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30 July 2019
Violent Shooter Sentenced to 204 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Travis Sanders, 40, has been sentenced to 204 months imprisonment as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on January 23, 2018, Sanders and a male victim were involved in a verbal altercation near Latham Avenue and Lucy Street, when Sanders threatened to kill the victim. Sanders then asked an unknown male to bring him his gun. The unknown male brought a gun to Sanders and he fired shots at the victim. The victim ran away to a nearby MLGW employee working in the area who drove him away from the scene. The MLGW employee called police and the victim escaped uninjured.
Memphis Police responded to the scene and recovered an Intratec 9mm caliber pistol from an abandoned apartment across the street. The firearm was loaded with five rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. This was the same firearm described by the victim. Officers also recovered three 9mm spent shell casings on the scene.
While Sanders was in custody at the Shelby County Jail, he attempted to get others to dissuade the shooting victim from coming to court for the state court proceedings.
The defendant’s lengthy prior criminal history includes: two convictions for aggravated assault; one conviction for coercion of a witness; one conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to sell; one conviction for being felon in possession of a firearm, and multiple misdemeanor convictions. As a result of these prior felony convictions, Sanders was determined by the Court to be an Armed Career Criminal, and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D.Michael Dunavant said, "This is precisely the type of violent gun offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis. This brazen and recidivist violent behavior must be met with swift and significant punishment. As a result of this conviction and 17 year sentence, the citizens of Memphis and West Tennessee are safer. Gun Crime is Max Time."
On January 18, 2019, the defendant pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On July 29, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Sanders to 204 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
U.S. Attorney Marques Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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U.S. Postal Service Employee Pleads Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee pleaded guilty today to embezzling over $20,000 in payments from customers for money orders and stamps.
Austin Correia, 22, of New Bedford, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Nov. 20, 2019. In June 2019, Correia was charged by indictment and arrested.
Correia began working for USPS at the end of 2017 as a Sales & Service Distribution Associate at both the Mount Pleasant and Coffin Station Post Offices in New Bedford. In this role, Correia had the ability to issue foreign and domestic postal money orders and sell stamps to customers. Correia engaged in a scheme in which he received a cash payment from customers to purchase stamps or money orders, but voided out the valid transactions to make it appear as if they did not occur. Correia provided the customer with the USPS product, but took the cash payment for his own personal use either by pocketing the money or by purchasing gift cards sold at the Post Office. In total, Correia embezzled over $20,000 from USPS.
The charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of two years of probation with the first six months to be served in home confinement, 25 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $20,584. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Lelling’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Charges Monroe Prior Sex Felon with Transporting A Minor to West Virginia for Criminal Sexual Activity and with Possession of A GunRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of EDUARDO TALENTINO. TALENTINO is charged with transporting a minor from Monroe, New York, to West Virginia with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with the minor. TALENTINO, who was convicted of Rape of a Child in 1997 in Massachusetts, is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. TALENTINO was arrested yesterday and was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy in White Plains federal court and was detained without bail.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them. As today’s arrest shows, we will use every tool available to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who allegedly sexually exploit children.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As alleged, Talentino sexually abused a minor child, one who had been entrusted to his care, in the most horrifying way imaginable. While today's arrest certainly isn't his first run-in with the law, it is the first time he's been charged with a federal crime – one that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. There's no excuse for this type of behavior. The FBI is asking victims in this and all cases to come forward with information that could help put child sexual predators behind bars. The number to call is 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
According to the Complaint[1] unsealed today in White Plains federal court:
From in or about June 22, 2018, to June 25, 2018, TALENTINO transported a 16-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) from Monroe, New York, to West Virginia, where he engaged, and attempted to engage, in illegal sexual activity with Victim-1.
From in or about August 2018 up to and including in or about February 2019, TALENTINO possessed a Colt Pocket Positive .32 caliber revolver at his home in Monroe, New York.
On or about February 8, 2019, TALENTINO was arrested and charged in Orange County with unauthorized practice of a profession.
In or about August 1997, TALENTINO was convicted in Massachusetts of Rape of a Child, a felony, and sentenced to a prison term of four years and one day.
If you have information to report, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 800-CALL-FBI.
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TALENTINO, 54, of Monroe, New York, is charged with one count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences 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 efforts of the FBI, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, the Orange County Child Abuse Unit, Orange County Child Protective Services, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in connection with this investigation. Mr. Berman also thanked the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two Former Auburn Bank Employees Plead Guilty to Embezzling FundsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, AL – Two people have pleaded guilty for their involvement in an embezzlement scheme involving Auburn Bank in Notasulga, Alabama, announced Louis V. Franklin, Sr., U.S Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
Randi Lynn Carleton, 39, of Dadeville, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to embezzling bank funds, and Leslie Fountain, 34, of Notasulga, Alabama, entered a guilty plea on July 11, 2019 to the same charge. Both defendants worked at the Notasulga branch of Auburn Bank where Carleton was the branch manager and Fountain was the assistant branch manager. The scheme started with check kiting, or floating checks, and then progressed over time to embezzling cash from Auburn Bank. In September 2018, Auburn Bank conducted an audit on their Notasulga Branch and became aware of the defendants’ fraudulent activity despite their attempts to cover-up the scheme. Court records indicate that they jointly embezzled approximately $379,250 in cash.
Carleton and Fountain each face a maximum prison sentence of 30 years as well as significant fines and restitution for the amount stolen. There is no parole in the federal system. The defendants will be sentenced within the next few months.
U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their assistance in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley Bodiford and Eric Counts.
Two Duluth Men Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking A 15-Year-OldRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the sentencing of ANDRE MATHIS, JR., a/k/a Isaac Brown, 33, AMOS KIPROP KOECH, 44, for sex trafficking a 15-year-old minor. MATHIS, who pleaded guilty on January 10, 2019, was sentenced to 292 months in prison. KOECH, who was convicted by a federal jury on January 22, 2019, was sentenced to 130 months in prison. Both defendants were sentenced yesterday before Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court in Duluth, Minnesota.
“The significant prison sentences handed down are a just punishment for the heinous crimes these individuals committed against a vulnerable young girl,” said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald. “This is a sad, but very real, example of how child sex trafficking can occur in any city or community. My office, the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out this type of predatory conduct.”
According to evidence presented at trial and admissions made as part of MATHIS’s guilty plea, from June 17 through July 7, 2017, MATHIS recruited and solicited a 15-year-old minor to engage in commercial sex. MATHIS physically and sexually abused the minor, he provided her with street drugs and alcohol, told her how she could make money in exchange for sex, and promised her clothes and a better life. MATHIS took sexually suggestive photographs of the minor, which he used to attract prospective commercial sex buyers. MATHIS also monitored the minor’s communication with her parents and instructed her to tell them that everything was fine.
