation revealed that Duenas used his family’s post office box to receive the ice. Once in his possession, Duenas intended to distribute the drug on island. He also expected to receive some of the drug as payment from his supplier. At the time of his arrest, Duenas possessed methamphetamine pipes, syringes, scales, Ziploc baggies and $43,335.00 in U.S. currency.
U.S. Attorney Anderson stated, “Federal law enforcement continues to aggressively pursue drug trafficking activity on Guam. This case demonstrates the benefits of effective partnerships and the results of long term investigations. Our office vigorously enforces federal drug laws at every opportunity. We will also obtain the forfeiture of illegal proceeds whenever possible. While our distance from the mainland is great, we will similarly seek any off island sources of supply and hold them accountable.” This case was the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 159 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Juan DeLaCruz, age 29, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
DeLaCruz was sentenced to 159 months in prison, with no supervised release to follow. DeLaCruz was in the United States illegally, and he will be deported after his prison term.
According to documents in this case, DeLaCruz and two codefendants were distributing large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine, and DeLaCruz personally possessed three pistols in furtherance of his drug dealing.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Allen County Drug Task Force; and the Allen County Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
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Former Uber Self-Driving Car Executive Indicted for Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets from GoogleRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury in San Jose has indicted Anthony Scott Levandowski on theft of trade secrets charges, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.
The indictment was returned on August 15, 2019, and unsealed on August 26, 2019. The indictment alleges Levandowski, 39, of Marin County, was a Google engineer and one of the founding members of the group that worked on Google’s self-driving car project. Levandowski worked on the project from 2009 until he resigned from Google without notice on January 27, 2016.
“All of us have the right to change jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson, “none of us has the right to fill our pockets on the way out the door. Theft is not innovation.”
At the time of his resignation, Levandowski was the lead of Google’s Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) engineering team. The indictment alleges that in the months before his departure, Levandowski downloaded from secure Google repositories numerous engineering, manufacturing, and business files related to Google’s custom LiDAR and self-driving car technology. The files downloaded included circuit board schematics, instructions for installing and testing LiDAR, and an internal tracking document. The indictment also alleges that at the time he took the files, Levandowski was involved with two companies competing with Google in the self-driving space: Tyto LiDAR LLC and 280 Systems, Inc., the latter of which would become Ottomotto. Ottomotto acquired Tyto in May 2016, shortly after Uber Technologies, Inc. agreed to acquire Ottomotto and hire Levandowski.
The indictment charges Levandowski with 33 counts of theft and attempted theft of trade secrets, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1832. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on August 27, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1832. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California’s new Corporate Fraud Strike Force and is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Former School Bus Driver Charged with Possession of Videos and Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A former bus driver for the Monessen School District has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment, returned on Aug. 20 and unsealed yesterday, named Jack Brian Laforte, age 54, of Monessen, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to Indictment, on or about June 14, 2019, Laforte possessed videos and images in computer graphic files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, some of whom had not yet attained 12 years of age.
If you have any information involving this defendant, please call the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866-347-2423.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum term of supervised release of life, and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Owner of Two Downtown Houston Bars Set to Appear in Court for Tax and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The former owner of SPORTS @ THE B.U.S. has been indicted on tax and bankruptcy fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Todd Dixon will appear in court for a counsel determination hearing today at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter J. Bray.
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Dixon Aug. 7, 2019, alleging three counts of filing false tax returns and one count of bankruptcy fraud.
The Indictment alleges from 2004 until 2011, Dixon operated the two sports bars - one located across from Minute Maid Park and the other near the Toyota Center and filed for business bankruptcy during the 2011 Astros baseball season. After which, a local trustee was appointed to administer the business estate and to pay creditors, according to the charges. In 2013, Dixon also filed for personal bankruptcy.
According to the charges, Dixon concealed approximately $170,000 from the trustee and creditors by taking cash from the businesses and using it for his personal use and benefit. Dixon allegedly filed personal income tax returns and did not report the true and accurate amount of income he earned from the businesses.
The indictment further alleges that in 2013, Dixon filed his personal 2010 and 2011 tax returns in which he falsely reported his total income for each year, thereby under reporting taxes owed to the IRS. Similarly, in 2013, Dixon under reported the amount of taxes he and his business partners owed to the IRS after causing the trustee to file a false partnership return that did not report approximately $207,326 in earnings.
If convicted of filing a false tax return, he faces up to three years in prison, while a conviction for bankruptcy fraud carries a possible five-year-maximum term.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Quincy L. Ollison is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Former Oklahoma Probation Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
Steven Powers, 35, a former probation and parole officer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to two counts of violating the civil rights of two female probationers whom he supervised when he subjected them to unwanted sexual contact.
According to court documents, during the course of supervising the victim listed in Count One, from on or about Nov. 3, 2015 through Jan. 19, 2017, Powers engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior, culminating in sexual assault. During the course of supervising the victim listed in Count Two, from on or about Nov. 2, 2015 through April 30, 2017, Powers likewise engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior, culminating in sexual contact against the victim’s will. In each of these instances, the defendant admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong and against the law, yet he did so anyway.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate probation officers who exploit their authority by sexually assaulting individuals under their supervision,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who abuse their power in this way.”
“Steven Powers is not above the law. Rather, he took an oath to uphold it. In fact, he betrayed the trust placed in him by the State of Oklahoma to fulfill his duties as a probation and parole officer,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma. “He egregiously abused his authority by sexually assaulting the victims, violating their civil rights and ultimately damaging the integrity our justice system. For his despicable crimes, we will hold him accountable.”
This case is being investigated by the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarrod Leaman of the Northern District of Oklahoma and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
Former Oklahoma Probation Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
Steven Powers, 35, a former probation and parole officer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to two counts of violating the civil rights of two female probationers whom he supervised when he subjected them to unwanted sexual contact.
According to court documents, during the course of supervising the victim listed in Count One, from on or about Nov. 3, 2015 through Jan. 19, 2017, Powers engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior, culminating in sexual assault. During the course of supervising the victim listed in Count Two, from on or about Nov. 2, 2015 through April 30, 2017, Powers likewise engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior, culminating in sexual contact against the victim’s will. In each of these instances, the defendant admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong and against the law, yet he did so anyway.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate probation officers who exploit their authority by sexually assaulting individuals under their supervision,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who abuse their power in this way.”
“Steven Powers is not above the law. Rather, he took an oath to uphold it. In fact, he betrayed the trust placed in him by the State of Oklahoma to fulfill his duties as a probation and parole officer,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma. “He egregiously abused his authority by sexually assaulting the victims, violating their civil rights and ultimately damaging the integrity our justice system. For his despicable crimes, we will hold him accountable.”
This case is being investigated by the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarrod Leaman of the Northern District of Oklahoma and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Former Genesis Convention Center Employee ChargedRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Victoria Wilson, age 52, of Portage, Indiana, was charged by Information with one count of theft from a local government entity receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to the Information, between February 2017 and February 2018, Wilson was employed by the Genesis Convention Center, a venue owned by the City of Gary, Indiana, as its bookkeeper and later as interim Executive Director. The Information alleges that between March and October 2017, Wilson used her position to steal over $10,000 in cash from the Genesis Center.
