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Friday 7 June 2019
Lake Geneva Resident Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing and Distributing Anabolic SteroidsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 5, 2019, Russell Spalding of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to three counts relating to manufacturing and distributing anabolic steroids. This includes one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, one count of possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841, and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 856. Spalding’s wife, Kathryn Spalding, a codefendant in the case, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids on February 14, 2019.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, Spalding (39 years old) led an anabolic steroid manufacturing and distribution operation from approximately October 2014 through October 8, 2015. He called his business “Cerastes Pharmaceuticals.” He imported raw and processed anabolic steroids from the United Kingdom and China and sold the steroids to others around the United States through Facebook groups. He had several people help him import, process, sell, and ship the steroids. As part of the investigation, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at an apartment in Lake Geneva, which served as Spalding’s steroid laboratory. There, the agents seized thousands of vials, beakers, liquid filling machines, measuring pumps, more than 12,000 capsules containing anabolic steroids, approximately 8,000 milliliters of liquid containing anabolic steroids, and several kilograms of raw steroid powder.
Spalding faces a maximum term of up to 40 years in prison on all of the counts, and up to life on supervised release. His sentencing hearing is set for November 26, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.. before U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Walworth County Sherriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Proctor.
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Kenton, Tennessee Man Sentenced to 200 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Kenneth Garrett, 62, has been sentenced to 200 months imprisonment on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
This is the latest sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Rolando Lopez, Saul Vega Flores, Virginia Torres, Ronald Lynn Parham, Tammy Ranger, Marcus Jones, and Xavier Demetrius James on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to information presented in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into Rolando Lopez and his drug trafficking organization. Agents discovered that Lopez and other co-conspirators were trafficking in methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and other illegal substances from Mexico to Tennessee. Investigators used "wiretaps" along with surveillance, confidential sources, traffic stops, and search warrants to investigate this organization.
In April, 2017, agents received information from a confidential informant regarding a home in Davidson County, Tennessee, where Lopez and his brother, were conducting drug related activity. A search warrant was executed at the residence where over $500,000 in cash, a money counter, and a vacuum sealer were recovered. In December 2017, investigators through wiretap interceptions and information received from confidential informants learned that Lopez was arranging a shipment of methamphetamine from Mexico to Tennessee.
The shipment was being transported by other co-conspirators in a 2004 Lincoln Navigator to the residence of a co-conspirator in theWestern District of Tennessee, where the shipment was to be converted to powder form for distribution. Kenneth Garrett met with other co-conspirators transporting the liquid methamphetamine at the Days Inn in
West Memphis, Arkansas. Once the defendants began to transport the liquid methamphetamine into the Western District of Tennessee, investigators arranged for the Tennessee Highway Patrol to stop the Lincoln Navigator on Highway 51 in Obion County, Tennessee. During the search of the vehicle, agents discovered a large quantity of methamphetamine located in a hidden compartment. A DEA forensic laboratory examination revealed that the defendant and other co-conspirators were transporting 44.85 kilograms of 98% pure ice.
Garrett allowed other co-conspirators to use his garage to store methamphetamine. Garrett was paid by the organization between $2,000 to $8,000 per methamphetamine load. At the garage, Garrett assisted in loading methamphetamine in gas tanks and the vehicle batteries for transportation.
Kenneth Garrett was attributed with a total of 97.17 kilograms of actual methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Use and trafficking of methamphetamine continues to destroy lives, families, and communities across West Tennessee. The joint cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement in this case demonstrates our ability and resolve to dismantle drug trafficking organizations, including those that distribute narcotics from locations outside the country. The significant sentence in this case sends a clear message to those drug dealers who distribute poison in West Tennessee: You cannot prey upon our citizens for your selfish personal gain with impunity; there will be a reckoning."
On June 7, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Garrett to 200 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 23rd Judicial Drug Task Force, Metro Nashville Police Department, Perry County, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Lawrenceburg Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Obion County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Jacksonville Pimp and Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Three Counts of Forcible Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Richard Anthony Moffett, a/k/a “Mook” (31, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Moffett faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
During the change of plea hearing, Moffett admitted that, in the middle of 2016, he relocated to Jacksonville from Ohio and began residing in various Jacksonville hotels. Sometime in December 2016, Moffett began selling heroin to D.D., one of his victims. D.D. began working for Moffett, providing commercial sex to others, and gave all of the money she made to Moffett. Moffett exploited D.D.’s heroin addiction to coerce her into engaging in commercial sex acts. This continued until around February 2017.
Sometime in February 2017, Moffett began selling heroin to a second victim (S.B.). Moffett invited S.B. and another woman to travel with him to Akron, Ohio, for the stated purpose of meeting Moffett’s two newborn daughters. S.B. and the other woman, who were heroin addicts, agreed to go with Moffett. Once they reached Akron, Moffett obtained hotel rooms and then informed the women that they would need to begin engaging in commercial sex in order to make enough money to travel back to Florida. Both S.B. and the other woman were posted on Backpage.com, and both engaged in commercial sex “dates” while in Ohio. After a few weeks, Moffett transported S.B. and the other woman back to Jacksonville, where he continued to advertise S.B. for commercial sex, taking all of the proceeds, and beating her as punishment for behavior that he did not like. On one occasion, S.B. told Moffett she wanted to leave, and Moffett prepared a bill for all of S.B.’s purported expenses, totaling approximately $3,000.
In mid-April, another victim, S.A., who had been purchasing heroin from Moffett, became homeless and asked Moffett for help. Moffett offered S.A. a place to stay, and the next day, informed S.A. that she would need to begin paying her way. S.A. was posted on Backpage.com, and when a commercial sex “date” was arranged, Moffett provided S.A. with a set of rules on handling money from the “John” and the detection of law enforcement. S.A. engaged in multiple commercial sex dates while under Moffett’s control.
In April 2017, S.A. and another woman were arrested for prostitution by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). Moffett approached S.A. as she was being arrested, and told a JSO detective that he was not her pimp, but was just “guiding” her. Moffett was waiting outside the jail for S.A. the next day when she was released. In May 2017, S.A. was arrested a second time by JSO, and told an undercover detective that Moffett would come looking for her. During this time, S.B. was able to escape from Moffett.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin Wolfson.
Inmate Charged with Assault and Possession of ContrabandRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Turhan Jessamy, age 30, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary Canaan (USP Canaan), was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2019, for assault and possession of a weapon.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that on July 25, 2018, Jessamy assaulted another inmate with a sharpened piece of metal and plastic commonly referred to as a “shank.”
The investigation was conducted by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers at USP Canaan. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for assault with a dangerous weapon is 10 years of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for possession of contraband is 5 years of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on June 6 was:
Terry Lynn Braine, 54, of Ashland, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Braine faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Braine was detained. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Pacer case reference. 19-64.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Hudson County Man Arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and CocaineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was arrested today and charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Hason Armfield, 41, of Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
An authorized search of Armfield’s residence revealed more than 100 grams of heroin, approximately 200 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and U.S. currency.
The possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin has a minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. The possession with intent to distribute cocaine has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, New Jersey Division; and members of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Michael Kelly, with the investigation leading to the charges.
This investigation was part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), where the U.S. Attorney’s Office has partnered with state, federal, county and local law enforcement to investigate crime in Jersey City.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Kathleen M. Theurer Esq., Jersey City
Ghanaian National Sentenced to 40 Months Time Served for Refusing to Depart the United StatesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on June 5, 2019, United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Patrick Owusu, age 42, a citizen of Ghana, to a time served sentence of approximately 40 months, for hindering his removal from the United States.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, in 2012, an Immigration Judge ordered Owusu to return to his home country of Ghana after he was convicted of several serious criminal offenses while residing in the United States. On March 31, 2014 and May 28, 2014, immigration officials attempted to remove Owusu from the United States, but he resisted and refused to board the plane.
Owusu has remained in custody since being charged in December 2015. He is to be deported back to Ghana following this sentence.
The case was investigated by officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.
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Fort Hall Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Colin Reese Diggie, 36, of Fort Hall, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 25 years in prison, for second degree murder, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye also sentenced Diggie to pay $7,725 in restitution and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release after he is released from prison. Diggie pleaded guilty on January 16, 2019.
According to court records, on the evening of January 10, 2017, at around 6:30 or 7:00 p.m., Diggie returned with his girlfriend, the victim, to her home in Fort Hall. At some point after returning to his girlfriend’s home, Diggie stabbed and killed her.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., the girlfriend’s neighbors heard a knock on their door. Upon opening their door, they saw Diggie covered in blood, holding his hands, with a look of shock. He said something unintelligible about someone having killed his girlfriend and pointed next door to the girlfriend’s house. The neighbors called 911 and officers were dispatched to that location.
Fort Hall Police Department officers initially responded to the girlfriend’s residence. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived later. At the house, they found the girlfriend’s body. Her body was eventually transferred to the Ada County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy. A forensic pathologist performed an autopsy and confirmed the cause of death was a result of the multiple stab wounds.
DNA testing conducted at the FBI Laboratory confirmed that multiple items with the girlfriend’s blood on them taken from the crime scene also had the defendant’s DNA present. Additionally, the FBI Lab also confirmed that the defendant’s bloody fingerprint was found at the crime scene.