According to evidence presented at trial and admissions made as part of MATHIS’s guilty plea, MATHIS sold the minor to KOECH on one or more occasions. As part of the conspiracy to traffic the minor, MATHIS and KOECH negotiated with each other regarding the amount MATHIS would charge for a commercial sex act with the minor. The trafficking ended when law enforcement found the minor hidden in a bedroom closet while MATHIS was also present in the apartment.
MATHIS was also charged in St. Louis County with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which he pleaded guilty to as part of the global plea agreement filed with the U.S. District Court.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Duluth Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura M. Provinzino prosecuted the case with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Holets.
Defendant Information:
ANDRE MATHIS, JR., a/k/a Isaac Brown, 33
Duluth, Minn.
Convicted:
- Sex trafficking of a minor, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 292 months in prison
- 20 years of supervised release
- Restitution ordered – amount to be determined at a later date
AMOS KIPROP KOECH, 44
Duluth, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, 1 count
- Sex trafficking of a minor, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 130 months in prison
- 10 years of supervised release
- Restitution ordered – amount to be determined at a later date
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Trail, Oregon Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Serial Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—An Oregon couple was sentenced today to federal prison for robbing six banks in four Southern Oregon counties over a two month period.
John Steven Shepard, 38, of Trail, Oregon, was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. Kimberly Ann Blank, 39, also of Trail, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on January 27, 2017, Shepard robbed the Evergreen Bank in Rogue River, Oregon. He fled with $1,950 in a vehicle driven by Blank. During the robbery, Shepard wore a cowboy hat and a jacket, the first of many disguises.
Five days later, Shepard robbed the Key Bank in Grants Pass, Oregon wearing a wig, glasses and a hat. He left the bank with $10,145 as a security dye pack hidden in the money spewed a cloud of red smoke. A witness said it looked like a road flare had gone off in Shepard’s pocket. Again, he fled in a vehicle driven by Blank.
Between February 7 and March 30, 2017, Shepard, wearing various disguises, robbed four additional banks with Blank’s assistance: Banner Banks in Riddle and Cottage Grove Oregon, a Bank of the Cascades in Medford, Oregon, and an Umpqua Bank in Ashland, Oregon.
After their final robbery, police located Blank in a vehicle matching the description of the getaway vehicle used in previous robberies. Shepard was located nearby in a second vehicle. Both were released while police obtained search warrants for Blank’s car and the couple’s residence in Trail. On April 4, 2017, Shepard and Blank were arrested in Fortuna, California.
During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Ann L. Aiken ordered Shepard and Blank each to pay $31,045 in restitution. On April 17, 2019, Shepard and Blank each pleaded guilty to multiple counts of bank robbery.
This case was investigated by the FBI working together with the City of Medford, Grants Pass, Cottage Grove, Ashland and Rogue River Police Departments and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, working together with the Josephine and Jackson County District Attorney’s Offices.
Thirteenth Member of “Manche Boy Mafia” Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Tax and Identity Theft CrimesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Aaron Troupe (30, Tampa) to five years and one month in federal prison for theft of government property and aggravated identity theft stemming from the filing of fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities. The court also ordered Troupe to pay $449,529.97 in restitution to the IRS.
Troupe had pleaded guilty on April 17, 2019.
According to court documents, from 2012 through 2018, Troupe, who was a member of the “Manche Boy Mafia” or “MBM” gang, engaged in stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) and credit card fraud. In August 2016, a property cleaning service unearthed a laptop, notebooks containing personally identifiable information (PII), and firearms from the backyard of a rental property in Tampa that had been abandoned by the most recent tenants. The cleaning service turned the abandoned property over to the Tampa Police Department. Further investigation determined that one of the ledgers contained information, including fingerprints and addresses, linked to Troupe. Troupe also had debit cards issued in his name that had been loaded with fraudulently obtained federal income tax refunds.
The IRS determined that for the tax years 2011-2013, fraudulent tax returns associated with Troupe were filed claiming refunds totaling $1,295,583, which resulted in the IRS paying out refunds totaling approximately $449,529.97.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.
Summerset Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Summerset, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography was sentenced on July 26, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Kevin Michael Dawson, age 49, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stemmed from Dawson downloading images of child pornography from the internet and printing them in March 2018 at Summerset.
The investigation was conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted the case.
Dawson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Steuben County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Christopher Kelly, 56, of Painted Post, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in April 2018, an undercover FBI Special Agent determined that a computer at the defendant’s address in Painted Post was sharing child pornography. A federal search warrant was executed in November 2018 during which investigators seized several of Kelly’s digital devices. A forensic analysis revealed that the devices contained approximately 251 images and five videos containing child pornography, some of which involved prepubescent minors, as well as children being subjected to violence.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Corning Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2019, before Judge Wolford.
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Serial Law Enforcement Impersonator Sentenced to Ten Years for Fraud and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced Modesto Gonzalez, III, to ten years in federal prison for defrauding numerous individuals out of more than of $300,000 by impersonating a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and DEA Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ordered that Gonzalez pay total restitution to his victims in the amount of approximately $307,000; and, be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
Court documents showed that 47-year-old Gonzalez of Caldwell County, TX, falsely told illegal aliens that he was a DEA agent and that he could assist them in obtaining immigration status in the U.S. Court filings indicate that Gonzalez victimized numerous individuals in the Austin area, as well as a group of approximately 20 individuals from the Chicago, IL, area. The illegal aliens paid Gonzalez thousands of dollars each.
Gonzalez also falsely told U.S. citizens and others lawfully present in the U.S. that he would sell them property seized by the DEA, including earth-moving equipment. Gonzalez received tens of thousands of dollars based on those fraudulent statements.
In fact, Gonzalez was not a DEA agent, had no ability to provide immigration assistance, and had no ability to sell DEA-seized equipment. Court records also showed that Gonzalez has previously been convicted twice in federal court for impersonating law enforcement, and once in state court for impersonation-based theft.
Numerous victims of Gonzalez’s fraud stated to the Court at sentencing that Gonzalez told them that they and their children would be deported if they did not pay Gonzalez thousands of dollars each. These victims also told the Court that Gonzalez later charged them for “taxes” that Gonzalez said they had to pay him.
“This prosecution is an example of how we seek justice for all victims of crime, including migrants who are in the country illegally. No one deserves to be defrauded,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.
On March 21, 2019, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Yeakel sentenced Gonzalez to ten years imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and five years imprisonment on the gun charge to run concurrently. Judge Yeakel also ordered Gonzalez to forfeit three firearms that were recovered from his home during the execution of a search warrant in January 2018. Gonzalez has remained in custody since being arrested during the search warrant execution.