The parties have entered into a plea agreement to resolve this criminal charge. Under this signed plea agreement, which has been filed with the court, if accepted by the court, would require Wilson to pay $12,727 in restitution to the City of Gary.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Public corruption cannot and will not be tolerated at any level. My office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue matters involving public corruption. I encourage anyone with information concerning corrupt public officials to contact my office or the FBI.”
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an Information is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Board of Accounts. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abizer Zanzi.
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Former Financial Adviser Arrested on Fraud Charge for Allegedly Swindling Millions from ClientsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago financial adviser has been arrested on a federal fraud charge for allegedly swindling millions of dollars from clients, including a man who received approximately $5 million in a wrongful conviction settlement.
MARCUS E. BOGGS, 49, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Boggs was arrested on Aug. 22, 2019, at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago prior to boarding an international flight. He appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody without bond.
The complaint and arrest were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which previously filed a civil enforcement action against Boggs. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Mitchell.
Boggs worked as a financial adviser in the Chicago office of a large wealth management firm, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. From 2009 to 2018, Boggs stole at least $2 million from client funds and used the money to make mortgage payments, travel to lavish international locations, and pay other personal expenditures, the complaint states.
The complaint describes the misappropriation of funds from four of Boggs’s clients. One of those clients received approximately $5 million in a 2014 settlement after being wrongfully convicted of murdering a 14-year-old girl, the complaint states. The man invested some of the settlement funds with Boggs’s firm on the understanding that Boggs would manage the money and ensure that he had enough funds for the rest of his life. Boggs instead stole approximately $815,000 from the man’s accounts to pay personal credit card debt, the complaint states.
Another victim cited in the complaint sold his home and invested the proceeds with Boggs. The victim understood that Boggs would manage the funds in safe investments to generate retirement income, the complaint states. When the value of his accounts began decreasing, Boggs misrepresented that it was due to fluctuations in the stock market, the complaint states. In reality, Boggs had used approximately $127,000 from the man’s accounts to pay personal credit card debt, the charge alleges.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Former CPA Indicted for Failing to Report Foreign Bank Accounts and Filing False Documents with the IRSRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Brian Booker, a former resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, whose business specialized in international trade, with failing to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs) and filing false documents with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida.
According to the superseding indictment, Booker, a former Certified Public Accountant, owned a cocoa trading company that was organized under the laws of the Republic of Panama. Booker allegedly operated that company from Venezuela, Panama, and his former residence in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The superseding indictment further alleges that, for calendar years 2011 through 2013, Booker failed to disclose his interest in financial accounts located in Switzerland, Singapore, and Panama on annual Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs) as required by law. Booker also allegedly filed false individual income tax returns for tax years 2010 through 2012 that failed to report to the IRS all of Booker’s foreign bank accounts.
Booker is also charged with filing a false “Streamlined Submission” in conjunction with the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures. The IRS Streamlined procedures allowed eligible taxpayers residing within the United States, who failed to report gross income from foreign financial accounts on prior tax returns, failed to pay taxes on that gross income, or who failed to submit an FBAR disclosing foreign financial accounts, to voluntarily disclose their conduct to the IRS. The superseding indictment alleges that Booker’s Streamlined submission falsely claimed that his failure to report all income, pay all tax, and submit all required information returns, such as FBARs, was due to non-willful conduct.
If convicted, Booker faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for each count relating to his failure to file an FBAR. He also faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each of the counts related to filing false tax documents.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Sean Beaty and Alexander Effendi of the Tax Division are prosecuting this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Florida Man Charged Under “Drug Kingpin Statute” for Running Large Cocaine and Money Laundering RingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Lauderhill, Florida, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The six-count Superseding Indictment named Racoco Williams, age 37, as the sole defendant.
According to the Superseding Indictment, on or about April 23, 2017 and on or about August 29, 2017, Williams possessed with intent to deliver five kilograms or more of cocaine. The earlier filed criminal complaint alleged that Williams was staying at a room at the Extended Stay Hotel in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. A federal search warrant of his room revealed 17 kilograms of cocaine and more than $192,000 in cash. The Superseding Indictment further alleges that from in and around 2012 and continuing thereafter to in and around March 2018, Williams conspired with persons known and unknown to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana. The Superseding Indictment further alleges that from in and around 2012 and continuing thereafter to in and around March 2018, Williams participated as a principal administrator in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved 150 kilograms or more of cocaine. The Superseding Indictment further alleges that from in and around 2012 and continuing thereafter to in and around August 2017, Williams conspired with persons known and unknown to commit money laundering. Finally, the Superseding Indictment also alleges that from 2012 and continuing thereafter to in and around August 2017, Williams travelled between states in aid of racketeering activity, namely drug trafficking.
The law provides for a mandatory sentence of life in prison, a maximum fine of $32,750,000 or both.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fifteen people indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to bring large amounts of cocaine and heroin from Mexico and California to Stark CountyRead the Press Release
Fifteen people were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to bring large amounts of cocaine and heroin from Mexico and California to the Canton area.
Named in the 39-count indictment are: Miguel Reyes-Perez, 33, a Mexican citizen living in Canton; Miguel Ayala-Cardona, 52, of Canton; Juan Silverio Castro-Castrio, 18, of Massillon; Louis Dunson. Jr., 49, of Canton; Louis Dunson, III, 26, of Canton; Oscar Fabian Garcia-Reyes, 29, of Canton; Michael Yarnell Harris, 40, of Massillon; David Deon Jones-Dehart, 38, of Orrville; Stephanie Joy Dehart, 48, of Orrville; Albino Lopez-Ruvalcaba, 43, of Canton; Willie J. Middleton, 63, of Canton; Earnest Lee Nelson, Jr., 36, of Orrville; Rogelio Tello-Ramirez, 51, of Canton; Ciro Ajualip, 26, of Canton, and Alvaro Orosco, 34, of Canton.
Reyes–Perez received cocaine and heroin from California, Mexico and elsewhere, which he then redistributed to drug customers including Ayala-Cardona, Castro-Castrio, the Dunsons, Garcia-Reyes, Harris, Jones-Dehart, Dehart, Lopez-Ruvalcaba, Middleton, Nelson, Tello-Ramirez and Ajualip . Those defendants then sold the drugs to other customers, according to the indictment.
This took place between August 2016 and at least April 2019, according to the indictment.
Additionally, Reyes-Perez is charged with illegal reentry into the United States. He was found here on April 4, 2019, after having been deported on January 30, 2018, according to the indictment.
“This group brought large amounts of heroin and cocaine into Stark County at time when record numbers of our neighbors were dying from drug overdoses,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will continue to work to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and seek long prison sentences for those profiting off the drug epidemic.”
"These fifteen indicted individuals may live in our area hometowns of Canton, Massillon, Orrville and Wooster, but they had far reaching contacts that allowed them to bring dangerous illegal drugs into and across our country,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking networks distributing perilous substances in our neighborhoods."
“The Canton Police Department remains committed to working with its federal law enforcement partners to eradicate this type of criminal activity from our city,” said Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo.
