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2 August 2019
Former Collections Manager Arrested for Defrauding Former Employer of over $1.3 MillionRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROILAND GOTIANGCO was arrested on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in connection with his embezzlement from the security and protection company (the “Company”) where he previously worked as the Head of Collections. Specifically, GOTIANGCO has been charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for falsifying customer refund requests and pocketing the refunds, and with wire fraud for accepting payments from certain Company customers in exchange for concealing the amounts those customers owed the Company. GOTIANGCO was arrested today in River Edge, New Jersey, and was presented before Magistrate Ona T. Wang in Manhattan federal court.
Manhattan U.S. Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Roiland Gotiangco abused his position and lined his own pockets to the tune of over $1.3 million. The means were sophisticated but the motive was simple: greed. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out fraud wherever it is found.”
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ROILAND GOTIANGCO, 38 of River Edge, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The wire fraud counts each carry a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed and a maximum fine of $250,000. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Jilan J. Kamal is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Flowood Man Sentenced under Project EJECT to over 5 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Trent Deundra Crump, 28, of Flowood, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III to 65 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Kirk Thielhorn, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Crump was also ordered to pay a $1,500.00 fine.
On April 4, 2017, officers with the Pearl Police Department responded to an accident on the eastbound ramp of the I-20 exit to Highway 49 North. As a result of a consent search, a semi-automatic pistol was found in Crump’s vehicle. Crump has a prior felony conviction for attempted illegal drug sales.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Murray.
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.
Florida Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Pension Benefit Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kessey Durand, 28, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison on a federal wire fraud charge stemming from his scheme attempting to steal over $107,000 in pension benefit payments intended for at least 21 victims/pension recipients.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Robert A. Westbrooks, Inspector General for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).
Durand pleaded guilty on March 22, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. Durand was also ordered to pay a restitution judgment in the amount of $44,299.44 to PBGC, which had reimbursed the pension recipients. Durand additionally agreed to forfeit $10,964.64 in previously seized funds and to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $39,663.45. Following his prison term, he will serve a 36-month term of supervised release, including 100 hours of community service.
According to a statement of offense and related conduct acknowledged by Durand, he worked at PBGC for less than two months in January and February 2018. PBGC, a federal corporation within the U.S. Department of Labor, provides pension benefits to participants in private-sector defined benefit pension plans after those plans are terminated. Through a web interface, pension recipients can maintain and update the electronic direct deposit (EDD) information for their pension benefits.
From January to June 2018, Durand executed his wire fraud scheme. Using personal identifying information he obtained while working at PBGC, Durand changed or attempted to change the payment information for at least 21 pension recipients – re-directing the pension payments to Metabank accounts Durand controlled. Durand had also used the victims’ personal information to create those fraudulent Metabank accounts. Soon after the payments, Durand cashed out the stolen funds.
For 10 victims, between January and May 2018, Durand succeeded in obtaining payments totaling $29,663.45. He attempted to divert a total of over $107,000, but for other victims, the diverted payments did not go through.
The case was investigated by Curtis Flood, Senior Special Agent, PBGC’s Office of Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Joss Nichols (of the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section) with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Diane Brashears.
Fitchburg Man Arrested on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was arrested this morning and charged in federal court in Worcester with possession and distribution of child pornography.
Ryan Decarolis, 26, was charged with the possession and distribution of child pornography. He will appear in federal court in Worcester this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, Decarolis used a social media account to communicate with an individual who was subsequently charged with production and distribution of child pornography. With the consent of that individual, an undercover federal agent assumed control of that individual’s account and began communicating in an undercover capacity with Decarolis. In January 2019, Decarolis transferred child pornography to the undercover officer, and in April 2019, Decarolis provided the undercover officer with access to his Dropbox account, which contained hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography.
Agents executed a search warrant at Decarolis’ Fitchburg residence, where they seized a tablet belonging to Decarolis containing videos depicting child pornography.
The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Possession of child pornography carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett from Lelling’s Worcester office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Convicts a Pinson Man on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal jury yesterday convicted a Pinson man of two counts of possession of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine powder, and cocaine base, also known as “crack” cocaine, with the intent to distribute, and one-count of possession of a gun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E, Town and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay Morris.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Deveonte Brown, of Pinson, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala. Brown will be sentenced on December 18, 2019.
“This type conviction is the second in two weeks in the Northern District of Alabama,” Town said. “We will not tolerate criminals who pose a clear threat to our District. Criminals who plague our streets with drugs and guns will continue to be targets for federal prosecution where the debt to society is full price. No discounts. No parole.”
“Dangerous criminals like Brown need to take notice that DEA and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate their criminal activities,” Morris said. “Drugs and guns are a deadly combination that often end with violent acts. Again, today’s verdict should send a resounding message to all drug dealers in Alabama. We will target you, investigate you, and ensure that you go to prison in order to make our communities safe.”
Evidence at trial proved that on October 6, 2017, Brown left a shoe box containing methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine powder, cocaine base, and a digital scale in his hotel room. Brown later returned to the hotel to retrieve the shoe box. Fultondale police officers attempted to confront Brown in his vehicle when he fled from police at a high rate of speed. The chase was called off due to Brown’s erratic driving. On October 12, 2017, Brown was found in the passenger seat of a white dodge charger in Pinson. Brown was sitting on a bag containing over $7,000 and a gun. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies found a bag with heroin and methamphetamine in the back seat of the car.
The penalty for possessing with intent to distribute is up to 20 years prison. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries an additional sentence of 5 years that cannot be run concurrently with the drug sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Blake Milner and Greg Dimler prosecuted the case.
Farmington Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Randy Stevens, 29, of Farmington, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2018, an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement officers advised that Stevens planned to travel from Rochester, New Hampshire to the Lawrence, Massachusetts area in a pickup truck to purchase a large quantity of fentanyl. Later the same day, law enforcement officers observed the truck travel from Rochester to a liquor store in Lawrence. After the vehicle returned to New Hampshire, it was stopped by the New Hampshire State Police for a traffic violation. Stevens was a passenger in the vehicle. After a narcotics detection dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the truck, 269.3 grams of fentanyl were recovered.
On the evening of June 2, 2018, a Kingston, New Hampshire police officer conducted a traffic stop of a motorcycle that Stevens was operating on Route 125. Stevens provided the officer with a false name and the officer later recovered 42 grams of fentanyl from the motorcycle.
Stevens is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2019.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking makes a lethal drug available for sale on the streets of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The results have been devastating to the people of this state. To stop this illegal trade, we will work closely with our law enforcement colleagues to identify, arrest, and prosecute interstate traffickers who bring this drug into the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
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Dublin Man Sentenced to 30 Months’ Imprisonment for Insider Trading in Relation to Securities of Ross Stores, Inc.Read the Press Release
OAKLAND – Saleem M. Khan was sentenced today to 30 months in prison related to his participation in an insider-trading conspiracy and related scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge.
Khan pleaded guilty to the charges on January 31, 2019. According to the plea agreement, Khan admitted that during the period July 2009 to October 2012, he obtained from a friend material, non-public information relating the sales and financial performance of Ross Stores, Inc. (“Ross”), a discount-clothing retailer then headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif. Khan’s friend worked in Ross’s finance department. Based on the material, non-public information, Khan entered into options contracts regarding Ross securities in advance of Ross’s monthly sales announcements. Khan used brokerage accounts held both in his name and in names of nominees. In his plea agreement, Khan admitted he compensated the Ross “tipper,” including by providing $130,000 to the tipper through third parties and by purchasing items on the tipper’s behalf. Khan also admitted he made profits in excess of $3,500,000 as a result of the scheme. At sentencing, the government presented evidence showing that Khan had made realized gains from trading in Ross option of as much as $8.2 million between July 2009 and October 2012.
On November 2, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Khan charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; nine counts of securities fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1348; and one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1505. Khan pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and securities fraud counts. The remaining count was dismissed at today’s sentencing hearing.
Khan was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pertaining to the same insider-trading scheme in the following civil case: Securities and Exchange Commission v. Saleem Khan et al., Civil Action No. 3:14-cv-02743 HSG (N.D. Cal., filed June 13, 2014). In September 2016, the court entered a final judgment in the civil case against Khan ordering him to pay more than $15 million in disgorgement, penalties, and prejudgment interest. In that case, Khan agreed to settle the charges against him without admitting or denying the allegations in the civil complaint, and he consented to the entry of final judgment.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam sentenced the defendant to a two-year period of supervised release. The Court scheduled a hearing on October 21, 2019, for the purpose of determining whether and to what extent Khan should be ordered to pay restitution to Ross. Khan may be ordered to pay attorney’s fees incurred by Ross resulting from the company’s participation in the government’s investigation and prosecution of Khan. The defendant will begin serving his prison term on November 4, 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle F. Waldinger and Karen Beausey are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Doctor Indicted and Arrested for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 31, 2019, a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Dr. Antonio REYES-VIZCARRONDO with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud. The defendant was arrested today, announced U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez of the District of Puerto Rico. The Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are in charge of the investigation.