On December 12, 2017, a federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello returned an indictment charging Diggie with second degree murder for killing his girlfriend.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Fort Hall Police Department.
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Former Lawyer Pleads Guilty to $4 Million Wire Fraud Where Clients Were Conned via Forged Judges’ Signatures and Fake Phone CallsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former California attorney has pleaded guilty to one felony count of wire fraud for falsely representing to his clients that he obtained favorable legal resolutions for them, and then perpetuating the scheme by delivering clients fraudulent documents, some with the forged signatures of judges, and by making disguised telephone calls to them.
Shant Ohanian, 36, of Pasadena, entered his plea on Thursday before United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who scheduled a September 12 sentencing hearing. Ohanian faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to his plea agreement, Ohanian was a licensed California lawyer from January 2012 until he was disbarred in December 2017. Beginning in May 2012, Ohanian and his co-conspirator engaged in a scheme to defraud Ohanian’s clients by claiming he obtained favorable legal resolutions for them, when in fact the favorable resolutions had never been obtained, and, in many cases, Ohanian had never initiated a legal action, court papers state. In some cases, Ohanian’s deception caused his victim clients to entirely lose their opportunity to obtain significant financial or legal remedies as a result of wrongs suffered by them, according to court documents.
Ohanian admitted in his plea agreement to defrauding multiple victims, including one victim who hired Ohanian in July 2013 to assist in the recovery of a $500,000 deposit related to a failed commercial real estate transaction for an Ontario shopping center. During the course of that litigation, Ohanian falsely informed the victim that the victim had prevailed in the case and would receive $1.2 million in damages plus penalties, the plea agreement states.
In February 2016, Ohanian presented the victim with a counterfeit check for $1,925,477, which a bank later rejected, court papers state. Ohanian denied the check was counterfeit and in March 2016 he presented the victim with a check for $7,244,211, which also was rejected as counterfeit. Ohanian also falsely informed the victim that he was representing the victim in a parallel bankruptcy proceeding involving the Ontario shopping center, and he provided the victim phony bankruptcy court pleadings, including orders that contained the forged signature of a United States bankruptcy judge, according to court documents.
Ohanian also admitted to making multiple spoofed telephone calls to the victim in which he claimed to be either bank officials or government officials. Ohanian also falsely informed the victim that he would acquire the Ontario shopping center at a discounted price in lieu of a cash settlement, and that the victim needed to make payments for back taxes and overdue mortgage payments in order to acquire the property, and to make “unpaid court fees” to Ohanian even though no such fees were owed, court documents state. Between March 2016 and September 2017, the victim paid Ohanian $2,839,875 based on Ohanian’s false representations that the money would be used to acquire the shopping center, according to court documents.
Ohanian admitted to victimizing other clients, including a woman who suffered serious injuries in a fall at South Coast Plaza mall in Orange County, and for whom the statute of limitations had expired in the case before she realized Ohanian had defrauded her. Ohanian admitted to sending the victim a phony settlement agreement from the mall and, after she threatened to report him to the State Bar of California, a check for $25,000 that turned out to have been cancelled. He also falsely represented to clients seeking immigration relief that he had obtained important legal resolutions related to their ability to live and work in the U.S.
Ohanian’s victims suffered actual losses of more than $4 million.
Ohanian’s wife, Silva Sevlian Ohanian, has been charged with one count of wire fraud in a related case. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is currently scheduled to go to trial on July 16.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility and the California State Bar.
This matter is being prosecuted by Aron Ketchel of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.
Florida Man Sentenced for Sweepstakes Scheme Targeting Elderly Missouri ResidentRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Fernando Reyes, 38, a resident of Florida, was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for conspiracy and mail fraud. He appeared in federal court this morning before U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry.
According to court documents, beginning in April 2016, a Missouri resident over the age of 80 began receiving telephone calls from unknown individuals that he had won large sums of money through a sweepstakes. In order to secure his winnings, the Missouri resident was advised to mail various amounts of money to an individual in New Hampshire and Reyes in Florida. The callers identified Reyes as a federal attorney. That representation was false as Reyes was not, and had never been, affiliated with any federal agency or department.
Reyes acted as a money mule by receiving funds from victims of the lottery scheme and forwarding them to his co-conspirators in Costa Rica. Although he received a fraction of the total amount defrauded, his role was essential because his participation served to obscure the Costa Rican organizers from ordinary view. In addition, the use of his United States address and financial institution based in the United States provided a level of comfort for the victims that lulled them into a sense of security.
Reyes received four checks totaling $53,000 from the Missouri resident and deposited them into his personal financial accounts. After the deposits, Reyes electronically transmitted a portion of the funds to an individual in Costa Rica and kept the remaining funds for his personal use.
Reyes also admitted engaging in similar conduct with a resident of the Northern District of Alabama and received $45,000 from that elderly individual.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to combat elder fraud nationwide. Elder fraud and other fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Red Lake Heroin Conspiracy That Resulted in the Shooting Deaths of Two IndividualsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of KRISTOPHER SULLIVAN, a/k/a “Blood Money,” 24, for his role in a heroin distribution conspiracy that resulted in the shooting deaths of two individuals. SULLIVAN entered his guilty plea before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. SULLIVAN’s co-defendants BRYAN BOARDMAN, a/k/a “Boon,” 25, and FRANKLIN JACKSON, a/k/a “Frankie,” 23, previously pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute heroin.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, between October 1, 2018, and October 21, 2018, SULLIVAN conspired with BOARDMAN and JACKSON to distribute heroin on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. In the early morning hours of October 21, 2018, SULLIVAN, BOARDMAN, and JACKSON met in a trailer home on the Red Lake Indian Reservation belonging to JACKSON’s girlfriend. The three defendants made preparations to sell heroin later that day, including contacting potential customers to let them know that heroin was available for sale at the trailer home. The defendants’ drug trafficking activities were interrupted at approximately 6:30 a.m. that morning when three armed, masked men broke into the trailer home in an apparent armed robbery. BOARDMAN drew a 9 millimeter pistol and fired eight shots, killing two of the intruders. The third intruder was wounded in the leg by the gunfire and fled from the scene.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey S. Paulsen and Julie E. Allyn are prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
KRISTOPHER SULLIVAN, a/k/a “Blood Money,” 24
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to distribute heroin, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Federal Grand Jury Criminal Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Trent Shores announced today the results of the June 2019 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Jonathan Michael Baker. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Distribution of Child Pornography; Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. Baker, 40, of Salem, West Virginia, is charged with using social media to entice an individual that he believed was under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with knowingly distributing a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and he is charged with knowingly attempting to receive visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The Bristow Police Department is the investigative agency.
Steven Ronald Belcher and Alisa Maria Belcher. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Transportation of a Stolen Firearm; Pledging a Stolen Firearm as a Security for a Loan. Steven Belcher, 30, of Princeton, West Virginia, is charged with being a felon in possession of a stolen Springfield Armory 9 x 19 caliber pistol. Alisa Belcher, 30, of Princeton, West Virginia is charged with aiding and abetting Steven Belcher in the crime. The two are also charged with aiding and abetting one another when they transported the stolen firearm across state lines from West Virginia to Oklahoma. Finally, Alisa Belcher is charged with pledging as security for a loan the stolen firearm at a pawnshop. Steven Belcher is charged with aiding and abetting Alisa Belcher when she pawned the firearm. The Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.
Berry Allen Leerdam-Superseding Indictment. Felon in Possession of Firearms. Leerdam, 58, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus .357 magnum caliber pistol frame and a Taurus .9 mm semiautomatic pistol frame. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Air Marshals are the investigative agencies.
Jana Renee Parrish. Attempted Bank Robbery. Parrish, 42, residence unknown, is charged with using force, violence and intimidation while attempting to rob a Bank of America in Tulsa. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.
Ricardo Perez-Rocha. Drug Conspiracy. Perez-Rocha, 42, of Bakersfield, California, is charged with conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigative agency.
Agustin Nieto Regalado. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Possession of False Lawful Permanent Resident Card. Regalado, 46, of Tulsa, also known as Marcos Diaz, is charged with using social media to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. He is also charged with knowingly possessing a fraudulent permanent resident card. The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) are the investigative agencies.
Viviano Rodriguez-Escalante. Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. Rodriguez-Escalante, 33, of Tulsa, is charged with reentry of a removed alien, having returned to the United States unlawfully after being deported Oct. 27, 2017, at Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency.
Dustin Wayne Thompson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Thompson, 26, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock .45 caliber handgun and associated ammunition. Upon investigation, police allegedly found a switch affixed to the handgun that allowed the weapon to fire in fully automatic mode. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency.
Ira Lee Wilkins. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Wilkins, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Highpoint C9 .9 mm pistol and associated ammunition. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency.
Federal Charges Filed in Wake of Fatal Robstown CrashRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old Mexican National has been charged with unlawful transportation of aliens resulting in death following the fatal alien smuggling attempt in which six people were left for dead, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Authorities arrested Ivan Dario Puga-Moreno, of Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on June 6, 2019, in Houston. He is expected to make an initial appearance June 10 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Corpus Christi, authorities discovered a wrecked Chevrolet Suburban in a ditch in Robstown on June 5. Six people were found deceased at the scene with nine more requiring hospitalization due to their significant injuries, according to the charges.