“The Massillon Police Department is pleased to have been able to participate with our law enforcement partners in this endeavor and we are committed to maintaining these relationships for the safety and welfare of our community,” said Massillon Police Chief Keith T. Moser
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canton Police Department, MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency and Massillon Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney.
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.
Felon Sentenced to 34 Months for Possessing Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Juan Longino, 46, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 34 months in federal prison, for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. Longino pleaded guilty to this charge on April 23, 2019. His prison term will be followed by a three-year period of supervised release.
In December 2018 and January 2019, Longino drove a heroin dealer around Madison, while the dealer sold heroin to an undercover officer. A warrant was executed at Longino’s home on January 9, 2019, and officers recovered a loaded handgun under his mattress, as well as 5.6 grams of heroin. Longino claimed the heroin was for his personal use and that the firearm was for protection. Longino has an extensive criminal history that spans 26 years. His most recent felony conviction was obtained in 2014, for strangulation/suffocation.
Judge Peterson initially imposed a sentence of 42 months, but then credited Longino for the eight months he has spent in pretrial detention.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
The charge against Longino was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
Federal Jury Convicts Haywood County Man for Conspiracy to Commit Multiple Armed Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – After a three-day jury trial, Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr., 23, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit multiple business robberies, Hobbs Act business robbery, possession of a firearm during a robbery, and receiving firearms while under indictment. U.S. Attorney Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, during a period of 5 days in 2016, two masked men armed with pistols robbed three businesses in the Brownsville, Haywood County area: the F&D Quick Stop, the Discount Tobacco andMore, and the Bells Express Truck Stop. Also during this time, there were two different shootings where 9mm shell casings and .22 LR shell casings were recovered by the Brownsville Police Department.
On April 25, 2016 after the Bells Express Truck Stop robbery, deputies with the Haywood County Sheriff's Department collected clothing on a nearby road that was worn by the armedmaskedmen observed in the surveillance footage. Deputies forwarded those items of evidence to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for DNA analysis, which in 2018 linked Lacey Jeter and Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr. to the clothing.
On April 26, 2016, Officers with the Brownsville Police Department observed a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle seen leaving the scene of the Bells Express Truck Stop robbery and initiated a traffic stop. After a brief chase, the vehicle crashed in rural Haywood County. The occupants of the vehicle ran into nearby woods leaving behind two pistols similar to the ones described in the recent robberies. Officers with the Brownsville Police Department collected the firearms fromthe scene and submitted them to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for comparison to the shell casings recovered from the recent shootings. TBI Agents were able to confirm that the shell casings recovered after the shootings were fired fromone of the firearms recovered near the scene of the crash. Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr. was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2019.
During the three-day trial, evidence was presented showing Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr. and co-conspirators used the proceeds from the robberies to illegally purchase the firearms used in the shootings and ultimately at least one robbery, and also participated in the conspiracy to commit the robberies and were present during the robbery of the Bells Express Truck Stop and possessed a firearm during the robbery.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Violent crime affects and endangers all communities in West Tennessee, both urban and rural. Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury to innocent victims. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and commerce, which victimizes the entire community. As a result of this guilty verdict, Nixon will have plenty of time in federal prison to suffer with the consequences of his criminal conduct, and the citizens of Haywood County will be safer for it."
Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett, Jr., said: "Special thanks to the hard working people of our U.S. Attorney’s Office for helping our office keep the law abiding citizens of Haywood county safe. I appreciate the teamwork and look forward to working with you again."
"The City of Brownsville is grateful for the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Haywood County Sherriff’s Office and the Brownsville Police Department in the prosecution and conviction of Johnny Nixon. Nixon was a danger to society with his lengthy criminal history of robberies, domestic assaults and weapons violations. Working together, Brownsville is a much safe place," said Brownsville Police Chief Barry Diebold.
Sentencing is scheduled forNovember 21, 2019, beforeU.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen. Nixon faces sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment each for the Conspiracy and the Hobbs Act business robbery, a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 5 years for the possession of the firearm during a crime of violence, and up to 10 years imprisonment for each of the 3 counts of possession of firearm while under indictment.
This case was investigated by the Brownsville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Haywood County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hillary Parham and Matt Wilson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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FBI Arrests Manhattan Beach Man Facing Federal Charges Related to Movie Investment Scam that Cost Victims $14 MillionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Manhattan Beach man surrendered this morning to face federal charges that allege he collected $14 million from investors who were falsely told their money would be used to produce a feature film that Netflix would distribute and would involve several notable Hollywood figures.
Adam Joiner, 41, is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A criminal complaint filed August 13 and unsealed this morning charges Joiner with wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.
According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, Joiner used fake documents and forged signatures to raise millions of dollars from foreign investment firms based in South Korea and China for a project he said would be called “Legends,” which is described in court papers as “an anachronistic mash-up of legendary and historical figures from nineteenth century America, such as Davy Crockett, Calamity Jane, Paul Bunyan, and John Henry.”
Joiner, who operated a company called Dark Planet Pictures, LLC, allegedly defrauded Korea Investment Global Contents Fund, a South Korean investment fund whose assets are managed by Korean Investment Partners Co., Ltd. (KIP). The complaint also accuses Joiner of defrauding a Chinese investment firm called Star Century Pictures Co., Ltd. and a related company called PGA Yungpark Capital Ltd.
The scheme allegedly began in late 2015 when Joiner met a director of KIP and provided him a script for “Legends,” which Joiner said had been written by his brother. As KIP considered making an investment in the film, Joiner falsely told company representatives that Netflix had agreed to distribute the picture, a claim Joiner supported with a bogus distribution agreement that appeared to be signed by a Netflix executive, according to the complaint. After Joiner provided a copy of the purported distribution agreement, KIP agreed to invest $8 million in the project and, in April 2016, transferred the first half of the investment to Dark Planet Pictures.
During the investigation, FBI agents spoke to the Netflix executive who appeared to have signed the distribution agreement. That executive told the FBI that he had never heard of Joiner, his company or the “Legends” project, nor did he sign the purported distribution agreement, according to the affidavit.
Soon after KIP sent the $4 million to Dark Planet Pictures, Joiner entered into an agreement with the Chinese investors that was supported by the same bogus Netflix distribution agreement, according to the complaint affidavit. As a result of this fraudulent misrepresentation, Yungpark wired $6 million to Dark Planet Pictures in June 2016.
After receiving the initial $10 million from the victim investors, Joiner provided them with updates claiming that well known Hollywood figures – such as producer Don Murphy – had agreed to work on the project, the affidavit states. While Murphy was retained to produce the film and secure a distribution agreement, no distributor was identified, no talent was secured, and no director committed to the film, the complaint alleges. Murphy terminated his arrangement with Joiner in mid-2017.
In late 2016, Joiner allegedly told his investors that he had terminated the distribution agreement with Netflix and had secured a new agreement with Amblin Partners – all of which was bogus, according to executives at both companies. However, the new distribution agreement prompted the South Korean investors to complete their investment by wiring another $4 million to Dark Planet Pictures in early 2017, the complaint alleges.