DEA agents investigated this case with assistance from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance during execution of the search warrant. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Buie, Gabriel Cohen, and Michael Galdo prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Sacramento Man Convicted of Assaulting U.S. Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Monday, a federal jury found Morrey Selck, 55, guilty of assaulting a federal employee, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on March 17, 2017, Selck assaulted a letter carrier who was delivering mail on his assigned route. Selck sprayed him in the face with dog repellent, followed him into the street, knocking the mail and a phone from his hands. Selck then kicked those items down the street. A neighbor’s surveillance camera captured the entire incident.
San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Rafael Nunez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service stated, “Postal Inspectors worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to arrest and prosecute the individual responsible for assaulting the U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier in Sacramento. Safety of Postal Service employees is our top priority.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and Quinn Hochhalter are prosecuting the case.
Selck is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on Dec. 2. Selck faces a maximum statutory penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 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.
Rosebud Man Charged with Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Alvin Running Horse, Jr., age 40, was indicted on June 11, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 26, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on April 23, 2019, at Rosebud, Running Horse, having previously been convicted of a felony, knowingly possessed a firearm.
The charge is merely an accusation and Running Horse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Running Horse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for September 24, 2019.
Ronceverte Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine and HydromorphoneRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -- United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Ronceverte man pled guilty to a federal drug charge in Bluefield. James Broyles, 36, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and hydromorphone.
“Drug dealers are not welcome here,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Our families don’t want them. Our communities don’t want them. And our children need protected from them. We are prosecuting at record numbers and we will stay on our hurried pace until these community fiends stop, leave or are put behind bars.”
Broyles admitted that on September 23, 2017 law enforcement officers found him in possession of about 25 grams of methamphetamine and 31 hydromorphone pills when they stopped the vehicle in which he was riding in Bluefield. Broyles admitted to officers that he intended to sell the drugs. He faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 25, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bluefield Police Department and the Southern West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecution. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided at the plea hearing.
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Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Hundreds of Images and Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that James Gerard Keller, 83, of Honeoye, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2018, an undercover investigator with Homeland Security Investigations located a computer sharing child pornography from the defendant’s address in Honeoye, NY. Investigators executed a search warrant in October 2018 and seized multiple digital devices. A forensic analysis recovered more than 600 images and videos containing child pornography, some of which involved prepubescent minors, as well as children being subjected to violent conduct.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2019, before Judge Wolford.
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Rochester Man Going to Prison for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Manuel Medina, 33, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Hartford, who handled the case, stated that between May 2018 and October 15, 2018, the defendant conspired with a co-conspirator to distribute cocaine in the Rochester area.
On numerous occasions, Medina received packages, via the United States Postal Service, that had been sent from Puerto Rico to locations in Rochester, on behalf of the co-conspirator. The packages each contained approximately 500 grams of cocaine. The defendant would pick up the packages from various locations, at the direction of the co-conspirator, and then deliver them to the co-conspirator. Also in furtherance of the conspiracy, Medina distributed a quantity of cocaine to an individual in Rochester in August 2018.In addition, the defendant assisted the co-conspirator by mailing packages containing United States currency to Puerto Rico as payment for the cocaine. On August 22, 2018, Medina and the co-conspirator purchased three electronic devices from Best Buy in which to secrete United States currency that would be mailed to Puerto Rico as payment for cocaine. That same day, the defendant shipped one of those devices, with $20,500 hidden inside, via the United States Postal Service, to Puerto Rico. That money was payment for approximately one kilogram of cocaine.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division.
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Rochester Man and Woman Charged with Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced a federal indictment charging STEVEN ALLEN LINDQUIST, 30, and TIFFANY MARIE GAUTHIER, 24, with distribution and possession of methamphetamine. LINDQUIST was arraigned yesterday before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson and ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, from November 2018 through May 29, 2019, LINDQUIST and GAUTHIER conspired with each other and others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. LINDQUIST also possessed hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam, clonazepam, MDMA, and marijuana, which are all controlled substances under federal law. Law enforcement in Goodhue County seized from the defendants $17,920 in cash and approximately 55 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle linked to LINDQUIST.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the DEA, the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, and other members of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
STEVEN ALLEN LINDQUIST, 30
Rochester, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
- Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, 1 count
- Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 2 counts
TIFFANY MARIE GAUTHIER, 24
Rochester, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
- Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Robeson County Man Sentenced to 25 Years After String of Fayetteville RobberiesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle, sentenced Michael Devonte Hill, 26, of Robeson County to 300 months’ imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. On April 30, 2019, HILL pled guilty to five counts: three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
The government’s evidence established that in July 2017, HILL robbed three Fayetteville-area convenience stores. On July 25, 2017, HILL entered the Circle K on Rosehill Road and jumped the counter while brandishing a handgun. He collected $205 from the teller and ran from the store. As he fled, he fired a round in the parking lot in an apparent attempt to scare a witness who had driven into the lot. Law enforcement recovered the spent shell casing for ballistic testing.
Three days later, on July 28, 2017, HILL and another man entered a Circle K on Yadkin Road in Fayetteville just before midnight. They robbed the store of $246 dollars. In the process, HILL struck the cashier with a firearm.
Finally, on July 30, 2017, HILL and another man robbed another Circle K, this time on Owens Drive in Fayetteville. HILL struck the clerk with a firearm and threatened to kill them, before taking off with $114. HILL’s face was covered in each robbery, but the surveillance video confirmed that he wore the same shoes and possessed the same firearm each time.
Ballistic testing revealed that the July 25 shell casing matched a Taurus 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen out of Fayetteville earlier in July. The theft victim identified HILL as the person who had taken the gun. Based on this information, officers arrested HILL, who was found to still be in possession of the same Taurus handgun.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case is also part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violence crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. For more information about this initiative please click https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/tbnc.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department, the Sanford Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pugh represented the government.
Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Kidnapping and Murder of A Federal Cooperating WitnessRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT PIZARRO and JUAN RIVERA were sentenced today for the attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder of federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016. PIZARRO was also sentenced for his role in an earlier 2015 robbery attempt. PIZARRO, 39, of the Bronx, received a sentence of life in prison plus 14 years. RIVERA, 42, also of the Bronx, was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years. PIZARRO and RIVERA were convicted by a jury following a twelve-day trial before U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As the evidence at trial established, the defendants viciously kidnapped and murdered Robert Bishun because he was a federal cooperating witness. While we cannot undo the terrible acts committed by these defendants, we firmly believe that today’s sentences further the cause of justice. We thank the DEA, NYPD, and the Special Agents of our Office for their extraordinary and tireless efforts in pursuit of justice.”