The complaint alleges the subsequent investigation revealed Puga-Moreno was the driver of the wrecked vehicle and was attempting to smuggle approximately 18 illegal aliens from South Texas to Houston. Puga-Moreno allegedly fled the scene following the accident.
Puga-Moreno was smuggling the illegal aliens with the assistance of a brush guide from his hometown in Mexico, according to the charges.
If convicted, Puga-Moreno could potentially face the death penalty.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Coast Guard, Border Patrol, police departments in Robstown and Corpus Christi, Nueces County Sherriff’s Office and Robstown Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Cody Barnes and Jeremy Fugate are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is an accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Fairburn Man Sentenced for Stealing Guns in Rooster BurglaryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fairburn, South Dakota, man convicted of Theft of a Firearm was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Zephaniah Thompson, a/k/a Zephariah Thompson, age 29, was sentenced on June 6, 2019, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stems from Thompson aiding and abetting another individual in breaking into The Rooster sporting goods store in Rapid City, and stealing 24 firearms in August 2018. The firearms were taken to the defendant’s residence, and a Dremel tool was utilized to remove serial numbers from several of the firearms. Some of the firearms were later traded for methamphetamine. During the investigation, 22 of the 24 stolen guns were recovered by law enforcement.
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 South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Thompson was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eight Defendants Charged in Joint Federal and State Investigation of Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Eight defendants are facing criminal charges as part of a joint federal and state investigation of a cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. Criminal complaints unsealed in the United States District Court in Des Moines and United States District Court for Central District of California charge eight defendants with federal drug offenses. Many of the federal defendants were arrested today, and preliminary and detention hearings will be held early next week.
The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Bryan VanDuen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Omaha Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Dana Wingert, Chief of Police of the Des Moines Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Story County Sheriff’s Office; and the Altoona Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Kristin Herrera represent the government.
Eight federal defendants are charged across two complaint affidavits, stemming from a months-long investigation of RAYLON CANADA and his associated cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. The primary complaint (Case Nos. 4:19-MJ-357 through 363) alleges that CANADA, 28, of Des Moines, has been involved in the distribution of cocaine since before October 2018. On March 26, 2019, the day prior to a law enforcement action that resulted in the arrest of numerous members of the Des Moines-based criminal street gang C-Block, law enforcement obtained court authorization to intercept telephone communications of CANADA.
The primary complaint alleges that CANADA began receiving cocaine in the mail from a California-based source of supply in April 2019. This source was later identified as PEDRO BUSTAMANTE MACHUCA, 28, of Los Angeles, who was arrested today in conjunction with the Des Moines arrests. BUSTAMANTE will have his initial appearance in Central District of California before reporting to Des Moines.
The complaints identify additional customers and redistributors of controlled substances who have been charged with drug conspiracy and distribution:
• TERIKAH MEIKETIA MAHANEY, 26, of Des Moines
• MICHELLE LEE MIRELES, 39, of Des Moines
• ERIC ELMONT BOWMAN, 33, of Des Moines
• KATARIO WADE PATTON, 48, of West Des Moines
• MARVIN HAYGOOD, JR., 33, of Des Moines
• JOSEPH MANUEL JONES, 47, of Des MoinesThe months-long investigation culminated in the execution of federal narcotics and firearms search warrants on June 6, 2019, at the following locations:
• 1200 block of East 18th Street, Des Moines
• 2700 block of Southwest 9th Street, Des Moines
• 3000 block of Wright Street, Des Moines
• 2800 block of 53rd Street, Des Moines
• 400 block of East Pleasant View Drive, Des Moines
• 400 block of East Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines
• 4000 block of EP True Parkway, West Des Moines
• 2800 block of Southeast 19th Street, Des Moines
• 900 block of Northeast 56th Street, Pleasant Hill
• 4000 block of Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines
• 2800 block of Southeast 20th Street, Des Moines
• 600 block of Cutler Avenue, Des MoinesThe charges in the complaints carry a maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Eaton Rapids Brothers Found Guilty of Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that a federal jury in Kalamazoo found Adam Christopher Collard, 35, and Joseph Alan Collard, 31, both of Eaton Rapids, guilty of multiple child pornography charges. The jury convicted Adam Collard of receiving and possessing child pornography, and Adam Collard of attempting to receive and actually receiving and possessing child pornography. Adam Collard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. He has a prior state conviction for possession of child pornography. Joseph Collard, on the other hand, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
In September of 2015, the FBI executed federal search warrants at the Collard residence in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where the brothers resided with their parents, and at a campsite in Grand Haven, Michigan, where Adam Collard was camping at the time. A forensic examination of over 30 electronic media devices seized by the FBI revealed that Adam Collard and Joseph Collard used the internet to download images and videos of child pornography onto computers that they solely owned. The FBI also located a document titled, "The Pedophile Sex Manual" on Adam Collard’s laptop.
After two days of hearing testimony and seeing evidence admitted at trial, the jury convicted the brothers on all charges against them. The defendants are in federal custody pending their sentencing date on September 23, 2019 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: wwww.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
The FBI conducted this investigation. The case was tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexis M. Sanford and Daniel T. McGraw.
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Easton Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Brandon Hosford, 21, of Easton, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing, transporting, and receiving child pornography. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution. Hosford pleaded guilty on October 2, 2018.
According to court records, Hosford sent images of child pornography over the internet on two occasions in October 2017, and received child pornography over the internet in November 2017. He also was found in possession of child pornography in April 2017 and in January 2018. Some of the images Hosford possessed and transmitted depicted children under the age of 12.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and the Presque Isle and Fort Kent Police Departments.
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. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
East Hollywood-Based Doctor and Patient Recruiter Found Guilty in $33 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal jury has found an East Hollywood-based doctor and patient recruiter guilty today for their roles in a $33 million Medicare fraud scheme in which Medicare was billed for clinic, home health, hospice services and durable medical equipment that patients did not need or did not receive.
Following a seven-day trial, Robert A. Glazer, of North Hollywood, the owner and operator of the East Hollywood-based Glazer Clinic, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and 12 counts of health care fraud. Co-defendant Marina Merino, 62, of Los Angeles, a marketer who recruited patients in exchange for kickback payments, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and eight counts of health care fraud.
Glazer and Merino are scheduled to be sentenced on September 9 by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II. Each defendant faces the possibility of decades in federal prison.
Glazer and Merino were charged in a 2015 superseding indictment, along with Angela Avetisyan, the officer manager of Glazer Clinic and co-owner of Fifth Avenue Home Health located in East Hollywood, and Ashot Minasyan, co-owner of Fifth Avenue.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Merino and other marketers received payments from Avetisyan and Minasyan to recruit Medicare beneficiaries to the Glazer Clinic. Thereafter, Glazer billed Medicare for office services and tests that patients did not need or did not receive. Glazer also referred Medicare patients for a variety of services, including home health and hospice services, as well as ordered durable medical equipment that patients did not need or did not receive. Based on referrals from Glazer, Avetisyan and Minasyan billed Medicare for home health services that were not rendered or were not medically necessary through their company, Fifth Avenue. Avetisyan, who worked as an office manager at the Glazer Clinic, also sold Glazer’s referrals to other home health and durable medical equipment agencies. Together, the defendants and their co-conspirators submitted and caused to be submitted claims of approximately $33 million, of which Medicare paid approximately $22 million, the evidence showed.
Avetisyan and Minasyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in October 2018, and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 10.
The case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, the IRS, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Claire Yan, Robyn Pullio, and Emily Culbertson of the Fraud Section.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Assault and Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Discharging, Brandishing, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
William Hawk, Sr., age 30, was indicted on May 14, 2019. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 31, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 11, 2019, Hawk assaulted an individual by discharging a rifle at the victim with the intent to do bodily harm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
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 charges are merely accusations and Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Durable Medical Equipment Company Agrees to Settle ADA ComplaintRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Lincare, Inc., a durable medical equipment company which operates approximately 800 centers in 48 states, including 27 centers in Virginia, has agreed to settle an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint that it failed to provide a sign language interpreter for an appointment with a patient who is deaf.
Lincare, which is headquartered in Florida, is a supplier of oxygen, durable medical equipment and other respiratory care products and related services.
The allegations involved a patient with sleep apnea, who lives in Fairfax County and is deaf. She requested that Lincare provide a sign language interpreter for an appointment at which she expected to rent a new Continuous Positive Airway Press (CPAP) device and learn about its operation, maintenance, payment options, and warranty. Lincare failed to provide the legally required auxiliary aids or services, and as a result has agreed to pay a total of $20,000 and take remedial action to resolve the complaint.
“When Congress passed the ADA, it recognized that discrimination against individuals with disabilities persisted in the provision of healthcare services,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case demonstrates this office’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and ensuring that they are able to communicate with health care providers, including when patients receive critical information about life sustaining medical equipment. We are pleased that Lincare has agreed to take steps to ensure that all of its centers, nationwide, will provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.”