Following this final wire transfer, Joiner provided a series of excuses to his investors as to why the project was not moving forward, according to the affidavit. He also allegedly provided a forged bank statement to the South Korean investors to prove that he could repay their investment. The FBI reviewed Dark Planet Pictures bank records and determined that more than $5 million of the investors’ money was used to purchase Joiner’s Manhattan Beach residence and another $4.3 million was transferred to a bank account that may be linked to another film in development linked to Joiner.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The charge of wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal and the money laundering offense could lead to a sentence of up to 10 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison term.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section.
FBI Agent, KCPD Sergeant Honored for Significant InvestigationsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tim Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two local and federal law enforcement officers were recognized for the work on several significant cases as recipients of the 2019 Guardian of Justice Award.
FBI Special Agent Jason Ramsey was recognized for his investigation into a kidnapping conspiracy that involved carjacking, robbing, and forcing drugs upon three young female victims. Both defendants in that case were convicted following a three-day trial.
Det. Sgt. Eric Greenwell of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department was recognized for his leadership role in investigating a number of violent crimes, including murders and armed robberies.
Ramsey and Greenwell were honored on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, during the 17th Annual LECC Training Seminar in Springfield, Missouri.
Special Agent Jason Ramsey
Ramsey has been involved in investigating high-profile, complex cases that involve dangerous defendants exhibiting an extraordinary level of violence against innocent victims. Such victim-intensive cases require investigators to rise to a higher standard of professionalism, capability, and responsibility, a standard that Ramsey exceeds.
In the case of USA v. Wortham, et al, co-defendants Jamerl M. Wortham and Anthony B. Williams were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, three counts of kidnapping, one count of carjacking, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery, one count of distribution of phencyclidine (PCP), six counts of possession of a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, one count of being felons in possession of a firearm, one count of possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Following the trial, jurors needed only an hour and a half to reach guilty verdicts on all counts against both defendants. Neither defendant has been sentenced as yet; Wortham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 years in federal prison without parole, up to life in prison, while Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven consecutive life sentences.
Initially, the night these crimes were committed, only one defendant was apprehended. Ramsey continued the investigation for two months in order to identify the second defendant. At trial, Ramsey was crucial in evidence-gathering, witness preparation, and determining trial strategy. He was a key witness during the trial as well. Ramsey took a substantial role in communicating with the victims regarding the prosecution of the case, displaying the ability to comfort victims while maintaining a working, professional relationship with them.
Det. Sgt. Eric Greenwell
Greenwell has been the supervisor of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department’s Career Criminal Task Force for nearly two decades. This squad is tasked with investigating the worst of the worst, recidivistic offenders in the metropolitan area. The offenses the unit investigates include, rape, robbery, assault, gang shootings, drug trafficking, armed robbery, and murder. This unit is unique because it is made up not only of police officers, but multiple federal agents that work under Greenwell’s supervision. The work done by this unit has resulted in countless prosecutions that have benefitted the welfare and safety of the community.
This task force, in conjunction with the FBI, has aggressively targeted subjects involved in armed robberies at local businesses, resulting in 24 federal indictments in the last fiscal year. This places the Kansas City’s initiative fifth in the nation for such indictments. Among those cases was a five-member crew involved in multiple takeover-style robberies of 7-Eleven stores and other businesses. This crew operated by finding two locations next to each other and then simultaneously robbing them both. They did so by shooting out the business windows and holding the employees at gunpoint while demanding money from the business. Another crew robbed taxi drivers, including a 53-year-old Z-Trip driver who refused to give up her money and was shot 18 times with an assault rifle. Another investigation targeted two separate crews who coordinated their robberies of cell phone stores. The violent groups, which stole iPhones, pistol whipped multiple store employees and beat customers. Members of the group were connected to homicides and shootings. Another five-member crew was involved in 11 violent takeover-style armed robberies of local businesses. In one of those robberies, a convenience store clerk was shot and killed. Another six-member crew was involved in 26 armed takeover-style business robberies. While attempting to rob a pharmacy, the crew’s leader was shot and killed in a gun battle with law enforcement officers.
The Career Criminal Task Force coordinated the effort of the Kansas City Police Department and the FBI to identify and arrest a suspect in the murder of seven victims on or around the Indian Creek Trail in Kansas City. Greenwell’s task force also has been involved in several murder cases that have been charged in federal court. Greenwell also coordinated the investigations into nine missing and/or abducted children. Seven of these children were recovered, including a kidnapped infant who was taken from Kansas City to California.
Guardian of Justice Award
The annual Guardian of Justice Award recognizes a state or local officer as well as a federal agent for investigative excellence, selfless collaboration, tireless trial support, commendable diligence and professionalism, and noteworthy assistance to prosecution. The prestigious law enforcement award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year during the law enforcement training conference.
Escape from Federal Custody Results in Longer SentenceRead the Press Release
A man who escaped from custody while serving a federal sentence in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center was sentenced August 26, 2019, to serve an additional four months in federal prison.
Shaquandis Thurmond, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 10, 2019 guilty plea to escape from federal custody.
In a plea agreement, Thurmond admitted he was in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center in Cedar Rapids pursuant to an August 3, 2018, federal court order issued for a supervised release violation following his previous conviction in a firearms case. On August 26, 2018, Thurmond left the facility claiming he was going to a local church. Thurmond remained a fugitive until his arrest on March 18, 2019, when he was found by the University of Northern Iowa Police Department.
Thurmond was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thurmond was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with the 12 month sentence Thurmond received for his supervised release revocation. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thurmond is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the University of Northern Iowa Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00035.
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Ely Man Indicted for Murder of 3-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An enrolled member of the Ely Shoshone Tribe was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with the murder of a three-year-old girl.
“Violent crime against women and children on tribal land is a significant priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “I am proud to be part of an organization that does its very best to protect vulnerable victims.”
“One of the reasons that the Las Vegas Division augmented our resources in Northern Nevada was to amplify and strengthen our existing partnerships with our local and tribal partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “This complex investigation underscored the success of these efforts.”
Colon Jackson, 28, was arrested last week Friday in White Pine County, Nev. His detention hearing is scheduled to be continued to August 29, before United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin Carry. Jackson is charged with one count of murder in the first degree. A trial date has been set for October 22, 2019. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life in prison.
According to the indictment and facts presented at the detention hearing, on January 9, 2019, the 3-year-old girl went to day care and was later picked-up by her mother and taken home so Jackson could care for her while her mother was at work. After the victim’s mother returned to work, Jackson called her to tell her that the girl was unconscious. The mother came home and took the child to the emergency room in Ely. The girl was then flown from Ely to Salt Lake City and died shortly thereafter. As alleged, Jackson abused the girl resulting in a significant head injury causing her death.
The charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady and Sue Fahami are prosecuting the case.
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Ellenville Man Sentenced for Defrauding the Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony Alvarez, age 38, of Ellenville, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for fraudulently obtaining more than $38,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
As part of his January 3, 2019 guilty plea, Alvarez admitted that from January 2011 to February 2015, he fraudulently concealed from the SSA the fact that he was living in the Philippines so that he could continue to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also ordered Alvarez to pay $38,894.42 in restitution to the SSA.