According to the evidence introduced at trial:
On September 20, 2016, PIZARRO and RIVERA attempted to rob Robert Bishun at gunpoint inside his auto body shop in the Bronx, during which two customers in his shop were bound with zip ties and locked in the trunks of separate vehicles inside the shop. Upon learning during the robbery that Bishun was a federal cooperating witness, PIZARRO and RIVERA kidnapped Bishun from his shop and strangled him to death with a plastic zip tie, before abandoning Bishun’s body in the back of his own vehicle on the side of the road.
On a prior occasion, in January 2015, PIZARRO and another accomplice stormed into Bishun’s auto body shop and robbed Robert Bishun at gunpoint, taking approximately $10,000 in cash from Bishun. During the course of the robbery, two customers were bound with zip ties.
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Mr. Berman praised the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Swergold, Jessica Fender, Jared Lenow, and Margaret Graham are in charge of the prosecution.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to 125 Months in Federal Prison for Dealing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—Randall Neal Wynn, 59, of Goshen, Oregon, was sentenced today to 125 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for possessing methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Wyn’s criminal history spans nearly four decades. His drug, gun and elude offenses date back to the 1980s, and he has previously been sentenced to prison on at least six separate occasions, including a 17-year sentence imposed in 1993.
After multiple supervised release violations and four additional years in prison, Wynn’s criminal behavior continued. A Lane County Interagency Narcotics Team (INET) investigation revealed, in 2017, that Wynn was again dealing methamphetamine. INET arrested Wynn twice in 2017, after searches led to the seizure of narcotics, weapons and cash.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also investigated Wynn, as did the City of Springfield and Cottage Grove, Oregon Police Departments. On March 22, 2018, ATF arrested Wynn in Cottage Grove, seizing more than a pound of methamphetamine and a quarter pound of heroin.
Wynn’s criminal conduct has repeatedly endangered the public. In 1985, Wynn eluded police in a vehicle, nearly striking two officers; in 1993, while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, he seriously injured a woman in a head-on crash, causing her to be taken by life flight to a Portland-area hospital; and on multiple occasions in 2018, Wynn evaded police in dangerous vehicle escapes.
On December 12, 2018, Wynn pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by ATF, INET and the City of Springfield and Cottage Grove Police Departments, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, working with the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
Rapid City Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
William Hopkins, age 25, was sentenced on July 26, 2019, to 3 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The charge related to Hopkins, a previously convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, knowingly being in possession of a Glock, model 43, 9mm semi-automatic pistol during a traffic stop on July 23, 2018, at Rapid City.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its 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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Safe Trails Task Force, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Hopkins was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Randolph County man sentenced for drug distributionRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeffrey Lynn Woods, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 121 months incarceration for distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Woods, age 58, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine” in January 2019. He admitted to conspiring with others to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal” and “ice,” from the fall of 2016 to July 2018 in Randolph County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force; and the Elkins Police Department investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Psychiatrist with Office in Opelika Indicted on Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, AL – On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Dr. James Henry Edwards, III, 72, of Fairhope, Alabama, appeared in court for an arraignment after being charged with drug distribution offenses, announced United States Attorney Louis v. Franklin, Sr. Until his arrest on July 11, 2019, Dr. Edwards was a practicing psychiatrist with offices in Opelika and Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The indictment charges Edwards with three counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances by writing medically illegitimate prescriptions. Among the drugs Edwards is alleged to have unlawfully prescribed are: alprazolam, commonly known by its brand name version, “Xanax”; dextroamphetamine-amphetamine, commonly known by its brand name version, “Adderall”; hydrocodone, commonly known by its brand name versions, “Norco,” and “Lortab”; lisdexamfetamine, commonly known by its brand name version, “Vyvanse”; and diazepam, commonly known by its brand name version, “Valium.”
If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count. He also faces substantial monetary penalties and restitution.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. At his arraignment, Edwards pleaded not guilty to each count. A trial is currently scheduled for December 2, 2019 in Opelika. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. Assisting on the case were: the Opelika, Alabama Police Department; the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners; the Gulf Shores, Alabama Police Department; the United States Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General; and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Megan A. Kirkpatrick, and Alice S. LaCour are prosecuting the case.
Probation Officer Charged with Violating Civil Rights of Two Individuals He SupervisedRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced that a Probation and Parole Officer from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections was charged with civil rights violations against two individuals he supervised while they were on probation.
“No individual or group of individuals is above the law. I am committed to identifying and eradicating civil rights abuses by law enforcement and others,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The defendant in this case was an Oklahoma Probation and Parole Officer. The civil rights violations he is alleged to have perpetrated upon two female victims are not only stomach churning, but an affront on our justice system.”
According to the Information, Steven Michael Powers, 35, of Broken Arrow, is charged with two counts of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law based on events that occurred on or between Nov. 3, 2015, and Jan. 19, 2017. In one incident, Powers allegedly forced his penis upon a victim’s mouth against her will. In a separate incident, he allegedly exposed himself to a second victim, touched her shoulder with his penis, and masturbating in front of her. In both incidents, it is alleged that Mr. Powers willfully deprived the two victims of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right to bodily integrity, a right secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
"While in his capacity as an Oklahoma Probation and Parole Officer, Steven Powers' conduct was an abuse of the authority and trust bestowed upon him,” said Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the FBI Oklahoma City Division. “The civil rights violations in which Powers is alleged to have committed not only violate the Constitutional rights of his victims, but undermines the integrity of our judicial system. This investigation epitomizes the FBI’s commitment to addressing incidents in which an officer's actions betray the public’s trust."
US Attorney Shores commended the thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Oklahoma Department of Corrections. He also noted the diligence and victim-oriented approach of Assistant United States Attorney Jarrod Leaman in bringing this prosecution.
“I cannot underscore enough the importance of the work done by these investigators and AUSA Leaman to curb civil rights abuses. To those who think they can violate and abuse the civil rights of others: this aggression will not stand. Our system will not tolerate your criminal transgressions.”
An Information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and Oklahoma Department of Corrections conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarrod Leaman is prosecuting the case.
Princess Anne Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Brandishing a Firearm During and in Furtherance of the Armed Robbery of an Armored Vehicle in Salisbury, MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Ryan Shevin Smith, age 39, of Princess Anne, Maryland, to 141 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit the robbery of an armored vehicle in Salisbury, Maryland on January 22, 2018, for participating in the robbery and for brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Smith pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit the robbery and to participating in the robbery, and a federal jury convicted him of brandishing the firearm.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan.