According to the indictment, from in or about 2008 to through in or about 2015, Dr. Antonio REYES-VIZCARRONDO enriched himself by submitting or causing to be submitted false and fraudulent claims to health care benefits programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. The claims submitted by REYES-VIZCARRONDO were for services using procedural codes that he was aware he could not use pursuant to the contractual terms of his employment, services rendered that were, in fact, rendered by other physicians. Defendant concealed the submission of these false and fraudulent claims to health care benefit plans and the receipt and transfer of the resulting fraudulent proceeds, and diverted these fraudulently obtained proceeds for his personal use and benefit.
Dr. REYES-VIZCARRONDO submitted and/or caused to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid a total of 8,159 claims using prohibited medical codes, including prohibited codes for services not rendered, totaling $882,608.91. Dr. REYES-VIZCARRONDO is facing a health care fraud forfeiture allegation of $601,783.47, which constitutes the amount of money Medicare and Medicaid paid the defendant.
“The submission of false claims to health care benefit programs is unacceptable and a waste of taxpayer funds,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa E. Rodriguez- Vélez. “Today’s arrest shows the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners’ firm commitment to protect public funds and to safeguard the well-being of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.”
Pursuant to the charges, the defendant faces possible sentences of up to 10 years for the health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. This case was investigated by HHS-OIG and the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson.
Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
District of Columbia Physician Indicted for Alleged Role in $12.7 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A physician with a practice in the District of Columbia was charged in an indictment unsealed today for his role in an alleged $12.7 million health care fraud scheme to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare for complicated medical procedures he never provided.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia, Acting Assistant Director in Charge John P. Selleck of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Philadelphia Regional Office and District of Columbia's Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas made the announcement.
Frederick Gooding, 68, of Wilmington, Delaware, was charged in an indictment filed on July 30 in the District of Columbia with 11 counts of health care fraud. He was arrested yesterday morning, and made his initial appearance today. The case is assigned to the Honorable Tanya A. Chutkan, and a trial date has not yet been set.
According to the indictment, from January 2015 to August 2018, Gooding participated in a health care fraud scheme in which he submitted Medicare claims for injections and aspirations that were not medically necessary, not provided or both. Gooding allegedly knew that he was not providing such injections, as required by Medicare, and to disguise his scheme, Gooding allegedly falsified medical documents to make it appear as if his purported medical services billed to Medicare were medically necessary and provided. Gooding submitted or caused the submission of more than $12.7 million in claims to Medicare, the indictment alleges.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG and the D.C. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Trial Attorney Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
District Man Sentenced to 15 Months as Part of Law Enforcement’s Effort to Prosecute Offenders Who Escape from Halfway HousesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Freddie Curtis, 31, of Southeast Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison for escaping from the Hope Village Halfway House, located in Southeast, Washington, D.C.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Lamont Ruffin, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia (USMS), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Curtis pled guilty on April 24, 2019, before the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of escape from custody. Judge Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Curtis to 15 months of prison to be followed by one year of supervised release.
Curtis’ sentence highlights the ongoing efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office and the USMS to prosecute felony offenders who escape from halfway houses. These offenders are under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and are afforded the opportunity to complete the final portion of their sentences at halfway houses to assist their reentry into the community. In 2017, the USMS requested the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office with the investigation, prosecution, and disposition of an increased number of escape cases. To date, the United States Attorney’s Office has obtained dozens of felony convictions of defendants who either failed to report to or absconded from the Hope Village Halfway House.
According to the Government’s evidence, on September 7, 2017, Curtis was convicted of one count of Felony Bail Reform Act and one count of attempted distribution of cocaine, and was sentenced by a D.C. Superior Court judge to 26 months of prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. As part of the defendant’s sentence, he was permitted to complete the remainder of his sentence at Hope Village Halfway House.
On December 13, 2018, the defendant arrived at Hope Village to complete the remainder of his sentence. On January 15, 2019, Curtis signed out of the Hope Village facility, and although he was supposed to return later that day, he never returned. Curtis was arrested weeks later by MPD on new criminal charges.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Marshal Ruffin, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr. and Paralegal Katie Thomas of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
Detroit Man Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Detroit, Michigan man who possessed a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl for distribution in Cross Lanes, West Virginia was sentenced to 33 months in prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Stuart commended the investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). John Delaney Wilson, 36, previously plead guilty to possessing with intent to distribute heroin.
“Five felony drug convictions. Sadly, none of the previous four convictions taught the defendant to stop selling drugs,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We need to take note of those that repeatedly offend and ensure their opportunities to re-offend are extremely limited. The Detroit Express from Detroit to West Virginia is being shut down one Detroit drug dealer at a time.”
On November 27. 2018, MDENT detectives executed a search warrant on an apartment in Cross Lanes they believed was being utilized to distribute heroin. Upon entering the residence, a detective observed Wilson running to the bathroom of the apartment and attempting to flush suspected narcotics down the toilet. A detective recovered the item Wilson attempted to flush and testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Lab confirmed the substance to be heroin containing fentanyl. Detectives had conducted a controlled buy of heroin earlier that day from another individual seen entering the apartment in Cross Lanes and recovered the recorded buy money in Wilson’s pants pockets during the execution of the search warrant.
The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin. While imposing the sentence, the Court noted that Wilson had no connections to West Virginia and came to the area just to sale drugs. The Court further noted that this conviction was Wilson’s fifth felony drug conviction.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman.
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Delaware Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Violating Federal Registration and Notification Law in St. Lucie and Palm Beach CountiesRead the Press Release
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Gadyaces S. Serralta, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, announced that on July 31, 2019, Larry Cunningham, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, sitting in West Palm, to 21 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for failing to register as a sex offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 2250(a) (Case No. 19CR14009).
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), which was passed by Congress in 2006 as part of the Adam Walsh Act, provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States and seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs. In part, SORNA requires registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
According to the court record, including the agreed upon Factual Proffer in support of the defendant’s guilty plea, on July 15, 1988, Cunningham was convicted in the State of Delaware of First Degree Burglary, Third Degree Unlawful Sexual Intercourse and Second Degree Conspiracy. Because Cunningham was convicted of Third Degree Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, a qualifying sex offense, he was subject to SORNA's lifetime registration requirements, including that he notify authorities of any change of address. Beginning in August of 2009, Cunningham was informed of his registration obligations under SORNA and began to register as a “sex offender” in the State of Delaware. On April 19 and 20, 2016, Cunningham traveled from Delaware to Florida and failed to update his registration information. On April 16, 2016 and August 24, 2016, the Delaware State Police issued an arrest warrant for Cunningham on a Sex Offender Registration Violation. From April, 20, 2016, until on or around July 2018, Cunningham lived in St Lucie County and Palm Beach County, Florida. He failed to notify Delaware or Florida authorities and failed to register as a sex offender after his move to Florida, as required. On September 13, 2018, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force apprehended Cunningham, who had moved to Hendry County, Florida.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.
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 at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Dark Web Drug Dealer Sentenced to Five Year Prison TermRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Sam Bent, 33, of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont was sentenced today to a five-year period of incarceration upon his conviction for three counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances over the Dark Web. The prison term will be followed by a three-year period of supervised release. Sam Bent's sentence also included a $14,000 forfeiture money judgment. Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered Sam Bent to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on October 1, 2019.
Court records show that from 2017 until April 2018 Sam Bent conspired with his cousin Djeneba Bent, 27, of Concord, Vermont, to distribute cocaine, LSD, MDMA, and other controlled substances over dark web marketplaces that are accessible on the Internet only to persons using encryption techniques. He received payment for his drug sales in bitcoin. Sam Bent's efforts to convert that cryptocurrency into cash provided the basis for his conviction on three counts of money laundering.
Sam Bent operated the conspiracy out of the East Burke, Vermont, residence he shared with his co-conspirator cousin, Djeneba Bent, until Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service searched that residence in April 2018.
In imposing Sam Bent's sentence, Judge Crawford noted the need to deter others from engaging in the illegal online distribution of controlled substance. Judge Crawford also sentenced Djeneba Bent to a three-year term of probation, noting her lesser role in the conspiracy and other mitigating factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Vermont State Police.
Sam Bent was represented by Stephanie Greenlees, Esq. Djeneba Bent was represented by Assistant Federal Defender David McColgin, Esq. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Drescher was the prosecutor.
Dallas County Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Possession of a Firearm After Conviction of a FelonyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that James Thomas, a 28 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration for possession of a CZ, .40 caliber pistol.