To resolve this complaint, Lincare agreed to adopt nationwide policies that will make its services accessible; designate an ADA Administrator who will be responsible for ensuring Lincare’s compliance with the ADA; provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids and services for patients and companions who need them; and provide training for its personnel on the ADA’s requirements. Lincare also agreed to pay $10,000 to the aggrieved individual, as well as a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Gordon, who is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The civil claims settled by this Americans with Disabilities Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA, including “ADA Requirements: Effective Communication” and ADA Business BRIEF:
Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings.
For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit http://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383. ADA complaints may be filed by email to [email protected].
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Dominican Republic Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on June 4, 2019, United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Daniel Silvestre-Ubri, age 40, to 120 months of imprisonment and a five-year term of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute heroin and crystal methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Silvestre-Ubri, his co-defendant and brother, Willis DeLaRosa-Baez, and other individuals conspired to distribute heroin and crystal methamphetamine in Pennsylvania between February 4, 2016 and April 6, 2016. Silvestre-Ubri admitted to supplying other drug dealers with narcotics, and to trafficking in excess of 2.6 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of heroin, the latter of which is the equivalent of 120,000 potentially fatal doses of heroin.
Silvestre-Ubri, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, entered the United States illegally and will be deported upon the conclusion of his sentence. He was indicted on May 17, 2016, and has remained in custody since his arrest on March 8, 2018. His co-defendant, DeLaRosa, was convicted and sentenced to 80 months of imprisonment. DeLaRosa also is expected to be deported upon the conclusion of his sentence.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case also was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Jesus Leonardo Castillo-Martinez, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2019.
In 2010, Castillo-Martinez was encountered by law enforcement while serving a sentence in New Hampshire for drug distribution. Upon completion of his sentence, Castillo-Martinez was placed into removal proceedings and on April 16, 2013, and was deported to the Dominican Republic.
In 2016, Castillo-Martinez was encountered by law enforcement and determined to be illegally present in the United States. His previous order of removal was reinstated and on Nov. 1, 2016, he was deported to the Dominican Republic.
In June 2018, law enforcement officers in Billerica arrested Castillo-Martinez on a drug distribution charge. Castillo Martinez was determined to be illegally present in the United States and charged with illegal reentry. He was indicted in federal court and has since been in the custody.
Castillo-Martinez faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 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 Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Division I Men’s College Basketball Coaches Sentenced for Their Roles in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LAMONT EVANS, a former assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina (“South Carolina”) and Oklahoma State University (“OSU”), and EMANUEL RICHARDSON, a/k/a “Book,” a former assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Arizona (“Arizona”), were each sentenced to three months in prison, and that ANTHONY BLAND, a/k/a “Tony,” a former assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Southern California (“USC”), was sentenced to a term of probation, each for accepting cash bribes from athlete advisers in exchange for using their influence over the student-athletes they coached to retain the services of the advisers paying the bribes. The defendants were sentenced this week in Manhattan federal court by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Anthony Bland, Emanuel Richardson, and Lamont Evans, all former men’s basketball coaches at NCAA Division I universities, abused their positions as mentors and coaches for personal gain. They took bribes from unscrupulous agents and financial advisers to steer their players to those agents and advisers. For their crimes, Richardson and Evans will serve time in federal prison, while Bland will serve a sentence of probation. These convictions and sentencings send a strong message that bribery in the world of college basketball is a crime, and that those who participate in such crimes will be held accountable for their corrupt actions.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, Indictment, Superseding Indictment, evidence presented during the trial, and statements made in Manhattan federal court:
Overview of the Scheme
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) have been investigating the criminal influence of money on coaches and student-athletes who participate in intercollegiate basketball governed by the NCAA. The investigation revealed that numerous basketball coaches at NCAA Division I universities, including EVANS, RICHARDSON, and BLAND, received bribes and agreed to receive bribes in exchange for agreeing to pressure and exert influence over student-athletes under their control to retain the services of the bribe payers, including Christian Dawkins, Merl Code, and Munish Sood, once the athletes entered the National Basketball Association (“NBA”).
Beginning in 2016, and continuing into September 2017, when EVANS was arrested, EVANS received approximately $22,000 in cash bribes from current and aspiring financial advisers and/or managers, including Dawkins and Sood, in exchange for EVANS’s agreement to exert his influence over certain student-athletes EVANS coached at South Carolina and OSU to retain the services of the bribe payers once those players entered the NBA. In one meeting recorded during the investigation, EVANS explained how “every guy I recruit and get is my personal kid,” and that “the parents believe in me and what I do . . . that’s why I say, if I need X, so if I do take X for that, it’s going to generate [business] toward you guys,” referring to the bribe payers. EVANS also stated in a call recorded during the investigation how this arrangement was “generating more wealth” for the scheme participants, because they were “able to scratch my back, scratch yours, and help each other with different things and . . . at the same time get compensated and then . . . just go from there.” In return for the cash bribes EVANS received, EVANS, including at in-person meetings, attempted to pressure a player at OSU, and a relative of a different player attending South Carolina, into retaining the financial services of the bribe payers.
Beginning in or around February 2017, and continuing into September 2017, when RICHARDSON was arrested, RICHARDSON received approximately $20,000 in cash bribes from Dawkins and Sood in exchange for RICHARDSON’s agreement to exert his influence over certain student-athletes RICHARDSON coached at Arizona to retain the services of Dawkins and Sood once those players entered the NBA. For example, in discussing his commitment to steering Arizona players to retain the bribe payers upon entering the NBA, RICHARDSON told an undercover FBI agent and others, during a recorded meeting, “I used to let kids talk to three or four guys, but I was like, why would you do that? You know that’s like taking a kid to a BMW dealer, a Benz dealer, and a Porsche dealer. They like them all . . . You have to pick for them.” In return for the cash bribes RICHARDSON received, RICHARDSON facilitated a meeting between the bribe payers, including Dawkins and Sood, and a relative of a player attending Arizona for the purpose of pressuring that player to retain the financial services of the bribe payers.
Beginning in or around July 2017, and continuing into September 2017, when BLAND was arrested, Dawkins paid a cash bribe to BLAND in exchange for BLAND’s agreement to exert his influence over certain student-athletes BLAND coached at USC, and to retain Dawkins’s and Sood’s business management and/or financial advisory services once those players entered the NBA. In particular, as BLAND told Dawkins and Sood during a recorded meeting, in return for their bribe payment, “I definitely can get the players. . . . And I can definitely mold the players and put them in the lap of you guys.” As part of the scheme, BLAND facilitated a meeting between Dawkins and Sood and a relative of a player attending USC, and a meeting between Dawkins and Sood and a relative of a USC recruit, both for the purpose of pressuring those players to retain the financial services of Dawkins and Sood.
* * *
In addition to the prison sentences, Judge Ramos ordered LAMONT EVANS, 41, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, to pay forfeiture in the amount of $22,000, EMANUEL RICHARDSON, 46, of Tucson, Arizona, to pay forfeiture in the amount of $20,000, and ANTHONY BLAND, 39, of Gardena, California, to pay forfeiture in the amount of $4,100. Each of the three defendants was sentenced to two years of supervised release, and EVANS and BLAND were also each sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
Christian Dawkins and Merl Code were each found guilty by a unanimous jury on May 8, 2019, of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Dawkins was also convicted of an additional count of bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2019, before Judge Ramos.
Munish Sood, a financial adviser, previously pled guilty, pursuant to a cooperation agreement with the Government, in connection with this scheme and is awaiting sentence.
Mr. Berman praised the work of the FBI and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert L. Boone, Noah Solowiejczyk, and Eli J. Mark are in charge of the prosecution.
District Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Federal Firearms and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricardo Burnette, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison on firearms and narcotics offenses stemming from an investigation in which law enforcement recovered three firearms and numerous types of narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Burnette pled guilty on March 22, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. He was sentenced by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on October 30, 2018, MPD and ATF executed a search warrant at Burnette’s residence in Northwest Washington, D.C., and recovered numerous items, to include an assault rifle, a revolver, and a semiautomatic pistol, as well as ballistic vests and numerous types of ammunition, including four high-capacity magazines loaded with more than 90 rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered a number of different types of narcotics, to include opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, liquid PCP, as well as numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Burnette was arrested at his residence when the search warrant was executed and has been detained since the time of his arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from ATF and MPD. They also commended the efforts of those who worked in the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Willis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane, and Paralegal Specialists Rommel Pachoca and Teesha Tobias.
District Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Federal Firearms and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricardo Burnette, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison on firearms and narcotics offenses stemming from an investigation in which law enforcement recovered three firearms and numerous types of narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Burnette pled guilty on March 22, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. He was sentenced by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on October 30, 2018, MPD and ATF executed a search warrant at Burnette’s residence in Northwest Washington, D.C., and recovered numerous items, to include an assault rifle, a revolver, and a semiautomatic pistol, as well as ballistic vests and numerous types of ammunition, including four high-capacity magazines loaded with more than 90 rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered a number of different types of narcotics, to include opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, liquid PCP, as well as numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Burnette was arrested at his residence when the search warrant was executed and has been detained since the time of his arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from ATF and MPD. They also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney's Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Willis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane, and Paralegal Specialists Rommel Pachoca and Teesha Tobias.