According to the evidence presented at his two-day trial and court documents, at approximately 7:15 a.m. on January 22, 2018, Smith and his co-defendants, Michael Watts and Orneth South, approached the driver of the armored vehicle as he was removing cash cassettes from an ATM machine at a credit union on Mt. Hermon Road in Salisbury, Maryland. Co-defendant Michael Watts placed a .40-caliber handgun to the driver’s head and disarmed him of his service weapon. Watts testified that he got the .40-caliber handgun from Smith, which was named “Big Nasty,” and that Smith took the gun back after the robbery. Watts then grabbed the driver by the hair and order him to open the door of the armored vehicle. After the driver opened the door, Smith and South removed several bags of money from the vehicle, as well as ATM cassettes filled with cash. Watts then forced the driver into the vehicle, where he used zip ties to secure the driver’s hands. The robbers then fled with the money, stealing a total of $1,324,288. The robbers went to Smith’s residence in nearby Princess Anne and divided the stolen money. South and Watts then left and headed south, toward North Carolina.
On April 20, 2018, Orneth South, age 49, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested on a warrant issued as a result of the robbery, and pleaded guilty to his role in the armored car robbery in Maryland, as well as a robbery in North Carolina. On January 31, 2019, co-defendant Michael Watts, a/k/a “Turtle,” age 42, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery. Watts was arrested on May 18, 2018, in Queens, New York, and at the time of his arrest, was wearing approximately $70,000 in jewelry, including a custom turtle pendant, which was purchased with the proceeds of the armored vehicle robbery. Watts also admitted using his portion of the stolen money to purchase a Mercedes S430 automobile, clothes, two tombstones, and to pay off bills and rent.
Judge Bennett ordered all three defendants to pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s loss, $1,324,288.
Judge Bennett previously sentenced Watts to nine years in federal prison, and sentenced South to 20 years in federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Salisbury Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Michael Cunningham and Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case.
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Potosi Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Enticing a Minor for Illegal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Potosi, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for enticing a child victim in Lawrence County, Mo., to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Kevin Michael Nosser, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 19 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Nosser to a lifetime of supervised release following incarceration.
Nosser, who pleaded guilty on March 7, 2019, admitted that he communicated online with a 12-year-old victim in Lawrence County, and made arrangements to pick her up and bring her to his residence in Potosi to engage in sexual activity.
When the child victim was reported as missing by her mother, the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol began searching for her. The family discovered multiple video calls between the victim and Nosser on her Google Play account, and FBI agents linked a phone number on the victim’s cell phone to Nosser. State troopers then located Nosser and the child victim in Potosi.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Lawrence County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
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."Pittsburgh Man Charged with Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Antwon Shamar Bonner, 21, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 12, 2019, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Bonner possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. The Indictment further alleges that Bonner possessed four firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime charged in the Indictment.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of not more than $1,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would 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), 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 United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pierre Man Sentenced on Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on July 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Paul Frost, age 47, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Frost was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2018. He pled guilty on April 3, 2019.
The convictions stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 15, 2018, where Frost knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Further, on both April 3, 2017, and June 15, 2018, Frost, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, did knowingly illegally possess firearms.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its 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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Pierre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Frost will report to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on August 6, 2019.
Pierre Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography was sentenced on July 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
David Foster, age 36, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, $130,500 in restitution, a $5,000 assessment to the Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Foster was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 17, 2018. He pled guilty on May 1, 2019.
In early 2017, an agent with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) initiated an undercover operation targeting chat rooms and child sexual exploitation on the “Kik” Messenger application. During the operation, the Kik group “No Limits” was discovered. An HSI agent recorded the activity of the group to include capturing images and videos of child exploitation/pornography that were shared among the group. Each member of the group received all of the content (images/videos) shared by other users in the group each time a user logged into the Kik application. One of the members of the group was identified as Foster, who was using the screen name “smartdguy”.
On May 4, 2017, a search warrant was executed in Pierre. A forensic analysis determined Foster’s iPhone6 contained over 4,700 images (including duplicates) of child pornography. A review of the videos on Foster’s iPhone6 revealed over 100 videos (including duplicates) of child pornography.
As part of his sentence, Foster was also ordered to pay $130,500 to 18 different victims whose images were found on his phone.
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 U.S. 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.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Foster was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Patient Recruiter Found Guilty in $1.3 Million Medicare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Detroit, Michigan found a patient recruiter guilty today for his role in a scheme involving approximately $1.3 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for home health care that were procured through the payment of kickbacks.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office made the announcement.
Following a six-day trial, Dominic Trumbo, 45, of Lexington, Kentucky, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and three counts of receipt of health care kickbacks. Sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 3, 2019 before Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood of the Eastern District of Michigan, who presided over the trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2009 to 2017, Trumbo, owner of Trumbo Consulting Agency, engaged in an illegal kickback scheme to defraud Medicare of approximately $1.3 million through fraudulent home health claims. The evidence showed that Trumbo solicited and received kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries to serve as patients at multiple home health agencies. These home health agencies then submitted claims to Medicare for home health services that were purportedly provided to those beneficiaries.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Patrick Suter and Steven Scott of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are 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.
Parmelee Man Sentenced for Assault by Strangulation and Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation and of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on July 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Michael Yellow Eyes, age 37, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentences will be served concurrently. Yellow Eyes was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Yellow Eyes was indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation on October 16, 2018. He was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender on December 11, 2018. He pled guilty to both offenses on May 3, 2019.
The conviction for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender stemmed from conduct that occurred in August 2018. Yellow Eyes was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in April 2017. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocating or changing employment. On August 1, 2018, Yellow Eyes moves from his registered address in Rosebud, South Dakota, but did not update his sex offender registration until August 29, 2018.
The conviction for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation stemmed from an incident that occurred in Parmelee on September 20, 2018, wherein Yellow Eyes assaulted his spouse and intimate partner by strangling and suffocating her until she could not breathe.
These cases were investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the cases.
Yellow Eyes was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ohio County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Derek Schultz, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Schultz, age 53, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of N.F.A. Firearm.” Schultz admitted to having an unregistered .30 caliber machine gun in January 2019 in Ohio County.
Schultz faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. 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 David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
New Orleans Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud First NBC BankRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that KENNETH CHARITY (“CHARITY”), age 54, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud First NBC Bank, the New Orleans-based bank that failed in April 2017.