On April 19, 2019, Thomas pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on December 19, 2019, a Selma, Alabama police officer conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Altima being driven by Thomas that had no tag displayed. As the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell marijuana coming from the car and could see passengers inside the vehicle with Thomas. The officer asked for and received Thomas’s driver’s license. Thomas said that he had just purchased the vehicle and did not have insurance. The officer returned to his vehicle to run a check on Thomas’ license and to wait for the additional officers he radioed for after he smelled marijuana. When the additional officers arrived, the original officer asked Thomas to exit his vehicle and he did. The officer next asked Thomas if there were any weapons inside the vehicle. Thomas responded saying that there were no weapons inside the vehicle and gave verbal consent to search it. During the search, police found a large cookie jar containing marijuana. Officers also found a CZ, model CZ75B, .40 caliber pistol under the front seat. Thomas knowingly possessed the firearm. An additional quantity of marijuana was seized from a passenger’s sock.
At the time of the traffic stop, Thomas has been previously convicted of a felony, namely, Manslaughter, on July 26, 2013, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-2012-000029. Because of this felony conviction, Thomas was prohibited from possessing a firearm. As part of his plea, Thomas forfeited any and all interest in the CZ, model CZ75B, .40 caliber pistol. He also forfeited any and all interest in a Taurus, model PT-25, .25 caliber pistol, seized from the vehicle he was driving on January 19, 2019.
Officers of the Selma, AL Police Department, deputies of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8 Years for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man was sentenced today to 8 years in prison for possessing firearms after having been convicted of a felony.
“Avery has a criminal history that includes over 50 convictions,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “His criminal record includes violence and felony convictions for drug distribution and possessing firearms. In short, Avery is a career criminal and is a prime example of the type of individual that presents a serious safety risk to our communities.”
According to court documents, Charles Avery, 45, who is prohibited from possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon, possessed a 9mm rifle in October 2018 and a .40 caliber firearm in November 2018. Avery sold the 9mm rifle to a confidential source in exchange for a cash payment, and the following month he also sold the .40 caliber firearm, which agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were able to acquire through the use of a confidential source. Additionally, when Avery was arrested on the firearms charges in March, he was in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine.
Due to Avery’s extensive criminal history, clear lack of respect for the law, and need to protect the community from his criminal conduct, the United States sought an upward variance sentence in this case, which was granted by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Kenneth A. Miller, Director of Public Safety, Petersburg Bureau of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-364.
Berkeley County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Donald Wayne Wilson, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Wilson, age 62, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Wilson, having been previously convicted of a felony, had a .357 caliber revolver in September 2018 in Berkeley County.
Wilson 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.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Auto Transport Company Owner Charged with Falsifying U.S. DOT Records, Fraud, ID Theft, Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – The owner of an East Providence automobile transport company was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence today on charges he falsified U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records, fraudulently obtained more than $400,000 from various financial institutions, utilized another person’s personal identifying information to continue to illegally operate his auto hauling business after being ordered to shut down by the FMCSA for safety violations, and took numerous evasive steps to avoid paying personal income taxes to the IRS.
Michael Chaves, 39, owner of CAT Inc., was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond on a ten-count information that charges him with falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, five-counts of bank fraud, two-counts of wire fraud, and tax evasion, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Kristina O'Connell, and Special Agent in Charge of the Region II U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Douglas Shoemaker.
It is alleged in court documents that Chaves attempted to influence and impede FMCSA investigations and administrative compliance reviews by falsifying U.S. DOT records. FMCSA inspections include a review of driver’s hours of service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualification, commercial drivers (CDL) license requirements, financial responsibilities, accidents, hazardous materials, and other safety and transportation records.
It is also alleged in court documents that Chaves operated various schemes to fraudulently obtain loans and funds from several banks and credit unions. It is alleged that Chaves fraudulently obtained loans from at least six different financial institutions totaling $332,000, by providing fraudulent earning statements, tax returns, motor vehicle purchase contracts, and Department of Motor Vehicle documents.
It is also alleged that Chaves employed a fraudulent check scheme by submitting 15 fraudulent checks he allegedly created to an automobile seller’s bank account from which he withdrew $64,453 and that he allegedly caused the fraudulent wire transfer between financial institutions of $72,864.28.
It is also alleged in court documents that Chaves received taxable income that he did not report to the Internal Revenue Service and that he took several steps to evade income taxes by, among other things, commingling business and personal expenses; using a check casher to divert third-party income; creating fraudulent third-party checks and cashing them using a check casher, rather than a bank; and maintaining approximately 15 different bank accounts using at least 5 different company names.
An information is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the East Providence Police Department and the National Crime Insurance Bureau.
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Atlanta Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Jose Antonio Castillo, 44, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 235 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI") in New Orleans. Castillo was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
In late 2017, HSI agents in Gulfport began investigating Castillo’s drug trafficking organization. Based on numerous sources of information, agents determined that Castillo was supplying at least three individuals on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with methamphetamine. Those three individuals would travel to Atlanta, Georgia, and meet Castillo at an automotive shop where he worked. Castillo would provide pound quantities of methamphetamine to these individuals in exchange for money. The individuals purchasing the methamphetamine from Castillo would then bring that meth back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and sell it.
In July 2018, local HSI agents traveled to Atlanta and arrested Castillo. At the time of his arrest, Castillo had over 800 grams of methamphetamine in his car. Agents also executed search warrants at Castillo’s home and the automotive shop.
To date, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi has prosecuted seven individuals involved in Castillo’s drug trafficking organization. All seven of those individuals have pled guilty.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Gulfport, Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta, and the Georgia Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.
Alton Man Sentenced to More Than 33 Years in Federal Prison for Live Streaming the Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
Travis J. Varble, 42, has been sentenced to more than 33 years in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for live streaming the sexual abuse of a child, United States Attorney
Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today.“It is difficult to imagine much that is more reprehensible than molesting a child, but Mr. Varble found a way to aggravate his deviance by live streaming the abuse over the internet for other depraved individuals to view. This case highlights the fact that child pornography isn’t a crime involving anonymous images on the internet. Rather, each image represents a real person, a child, being overpowered by an adult who knows better. And we will prosecute these cases as aggressively as the law allows,” said US Attorney Steve Weinhoeft.
Varble was caught after law enforcement officials in Auburn, Ala. conducting an unrelated investigation discovered a recorded video containing child pornography. The perpetrator and child victim depicted in the video were unidentified, so officers forwarded the evidence to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in an effort to identify the victim and/or assailant depicted in the video.NCMEC is supported by a number of law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), which is the criminal investigative arm of U.S. Immigration & Customs
Enforcement (ICE). ICE, through HSI, operates the National Child Victim Identification System
(NCVIS). The NCVIS uses advanced analytics to identify and rescue child victims as well as identify and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), investigated the video recovered in Auburn, Ala. and found evidence suggesting that the sexual abuse may have taken place in Southern Illinois. HSI investigators in St. Louis were assigned and determined that the perpetrator was Travis Varble, of
Alton, Ill. HSI also discovered a second video of Varble sexually abusing the same child. HSI learned that Varble live streamed his sexual abuse while the exploitation occurred, and that others viewing the live stream recorded the abuse and further distributed the recorded videos on the internet.Evidence at sentencing established that the victim was under the age of 12, and that Varble had been providing care to the child at the time when the abuse took place.
US Attorney Steve Weinhoeft said, “We praise the work done by Homeland Security Investigations
(HSI) and their National Child Victim Identification System (NCVIS) for their efforts on this particular case, and for their ongoing effort to rescue child victims and identify those who commit these awful crimes.”During the investigation, agents learned that Varble had been separately prosecuted in Madison
County, Ill., for sexually abusing same victim. Varble was sentenced to a 17-year prison sentence in Danville Correctional Center for predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13 in the state court prosecution.Varble was indicted federally in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Illinois on March 21, 2018, for two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Counts 1 and 2) and one count of Distribution of Child Pornography (Count 3). He pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019, and was sentenced on August 1, 2019, to 398 months in federal prison, which is to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release on each count.United States District Court Judge Staci M. Yandle handed down the sentence. The sentence she imposed was initially calculated at 444 months; however, Judge Yandle gave Varble credit for 46 months that he had already served in state prison for related criminal conduct, thereby resulting in a 398-month sentence. The federal prison term was ordered to run concurrently with the state sentence Varble is currently serving.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security
Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Afghanistan National and Former U.S. Military Interpreter Charged for Role in Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An Afghanistan citizen and United States Lawful Permanent Resident was indicted today for his role in a scheme to smuggle undocumented aliens from Afghanistan to the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael of HSI Newark, made the announcement.