This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.
Eight Defendants Charged with Running Two of the Largest Illegal Television Show and Movie Streaming Services in the United StatesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging eight individuals with conspiring to violate federal criminal copyright law by running two of the largest unauthorized streaming services in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars by television program and motion picture copyright owners.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Timothy R. Slater of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement today.
According to the indictment, Kristopher Lee Dallmann, 36; Darryl Julius Polo, aka djppimp, 36; Douglas M. Courson, 59; Felipe Garcia, 37; Jared Edward Jaurequi, aka Jared Edwards, 38; Peter H. Huber, 61; Yoany Vaillant, aka Yoany Vaillant Fajardo, 38; and Luis Angel Villarino, 40, allegedly ran an entity called Jetflicks, an online subscription-based service headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, that permitted users to stream and, at times, download copyrighted television programs without the permission of the relevant copyright owners.
The defendants reproduced tens of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization, and distributed the infringing programs to tens of thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the U.S. At one point, Jetflicks claimed to have more than 183,200 different television episodes. One of the defendants, Polo, left Jetflicks and created a competing site based in Las Vegas called iStreamItAll (ISIA) that at one point claimed to have 115,849 different television episodes and 10,511 individual movies. Like Jetflicks, ISIA offered content for a regular subscription fee to viewers around the United States, and ISIA publicly asserted that it had more content than Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Prime. The two services were not only available to subscribers over the internet but specifically designed to work on many different types of devices, platforms and software including numerous varieties of computer operating systems, smartphones, tablets, smart televisions, video game consoles, digital media players, set-top boxes and web browsers.
In addition, the grand jury charged Dallmann with two counts of criminal copyright infringement by reproduction or distribution, two counts of criminal copyright by public performance and four counts of money laundering, and charged Polo with two counts of criminal copyright infringement by distributing a copyrighted work being prepared for commercial distribution, two counts of criminal copyright infringement by reproduction or distribution, two counts of criminal copyright infringement by public performance and four counts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Jetflicks allegedly obtained infringing television programs from pirate websites around the world—including some of the globe’s biggest torrent and Usenet sites specializing in infringing content such as The Pirate Bay, RARBG and Torrentz—using various automated computer scripts, often providing episodes to subscribers the day after the shows originally aired on television. Specifically, the defendants allegedly used sophisticated computer code to scour global pirate sites for new illegal content to download, process and store the shows, and then make those episodes available on servers in the United States and Canada to Jetflicks subscribers for streaming and/or downloading.
According to the indictment, Polo was allegedly part of the computer programming team that built Jetflicks but later left and started ISIA, a competing service based in Las Vegas that offered not only television programs but movies. Polo allegedly used many of the same automated tools that Jetflicks employed to locate, download, process and store illegal content, and then quickly make those television programs and movies available on servers in Canada to ISIA subscribers for streaming and/or downloading. In fact, some of the movies offered by ISIA were not yet available for authorized sale, download, or viewing outside a movie theater.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Berrang of the Eastern District of Virginia and are prosecuting the case.
Eight Defendants Charged with Running Two of the Largest Illegal Streaming Services in U.S.Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging eight Las Vegas residents with conspiring to violate federal criminal copyright law by running two of the largest unauthorized streaming services in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars by television program and motion picture copyright owners.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly ran an entity called Jetflicks, an online, subscription-based service headquartered in Las Vegas that permitted users to stream and, at times, download copyrighted TV programs without the permission of the relevant copyright owners.
The defendants reproduced tens of thousands of copyrighted TV episodes without authorization, and distributed the infringing programs to tens of thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the United States. At one point, Jetflicks claimed to have more than 183,200 different TV episodes. One of the defendants, Polo, left Jetflicks and created a competing site based in Las Vegas called iStreamItAll (ISIA) that at one point claimed to have 115,849 different television episodes and 10,511 individual movies. Like Jetflicks, ISIA offered content for a regular subscription fee to viewers around the United States, and ISIA publicly asserted that it had more content than Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Prime. The two services were not only available to subscribers over the internet but specifically designed to work on many different types of devices, platforms, and software including numerous varieties of computer operating systems, smartphones, tablets, smart televisions, video game consoles, digital media players, set-top boxes and web browsers.
According to the indictment, Jetflicks allegedly obtained infringing TV programs from pirate websites around the world—including some of the globe’s biggest torrent and Usenet sites specializing in infringing content such as The Pirate Bay, RARBG and Torrentz—using various automated computer scripts, often providing episodes to subscribers the day after the shows originally aired on TV. Specifically, the defendants allegedly used sophisticated computer code to scour global pirate sites for new illegal content to download, process and store the shows, and then make those episodes available on servers in the United States and Canada to Jetflicks subscribers for streaming and/or downloading.
The defendants are: Kristopher Lee Dallmann, 36; Darryl Julius Polo, aka “djppimp”, 36; Douglas M. Courson, 59; Felipe Garcia, 37; Jared Edward Jaurequi aka “Jared Edwards”, 38; Peter H. Huber, 61; Yoany Vaillant, aka “Yoany Vaillant Fajardo”, 38; and Luis Angel Villarino, 40.
According to the indictment, Polo was allegedly part of the computer programming team that built Jetflicks but later left and started ISIA, a competing service based in Las Vegas that offered not only television programs but movies. Polo allegedly used many of the same automated tools that Jetflicks employed to locate, download, process, and store illegal content, and then quickly make those TV programs and movies available on servers in Canada to ISIA subscribers for streaming and/or downloading. In fact, some of the movies offered by ISIA were not yet available for authorized sale, download, or viewing outside a movie theater.
All eight defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and, if convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The criminal copyright infringement by reproduction or distribution and criminal copyright infringement by public performance charges, with which Dallmann and Polo are charged, each carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. The criminal copyright infringement by distributing a copyrighted work being prepared for commercial distribution offenses, with which Polo is charged, carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. And, each of the charged money laundering offense carry a maximum penalty of 20 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Brian A. Benczkowski, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Timothy R. Slater, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Berrang and Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-253.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
District Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maxim R. Smith, 25, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assault with a dangerous weapon, and for beating a man approximately 12 months ago in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced today.
Smith was found guilty on June 19, 2019, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Smith was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant injury while armed. He was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Kimberley S. Knowles.
“Today’s sentence holds Maxim Smith accountable for brutally beating a man,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “This prosecution vindicates the principle that everyone in our community deserves the protection of the law.”
According to the government’s evidence, on August 6, 2018, the victim was driving in his vehicle through Georgetown after a friend’s gathering. As he drove toward Wisconsin Avenue NW on M Street NW, he encountered Smith stopped on his bicycle in the middle of the right turn lane. The victim honked his horn, and Smith yelled expletives at the victim and did not move. The victim then passed the defendant on the left side in his vehicle, and at that point heard a loud thump on the back of his car. Assuming the defendant had hit his car with an object, the victim turned right onto Wisconsin Avenue NW and pulled his car to the side of the road. The victim got out of his car to inspect for damage and to call the police. Smith also turned right onto Wisconsin Avenue NW and rode his bike to Prospect Street. As soon as Smith turned back and saw the victim on the phone, he shouted to the victim, “Are you really calling the police?” and directed a racial slur at him. The victim is a black male from Cameroon, and the defendant is a white male. Smith then rode aggressively back toward the victim and got into a physical altercation with him. Smith then struck the victim on the head with a metal u-lock while yelling racial slurs at him. The victim required 21 stiches to his head as a result of the assault.