According to the Bill of Information, from in or around February 2007 through April 2017, CHARITY had a banking relationship with First NBC Bank, individually and through certain entities. During that time, Bank President A acted as the loan officer for CHARITY and the loan officer to certain of CHARITY’s entities (“the Entities”). By the time First NBC Bank failed, the balances on the loans issued to CHARITY and the entities totaled more than $18 million. CHARITY, Bank President A, and others knowingly conspired to defraud First NBC Bank. According to the Bill of Information, the purpose of the conspiracy was for CHARITY, Bank President A, and others to unjustly enrich themselves, disguise the true financial status of CHARITY and the Entities, conceal the accurate performance, and misrepresented the purpose of the loans made to KENNETH CHARITY and the Entities.
KENNETH CHARITY, Bank President A, and others provided First NBC Bank with materially false and fraudulent documents and financial statements, which, among other things, overstated the value of KENNETH CHARITY’s assets, understated his liabilities, and omitted material information. These false statements disguised his and the Entities’ true financial condition.
The Bill of Information also alleges that it was part of the conspiracy for Bank President A and others to disguise CHARITY and the Entities’ true financial condition by, among other things, issuing new loans to CHARITY and the Entities, which would pay older loans that CHARITY was unable to repay. The new loans would then appear to be current and performing, while the old loans appeared to have been paid. In reality, CHARITY had insufficient income and cash flow to support his debt at First NBC Bank. Bank President A was well-aware that CHARITY was unable to repay his loans, yet Bank President A continued to falsely represent in bank records that CHARITY and his Entities were profitable.
Additionally, the Bill of Information alleges CHARITY, Bank President A, and others, carried out the conspiracy by repeatedly lying in bank loan documents about the purpose of loans that Bank President A approved for CHARITY and the Entities. Specifically, Bank President A approved loans for CHARITY and his Entities that appeared to be for legitimate business purposes. In reality, CHARITY spent loan proceeds on personal expenses. Bank President A was aware that CHARITY did not spend the loan proceeds consistently with the purposes stated on the loan documents. For example, from in or around August 2014 through in or around December 2016, Bank President A caused three loans to be disbursed to one of CHARITY’s entities for the purpose, in part, of enclosing a patio at a beignet shop located at 620 Decatur Street. CHARITY never built the patio. The loan proceeds were used instead to pay CHARITY’s overdrafts, which included personal expenses, and to make loan payments.
CHARITY could face up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $1 million, or twice the gross gain to him or the gross loss of any victims, 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.
Judge Lance M. Africk set CHARITY’s sentencing hearing for October 23, 2019 at 2 pm.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharan E. Lieberman, Matthew R. Payne, Nicholas D. Moses, and J. Ryan McLaren are in charge of the prosecution.
New Mexico Woman Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a New Mexico woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Holly Swallow, age 40, was indicted on June 11, 2019. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 29, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning a time unknown, but no later than January 1, 2016, and continuing to June 11, 2019, Swallow knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with persons to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The charge is merely an accusation and Swallow is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Swallow was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
New Haven Man Admits Illegal Possession of Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MAHDI HENDERSON, 25, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 22, 2017, as part of an unrelated investigation, members of the New Haven and Hamden police departments executed a search warrant at a New Haven residence and encountered Henderson and three other individuals inside the residence. During the search, law enforcement discovered a loaded .22 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun under the couch where Henderson had been sitting. Subsequent forensic analysis of the handgun revealed Henderson’s DNA on the trigger of the gun.
Henderson’s criminal history includes felony convictions for assault in the first degree, possession of a pistol without a permit, and burglary in the second degree.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant November 7, 2019, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Henderson has been in state custody on unrelated charges since October 3, 2018.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, New Haven Police Department and Hamden Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation Nets Almost 30 Arrests, Seizure of Weapons, Drugs, CashRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A second round of concentrated and coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement activity has produced 29 arrests of wanted suspects and the seizure of eight weapons, significant quantities of drugs, more than $7,500 in cash, and two stolen vehicles, United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe and Sheriff Walt McNeil announced today. The arrests and seizures were the result of ongoing work by a multi-agency strike force led by United States Marshals and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office under the ALLinLEON initiative.
"When we launched this operation last month, we knew it would not take long for our efforts to bear fruit. These most recent arrests are the result, and we know they will, in turn, lead to even bigger outcomes in the future," said Keefe, who is the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. "The hard work of so many dedicated law enforcement professionals have made the streets of Leon County safer now than they were a month ago."
Agencies participating in the latest round of arrests include the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, Leon County Sheriff’s Office – including the vice, SPIDER, K-9, aviation, and traffic units – Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The strike force launched with a large and visible operation in June, and has continued with lower profile activities leading up to last week’s coordinated operation.
"It’s multi-agency operations like this one that are driving the enforcement portion of ALLinLEON. Working together, with our law enforcement partners, is the only way we can rid our community of those who don’t want to contribute in a positive way," Sheriff McNeil said.
Results of last week’s joint operation include 29 total arrests; 8 firearms seized, including 3 listed as stolen weapons; the seizure of 136.5 grams of cannabis, 28.5 grams of cocaine powder, 38 grams of cocaine rock, 7 grams of meth, 499 grams of synthetic drugs, and $7,551.86 in currency; and the recovery of two stolen vehicles.
Among the individuals arrested in the operation are:
- Brandon Wolf, who was wanted by the State Attorney’s Office on multiple counts of aggravated possession of child pornography and fled to Alabama before being arrested by U.S. Marshals;
- Casey Goodson, who was wanted for multiple burglaries, grand theft, stolen property, and narcotics, and is now facing additional charges of aggravated assault on two law enforcement officers, as well as fleeing/eluding and grand theft;
- Nicholas Cofer, who was wanted by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office for sexual assault on an incapacitate person;
- Kewon Bruce and Quinterry Hale, who were arrested when a warrant was served and officers discovered five firearms, cash, and several types of drugs.
The joint federal, state, and local strike force is a concerted effort to crack down on violent crime under the Sheriff’s ALLinLEON umbrella. That initiative has also engaged community volunteers to regularly take at-risk youth to places of worship, activated Neighborhood Crime Watch programs, and conducted other activities to target neighborhoods that are perennial hotspots for violence. The effort also aims to help connect individuals who are reentering the community from incarceration with education, job skills, and substance abuse treatment.
All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html
Mission Man Sentenced on Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, was sentenced on July 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Walter Willard Wright, age 37, was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for the conspiracy conviction. He was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for the firearm conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently. Also, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200 was ordered.
Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 13, 2018. He pled guilty on May 2, 2019.
The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy that occurred between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017, in which Wright and Co-Defendant Micole Menard, knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Further, on January 18, 2017, during the execution of a search warrant at the Wright’s home, 267 grams of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia was seized from the home along with four firearms. Wright, being a felon and unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, did knowingly illegally possess those firearms.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its 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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Wright was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Indicted on Meth Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Louie ThunderHawk, age 32, was indicted on July 16, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 26, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between February 1, 2019, and July 16, 2019, ThunderHawk did knowingly and intentionally, combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with persons known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more methamphetamine.