Mujeeb Rahman Saify, 32, is an Afghanistan national who received a Special Immigrant Visa and became a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident in 2009, after serving as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Since 2009, Saify has resided in New York and Newark. Saify was charged in the District of New Jersey with conspiracy to smuggle aliens to the United States, encouraging and inducing alien smuggling, and attempting to bring aliens to the United States.
According to the indictment, between July 2016 through January 2017, Saify conspired with members of an Afghanistan and Pakistan-based smuggling network to smuggle two Afghanistan nationals to the United States. The Afghanistan nationals did not have prior authorization to enter the United States and one had been denied a U.S. visa. The indictment alleges that Saify made contact with the aliens and arranged meetings with the co-conspirators to discuss smuggling arrangements. Further, according to the indictment, Saify received payment, gave instructions to the aliens to facilitate the smuggling venture, and he used email and phone communications to facilitate and coordinate the criminal operation.
The case is being investigated by HSI Miami, with valuable assistance provided by HSI Newark and HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit and Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Identities, Targeting, and Exploitation Center (HITEC). 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 Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Senior Trial Counsel Margaret Ann Mahoney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of New Jersey.
An indictment is merely a formal accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Afghanistan National and Former U.S. Military Interpreter Charged for Role in Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Afghani citizen and United States Lawful Permanent Resident was indicted today by a federal grand jury for his role in a scheme to smuggle undocumented aliens from Afghanistan to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael of HSI Newark, made the announcement.
Mujeeb Rahman Saify, 32, is an Afghanistan national who received a Special Immigrant Visa and became a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident in 2009, after serving as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Since 2009, Saify has resided in New York and Newark. Saify was charged in the District of New Jersey with conspiracy to smuggle aliens to the United States, encouraging and inducing alien smuggling, and attempting to bring aliens to the United States. If convicted, Saify faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as forfeiture.
According to the indictment, between July 2016 through February 2017, Saify conspired with members of an Afghanistan and Pakistan-based smuggling network to smuggle two Afghanistan nationals to the United States. The Afghanistan nationals did not have prior authorization to enter the United States and one had been denied a U.S. visa. The indictment alleges that Saify made contact with the aliens and arranged meetings with the co-conspirators to discuss smuggling arrangements. Further, according to the indictment, Saify received payment, gave instructions to the aliens to facilitate the smuggling venture, and he used email and phone communications to facilitate and coordinate the criminal operation.
The case is being investigated by HSI Miami, with valuable assistance provided by HSI Newark and HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Identities, Targeting, and Exploitation Center (HITEC). 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 Senior Trial Counsel Margaret Ann Mahoney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of New Jersey, and Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the DOJ Criminal Division.
An indictment is merely a formal accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
1 August 2019
Zuni Pueblo Man Detained Pending Trial on Federal Manslaughter and Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Yesterday a U.S. Magistrate Judge sitting in Albuquerque, N.M., ordered Terry Demetri Tsethlikai, 26, a member of Zuni Pueblo who resides in Black Rock, N.M., detained pending trial on an indictment charging him with manslaughter and assault charges. Tsethlikai previously entered a not guilty plea to the three-count indictment on July 24, 2019.
A federal grand jury indicted Tsethlikai on June 27, 2019, and charged him with voluntary manslaughter, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault with a dangerous weapon. According to the indictment, Tsethlikai allegedly unlawfully killed a male victim during a sudden quarrel; assaulted a female victim, causing her to suffer serious bodily injury; and assaulted a second male victim with a knife. The indictment alleges that Tsethlikai committed the three offenses in Indian Country in McKinley County, N.M., on November 23, 2018.
Tsethlikai was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on July 22, 2019, at the Zuni Detention Center, where he was in custody on related tribal charges.
If convicted, Tsethlikai faces up to fifteen years of imprisonment on the manslaughter charge, and up to ten years of imprisonment on each of the two assault charges. Charges in indictments are only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti is prosecuting the case.
Warminster Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years for Cyber Threats Directed at Estranged WifeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Blair Strouse, 29, of Warminster, PA, was sentenced today to 30 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Petrese Tucker for charges related to cyberstalking his estranged wife.
In February 2015, the defendant began communicating online with a Brazilian citizen living in Brazil, who eventually travelled to the United States to work for a company that provided au pair services to families in the United States. When the position did not work out, the woman moved to Pennsylvania in August 2016 to be with the defendant, whom she married about one month later. Shortly thereafter, in November 2016, the defendant began mistreating the woman, and she moved out of their Warminster residence. In December 2016, the defendant began a relentless campaign to threaten and harass her and her family members who were still living in Brazil.
Over the course of several months, the defendant sent dozens of electronic communications from his home to his wife’s family members and associates – repeatedly threatening to kill and inflict serious injury upon his victims. He also offered to pay anyone willing to kill or injure his wife’s family members. Even after a judge in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas issued a protection from abuse order against the defendant in February 2017, he continued to send harassing messages and stated that his purpose in life was to make members of his estranged wife’s family suffer.
“Threats like these made in any manner, whether via electronic communications or otherwise, are taken very seriously by my Office,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “It’s not an excuse to say that you were just mouthing off; if you threaten serious bodily injury or even death over the internet, that is a federal crime with consequences.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Deputy United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.
Upstate Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty in Federal Court After Offering Cellmate $10,000 to Kill Prosecutor and WitnessRead the Press Release
Spartanburg, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Detric McGowan, aka “Fat,” 46, of Piedmont, has entered a guilty plea in federal court to participating in a drug conspiracy involving cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and tramadol; possessing a kilogram or more of heroin with the intent to distribute; conspiring to launder money; obstruction of justice/witness tampering; and obstruction of justice/retaliation. United States District Donald Coggins of Spartanburg accepted the guilty plea and will impose McGowan’s sentence after the United States Probation Office prepares a presentence report.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing showed that beginning as early as 2016, law enforcement in Greenwood County began to see a rise in the number of opioid-abuse related cases, drug overdose deaths, and overdose non-fatalities attributed particularly to heroin and fentanyl toxicity. Commonly found at the opioid overdose incidents and routinely seized by local law enforcement were counterfeit 30 milligram-size blue prescription pain pills laced with heroin and/or fentanyl and scored with a “V” on one side and “4812” on the other side.
Based on human intelligence, advanced electronic surveillance, the execution of search warrants, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement determined that McGowan, working with others, was a member of a drug trafficking organization operating in the Upstate of South Carolina, primarily in Laurens and Greenwood Counties, that was responsible for the distribution of in excess of $1 million dollars’ worth of heroin, cocaine, and/or fentanyl in the Upstate and elsewhere. Police seized in excess of 20 kilograms of heroin and approximately $1 million during the investigation. McGowan was indicted along with several co-conspirators in February 2019 and taken into custody.
Recently, McGowan began to discuss with a person who was incarcerated with him having his prosecutor and at least one witness killed. This person alerted law enforcement to the threat and an immediate investigation began. The evidence showed that McGowan had become frustrated with his legal position and desired his prosecutor and a witness killed. McGowan was recorded agreeing to pay the person $10,000 to kill the prosecutor and witness and providing information about how to find the targets. He also provided a telephone number and wrote down the name of the witness, so that upon release the cooperator could carry out the plan. McGowan confessed to the FBI of the plot that he had put in motion.
On the drug and obstruction counts, McGowan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life.
The drug case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Moorman, Deputy Criminal Chief for the Narcotics Unit, is prosecuting the drug case.
The threat was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jim May and Katie Stoughton are prosecuting the threat case, along with Assistant United States Attorney Jason Peavy, Deputy Criminal Chief for the White Collar Unit.
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US Attorney Weisman to Participate in National Night OutRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman will join law enforcement, community leaders, and residents on Tuesday, August 6th at Rhode Island events to celebrate the 36th annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event.
National Night Out is a community-building and crime prevention campaign that promotes collaborative law enforcement-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Thousands of communities nationwide will participate in neighborhood block parties, festivals, cookouts, safety demonstrations, seminars, and activities that heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and generate support for and participation in local anticrime efforts. Events such as these help to strengthen neighborhood spirit, police-community partnerships, and demonstrate a shared commitment for strong and safe communities.
U.S. Attorney Weisman will participate in events in Providence, Warwick, and Cranston. Events are scheduled in fourteen Rhode Island communities.
“Reducing violent crime and promoting safety in American communities is a major focus of the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys across the country,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “National Night Out is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds, the respect, and the camaraderie between neighbors and law enforcement officers. These relationships make our country stronger and safer.”
“For 36 years, National Night Out has rallied neighborhood residents, law enforcement and community leaders in the common goal of strengthening relationships to help prevent and deter crime in our local community. I am proud to stand with my colleagues and neighbors to support safer streets and work together to drive out crime,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.
Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., said, “The Providence Police Department embodies the Community Oriented Police concept in everything we do. We are always pleased to celebrate our relationships on this very important night in our community. We always enjoy teaming up with US Attorney Weisman and his team on initiatives important to our neighborhoods.”