Defendant Found Guilty for Making False Statements in Garland Shooting InvestigationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On June 4, 2019, Abdul Khabir Wahid, 53, of Phoenix, was found guilty by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi of making a false statement to the FBI during an investigation involving international terrorism, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2), and tampering with a witness, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3). Wahid’s trial was held before Judge Tuchi from February 26, 2019 to March 1, 2019, after Wahid waived a trial by jury.
Wahid committed the offenses during the FBI investigation of the May 3, 2015, ISIS-related attack on the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest in Garland, Texas. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi drove from Arizona to Texas to conduct the attack, where they stopped their car near the contest location and began firing semiautomatic rifles at security personnel and law enforcement officers. One of their bullets struck and injured a security guard. Police officers shot and killed Simpson and Soofi during the firefight. Wahid did not travel to Texas and was not directly involved in the attack.
On May 1, 2015, just days before the attack, Simpson instructed Wahid to deliver a key and an envelope to a third person. During a May 6, 2015 interview with FBI agents, Wahid made false statements and concealed these facts, despite having delivered the key and envelope, as instructed by Simpson. Also, between May 4 and July 8, 2015, Wahid tried to persuade Soofi's brother not to speak with the FBI, to lie about seeing Simpson and Soofi with guns, and to lie about observing ISIS propaganda videos in Simpson's and Soofi's apartment.
Judge Tuchi found the delay “caused agents to apply scarce investigative resources to hunt for ‘needles in haystacks,’” and that Wahid’s false statement misdirected investigative assets, caused delays, and “in turn resulted in the agent’s failure to recover some evidence which was disposed of in the interim.”
“The guilty verdict for purposefully obstructing a terrorism investigation into an attack on our nation’s homeland in the name of ISIS, sends a strong message to those who support terrorists. Our office has an unwavering commitment to combatting terrorism and prosecuting all perpetrators who impede terrorism investigations and tamper with witnesses,” said U.S. Attorney Bailey. “I want to thank the FBI for the tremendous effort that went into the underlying investigation, as well as the brave law enforcement officials in Garland whose quick action during the attack prevented a much larger tragedy.”
Wahid is scheduled for sentencing on August 26, 2019, before Judge Tuchi. Wahid’s convictions carry a statutory maximum sentence of 28 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Joseph Koehler of the District of Arizona.
Courtland Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of PHILLIP MARK REINHART, 38, to 40 years in prison for production and attempted production of child pornography. REINHART, who pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019, was sentenced before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between May 2017 and March 2018, REINHART created and attempted to create sexually explicit images of two minors who were seven and nine years old at the time of the offense. REINHARD then distributed those images, along with other images and videos of child pornography, via Kik Messenger.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Nicollet County Sheriff's Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
PHILLIP MARK REINHART, 38
Courtland, Minn.
Convicted:
- Production of child pornography, 1 count
- Attempted production of child pornography, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 480 months in prison
- 20 years of supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Couple Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fredericksburg couple pleaded guilty late yesterday to straw purchasing firearms and unlawful possession of a firearm by an individual previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
“Every straw purchased firearm is a gun that can wind up in the hands of a prohibited person,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will continue to use federal firearms laws to prosecute straw purchasers and hold them accountable for their role in trafficking illegally purchased firearms. I want to commend the ATF for their commitment to investigating these important cases.”
According to court documents, Tina Marie Cochran, 41, straw purchased several firearms on behalf of Brant Wilson Shorden, 43, who was prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms as a result of three prior convictions of misdemeanor domestic violence here in Virginia. Following the purchase of these firearms, Shorden posted pictures and videos of himself and Cochran shooting and brandishing the firearms at their residence in Fredericksburg.
Shorden pleaded guilty to possessing firearms following a conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Cochran pleaded guilty to making false statements with respect to the purchase of firearms and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. Both will be sentenced on September 6. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas U. Murphy II is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-138.
Convicted Felons Indicted for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – An effort focused on domestic violence in gun crimes resulted in federal charges against five defendants, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
In separate and unrelated indictments, the grand jury charged LYNN GADSON, NICHOLAS CAMPBELL, KERRY ALFORD, KELVIN STRICKLAND, MONTEZ SPRADLEY, ANDRAE CROOK, as convicted felons in possession of firearms. These investigations originated from local law enforcement responding to domestic violence calls.
The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“These indictments represent the hard work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” Town said. “This is the new normal in that local investigators and prosecutors are cooperating with federal law enforcement more than ever before to get these trigger-pullers off of the streets. Felons who possess firearms should expect to find themselves in federal court where, upon conviction, a federal sentence to a federal penitentiary is their reward.”
“ATF’s priority of reducing violent crime focuses on individuals responsible for domestic violence incidents involving firearms,” Watson stated.
In FY18, the United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Alabama prosecutions of illegal firearms cases rose 27% to 286, which is the largest number of illegal firearms prosecutions ever recorded in the Northern District of Alabama and accounted for about half of all federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office. The previous high was 225, which was recorded in FY17. Nationally, the prosecution of illegal firearms defendants accounts for approximately 1 in 6 of all federal prosecutions. Project Safe Neighborhoods, the premier violent crimes reduction program reinvigorated by the Department of Justice in 2017, has continued to focus on habitual felony offenders engaged in violent behavior and the Department continues to break its own records for federal prosecutions as a result.
Convicted Felon Indicted on Drug Trafficking, Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man arrested in early May during an investigation by Newport and Warwick Police into the alleged theft of two firearms from a Newport residence has been indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearm charges.
Brian Thompson, 45, was arrested on May 8, 2019, after one of the reported stolen firearms was allegedly located under the rear seat of his pick-up truck during a traffic stop effectuated by Warwick Police, in conjunction with the Newport Police investigation. Also allegedly seized from Thompson was 19 grams of crack cocaine, $4,436 in cash, and various items used in the distribution and use of crack cocaine.
A court-authorized search warrant executed at Thompson’s Warwick residence the day of his arrest resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of cocaine, marijuana, assorted pills, $26,400 in cash, 64 gift cards, jewelry, and various items used in the packaging and distribution of drugs.
Thompson, previously convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, and who had been detained in state custody since his arrest on state charges on May 8, 2019, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Thompson is now detained in federal custody.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Thompson’s indictment is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Newport Police Chief Gary T. Silva, Warwick Police Chief Colonel Rick J. Rathbun, and Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman acknowledges and thanks the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their assistance to the Newport and Warwick Police Departments in the investigation of this matter and the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force for their assistance in preparing this matter for prosecution.
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Cincinnati Police Captain Charged FederallyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Captain with the Cincinnati Police Department was arrested yesterday afternoon on a charge of theft and bribery.
Michael Savard, 52, of Anderson Township, appeared in court today at 1pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz. The case was unsealed at that time.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the charge.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Savard is a 25-year veteran of the Cincinnati police force. He has served as a captain overseeing the Special Services Section for approximately two years and was a lieutenant for 14 years.
While under investigation by the IRS and Cincinnati Police for potential criminal offenses related to financial benefits received as a result of his employment with the Cincinnati Police Department, it is alleged that Savard asked for and received $5,000 from a sergeant within the police department in exchange for Savard’s promise to retire from the Cincinnati Police Department so that the sergeant could be promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
The sergeant was next in line on a promotion eligibility list that was due to expire this month. Unless promoted prior to the expiration of the promotion eligibility list, the sergeant would have to retake a civil service promotional exam and might then lose his currently-held top position on the promotion list.
It is alleged that Savard told the sergeant he was going to work out a deal to plead guilty to federal charges and was thinking of retiring in July. He allegedly told the sergeant he would retire earlier – in June, prior to the sergeant’s expiration on the promotion list – if the sergeant paid Savard $5,000.
Savard accepted the $5,000 in cash yesterday and was immediately arrested by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division, working in conjunction with the Cincinnati Police Department.
Theft and bribery is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation and Cincinnati Police Department, as well as Deputy Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Singer, who are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
We are unable to comment further on the federal investigation, as it is ongoing.
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Bronx Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme Involving Business Email Compromises and Romance Scams Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MUFTAU ADAMU, a/k/a “Muftau Adams,” a/k/a “Muftau Iddrissu,” was sentenced today to 51 months in prison in connection with a fraud scheme based in the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) involving the theft of over $10 million through business email compromises and romance scams that targeted elderly victims from at least 2014 through 2018. ADAMU pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on February 12, 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox. U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Muftau Adamu and his co-defendants conspired with others in Ghana to steal millions of dollars from businesses and vulnerable individuals across the United States through business email compromises and romance scams. Today’s sentencing sends a message that those who facilitate frauds will face significant time in jail. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute such fraud schemes, no matter where they originate.”
According to allegations in the Complaints and the Indictment filed in the case:
Between 2014 and 2018, ADAMU, TOUREY AHMED RUFAI, a/k/a “Joe Thompson,” a/k/a “Joe Terry,” a/k/a “Rufai A Tourey,” a/k/a “Ahmed Rufai Tourey,” and PRINCE NANA AGGREY were members of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in Ghana that committed a series of business email compromises and romance scams against individuals and businesses located across the United States, including in the Southern District of New York.