The charge is merely an accusation and ThunderHawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
ThunderHawk was released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mission Man Indicted on Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Lorenzo Brave Hawk, Sr., age 34, was indicted on June 11, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 26, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on November 9, 2018, Brave Hawk assaulted a woman with a baseball bat, and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
The charges are merely an accusation and Brave Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore is prosecuting the case.
Brave Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Micronesian Government Official Sentenced to Prison for Role in Money Laundering Scheme Involving FCPA ViolationsRead the Press Release
A Micronesian government official was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release yesterday for his participation in a money laundering scheme involving bribes made to corruptly secure engineering and project management contracts from the government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Eli S. Miranda of the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office.
Master Halbert, 44, a Micronesian citizen, was sentenced in Honolulu by U.S. District Judge Susan O. Mollway of the District of Hawaii. Halbert pleaded guilty on April 2 to a one-count information filed in the District of Hawaii charging him with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to admissions made as part of his plea agreement, Halbert was a government official in the FSM Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure who administered FSM’s aviation programs, including the management of its airports. Halbert admitted that between 2006 and 2016, a Hawaii-based engineering and consulting company owned by Frank James Lyon paid bribes to FSM officials, including Halbert, to obtain and retain contracts with the FSM government valued at nearly $8 million, in violation of the FCPA. Lyon and Halbert agreed that these bribe payments would be transported from the United States to the FSM.
Lyon, 53, of Honolulu, Hawaii, pleaded guilty on Jan. 22 to a one-count information filed in the District of Hawaii charging him with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA and to commit federal program fraud. Lyon was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison on May 13.
The FBI investigated this case. Trial Attorney Katherine Raut of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General provided significant assistance.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Michigan man sentenced to 10 years for drug distributionRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Christopher Morgan, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 120 months incarceration for his role in a heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine distribution operation in Randolph County, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Morgan, also known as “Deon” and “D,” age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine Base, and Methamphetamine” in April 2019. Morgan admitted to working with others to distribute heroin, “crack” cocaine, and methamphetamine in Randolph County from March 2016 to March 2017.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Mexican National Sentenced to 64 Months in Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 64 months in prison for his role in conspiring to traffic approximately 300 grams of fentanyl into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Angel Santo Jerez Matos, 61, a/k/a “El Colonel,” previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Matos was a supplier of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to a drug trafficking organization operating in and around New Jersey.
Matos and a member of a New Jersey drug trafficking organization were heard, on intercepted communications, discussing the pricing of “cars,” meaning kilograms of narcotics to be shipped from Mexico into the United States through California. The drugs would then be shipped to New Jersey. Additional communications among members of the New Jersey drug trafficking organization revealed that 300 grams of fentanyl that had originated with Matos in Mexico made its way to users in Newark in May 2017.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Matos to four years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari B. Fontecchio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Methamphetamine Dealer Convicted for Drug Conspiracy and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
Following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, a jury convicted a Tulsa man of methamphetamine distribution and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
The jury found Veng Xiong, 32, guilty on Tuesday of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a rifle and a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
“The jury has spoken, and Veng Xiong is guilty as charged. Veng, a felon with a history of drug dealing, was convicted of crimes associated with trafficking methamphetamine and firearms. I hope this federal conviction will get the message through to him that Oklahoma is not open for his business,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “Sadly, meth continues to afflict far too many of our neighborhoods in Northern Oklahoma, due in no small part to dealers like Xiong. This just result is a direct reflection of excellent work of a multi-agency investigative team and two top-notch federal prosecutors, Ryan Roberts and Chris Nassar.”
During a methamphetamine trafficking investigation, Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies covertly set up a drug deal with an individual who agreed to sell thirty-three pounds of methamphetamine for $500,000.
The United States presented evidence that showed the individual entered into a conspiracy with Veng Xiong, who had been referred to him by associates as a known drug dealer. Upon their initial meeting, Xiong showed the co-conspirator a large amount of methamphetamine and four firearms. Xiong then provided the co-conspirator with two of the firearms to carry during the drug deal.
On April 9, 2018, the parties met at a predesignated location in rural Osage County in order to exchange the methamphetamine for cash. Xiong, along with three co-conspirators, arrived in two separate vehicles. At that time, the Osage County and Osage Nation Joint Tactical Response Team conducted a takedown and arrested the four suspects, including Xiong. Upon search of the vehicles, deputies found multiple firearms, including a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Taurus .38 caliber special revolver, a Winchester 12 gauge shotgun with a sawed-off barrel, and a WASR-10, which is an AK-47 style 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle. Both the rifle and the shotgun were found in Xiong’s vehicle. Deputies discovered the handguns and more than five pounds of methamphetamine in the other car.
Xiong was also convicted on two previous occasions in Tulsa County District Court for trafficking in illegal drugs as well as convictions for possessing a firearm while in commission of a felony and for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office; Osage Nation Tribal Police; FBI; Pawhuska Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar and Ryan M. Roberts prosecuted the case.
Mentor podiatrist sentenced to nearly three years in prison for fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid nearly $1.2 millionRead the Press Release
A podiatrist with offices in Mentor was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid nearly $1.2 million.
Robert J. Rosenstein, 65, of Highland Heights, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $453,615 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.
According to court documents:
Rosenstein was the president and sole shareholder of Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc., located at 7230 Mentor Avenue, Suite 311, in Mentor, which was formed in 1984.
Rosenstein was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2013. He was suspended from the Medicare program and not allowed to bill Medicare for three years as a result of the conviction.
In 2014, Rosenstein closed Affiliated Podiatrists and caused articles of incorporation to be filed with the Ohio Secretary of State for Community Foot and Ankle of Mentor (CFAM), located at the same address. Rosenstein controlled daily operation of CFAM and was the de facto owner of the practice. A month later, Rosenstein caused CFAM to file an enrollment application with Medicare. The application was signed by someone else, not Rosenstein, and did not list Rosenstein as having ownership or a controlling interest in the company.
In 2016, he was barred from participation in the Medicaid program.
Rosenstein knowingly and willingly defrauded Medicare and Medicaid between July 14, 2014 and May 9, 2018. He did this by performing medical services at CFAM for Medicare and Medicaid recipients and billing under another provider’s name even though he knew he was excluded from participation in the programs.
Medicare was fraudulently billed approximately $968,938 as a result of Rosenstein’s claims while Medicaid was fraudulently billed approximately $219,330.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Miller following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Ohio Attorney General’s Medicare Fraud Control Unit.