Warwick Deputy Police Chief Mark Ullucci added, “On behalf of Mayor Joseph Solomon and Chief Rick Rathbun, I encourage all residents from every community to come out and celebrate National Night Out. This event not only enhances community safety, it puts faces with names and establishes new relationships with a simple handshake. National Night out is an amazing platform for simple conversation, reconnection, and a positive interaction between Police Officers and the constituents they represent.”
National Night Out organizers are expecting over 16,000 communities and 38 million people nationwide to take part in community events on August 6.
Information about National Night Out is available at www.natw.org
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Two Sentenced to Federal Prison for U-Visa FraudRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Healy announced today that Miguel Bautista-Manuel, age 41, of Mexico, and Travis Lee Nixon, age 29, of Greenville, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by attempting to fraudulently acquire “U-Visas” for Bautista-Manuel, Jose Pineda-Hernandez, age 38, of Honduras, and Oscar Pineda-Martinez, age 24, of Honduras. Senior United States District Court Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville sentenced Bautista-Manuel to 8.5 months in federal prison and Nixon to 12 months in federal prison. Pineda-Martinez was previously sentenced to time-served, and Pineda-Hernandez is awaiting sentencing.
U-Visas, so named from the statutory provision authorizing their issuance, are intended to provide lawful immigration status to victims of certain crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and who are willing to assist law enforcement in the prosecution of the criminal activity. The number of U-visas that can be issued each year is statutorily limited.
Facts presented in court established that Bautista-Manuel engaged Nixon to act as the perpetrator of a staged armed robbery of which Bautista-Manuel, Pineda-Hernandez, and Pineda-Martinez were the purported victims. The three reported the staged robbery to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, which devoted resources to investigating the robbery. Bautista-Manuel, Pineda-Hernandez, and Pineda-Martinez then used the purported armed robbery, and their assistance in its investigation, as the basis for fraudulent petitions filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services seeking U-Visas.
“U-Visas play an important role in helping victims of serious crimes obtain justice,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “Those who commit fraud to obtain them divert already limited law enforcement resources and deprive true victims with a sincere willingness to assist law enforcement of legal immigration benefits.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Healy added, “Fraud like that committed by these defendants not only delays the issuance of U-Visas to legitimate crime victims but also wastes limited law enforcement resources.”
Agents of Homeland Security Investigations in Greenville investigated the case, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David Stephens and Max Cauthen, both of the Greenville office, prosecuted the case.
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Two Fayetteville Men Sentenced to More Than 21 Years Combined in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute DrugsRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced today that Preston Baxter, age 27, and Dezi Castillo Jr., age 31, were sentenced for conspiring to distribute heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine in Northwest Arkansas. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in May 2018, detectives conducted two controlled drug purchases from Castillo. The second controlled drug purchase occurred at Baxter’s apartment in Springdale, Arkansas. Based on the two controlled drug purchases as well as an odor of marijuana that emitted from Baxter’s apartment, detectives executed a search warrant on June 1, 2018. The search resulted in the seizure of 87.05 grams of actual methamphetamine, a net weight of 21.039 grams of heroin, 15.8 grams of cocaine, and approximately 248 grams of marijuana. Additionally, the search revealed multiple weapons and approximately $2,075.00.
Baxter was sentenced on June 17, 2019, to 135 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Castillo was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Baxter and Castillo were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2018 and entered guilty pleas in January and April 2019, respectively.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Carly Marshall prosecuted the case for the United States.
Tucson Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Federal Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On July 29, 2019, Joseph Michael Vosberg, 59, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 18 months in prison for assisting in the preparation and filing of false federal income tax returns. Vosberg previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the filing of false federal tax returns. In his plea agreement, Vosberg admitted that he prepared and filed thirty-three federal tax returns that contained $457,187 in false deductions. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Vosberg to pay $202,243 in restitution to the United States Treasury for the tax loss relating to the offense.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The prosecution was handled by Jane L. Westby, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Third and Final Man Sentenced for Carjacking and Robbing a 7-11 StoreRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Ahmaad Ali, 24, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a federal crime of violence and robbery charges. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White.
According to court documents, on October 17, 2017, officers of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to 3880 Meramec after a report of a robbery and carjacking at that location. Specifically, the female victim was driving a 2002 Pontiac Aztek and had stopped at the curb to make a phone call. As she did, co-defendant Jevante Phillips approached the driver’s side door pointing a military style weapon at her. The victim opened the car door and attempted to hand over her purse; the co-defendant Jevante Phillips refused the purse, and ordered her out of the vehicle. The victim complied. As co-defendant Jevante Phillips entered the driver’s seat, Ali entered the passenger side of the vehicle. Ali and Phillips fled in the vehicle.
On October 18, 2017, Ali, along with co-defendants Jevante Phillips and Travion Lindsey -- all armed with firearms -- entered the 7-11 store located on Christy Avenue in South St. Louis. The three arrived at the 7-11 in the stolen Pontiac. They entered the store brandishing their firearms and wearing masks. Phillips walked around the counter and began stealing lottery tickets and money from the cash register. He was armed with a black long barrel pistol grip firearm. Ali jumped over the counter and began removing the cash register. He was armed with a black handgun, containing an extended magazine. Travion Lindsey stood guard at the door and eventually walked over the counter and assisted in removing currency. He was armed with a black handgun, which he held in his left hand the entire time. After two minutes inside of the store, the three ran out of the store taking liquor bottles, cigarettes, and candy on their way outside. The males then re-entered the Aztec and fled the area.
Co-defendants Lindsey and Phillips were previously sentenced to 108 and 132 months in prison, respectively.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and assisted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Texas Man Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Dallas has indicted a U.S. citizen for traveling to Syria and conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Omer Kuzu – a 23-year-old U.S. citizen born in Dallas, Texas – was detained overseas by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and recently transferred to FBI custody and returned to Texas. He made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez in the Northern District of Texas today.
“The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to holding accountable those who have left this country in order to join and support ISIS,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “As alleged in the court filings, Kuzu traveled overseas and joined ISIS as part of his conspiracy with others to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization. He was ultimately detained overseas, turned over to the FBI, and will now face justice in an American courtroom. We hope countries around the world, including our European allies and partners, will likewise take responsibility for their own citizens who traveled to support ISIS.”
“There are few things more concerning to me than young Americans being radicalized by terrorists’ violent and hateful agendas while in the U.S., and then traveling abroad in order to fight for groups like ISIS,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas. “I am grateful for the public servants who helped bring this defendant home to face justice in a U.S. courtroom.”
“Today’s announcement should serve as a warning to those who have traveled, or attempted to travel, to join ISIS that the FBI remains steadfast in ensuring they face justice” said Assistant Director Mike McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “I am proud of the work done by the men and women of the FBI’s Dallas JTTF and Counterterrorism Division, as well as that of our interagency and international partners, which resulted in Omer Kuzu returning to the United States to answer for the crimes he is accused of committing.”
“The FBI remains committed to protecting the United States from all terrorist threats,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Office. “We aggressively pursue anyone who pledges allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization and will hold them accountable for actively supporting their violent agenda.”
According to an earlier criminal complaint that was also unsealed today, Kuzu and his brother allegedly traveled from Houston, Texas to Istanbul, Turkey, in October 2014 to join ISIS.
According to the complaint, Kuzu confessed to agents that he and his brother were smuggled into Syria by ISIS. The defendant said he eventually ended up in Mosul, Iraq, where he received physical and weapons training from ISIS instructors.
He was then sent back to Syria, where he allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The terrorist group issued him a Chinese-made AK-47 and allegedly paid him $125 per month to repair communications equipment for frontline ISIS fighters, he told agents.
Kuzu claimed that, in approximately early 2019, as Kurdish forces advanced, he fled with the ISIS fighters and was ultimately captured, along with other ISIS members, by the SDF.
Indictments and criminal complaints are formal accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence, and Kuzu is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted of the charged offense, Kuzu faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation through the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Errin Martin and Tiffany Eggers and Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Dallas has indicted a U.S. citizen for traveling to Syria and conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Omer Kuzu – a 23-year-old U.S. citizen born in Dallas, Texas – was detained overseas by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and recently transferred to FBI custody and returned to Texas. He made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez in the Northern District of Texas today.
“The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to holding accountable those who have left this country in order to join and support ISIS,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “As alleged in the court filings, Kuzu traveled overseas and joined ISIS as part of his conspiracy with others to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization. He was ultimately detained overseas, turned over to the FBI, and will now face justice in an American courtroom. We hope countries around the world, including our European allies and partners, will likewise take responsibility for their own citizens who traveled to support ISIS.”