The objective of the Enterprise’s business email compromise fraud scheme was to deceive businesses into wiring funds into accounts controlled by the Enterprise. First, members of the Enterprise created email accounts with slight variations of email accounts used by employees of a victim company or third parties engaged in business with a company to “spoof” or impersonate those employees or third parties. These fake email accounts were specifically designed to trick other employees of the company with access to the company’s finances into thinking the fake email accounts were authentic. The fake email accounts were used to send instructions to wire money to certain bank accounts and also included fake authorization letters for the wire transfers that contained forged signatures of company employees. By using this method of deception, the Enterprise sought to trick the victims into transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients of the funds as part of normal business operations, when, in fact, the bank accounts were under the control of members of the Enterprise, including ADAMU, RUFAI, and AGGREY.
The Enterprise conducted the romance scams by using electronic messages sent via email, text messaging, or online dating websites that deluded the victims, many of whom were vulnerable men and women over the age of 60 who lived alone, into believing the victim was in a romantic relationship with a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had gained the trust of the victims using the fake identity, they used false pretenses to cause the victims to wire money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise. At times, the members of the Enterprise also used false pretenses to cause the victims to receive funds into the victims’ bank accounts, which, unbeknownst to the victims, were fraud proceeds, and to transfer those funds to accounts under the control of members of the Enterprise. The members of the Enterprise, posing as the romantic interest of the victims, also introduced the victims to other individuals purporting to be, for example, consultants or lawyers, who then used false pretenses to cause the victims to wire money to bank accounts controlled by members of the Enterprise.
ADAMU, RUFAI, AGGREY, and their co-conspirators received or otherwise directed the receipt of more than $10 million in fraud proceeds from victims of the Enterprise in bank accounts that they controlled in the Bronx, New York. Some of these bank accounts were opened using fake names, stolen identities, or shell companies in order to avoid detection and hide the true identities of the members of the Enterprise controlling those accounts. Once the defendants received the fraud proceeds in bank accounts under their control, the defendants withdrew, transported, and laundered those fraud proceeds to other members of the Enterprise, including those located in Ghana.
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In addition to the prison term, ADAMU, 30, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $114,281.51 and pay restitution of $443,000 to victims.
RUFAI, 33, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 9, 2019, and was sentenced by Judge Cote on April 12, 2019, to 48 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $109,868.61 and pay restitution of $320,449.97 to victims.
AGGREY, 43, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 28, 2019, and was sentenced by Judge Cote on May 10, 2019, to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $71,595.60 and pay restitution of $431,884.00 to victims.
U.S. Attorney Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Mr. Berman also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, for their helpful assistance with the investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Sagar K. Ravi and Andrew D. Beaty are in charge of the prosecution.
Box Elder man sentenced in domestic assaultRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A judge on Wednesday sentenced a Box Elder man to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release in the assault of his domestic partner on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Larry Ray Denny, Jr., 46, pleaded guilty in January to domestic assault by habitual offender.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The assault occurred on Oct. 15, 2017, the prosecution said in court records. The victim told law enforcement that Denny had hit her. The victim had swelling on an eye, blood on her forehead and red marks on her neck. Denny had two prior domestic assault convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassady Adams and Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement.
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Belmont Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Samuel Morris, 29, of Belmont, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Morris regularly obtained fentanyl from a source in Lawrence, Massachusetts and then sold the fentanyl in New Hampshire.
On March 9, 2018, investigators learned that Morris intended to travel from New Hampshire to Lawrence to obtain drugs. Agents conducted surveillance of Morris and observed him driving away from a known drug runner. After Morris picked up the drugs, he telephoned his source and questioned the packaging of the drugs. The source told him the drugs were wrapped in “green paper.”
Shortly thereafter, a New Hampshire State Trooper stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and later located approximately 148 grams of fentanyl packaged in green paper in the vehicle. Over the course of the wiretap investigations, investigators allege that Morris purchased approximately 1320 grams of fentanyl.
Morris is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2019.
“The harmful results of interstate fentanyl trafficking are seen each day throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Those who choose to bring fentanyl into the Granite State should understand that there will be substantial consequences for their unlawful actions. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest, and prosecute fentanyl traffickers who do business in our state.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe and Debra M. Walsh.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Bellevue Man Sentenced on Two Methamphetamine CasesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Phillip Marlowe Donovan, 33, of Bellevue, was sentenced today to federal prison in two cases by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Donovan was sentenced to ten years (120 months) for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. Donovan was indicted in that case in November of 2017. In a second case that was indicted in 2018, Donovan was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months (262 months) for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine and a consecutive six months for committing the offense while he was on pretrial release in the first case. The sentences for both cases were ordered to be served concurrently (at the same time), resulting in a total sentence of 22 years and four months (268 months). Following the prison terms, Donovan will serve five years on supervised release.
Information provided to law enforcement indicated that between January of 2014 and September 30, 2016, Donovan was involved in the distribution of at least 500 grams (approximately 18 ounces) of methamphetamine mixture in the Lincoln and Omaha areas. Donovan pleaded guilty to that offense. On July 18, 2018, when he was awaiting sentencing on the first case, Omaha Police went to an Omaha hotel looking for Donovan who was wanted for violating the terms of his release on the first case. When officers tried to arrest him, Donovan tried to run from them. As Donovan ran, he pulled a pistol out of his waistband. Donovan dropped the gun when he tripped and fell. A search warrant was executed on his hotel room and car. Officers found at least 498 grams (approximately 18 ounces) of actual (pure) methamphetamine in Donovan’s car and 13 ½ grams of methamphetamine mixture in his hotel room.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force and the Omaha Police Department.
Ballwin Man Pleads Guilty to Causing Death by Distributing MorphineRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Connor Wentz, 26, of Ballwin, MO, entered a guilty plea today to one count of distribution of morphine that caused the death of another in front of United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court documents, on December 22, 2015, a 19-year-old victim was discovered unresponsive in a home in Chesterfield, MO. Emergency medical assistance was summoned, but the victim was pronounced deceased. A subsequent post-mortem examination and other investigation revealed that the victim died as a result of morphine intoxication.
Connor Wentz distributed the morphine that killed the victim. Wentz is scheduled to appear for sentencing on September 3, 2019. Wentz faces a sentence of 15 years.
This case was investigated by the Chesterfield Police Department.
Augusta Man Sentenced to 1½ Years for Lying to a Federal Gun DealerRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced Jason Morgan, 24, of Augusta, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to 1½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee. Morgan pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019.
Court records reveal that on May 26, 2017, Morgan purchased a Smith & Wesson .380 semi-automatic pistol from a federal firearms licensee in Augusta. In connection with the purchase, Morgan completed a Firearms Transaction Record stating that he was the actual buyer. In fact, he purchased the firearm for another person from whom he had previously bought illegal drugs and who gave him the money for the purchase.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maine State Police, with assistance provided by the U.S. Border Patrol. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal and state levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Justice Department 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.
Attorney Indicted for Investment FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – David Kaplan, age 52, of Zephyr Cove, Nevada appeared before a Colorado U.S. Magistrate Judge in Denver on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, after being transferred from Reno, Nevada, where he was arrested for securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven Osborne and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips.
According to the indictment, beginning around September 14, 2014, and continuing until approximately April 2016, Kaplan operated a scheme to defraud and to obtain money and property from investors by means of materially false and fraudulent representations. Kaplan obtained money from investors by representing that investors could invest risk-free in off-shore investments with a sometimes guaranteed return on investment of 10% per month. Kaplan utilized entities, including several charitable organizations, which he established and controlled as part of the scheme. He also used his position as an attorney to gain the trust of investors and used his attorney trust account to create the pretense that investor monies were held in trust. Kaplan made payments to investors in order to lull them into a sense of legitimacy and to encourage the recruitment of additional investors.
Kaplan then made payments to himself and others for personal expenses, from accounts which he controlled, in which proceeds of the scheme were deposited. He similarly made payments to entities, corporations, and foundations he controlled, from accounts he controlled, in which proceeds of the scheme were deposited. Kaplan never disclosed to investors that: he would receive a financial benefit from the investment; the terms of his compensation; that he would divert investor monies for his personal benefit through entities he controlled; the pertinent risks associated with the securities; or his relationship with purported beneficiaries of investor funds.
Kaplan is charged with 7 counts of securities fraud, 36 counts of wire fraud, 9 counts of mail fraud, and 19 counts of money laundering. Each count of securities fraud carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Each count of wire fraud and mail fraud carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the amount of gain or loss (whichever is greater). Money laundering carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 or not more than twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jaime Pena and Tim Neff.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Thursday 6 June 2019
“AK Bandit” Sentenced for Multi-State Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Richard L. Gathercole, 41, formerly of Roundup, Montana, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, to 35 years in prison by Senior United States District Judge Richard G. Kopf, for bank robbery, brandishing a firearm and carjacking. In addition to his prison sentence, Gathercole will be ordered to serve 5 years on federal supervised release and pay restitution in the amount of $392,392.06 to the numerous victims of his crime spree.