This was a brutal attack accompanied by explicit racial slurs. The Office charged the hate-bias enhancement, the jury hung on that charge, and the Honorable Judge Knowles was asked to consider the hate motivation at sentencing.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Korba and Alyse Constantinide.
District Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Assault with Intent to Kill While Armed in 2017 Shooting in Northeast, Washington, D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Garland Goddard, 35, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 19 years in prison for shooting a man in October 2017 near the busy intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Clay Place, in NE, Washington, D.C.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Goddard was found guilty by a jury of assault with intent to kill while armed and related assault and firearms charges following a May 2019 trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Juliet McKenna.
According to the government's evidence, on October 21, 2017, just before 9:00 p.m., Goddard walked over to the unarmed victim while he was sitting and talking with another person in the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. Goddard pulled out a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun and fired seven shots at the victim, who got up and ran for his life. The victim was hit twice, but managed to get away until collapsing on the street in the next block. He was taken to Prince Georges County Hospital, where he underwent surgery and remained hospitalized for weeks.
Shortly after the shooting, MPD arrived at the scene. The victim was unable to identify the shooter, but investigators recovered video surveillance footage from several local establishments that captured the shooting. Footage showed the shooter entering and exiting a black SUV shortly before and after the shooting. Investigators later identified the driver of the black SUV, and a search of the driver's apartment uncovered a 9-millimeter handgun that matched shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.
Goddard was arrested on a separate charge in November 2017, and has been in custody since that time.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney's Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Ahmed Baset, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Hulser; Paralegal Specialists Antoinette Sakamsa and Debra Joyner; and Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling.
Defendants sentenced for violent takeover robberies of metro Atlanta business and bankRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Lenard Gibbs, Kyre Campbell, and Benita Alveranga have been sentenced for their roles in the violent take-over robberies of two metro-Atlanta businesses - a Loan Max store and a PNC Bank branch.
“The takeover-style robberies were designed to terrify employees and customers,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “These violent criminals are off the streets – in Gibbs’ case for decades to come. We are committed to keep our communities safe from violence and seek justice for the victims of these crimes.”
“No one should ever be terrorized physically or emotionally, like the victims in these two violent armed robberies, simply because they work at a business or patronize that business,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the assistance from our local law enforcement partners, these three criminals won’t be able to wreak harm on any other innocent citizens for a long time.”
“I’m proud of our department and their work alongside the other law enforcement agencies involved in this case,” said Lilburn Police Chief Bruce Hedley. “This teamwork across agencies resulted in the quick arrest of all three individuals. We support the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia’s firm stance and commitment to reduce violent crimes in our communities.”
“We are appreciative of the cooperative effort of the involved agencies and the successful prosecution of the offenders. We will continue to work closely with our Federal, State, and local law enforcement partners in our efforts to combat criminal activity,” said Gwinnett County Police Chief Butch Ayers.
“I am proud of the results the Conyers detectives achieved on this armed bank robbery. Their work along with the efforts of our local and federal partners have taken these violent predators off the streets for a substantial amount of time. I hope this outcome gives the victims some peace of mind,” said Conyers Chief of Police Gene Wilson.
“The Cobb County Police Department remains committed to interagency cooperation to help keep the citizens of Cobb County safe. Law enforcement agencies must continue to work together and share information in cases like this in order to make sure violent criminals who prey upon the public are brought to justice regardless of jurisdictional lines,” said Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox.
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Gibbs, along with co-defendant Kyre Campbell, robbed at gunpoint a Loan Max store on the morning of November 3, 2016. Gibbs, while pointing the firearm in the faces of two employees, demanded all of the money in the safe. He fled the establishment with the cash.
Later that same afternoon, Gibbs, Campbell and Campbell’s girlfriend, Benita Alveranga, robbed a PNC Bank. During that robbery, Gibbs repeatedly hit a teller with his gun while demanding she move quickly in emptying her drawer. He stole cash from the bank, and all of the defendants fled. Lilburn Police Department located them and after a brief police chase, Campbell and Alveranga were captured. Gibbs was able to flee the scene. A multi-jurisdictional investigation eventually led to his capture three weeks later.
- Lenard Gibbs, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 59 years, seven months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,089. On June 13, 2019, a jury convicted Gibbs of Hobbs Act, and armed bank, robbery charges, and related offenses of brandishing a firearm during the robberies.
- Kyre Campbell, 24, of Lilburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during the bank robbery of PNC bank on January 4, 2019. He was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,089.00.
- Benita Alveranga, 25, of Lilburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony on July 2, 2019. She was sentenced to one year, one day in prison to be followed by one years of supervised release and ordered to pay $3,089.00 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cobb County Police Department, Conyers Police Department, Lilburn Police Department, and Gwinnett Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phyllis Clerk and Angela Adams prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.
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.
Citizen of El Salvador Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on August 13, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging MARIO ANTONIO HERRERA, 36, a citizen of El Salvador last residing in East Hartford, with one count of illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.
Herrera appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on March 26, 2010, Herrera was deported from the U.S. to El Salvador. Herrera’s removal followed his conviction in Manchester Superior Court in July 2008 for assault in the second degree. Herrera’s criminal history also includes Connecticut convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon, reckless endangerment, and other offenses.
On July 1, 2019, Herrera, who was using the name Antonio Morales, was arrested by the East Hartford Police Department and charged with disorderly conduct and interfering/resisting arrest.
If convicted of the charge of illegal reentry, Herrera faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Herrera has been detained since his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.
California Man Sentenced to over 25 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth from California to IowaRead the Press Release
A man who admitted trafficking meth from California to Iowa was sentenced August 26, 2019, to more than 25 years in federal prison.
Thomas Edward Clutts, Jr., age 45, from Riverside, California, received the prison term after a January 4, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Clutts admitted he arranged for another man to purchase a total of seven pounds of methamphetamine from a California source for distribution in Iowa. Clutts also admitted possessing a gun while in Iowa that he carried in connection with and furtherance of the drug conspiracy. Clutts has a long criminal history, including prior convictions for multiple drug-related crimes and robbery in California
Clutts was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Clutts was sentenced to 323 months’ and 25 days imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Clutts is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 1:18-cr-00070-CJW-MAR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051Buffalo, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Felix M. Velazquez, 43, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth T. Molisani, who is handling the case, stated that in June 2018, the Lackawanna Police Department Narcotics Unit began investigating the narcotics trafficking activities of the defendant, a mid-level street cocaine distributor who had a large customer base in the Buffalo area. Velazquez conducted his distribution activities through his cellular phone, and at his apartment on Weyand Avenue in Buffalo.