“There are few things more concerning to me than young Americans being radicalized by terrorists’ violent and hateful agendas while in the U.S., and then traveling abroad in order to fight for groups like ISIS,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas. “I am grateful for the public servants who helped bring this defendant home to face justice in a U.S. courtroom.”
“Today’s announcement should serve as a warning to those who have traveled, or attempted to travel, to join ISIS that the FBI remains steadfast in ensuring they face justice” said Assistant Director Mike McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “I am proud of the work done by the men and women of the FBI’s Dallas JTTF and Counterterrorism Division, as well as that of our interagency and international partners, which resulted in Omer Kuzu returning to the United States to answer for the crimes he is accused of committing.”
“The FBI remains committed to protecting the United States from all terrorist threats,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Office. “We aggressively pursue anyone who pledges allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization and will hold them accountable for actively supporting their violent agenda.”
According to an earlier criminal complaint that was also unsealed today, Kuzu and his brother allegedly traveled from Houston, Texas to Istanbul, Turkey, in October 2014 to join ISIS.
According to the complaint, Kuzu confessed to agents that he and his brother were smuggled into Syria by ISIS. The defendant said he eventually ended up in Mosul, Iraq, where he received physical and weapons training from ISIS instructors.
He was then sent back to Syria, where he allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The terrorist group issued him a Chinese-made AK-47 and allegedly paid him $125 per month to repair communications equipment for frontline ISIS fighters, he told agents.
Kuzu claimed that, in approximately early 2019, as Kurdish forces advanced, he fled with the ISIS fighters and was ultimately captured, along with other ISIS members, by the SDF.
Indictments and criminal complaints are formal accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence, and Kuzu is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted of the charged offense, Kuzu faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation through the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Errin Martin and Tiffany Eggers and Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Telemarketer and His Companies Agree to Pay $2.5 Million to Settle Allegations That They Operated Telemedicine Schemes Involving Illegal Kickbacks and Unnecessary PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez and U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey for the Eastern District of Tennessee announce that Scott Roix, together with several entities through which he ran his telemarketing business, including HealthRight, LLC; Health Savings Solutions, LLC; Vici Marketing, LLC; and Vici Marketing Group, LLC (hereinafter collectively referred to as “marketing companies”), have agreed to pay $2.5 million to resolve allegations that Roix and these marketing companies violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false claims to federal healthcare programs in connection with telemedicine health care fraud schemes.
The government alleged that: (1) Roix and his marketing companies fraudulently obtained insurance coverage information from consumers across the country to arrange for them to receive prescription pain creams and other similar products, (2) these prescriptions were not medically necessary and did not arise from a valid doctor-patient relationship, and (3) Roix and his marketing companies sold these prescriptions to pharmacies under the guise of marketing services, and the payments solicited were based on the volume and value of the prescriptions.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting TRICARE and other federal health care programs from improper practices that harm our nation’s healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “Those who generate prescriptions for profit and violate the Anti-Kickback Statute will be held accountable.”
“Prescriptions and other medical services resulting from kickbacks undermine the integrity of our health care system,” said U.S. Attorney Overbey. “Telemedicine is a valuable service for our citizens, but it must not be abused. We will take action against individuals who break the law to make a profit at the expense of our federal healthcare programs and ultimately at the expense of the American taxpayer.”
“Telemarketing fraud is a major threat to the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta. “Unscrupulous companies collect patient information then sell it to pharmacies and other medical providers in exchange for kickbacks.”
U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely, Eastern Area Field Office, stated, “The U.S. Postal Service spends billions of dollars per year in workers compensation-related costs, most of which are legitimate. However, when medical providers or companies choose to flout the rules and profit illegally, special agents with the USPS OIG will work with our law enforcement partners to hold them responsible. To report fraud or other criminal activity involving the Postal Service, contact our special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG.”
“This settlement demonstrates the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals do not unjustly enrich themselves by abusing the Department of Defense TRICARE program. DCIS protects the integrity of DoD programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse which diverts American taxpayer dollars intended to support our Warfighters,” said Special Agent in Charge, Cyndy Bruce, Southeast Field Office.
“Today’s settlement demonstrates the commitment of the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General and our law enforcement partners at the Department of Justice to ensuring that federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, are protected from fraud and abuse,” said Thomas W. South, the OPM Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. “I am immensely proud of the work our office has done to not only safeguard taxpayer dollars, but also protect the health and wellbeing of federal employees, annuitants, and their families.”
“This settlement emphasizes the collaborative effort by the FBI and our law enforcement partners to target those individuals who cheat the system and destroy public trust in our federally funded healthcare programs,” said Michael F. McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division.
The settlement resolves allegations that, beginning in September 2014, Health Savings Solutions, at the direction of Roix, received payments from Oldsmar Pharmacy that were based on the value and volume of prescriptions solicited by Health Savings Solutions in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act. These allegations were brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims, and to receive a share of any recovery. The qui tam case against Roix and Health Savings Solutions was filed by Jennifer Silva and Jessica Robertson and is captioned: United States ex rel. Silva, et al. v. Vici Marketing, LLC, et al., Middle District of Florida (Case No. 8:15-cv-444-T-33TGW). Ms. Silva and Ms. Robertson will receive $287,500 of the settlement.
The settlement also resolves allegations that, from June 2015 through October 2018, HealthRight, at the direction of Roix, received payments from Synergy Pharmacy that were based on the value and volume of prescriptions solicited by HealthRight on behalf of Synergy Pharmacy. These allegations were also the subject of a criminal case captioned United States v. Scott Roix, et al., Eastern District of Tennessee (Case No. 2:18-cr-133), in which Roix and HealthRight pleaded guilty in September 2018.
This investigation was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorneys’ Office of the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Middle District of Florida. It was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Dykes, Michael Kenneth, and Jessica Sievert, with support from HHS-OIG, OPM-OIG, USPS-OIG, DOD-DCIS, and FBI.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Street Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that David Navarrete, age 25, of Prosser, Washington, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty on March 21, 2019, to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge Lonny R. Suko sentenced Navarrete to a 96-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Navarrete, a Bell Garden Locos street gang member, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by a Prosser Police Department officer. The driver was arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. During the traffic stop, officers observed Navarrete making furtive movements in the center console area of the vehicle. After obtaining a warrant to search the truck, officers found a plastic bag containing over 200 grams of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in the center console. The plastic bag was submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Laboratory for analysis. The FBI determined the plastic bag contained traces of Navarrete’s DNA.
U.S. Attorney Hyslop said, “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington commends the law enforcement officers with the Prosser Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who investigated this case. Their seamless partnership resulted in the successful outcome of this matter. The sentence imposed by the court removes a drug trafficker from our streets and sends a clear message to others who may choose to engage in such criminal activity.”
This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for violent crime in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the Yakima Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosser Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Patrick J. Cashman, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Stockton Residents Sentenced for Scheme to Change Test Scores in DMV ComputersRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Stockton residents Donald Earl Freeman Jr., 26, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, and Juan Arturo Arroyo Gomez, 32, was sentenced to one year in prison, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
On December 14, 2017, Freeman and Arroyo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, identity fraud, and unauthorized access to a computer for accepting bribes to change test scores in the computers of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
“Individuals in positions of trust who exploit federal and state law for personal gain pose a significant threat to public safety and national security,” said Jerry C. Templet Jr, Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (San Francisco and Northern California). “HSI will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate these types of public corruption cases and bring those responsible to justice.”
According to court documents, Freeman was an employee at the DMV’s Tracy branch office and among other things, was responsible for processing applications for California commercial driver licenses (CDLs). Such CDLs permit the license holders to drive passenger buses or to operate tractor-trailer trucks on California and interstate highways, including, in some cases, hauling hazardous materials. Arroyo was a broker in the scheme and solicited truck driving students to pay him to assist them in obtaining driving permits.
According to court documents, in exchange for money from Arroyo and other brokers, Freeman accessed the DMV’s database in Sacramento to alter the records of applicants to fraudulently show that the applicants had passed the required written tests when, in truth, the applicants had not passed the tests or, at times, even taken the written tests. In so doing, this caused the DMV to issue permits to those drivers, as well as completed CDLs upon the applicants passing the behind-the-wheel driving tests.
According to their plea agreements, Freeman caused no less than 123 fraudulent permits to be issued, including at least 13 at the request of, and in exchange for payment from, Arroyo.
This case was the product of an investigation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles Office of Internal Affairs and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosanne L. Rust prosecuted the case.
Stockton Man and Woman Charged with Sex Trafficking of a ChildRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On July 25, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Stockton residents Lucious James Roy, 33, and Dawniel Santangelo, 41, with sex trafficking of a child, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. The indictment was unsealed today.