Gathercole was one of the most wanted bank robbers in the nation when his criminal career ended in a string of violent crimes that he committed in western Nebraska and northern Kansas in June, 2017. He was ultimately arrested in Lexington, Nebraska after carjacking a farmer in Kansas.
Gathercole was known as the “AK Bandit,” because he went armed with an AK-47 assault-style rifle to each of his bank robberies. Early in his crime spree, he hit several banks in California and was believed to be from that area of the country. In a particularly violent bank robbery in California, he shot an officer with the Chino Police Department, and that bullet struck his artery. The officer had to drive himself to the hospital bleeding from that artery and was unable to return to duty due to a shattered femur bone.
Gathercole used maximum threats of violence to control bank employees. On top of brandishing the AK-47 style weapon, he often used tactics such as shutting them in the bank vault, threatening to kill them, and he sometimes would also take an explosive device to place the employees in fear that the bomb could go off inside the bank. Gathercole did this at a bank robbery in Iowa in 2015. Gathercole robbed a bank in Nebraska City, Nebraska in 2014, and during that bank robbery, he forced the employees into the vault and threatened to harm them if they did not wait a certain period of time before calling police.
In addition to the bank robberies in California, Nebraska, and Iowa in 2014 and 2015, Gathercole also used his assault rifle to rob banks in Washington and Idaho in 2012. Gathercole would sometimes wear a bullet proof vest that was marked “Sheriff” or “Police.” A bullet proof vest with “Sheriff” on it was recovered from the defendant’s residence in Montana following his arrest after the carjacking.
In June of 2017, Gathercole left Montana and traveled through Nebraska before a Kansas Highway Patrolman noticed several irregularities with Gathercole’s vehicle and a traffic violation, and attempted to stop the vehicle. Gathercole led troopers on a high-speed pursuit while repeatedly firing a weapon at them. Due to the danger of the pursuit, troopers were forced to leave more space between themselves and Gathercole, which led to the troopers losing sight of him.
Gathercole ditched his vehicle after the shootout with Kansas troopers and began walking where a farmer offered him a ride outside of Atwood, Kansas. Gathercole got into the truck and pointed a gun at the victim and forced him to drive toward the Nebraska state line. Eventually, the driver was able to escape and Gathercole continued in the vehicle. When stopping for gas in Lexingon, Nebraska the vehicle was identified by deputy sheriffs as the vehicle that was the subject of the carjacking report and Gathercole was taken into custody as he exited the gas station.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with law enforcement agencies in Nebraska, Kansas, Washington, Iowa, California, Idaho, and Montana.
Woman Arrested for Defrauding Homeless Individuals and a Nonprofit Serving the HomelessRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sherwana Lynn Marcus, also known as Sherwana Granderson and Sherwana Santana, 47, was arrested today on a 36-count federal indictment charging her with wire fraud for a scheme that defrauded homeless individuals and a housing assistance nonprofit that was receiving federal funding, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between May 2014 and March 2015, Marcus used her employment at a nonprofit organization in the Sacramento area to divert funding for homelessness services to herself and also to defraud homeless individuals. She submitted false paperwork to the nonprofit organization so that it would issue rent checks under a program to house the homeless, and she then funneled the checks through a bank account that she controlled. She also altered, or caused to be altered, money orders that had been collected from individuals seeking housing assistance and funneled those money orders through the bank account that she controlled. The individuals providing the money orders believed they were contributions to rent or savings that they would get back.
According to court documents, Marcus stole at least approximately $54,133 through the scheme. At least in part as a result of her diverting rent checks and money orders to herself, she caused at least one person to lose housing and become homeless.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miriam R. Hinman is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Marcus faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wetzel County man indicted for firearms violationsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Martin Anderson, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, had his initial appearance in federal court today after being indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling this week for firearms violations, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Anderson, age 30, is charged with two counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number.” Anderson, a person prohibited from having firearms, is accused of possessing a .9 mm caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number, a .223 caliber rifle, and two .22 caliber rifles in Wetzel County in October 2017 and June 2018.
Anderson 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 Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Westside Columbus Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Columbus, Ohio – A violent Westside drug trafficker was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 197 months in prison.
Keith “Butters” Drummond, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced for crimes related to trafficking narcotics and using firearms.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jonathan McPherson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Columbus Interim Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the sentence handed down today by Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
In November 2017, a federal grand jury returned a three-count Superseding Indictment against Drummond, charging him with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including over 28 grams of crack; possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Drummond pleaded guilty to all three charges in July 2018, on the day he was scheduled to stand trial.
According to court documents, the charges resulted from a years-long investigation by the Columbus Division of Police and ATF into Drummond for his drug trafficking and firearms activity on the west side of Columbus.
Beginning as early as 2011, Drummond operated several “trap houses” on the west side of Columbus where he routinely manufactured and sold crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana and oxycodone. His primary trap house was located on North Guilford Avenue, in the “Bottoms” neighborhood. Drummond routinely enlisted drug addicts to work for him at that residence as a “security” force. He would arm these addicts with firearms and then instruct them to safeguard the house, the drugs and his drug proceeds.
Drummond also kept a firearm at his personal residence and in his vehicle. He was prohibited by law from possessing any firearms due to prior felony convictions for possession of drugs, domestic violence and felonious assault, as well as two prior convictions of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Drummond would often punish people who owed him money for drugs or did not satisfy his requirements as employees. This violence included physical restraint (whether being duct taped to a wall or locked in a dog cage), choking, pistol-whipping individuals to the point of fracturing their jaws, and sexual assault, including anally assaulting one woman with a broomstick.
“Drummond’s violence in connection with his drug trafficking was so pronounced that dozens of women and community members submitted letters for the Court’s consideration at sentencing. Most of these individuals were unwilling to share their identity with Drummond for fear of their own safety, so the Government culled those statements down to just six for the Court’s review,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “But those six statements tell quite a story: Beatings from Drummond for not selling enough drugs. Scouting out drug addicts on their payday to keep them hooked. Locking women in dog cages and beating them. And threatening, beating, and sexually assaulting women for buying their drugs from anyone else.”
“The defendant has a history of selling drugs, vicious physical assault, and the use of firearms to further his criminal enterprise, despite being prohibited from possessing guns,” stated Jonathan McPherson, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “He is exactly the kind of violent criminal who needs to be removed from our streets, and ATF will continue to work with our partners at the Columbus Division of Police on cases like this to make our community a safer place.”
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by ATF and the Columbus Division of Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton, who are representing the United States in this case.
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West Monroe felon sentenced for unlawful possession of a loaded pistolRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Michael Holder, 41, of West Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced Wednesday to 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Officers with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and West Monroe Police Department conducted a traffic stop on June 9, 2017 of Holder’s vehicle and discovered that Holder had an outstanding arrest warrant from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. As Holder was exiting the vehicle, he stated to the officers that he was sitting on a BB gun, which turned out to be a Glock, Model 17, 9mm-caliber pistol, loaded with two bullets in the magazine. The officers also found a glass smoking pipe with suspected methamphetamine in Holder’s back pocket.
Holder was convicted of aggravated flight from an officer on January 12, 2015 in Ouachita Parish. Under federal law, convicted felons are prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Holder pleaded guilty to the federal charges on January 17, 2019.
The ATF, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, and West Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.
Two Individuals Charged with Robbery of A Red Lake RestaurantRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging COURTNEY JOHN BARRETT, JR., 30, and ROBERT LEE JOURDAIN, SR., 25, with robbery. BARRETT and JOURDAIN were arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance later today before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby in U.S. District Court in Bemidji, Minnesota.
According to the allegations in the indictment and documents filed in court, on May 1, 2019, BARRETT and JOURDAIN entered the Snack Shack on the Red Lake Indian Reservation armed with a metal pipe and a firearm. BARRETT held the metal pipe to an employee’s head while JOURDAIN brandished the firearm and stole money from the cash register and an employee’s purse.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina L. Allery is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
COURTNEY JOHN BARRETT, JR., 30
Red Lake, Minn.
Charges:
- Robbery, 1 count
ROBERT LEE JOURDAIN, SR., 25
Red Lake, Minn.
Charges:
- Robbery, 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Illegal Aliens Sentenced to 120 months Imprisonment for Federal Drug Trafficking Charges and Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Christino Alcazar-Ortiz, 37 and Armando Alcazar-Ortiz, 40, of Union City were both sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and Illegal Reentry into the United States after having been previously deported. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentences today.
According to information presented in court, beginning in April, 2017, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Union City Police Department became aware of an ongoing drug trafficking organization in the West Tennessee area, specifically Obion County, Tennessee. The investigation, which lasted approximately one year, revealed that the organization was trafficking crystal methamphetamine (ice) from multiple residential locations within Union City and Jackson, Tennessee. As a result, law enforcement officers utilized confidential informants and electronic surveillance to include wiretaps on phones used by the defendants.