Medical business owner sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for medicare fraudRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: The owner of a Thomson, Ga., medical equipment company was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison Tuesday, July 30, for a wide-ranging Medicare fraud scheme.
Detra Wiley Pate, owner and CEO of Southern Respiratory LLC, of Thomson, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randall Hall to 121 months in federal prison for multiple counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. She also was ordered to pay $950,000 in restitution, and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of her sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Detra Wiley Pate had every opportunity to operate a successful, legitimate business serving the needs of the elderly and vulnerable in her community,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Instead, she got greedy and charged Medicare for expensive equipment patients neither needed nor received, using prescriptions doctors had not written. As an ironic result, she’ll grow old in prison while reflecting on her fraud.”
According to the information presented in court documents and testimony, from 2014-2016 Pate submitted thousands of false claims, fabricated patient files, and falsified prescriptions from doctors for items such as heavy-duty wheelchairs while providing much cheaper standard wheelchairs to patients – and pocketing the substantial difference in cost. Pate used the money she stole from Medicare through this fraud to pay for such things as jewelry, including a 1.5 carat diamond and a Rolex watch.
“The FBI and our federal law enforcement partners are determined to prosecute anyone who chooses to profit personally at the expense of those who count on federal healthcare programs for their deserved benefit and the taxpayers of this country,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is an example of that determination and our commitment to protect our citizens and uphold the Constitution.”
“Fraud schemes such as these divert taxpayer funds from vital federal healthcare programs to fraudsters – such as Detra Wiley Pate – who seek personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to clamp down on such scams.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Rhodes and Thomas Clarkson led the prosecution for the United States with assistance from Litigation Technologist Dean Athanasopoulos.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More than Seven Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Yarlin Garcia, 26, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 87 months in prison and four years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Garcia pleaded guilty on October 25, 2018.
According to court records, on June 20, 2018, Garcia was arrested outside of a residence in Sanford, Maine and found to be in possession of about 650 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture and 560 grams of cocaine that he brought to Maine.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Sagadahoc, York, and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Offices; and the Biddeford Police Department and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Conspiring to Distribute and Possessing with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Myron Crosby, Jr., a/k/a “Templer,” 56, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin. Crosby was convicted on August 2, 2018, following a four-day jury trial.
The evidence at trial established that between August 2015 and January 2016, Crosby conspired to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. He was the Massachusetts source of 60,000 to 80,000 bags of heroin acquired in Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts that were brought to Maine and distributed by co-conspirators in the Newport, Maine area.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by the Maine and Massachusetts State Police and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Abelino Morales-Padilla, 38, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2018, Morales-Padilla conspired with other persons to distribute more than 400 grams fentanyl. On October 16, 2018, a confidential informant informed police that Abelino Morales-Padilla would be coming from Massachusetts to New Hampshire with a large quantity of fentanyl. Police officers identified the car and stopped Morales-Padilla for traffic violations in Londonderry. Law enforcement officers later located approximately 424 grams of fentanyl inside the vehicle.
Morales-Padilla is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2019.
“Those who choose to bring fentanyl or other deadly drugs into New Hampshire will be prosecuted aggressively,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Interstate drug traffickers endanger the health and safety of our citizens. In order to deal with this threat, we work closely with our law enforcement partners each day to identify and prosecute those who transport drugs into our state.”
“Fentanyl has destroyed communities across the country, leaving despair and anguish in its wake. Morales-Padilla looked to make a quick profit by choosing to push fentanyl onto our New Hampshire streets,” said Jason J. Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston. “Every dealer we help remove from the streets is a victory in the battle against the opioid and fentanyl plague that has devastated so many lives in the region.”
This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis.
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Madison Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joseph Harper, 42, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Harper pleaded guilty to this charge on April 19, 2019.
The investigation revealed that Gregory Smith was mailing packages containing cocaine from Houston, to Harper in Madison. Postal records from November 2017 to November 2018 showed 32 packages mailed from Smith, to addresses in Wisconsin or Iowa associated with Harper, and 48 packages were mailed from the Madison area by Harper or his associates to addresses associated with the Smith in Houston. Based on witness statements and multiple cocaine seizures in the case, agents learned that each of the packages coming from Smith contained between a half kilogram and one kilogram of cocaine.
In addition, federal agents executed search warrants on five of the packages sent to Smith from Harper or his associates, and identified over $85,000 in cash. Based on communications between Harper and Smith, along with other investigative information, agents learned that each of the 48 packages Harper mailed to Smith contained money to pay for cocaine.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Conley stated that Harper designed, implemented, and led a large-scale interstate conspiracy involving at least 16 kilograms of cocaine. Judge Conley noted that Harper actively recruited other people to join the conspiracy, many of whom ended up charged along with him in the case. Judge Conley also noted that Harper had six prior felony drug trafficking convictions, with two of those convictions involving cocaine.
Twelve individuals have been charged for participating in this cocaine distribution scheme. In addition to Smith and Harper, eight other defendants have pleaded guilty. On July 10, 2019, Judge Conley sentenced Smith to 11 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. The other individuals who have pleaded guilty are awaiting sentencing.
The charge against Harper is the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Local Man Guilty of Firearms Charge in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A federal jury returned a guilty verdict against a 42-year-old Corpus Christi man for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Charles Callis Jr. pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine this morning. Following a day of testimony, the jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before also convicting him of the firearms charge.
On Dec. 6, 2018, multiple federal law enforcement agencies executed an arrest warrant for Callis on unrelated charges. At that time, they also searched his residence and business - Done Right Air Conditioning - on the 3700 block of Saturn Road.
During trial, the jury heard that during the searches, agents opened a locked room and discovered it had been set up for drug trafficking. The room contained an open counter along the wall where agents found a piece of Tupperware containing cocaine, a digital scale, cutting agents, a metal press, money counting machine and a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun.
In addition, they also discovered a large safe. Inside, there was a box of small Ziploc baggies, approximately $49,000 and a cellular phone. Authorities later confirmed the substance in the bags was cocaine with a total weight of 508 grams.
The defense attempted to convince the jury Callis had lawfully purchased the handgun and it was unrelated to the cocaine. The jury did not believe his claims and convicted him.
Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey presided over the trial and set sentencing for Oct. 16, 2019. At that time, Callis faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in federal prison for the cocaine conviction and up to life for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The charges also carry a potential $5 million maximum fine.
Callis has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.
Little Eagle Woman Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Lucenda Layetta Bobtail Bear, age 38, was indicted on July 16, 2019. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on July 29, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in federal prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning at a time unknown, but no later than March 1, 2018, and continuing to June 17, 2018, Bobtail Bear knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with persons to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The charge is merely an accusation and Bobtail Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Bobtail Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.