According to court documents, between September and November 2018, Roy recruited, enticed, transported, harbored, and maintained a minor victim, knowing that the minor would be caused to engage in prostitution. During that same time period, Roy and Santangelo also recruited, enticed, transported, harbored, and maintained a second minor victim, knowing that the second minor victim would also engage in prostitution.
Roy and Santangelo are currently in state custody in Oregon.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stockton Police Department, San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office, Medford (Oregon) Police Department, and Jackson County Oregon District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and Brian A. Fogerty are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of sex trafficking of a child, Roy and Santangelo face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
South Bend, Indiana Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - Joshua Banks, age 32, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Mr. Banks was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment followed by 1 year of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Mr. Banks was supposed to be serving a sentence at a community corrections facility in South Bend, but instead stole a pick up and drove it until it ran out of gas. Police saw Mr. Banks walking along a street with a backpack and a gas can. Police tried to approach him, but Mr. Banks fled. Mr. Banks was eventually caught and arrested. After retracing Mr. Banks’ route, police located the backpack and gas can as well as a stolen handgun. Banks has five felony convictions, at least four of which involved violence or threats of violence, and eleven misdemeanor convictions. Banks has four pending state criminal cases when he was sentenced.
This case was investigated by ATF with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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Second Garrard County Man Pleads Guilty in $15 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Warren Griffin, II, 50, of Lancaster, Kentucky pleaded guilty today, before Chief United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, to joining with Clarence Michel, Jr. in a $15 million tax fraud scheme. As part of this plea agreement, Griffin agreed to pay $2.8 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to his plea agreement, Griffin recruited and paid associates to open staffing companies and bank accounts, whose primary purpose was to hide from the IRS the fact that Griffin and Michel’s businesses had failed to pay $14,671,184 in federal payroll taxes. Griffin obtained $2,118,584 of that money. During this time, Griffin also underpaid his personal federal income taxes by $700,428.
Michel had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $19 million in restitution. Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2019. He faces up to 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the loss. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and William Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, jointly announced the plea.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dmitriy Slavin represented the United States.
Salvadoran Citizen Pleads Guilty to Transporting Illegal Alien Within the United StatesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Oscar A. Fajardo, 50, a legal permanent resident in the United States and a citizen of El Salvador, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to transporting an illegal alien within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
Fajardo is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Guirola on November 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and special assessments that could total $5,100. Fajardo also will face Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings and potential loss of his Legal Permanent Resident status.
On March 26, 2019, in Jackson County, Mississippi, a South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team agent stopped a vehicle on Interstate 10 eastbound for a traffic violation. The agent initiated the traffic stop while calling for back-up, and a U.S. Border Patrol Agent arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. The Border Patrol Agent made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Oscar A. Fajardo. The agent identified himself as a Border Patrol Agent, and learned that Mr. Fajardo is a legally admitted permanent resident alien to the United States, who is a citizen of El Salvador.
Fajardo and his passenger, Andres Barrientos-Flores, were traveling from Houston, Texas, to Virginia. Barrientos Flores, also a citizen of El Salvador, was determined to be an illegal alien to the United States who had been previously removed from the United States. Barrientos-Flores was separately prosecuted and pled guilty to unlawful return by an alien after removal.
U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Border Patrol, and by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Salina Pharmacist Sentenced for Diverting Rx DrugsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Salina pharmacist was sentenced today to serve 36 months on probation -- including 18 months house arrest -- for diverting prescription drugs containing opioids, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said. Her husband, who received the drugs from her, got the same sentence.
Kirsty C. Hartley, 29, Salina, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing a prescription painkiller outside the usual course of professional practice without a legitimate medical reason. Co-defendant Dalton R. Hartley, 29, Salina, Kan., pleaded guilty one count of acquiring controlled substances through fraud.
Kirsty Hartley admitted she unlawfully distributed approximately 21,289 tablets of hydrocodone with acetaminophen while working at a CVS Pharmacy in Salina. She gave the pills to her husband for him to consume or trade to others for marijuana.
In her plea agreement, Kirsty Hartley agreed to surrender her pharmacist’s license. Both defendants agreed to perform 200 hours of community service.
McAllister commended the Salina Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst for their work on the case.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Salvador Padilla III, 39, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley, to 10 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
On May 23, 2019, Padilla pleaded guilty. According to court documents, in October 2017, an investigation began into a Sacramento-area methamphetamine dealer based on reports that the dealer was distributing pound-level quantities of methamphetamine locally. In December 2017, an undercover purchase of one-pound methamphetamine was arranged from the dealer. Just before the purchase took place, Padilla left his home and drove to the dealer’s home, where he gave the dealer over a pound of methamphetamine, which the dealer then sold to the undercover agent.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with special assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
In May 2019, co-defendants Eberardo Mendez, and Jose Romero, 55, both of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Mendez and Romero will be sentenced in September and October 2019, respectively. They each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sacramento CEO Pleads Guilty to Pension EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — David L. Bonuccelli, 65, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to embezzlement from his employees’ pension plan, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Bonuccelli was the CEO of a real estate investment consulting and advisory firm in Sacramento that was a licensed real estate broker, registered investment advisor with the SEC, and which provided services to public pension funds, institutional investors, endowments, and individual investors. His firm sponsored a number of retirement benefit plans for its employees under ERISA, including a traditional pension over which Bonuccelli was the sole trustee. From 2011 through 2014, Bonuccelli made unauthorized transfers totaling $1,243,154 from the pension’s account, including transfers to his personal bank account to fund hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending and transfers to his own retirement plan. Bonuccelli later created paperwork purporting to document these transfers as “loans,” and made false statements on annual forms filed with the Department of Labor about the pension plan’s balance and his transfers.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Yelovich and Miriam R. Hinman are prosecuting the case.
Bonuccelli is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Jan. 16, 2020. Bonuccelli faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Rocklin Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cameron Fox, 35, of Rocklin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 20 years in prison for distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Fox met a minor victim online for sexual purposes and after meeting her in person, he sent her child pornography.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosanne Rust and Michael D. Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to his role in the prostitution of a child at hotels across Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
According to court documents, Timothy Gary Williams, 29, met 17-year-old Jane Doe in October 2018 and the two began dating. Shortly thereafter, Williams and Jane Doe discussed Jane Doe engaging in commercial sex to earn money for the couple. Jane Doe then began regularly engaging in commercial sex acts at hotels in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Williams rented hotel rooms for her to use with clients, provided her with condoms, acted as security during her commercial sex appointments, and shared the proceeds from her commercial sex acts. Williams and Jane Doe also frequently used drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, together. On February 6, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received information indicating that Jane Doe was being forced to engage in commercial sex by Williams, and that Williams had physically abused Jane Doe, including assaulting her with a metal rod. When Jane Doe was recovered by law enforcement at a hotel in Virginia Beach on February 7, she confirmed that Williams had been violent with her, reporting that he had assaulted her with objects, strangled her, bitten her, and threatened her with violence.
Williams pleaded guilty to multiple counts of using facilities in interstate commerce to promote and manage the sex trafficking of a child and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on November 4. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-107.
Pittsburgh Woman Pleads Guilty in Crack Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pa, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Joann Williams, 44, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from November 2015 to May 2016, Williams conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Joann Williams. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Ambridge Police Department, New Brighton Police Department, Beaver Police Department, Aliquippa Police Department, Moon Township Police Department, Wilkinsburg Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. 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.
Physician Pleads Guilty to Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland –Michael Nana Baako, age 50, a native of Ghana residing in Fulton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge of passport fraud. Baako was a physician who practiced in hospitals in Maryland and maintained his own clinic, Biazo Healthcare.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Edwin Guard of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Washington Field Office.
According to the plea agreement, since at least 2001, Baako and R.A.A. have lived together in Howard County, Maryland and are the parents of two minor children. Baako and R.A.A. married in Ghana in 1995. Months later, Baako entered the United States legally after obtaining a visitor’s visa. In 1996, Baako applied for certification of his Ghanian medical education in the United States. In 1998, Baako married a U.S. citizen in Virginia, who filed a petition for Baako to become a naturalized United States citizen three weeks later. The petition was denied in 2000 after immigration officials concluded that Baako’s marriage was a “sham” marriage entered into for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. In 2001, Baako was licensed to practice in Maryland as a physician.
On November 29, 2005, Baako registered to vote in Maryland, swearing that he was a United States citizen, and subsequently voted in 10 federal elections between November 7, 2006 and November 6, 2018.