On August 14, 2018, the Buffalo Police Department executed a New York State search warrant at the defendant’s Weyand Avenue residence. Officers recovered approximately 130 grams of cocaine; a digital scale; drug packaging materials; a .380 semi-automatic pistol, loaded with seven rounds; and $42,955.00 cash.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Buffalo Man Faces at Least 10 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty for His Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Quinton Jones, 39, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, five kilograms or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that between November 2016 and September 29, 2017, the defendant conspired with others to distribute cocaine in the South Buffalo area for a drug trafficking organization led by co-defendant Cesar Rivera-Figueroa. On August 3, 2017, co-defendant Daniel Navarro obtained three kilograms of cocaine from co-defendant Luis Andino. At the direction of Rivera-Figueroa, Navarro distributed the cocaine to three others, including Quinton Jones. On August 18, 2018, Jones made payment of approximately $30,000 for this kilogram of cocaine.
On September 13, 2017, the drug trafficking organization received several parcels containing cocaine through the U.S. Postal Service. Rivera-Figueroa contacted Jones immediately upon receipt of the parcels to arrange for the defendant to pick up a kilogram and distribute it in the Buffalo area. On his way to collect the kilogram of cocaine, Jones was stopped by a marked Erie County Sheriff’s vehicle, and law enforcement found him in possession of $19,995 in U.S. currency.
Over the course of the defendant’s involvement in the conspiracy, Jones regularly distributed at least one kilogram of cocaine per month on behalf of the drug trafficking organization.
On September 29, 2017, the defendant was arrested inside his residence at 57 Juniata Street in Buffalo. A search warrant was executed and investigators recovered $4,023 in U.S. currency; a .22 caliber rifle with a defaced serial number; multiple rounds of ammunition; and a quantity of cocaine.
Jones is one of 12 defendants charged in this case and the eighth to be convicted.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 17, 2020, before Judge Vilardo.
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Bridgeport Man with Prior Federal Heroin Conviction Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN HUTCHINSON, 29, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 20, 2014, Hutchinson was sentenced in federal court to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing heroin in Bridgeport. He was released from federal prison on May 22, 2018.
Shortly after Hutchinson was released from prison, Stamford Police received information that Hutchinson was again selling heroin in Fairfield County. On June 21, 2018, a Stamford Police officer, acting in an undercover capacity, arranged to purchase 300 bags of heroin from Hutchinson in exchange for $1,800. Hutchinson was arrested after he arrived at a parking lot in Stamford to complete the transaction and exited his car in possession of 300 bags of heroin.
Subsequent laboratory analysis of the seized drugs revealed that the bags contained a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.
Hutchinson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on November 19, 2019, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Hutchinson also faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release from his prior federal conviction.
Hutchinson has been detained since his arrest.
This investigation has been conducted by the Stamford Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.
Brevard County Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Roberto Oquendo (38, Brevard County) to 50 years in federal prison for conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography. The court also ordered Oquendo to forfeit two cellphones that he had used in connection with the offense.
Oquendo had pleaded guilty on January 30, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on September 15, 2016, Oquendo was the subject of a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, deputies from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Oquendo possibly had child pornography in his possession. As a result, task force agents with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations interviewed Oquendo. During the interview, Oquendo admitted that, for several years, he had used a cellphone to search for and view child pornography. Oquendo also disclosed that while residing in Brevard County, he had used a cellphone to take explicit photos of two female children in his custody.
Further investigation led to the seizure of several items of computer media from a place in Brevard County where Oquendo had resided. The computer media contained thousands of images and videos of the two young girls, who were toddlers at the time, as well as other children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Oquendo’s collection of child pornography contains depictions of infants, toddlers, and young children engaged in sexual activity, including sadistic conduct.
In addition, Oquendo had used a social media application to engage in live chats with a co-conspirator, Rose Beth Litzky, during which Litzky engaged two female children in sexually explicit conduct for Oquendo’s viewing and sexual gratification. At the time, Oquendo resided in Virginia, and Litzky resided in Florida. Oquendo created screenshots of the visual depictions involving the two girls.
A federal jury previously found Litzky guilty of conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Her sentencing hearing is set for October 15, 2019.
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 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 locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
Berkeley County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Herman Lee Brown, Jr., of Inwood, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Brown, age 51, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Brown, a person prohibited from having a firearm, admitted to having a .380 caliber pistol in July 2018 in Berkeley County.Brown faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Bangladeshi National Pleads Guilty to Bringing Aliens to the United StatesRead the Press Release
A Bangladeshi national formerly residing in Monterrey, Mexico, pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to smuggle aliens to the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.
With the plea, Moktar Hossain, 31, admitted that from March 2017 to August 2018, he conspired to bring and brought Bangladeshi nationals to the United States at the Texas border in exchange for payment. Hossain operated out of Monterrey, Mexico, where he housed aliens before sending them on the last leg of the journey to the United States. Hossain paid drivers to transport the aliens to the U.S. border, and gave them instructions how to cross the Rio Grande River.
“Human smuggling is a national security threat,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s plea makes clear that defendants who smuggle illegal aliens across the United States border for profit should expect to face the consequences in a United States courtroom.”
“HSI is committed to dismantling criminal schemes that mitigate the security of our borders and disrupting the flow of illicit money to these criminal networks,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “HSI remains steadfast in aggressively pursuing members of transnational criminal organizations that exploit and endanger the people they smuggle into the United States. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity of our borders and the safety of our communities.”
The guilty plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
This case is being investigated by HSI Laredo, with assistance from HSI Monterrey, HSI Houston, HSI Calexico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Erin Cox of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Augusta Man Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Possession of a SilencerRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Ryan D. Merrill, 40, of Augusta, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to time served (six days) in jail and three years of supervised release for possessing an unregistered silencer. Merrill pleaded guilty on April 23, 2019.
According to court records, on July 17, 2018, officers with the Augusta Police Department responded to a complaint of gunshots in a residential area. Merrill had been firing a .22 caliber rifle at a fox and at small propane tanks behind his home. Officers discovered that Merrill had modified an automotive oil filter and attached it to the muzzle of the rifle using a special adapter in order to suppress the sound of the shots he fired. Merrill had not registered the silencer in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and he knew that the possession of the silencer was prohibited by federal law.
The case was investigated by the Augusta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Auburn Man Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – David Lee Wirges, age 39, of Auburn, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Theresa L. Springmann after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and selling a firearm to a felon, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Wirges was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and the judgment included forfeiture of $1,546.00 in United States currency.
According to documents in the case, in March of 2018, a confidential informant made controlled buys of heroin from Wirges at his Auburn, Indiana residence at a time when Wirges was out on bond from drug charges pending against him in Dekalb County Superior Court. During the federal investigation, Wirges also sold a .380 caliber firearm to the confidential informant even though Wirges knew the confidential informant was a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Auburn Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tina Nommay.
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Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues to Convene in New MexicoRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme will meet with fellow members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues (NAIS) in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, to discuss public safety and law enforcement issues that impact Native American and Alaska Native communities. Attorney Alme is vice chair of the subcommittee.
“After listening to tribal leaders last week at the Government to Government Consultation in Michigan, I look forward to meeting with the other U.S. Attorneys from across the country to improve safety for our American Indians and Alaska Natives, and especially for indigenous women,” Attorney Alme said. “We need to work together to reduce drug trafficking and violence, to ensure that those who go missing are found, and that victims of crime receive the help they need to heal.”