A total of six controlled drug purchases were made from Christino and Armando Alcazar-Ortiz. Christino Alcazar-Ortiz distributed actual methamphetamine from the Mi Tierra Caliente Restaurant in Union City, while Armando Alcazar-Ortiz distributed actual methamphetamine from his place of employment in Jackson, Tennessee. The methamphetamine (ice) recovered was tested at (DEA) laboratories and was determined to range from 95% to 99% pure crystal methamphetamine. The investigation determined that Christino Alcazar-Ortiz was responsible for the distribution of over 409 grams of ice and Armando Alcazar-Ortiz for the distribution of over 167 grams of ice during the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This case combines two of the top priorities of the Department of Justice: illegal drug trafficking and criminal immigration enforcement. We work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate
and prosecute any and all suppliers that distribute illegal drugs in West Tennessee. At the same time, we work to identify, prosecute, and remove persons who violate our sovereign immigration laws, and our work focuses on criminal re-entry cases that will further deter and reduce illegality by criminal aliens. Clearly, these offenders posed a significant danger to public safety in Obion County and West Tennessee by their distribution of pure methamphetamine into the community, and will now serve long prison sentences as a result."
On August 20, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Christino Alcazar-Ortiz and Armando Alcazar-Ortiz charging each with conspiracy to distribute actual methamphetamine and Illegal Reentry after deportation.
On June 6, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced both defendants to 120 months imprisonment followed by five years’ supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Union City Police Department and Homeland Security (ICE).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Three Peruvians Plead Guilty to Overseeing Spanish-Speaking Call Centers that Extorted U.S. ConsumersRead the Press Release
Three residents of Lima, Peru, pleaded guilty yesterday to extortion for overseeing a ring of call centers that threatened and extorted Spanish-speaking victims in the United States, the Department of Justice and U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced.
Jesus Gerardo Gutierrez Rojas, 37, Maria de Guadalupe Alexandra Podesta Bengoa, 38, and Virgilio Ignacio Polo Davila, 43, were extradited from Peru in April and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. As part of his guilty plea, Gutierrez admitted that he oversaw a number of affiliated call centers in Peru that falsely told Spanish-speaking victims across the United States that they had incurred debts and would suffer various consequences for failure to pay off the debts that they did not, in fact, owe. As part of their guilty pleas, Podesta and Polo admitted that they managed and supervised two of these affiliated call centers that used extortion to obtain money from U.S. victims.
“The Department of Justice is committed to identifying and prosecuting criminals who target and extort U.S. consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt. “Yesterday’s guilty pleas demonstrate that those who threaten U.S. consumers by phone cannot escape justice by placing their calls from abroad. Working with our international partners, we will bring them to justice no matter where they reside. I thank the Republic of Peru for extraditing these defendants to face justice in our courts and the U.S. Postal Insecption Service for its work investigating this case.”
As part of their guilty pleas, Podesta and Polo admitted that their Peruvian call centers contacted U.S. consumers, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable, using Internet-based calls. Claiming to be attorneys and government representatives, Podesta, Polo and their callers falsely told victims that they failed to pay for or receive a delivery of products and threatened them into paying fraudulent settlements for nonexistent debts. The callers falsely threatened victims with lawsuits, negative marks on their credit reports, imprisonment, or immigration consequences if they did not immediately pay for the purportedly delivered products and “settlement fees.” Many victims made payments based on these baseless extortionate threats.
Gutierrez was the general manager of a larger company where he worked in partnership with Podesta, Polo, and others to facilitate their extortion scheme. The defendants’ associates in Miami collected the payments and sometimes shipped packages to victims in the U.S.
“If an individual who claims to be an attorney or government representative calls and instructs you to pay money to: receive products you did not buy; avoid a lawsuit; avoid imprisonment; or avoid a change in immigration status, hang up and immediately report that threat to www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Ariana Fajardo Orshan. “I thank the Republic of Peru for extraditing the defendants in this case and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their unwavering commitment to investigate and pursue those who threaten U.S. consumers.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue those who threaten U.S. consumers and extort them of their hard earned money, regardless of what country they operate from,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Antonio J. Gomez. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service appreciates the continued partnership with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch in pursuing South American call center operators who victimize consumers through the U.S. mail.”
With yesterday’s three guilty pleas, all five defendants who have been charged in connection with this large-scale extortion scheme have now pleaded guilty.
Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch is prosecuting the case. The Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance.
Three Individuals Indicted in Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Apparel and AccessoriesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three individuals were indicted today for trafficking in counterfeit goods through their operation of a retail store and warehouse used to sell apparel and accessories under unauthorized trademarks announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Today a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment alleging that Zi Yu Zheng, 57, Xiao Ling Wei, 56, and Ling Wu Wei, 50, all from Maryland, conspired to sell apparel and accessories with counterfeit trademarks that appeared to be items that were manufactured by brand-name designers. According to the indictment, the three individuals operated a retail store, The Guang Da Group, and a warehouse in Northeast, D.C., from which they sold counterfeit clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories that were virtually indistinguishable from legitimate merchandise produced by designer companies such as Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, North Face, and Timberland.
According to the indictment, the defendants kept a filing cabinet of logos trademarked by these companies, which they attached to apparel and accessories sold from their warehouse and The Guang Da Group retail store. The indictment alleges that the three individuals openly displayed the counterfeit merchandise in the retail store, while engaging in various security and counter-surveillance measures to prevent detection by law enforcement, including limiting access to their warehouse to individuals and customers they knew, prohibiting cell phones in the warehouse, and maintaining a secret showroom of counterfeit merchandise behind a false emergency door. According to the indictment, law enforcement penetrated the conspiracy through controlled purchases executed by confidential sources and an undercover agent.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Zi Yu Zheng and Xiao Ling Wei are also each charged with one count, and Ling Wu Wei is also charged with two counts, of trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a). The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation. The case has not yet been assigned to a U.S. District Judge and an initial appearance date has not been set.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The statutory maximum penalty for conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, is five years; for trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a), the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section is prosecuting the case.
Three Individuals Indicted in Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Apparel and AccessoriesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three individuals were indicted today for trafficking in counterfeit goods through their operation of a retail store and warehouse used to sell apparel and accessories under unauthorized trademarks announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Today a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment alleging that Zi Yu Zheng, 57, Xiao Ling Wei, 56, and Ling Wu Wei, 50, all from Maryland, conspired to sell apparel and accessories with counterfeit trademarks that appeared to be items that were manufactured by brand-name designers. According to the indictment, the three individuals operated a retail store, The Guang Da Group, and a warehouse in Northeast, D.C., from which they sold counterfeit clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories that were virtually indistinguishable from legitimate merchandise produced by designer companies such as Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, North Face, and Timberland.
According to the indictment, the defendants kept a filing cabinet of logos trademarked by these companies, which they attached to apparel and accessories sold from their warehouse and The Guang Da Group retail store. The indictment alleges that the three individuals openly displayed the counterfeit merchandise in the retail store, while engaging in various security and counter-surveillance measures to prevent detection by law enforcement, including limiting access to their warehouse to individuals and customers they knew, prohibiting cell phones in the warehouse, and maintaining a secret showroom of counterfeit merchandise behind a false emergency door. According to the indictment, law enforcement penetrated the conspiracy through controlled purchases executed by confidential sources and an undercover agent.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Zi Yu Zheng and Xiao Ling Wei are also each charged with one count, and Ling Wu Wei is also charged with two counts, of trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a). The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation. The case has not yet been assigned to a U.S. District Judge and an initial appearance date has not been set.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The statutory maximum penalty for conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, is five years; for trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a), the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section is prosecuting the case.
Stratford Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing Numerous False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JUAN SILVA, 38, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to seven months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for preparing numerous false federal income tax returns. Judge Shea also ordered Silva to serve 45 days in home confinement and perform 80 hours of community service while on supervised release
According to court documents and statements made in court, Silva operated Oficina Hispana, a multi-service business that included tax return preparation. Between approximately 2011 and 2017, Silva falsified itemized deductions and unreimbursed employee business expenses on numerous returns that he prepared for clients. In addition, for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 tax years, Silva made substantial deposits of business receipts from his tax preparation business into his personal bank accounts, and failed to report to the IRS a total of more than $306,000 in income.
On December 21, 2017, Silva pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return.
Judge Shea ordered Silva to pay restitution of $143,693.
The IRS, with Silva’s assistance, has been taking action to recover unpaid taxes from Silva’s clients. Silva’s restitution obligation will be reduced if monies are recovered from his clients.
Silva, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on August 30.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Southern Illinois Sends Back 3 Tons of Unused Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
Residents of the Southern District of Illinois returned over three tons of prescription drugs for destruction on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was held on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Now in its ninth year, the biannual nationwide event provides a safe and convenient way for individuals to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, millions of Americans misuse prescription drugs each year. A majority of those drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The public response so far this year has been tremendous. 6,636 pounds of prescription drugs were collected in the Southern District of Illinois alone. In Madison County, 897 pounds of drugs were turned in – a total nearly matched in St. Clair County, where 892 pounds were returned. Nationwide, the haul reached 937,443 pounds (468.72 tons) of prescription drugs amassed at more than 6,000 collection sites. Nearly 5,000 law enforcement agencies participated in the event.
The 18th National Take Back Day will be held on October 26, 2019.
Members of the public can find more information on the DEA National Take Back Day and a list of permanent drug return locations at https://takebackday.dea.gov. For local addiction recovery and prevention information, please visit https://partnershipdrugfree.org.