On December 15, 2006, Baako obtained a new Ghanaian passport in Accra, Ghana, as a Ghanaian national. On April 17, 2007, and September 16, 2009, respectively, Baako and R.A.A. submitted passport applications on behalf of their minor children, in which Baako falsely claimed that he was a citizen of the United States, born in Hillsborough, North Carolina. On April 22, 2008, Baako submitted an application for a United States passport for himself in which he falsely claimed that he was born in North Carolina, as were both of his parents. As part of his passport application, Baako provided an affidavit purporting to be from a family friend, falsely stating that this person was one of the first people to see Baako after his birth and was present at a subsequent naming and baptism ceremony for Baako at a Hillsborough, North Carolina church. Baako was issued a U.S. passport on April 29, 2008, which he used for international travel on several occasions. That passport included the false information that Baako was a citizen of the United States born in North Carolina. On July 31, 2012, Baako and R.A.A. submitted a passport renewal application on behalf of their first child, in which Baako falsely stated that he was a citizen of the United States. On February 20, 2018, Baako filed a passport renewal application for his own passport, again falsely stating that he was a U.S. citizen born in North Carolina. Baako was interviewed by Department of State officials on April 22, 2010, and on June 12, 2018. In both interviews Baako falsely stated that he was born in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
On May 8, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Baako’s home and located his Ghanaian passport and plans for the three-bedroom home Baako purchased in Accra, Ghana in August 2012. Investigators also obtained a number of documents related to Baako’s ongoing efforts to fraudulently obtain documentation establishing that he was a U.S. citizen born in North Carolina, including: a false affidavit purporting to be sworn by the Defendant’s mother—claiming that he was born in North Carolina; a page from family Bible falsely stating it had been presented to the Defendant at his birth in North Carolina; a falsified baptism certificate purporting to be from a North Carolina church—certifying that the defendant was born in North Carolina; and several draft petitions to the Circuit Court for Howard County seeking to fraudulently establish the fact of his birth in North Carolina.
Baako has been ordered detained in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest on May 8, 2019. U.S. District Judge Debroah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for September 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the State Department’s DSS for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Daniel A. Loveland, who are prosecuting the case.
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Pearland Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 23-year-old man has admitted he recruited a high school girl and trafficked her for sex, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
On several consecutive weekends in late February and early March 2016, Dihlon Lee Davis used online advertisements for the victim’s services and rented hotel rooms where some of the commercial sex acts occurred.
The victim attended Manvel high school during the week and engaged in the sexual activity on the weekends.
On multiple occasions, Davis provided illegal drugs to the minor victim. He used the money the victim earned to purchase the drugs which he consumed with his girlfriend - also a minor - and the victim.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. accepted the plea and set sentencing for Oct. 9, 2019. At that time, Davis faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 fine. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and FBI – Texas City, both part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), conducted the investigation.
HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, DPS, Coast Guard and sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties. Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly A. Leo are prosecuting the case.
Parkersburg Man Convicted at Trial of Child Pornography Crimes and Witness Tampering Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Daniel Roy Mace, 37, of Parkersburg, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for child pornography and witness tampering charges. Mace was previously convicted by a federal jury on 15 felony charges: 12 counts of receipt of child pornography on dates between June 24 and August 3, 2016; one count of distribution of child pornography; one count possession of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors; and one count of witness tampering. He will also be placed on supervised release for a term of 15 years following his release from prison, and will be required to register as a sex offender.
“We’re in the business of protecting our children,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Predators like Mace belong behind bars. I applaud the hard work of law enforcement and my prosecutors in this case.”
On August 1, 2016, law enforcement with the WVSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began a proactive investigation into local distributors of child pornography. After identifying a potential target in the Parkersburg area, a detective downloaded eight videos of child pornography from a user located in Parkersburg over a peer-to-peer file sharing network. On August 4, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence from which the child pornography was being shared. Law enforcement discovered Mace’s laptop in his bedroom, actively downloading child pornography from the same file-sharing services where law enforcement had downloaded the eight videos of child pornography. Upon examining Mace’s computer, law enforcement discovered over 80 videos of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Among the videos were all eight videos of child pornography that law enforcement had downloaded.
After Mace was arrested on a federal indictment charging him with numerous child pornography offenses, Mace began attempting to persuade a witness to provide a false alibi for him during testimony before a federal grand jury in January 2019. The jail calls between Mace and the witness were recorded.
The West Virginia State Police, the Parkersburg Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crime Against Children (VCAC) Task Force conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. handed down the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Alex Hamner handled the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Owner of Two South Florida Tax Preparation Businesses Sentenced to 15 Years for Running Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
West Palm Beach resident and owner of Investment Equity Development, Inc. and Jacob G. Jeune, P.A., located in Miami-Dade County, was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service over a period of five years.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Tamara Jeune, a/k/a “Tamara Voltaire”, 46, was the owner and operator of at least two tax preparation businesses. As part of her scheme, Jeune, who was previously convicted of tax preparation fraud, fraudulently obtained Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) and Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) in the names of other individuals who acted as “straw” EFIN and PTIN holders. Jeune the used those EFINs and PTINs to file fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS using stolen personal identifying information (PII) of her clients and other individuals without their authorization and knowledge. These tax returns contained false wages, employment information, expenses, and deductions. The defendant also stole the PII of minors, who were at times dependents of her clients, and then submitted false tax returns in the minors’ names. As part of her scheme, Jeune directed the IRS to send the tax refund money associated with the false and fraudulent federal income tax returns to bank accounts she controlled. She then used the money to pay for her personal expenses. As a result of Jeune’s actions, the IRS suffered a loss in excess of $700,000.
The Court sentenced Jeune to 15 years in prison after considering that she: (1) was the leader and organizer of this multi-year tax fraud scheme; (2) defrauded at least more than 10 victims; (3) used sophisticated means by taking a diverse number of steps, including using nominees, to conceal her fraud; (4) produced or trafficked in authorized access devices; (5) abused the trust of the taxpayers who went to her to prepare their taxes; and (6) obstructed or impeded the administration of justice by providing fabricated documents and instructing others to lie during an IRS civil audit.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CI in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Cruz and Yisel Valdes.
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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Overdose Death from Fentanyl-Laced Pills Sends Drug Dealer to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Hector Medina, age 37, of Kennewick, Washington, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl resulting in the Death of another person. United States District Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr. sentenced Medina to a 15-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Medina was distributing Fentanyl-laced pills, commonly referred to as “Fake Oxy’s” or “Mexi-pills,” and other illegal narcotics into the local community. Fentanyl-laced pills are illegally manufactured most commonly in Mexico and have found their way into this community and others in devastating numbers. Fentanyl is a 100 times more potent than morphine and hundreds of times more potent than street-level Heroin. Through an investigation by the Kennewick Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets FBI Task Force, Medina was confirmed to be the source of supply for the Fentanyl-laced pills that were distributed to a father of two small children who subsequently overdosed and died on October 26, 2017. The investigation into Medina culminated with a federal indictment and arrest in May 2018. Judge Mendoza commented about Medina’s direct role in poisoning the local community and in this case, directly causing the victim’s death. Noting there were no words of comfort that could be provided to the victim’s family, Judge Mendoza advised Medina his sole job now was to atone for his conduct.
United States Attorney Hyslop said, “The sentence imposed today is a stern warning to individuals who may distribute Fentanyl-laced pills. Prosecuting Opioid/Fentanyl-related cases, particularly one where an overdose occurred, is a top priority for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. Fentanyl-laced pills are a dangerous threat to our community and a major contributing factor to the opioid epidemic, an epidemic that has taken approximately 70,000 lives in recent years. The successful outcome of this case was a direct result of the exceptional cooperation between the FBI and its local counterparts.”
Today’s enforcement action is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of drug-related crimes.
This OCDETF investigation was conducted the Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force, which is compromised of the FBI, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Kennewick Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pasco Police Department and Washington Department of Corrections were the lead investigative agency in this matter after referral from the Kennewick Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Stephanie Van Marter, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Operation Mountaineer Highway Update: Fayette County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Fayette County man was sentenced in federal court on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, more than 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, and a quantity of oxycodone. Eric Coleman, 21, of Scarbro, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department.
“Every dad should be a good role model to their kid,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Sadly, this new felon’s dad wasn’t a role model at all, but rather a drug dealer. Now this 21-year-old is a felon with a two year prison sentence and tough prospects for the future. It’s a terrible tale and it happens too often. But the lack of a role model and a tough childhood is no excuse for criminal behavior. If you break the law, I’m going to prosecute you regardless of how sad your tale is or how tough your childhood was.”
At an earlier hearing, it was established that during the time period between October 2017, and July 31, 2018, Coleman assisted his father and other members of a drug trafficking organization in distributing oxycodone, heroin, and methamphetamine. Coleman previously admitted to law enforcement that he was assisting his father in distributing quantities of oxycodone in Fayette County. It was further established that during this time period, Coleman also distributed over 100 grams of heroin, and more than 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Most of the distributions of controlled substances occurred at the Coleman’s residence in Scarbro. The prosecution of Coleman culminated from a joint investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies known as Mountaineer Highway.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew J. Tessman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
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