The annual meeting will begin Aug. 28 and run through Aug. 30. During this time, the NAIS will engage with tribal leaders and develop strategies and best practices to address missing and murdered indigenous people, drug trafficking, needed law enforcement resources, and safeguarding children from sexual abuse in Indian country.
The most common crimes investigated in Indian country include child sexual abuse, violent assaults, and adult sexual assaults, followed by homicide, other forms of child abuse, drug, and property crimes. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Native women and girls suffer a high rate of violence, including murder.
“United States Attorneys nationwide are committed to improving public safety in Indian country and rural Alaska. The work of Attorney General Barr’s Native American Issues Subcommittee is focused on reducing violent crime, improving law enforcement resources, and combating the distribution of methamphetamine and opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, of the Northern District of Oklahoma and chair of the NAIS. “The disproportionate rates of violence affecting Native American and Alaska Native women is particularly troubling to me. With Attorney General Barr’s leadership, we will continue working with tribal leaders to find solutions to the epidemic of violence against indigenous women.”
Panel discussions will also focus on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and preserving Native American cultural patrimony. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.
The NAIS consists of 53 U.S. Attorneys serving in districts that include Indian Country or one or more federally recognized tribes and makes policy recommendations to the Attorney General. The NAIS has identified four priority areas: 1) Violent crime 2) Law enforcement resources 3) Drug trafficking and substance abuse, and 4) White collar crime. It is the longest standing subcommittee to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and helps develop, shape, and otherwise implement justice policies affecting Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
In fiscal year 2018, the Department of Justice awarded $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs, to 134 Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. In addition, the Department awarded a total of 154 grants totaling $88 million as part of the first-ever Tribal Victim Service Set-Aside program; these awards were supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees, and special assessments. The awards will help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance. Even more funding will be available – up to $168 million – under the set-aside this year.
In July 2019, the Department announced a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to input data directly and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements. The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of more than 70 participating tribes across the country.
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Alabama Man Sentenced to Prison for Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Jefferson County man was sentenced to 30 months in prison today for filing a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town for the Northern District of Alabama.
According to court documents and information provided to the court, Larry Wayne Battle owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jefferson County, Alabama. On his 2014 federal income tax return, Battle understated the gross receipts for his tax preparation business by approximately $321,638, resulting in a tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $163,401. Battle also admitted to preparing false tax returns for clients.
“Today’s prison sentence for Larry Wayne Battle is an example of the commitment of the Tax Division and its partners in United States Attorneys’ Offices and the IRS to prosecute fraudulent tax return preparers and to hold such unscrupulous preparers accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman.
“Tax preparers are held to a higher standard because of their position with public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Town. “We will continue to protect the public fisc from those who abuse their position to the detriment of the American taxpayer.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Battle was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $234,300.53 to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Town commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney and former Tax Division Trial Attorney Allison Garnett and Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Atwood, who prosecuted the case.
Alabama Man Sentenced to Prison for Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Jefferson County man was sentenced to 30 months in prison today for filing a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town for the Northern District of Alabama.
According to court documents and information provided to the court, Larry Wayne Battle owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jefferson County, Alabama. On his 2014 federal income tax return, Battle understated the gross receipts for his tax preparation business by approximately $321,638, resulting in a tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $163,401. Battle also admitted to preparing false tax returns for clients.
“Today’s prison sentence for Larry Wayne Battle is an example of the commitment of the Tax Division and its partners in United States Attorneys’ Offices and the IRS to prosecute fraudulent tax return preparers and to hold such unscrupulous preparers accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman.
“Tax preparers are held to a higher standard because of their position with public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Town. “We will continue to protect the public fisc from those who abuse their position to the detriment of the American taxpayer.”
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Battle was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $234,300.53 to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Town commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney and former Tax Division Trial Attorney Allison Garnett and Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Atwood, who prosecuted the case.
Akron Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio man pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in Huntington last year, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Anton Marcel Jeffries, 25, pled guilty in federal court in Huntington. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Violent Crime & Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
“Akron has become a particular problem point for West Virginia. We don’t need Akron exporting their problems to our district. More must be done to keep Akron troublemakers in Akron,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “A city that once exported tires, from the Rubber Capital of the world, is now exporting drugs to West Virginia and other great places. It needs to end. Jeffries had 108 grams of meth, 25 grams of heroin and 12 grams of fentanyl. We’re working with our law enforcement partners to get Akron drug dealers out of here and send them to federal prison.”
Jeffries admitted that on September 19, 2018, in an apartment residence at 917 9th Ave. in Huntington, he possessed multiple plastic baggies of what was purported to be methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. After forensic testing, the substances possessed by Jeffries were determined to be approximately 108 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of heroin, and 12 grams of fentanyl.
Jeffries faces a minimum mandatory 5 years in prison with a maximum of 40 years when sentenced on December 2, 2019.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Monica D. Coleman are handling the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a focused enforcement effort that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
Akron Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 131 Months in Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio, drug trafficker was sentenced to 131 months in prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Rodney Lammar Hargrove, 48, previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
“Another Akron drug dealer on Charleston’s West Side with 20 grams of pure meth, 6 grams of a mixture containing deadly carfentanyl, and a gun,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “A gram of carfentanyl could kill 50,000 people, so we’re very fortunate law enforcement intercepted this deadly mixture. Hargrove will now serve almost 11 years in prison before he can step foot in Akron or Charleston again.”
As established by public court filings and hearings, on February 16, 2018, police were investigating a known drug house on Frame Street in Charleston. The investigators found heroin, needles, and other drug paraphernalia in the house. As they were preparing to leave, Hargrove entered the house. Hargrove admitted that he was carrying a gun, which the investigators retrieved for their safety. The gun was a loaded .22 caliber revolver. Hargrove also gave the investigators permission to retrieve drugs that he was carrying: approximately 20 grams of pure methamphetamine and 6 grams of a mixture containing carfentanyl, a powerful and deadly fentanyl analogue.
Investigators arrested Hargrove and transported him to the police station, where he confessed to investigators that he was a drug dealer. Hargrove explained that he had been receiving about a half-ounce of methamphetamine and 10 grams of heroin at a time for resale in Charleston.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Drew O. Inman and L. Alexander Hamner prosecuted the case.
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26 August 2019
Winnebago Man Sentenced for Sexual Assault on the Winnebago Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today that Russell Morrison, 18, of Winnebago, was sentenced Monday by Senior United States District Judge Laurie Smith Camp to 60 months’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. There is no parole in the federal system. Morrison will be on supervised release for a period of five years after he serves his sentence. He will also have to register as a sex offender.
Morrison sexually assaulted an intoxicated minor after providing her with alcohol. The minor did not recall much of the incident, but learned of it later when images of her in a state of undress were shared on Snapchat, a social media application. The minor reported that she thought she may have been sexually assaulted and obtained a rape kit. Morrison’s DNA was obtained and analysis revealed his DNA from the sexual assault kit obtained from the minor.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.