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11 July 2019
Fishers Residents Indicted on Terrorism and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – Josh J. Minkler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced today that a federal grand jury has charged brothers Moyad Dannon, 21, and Mahde Dannon, 20, both of Fishers, Indiana, with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources, including firearms, to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B. The defendants are also charged with various firearms offenses. The federal indictment was handed down on July 2, 2019. The defendants have been in federal custody since their arrest on May 15, 2019, pursuant to a federal criminal complaint.
“National Security is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Minkler. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in international and domestic terrorism.”
This indictment is the result of a months-long investigation led by the FBI Indianapolis’ Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from the Fishers, Indiana, Police Department.
As alleged in last week’s Indictment and the previously-filed Criminal Complaint, in June of 2018, Mahde Dannon, who was awaiting trial on felony theft charges in Lake County, Indiana, hatched a scheme to deliver firearms, including stolen firearms, to a convicted felon who was cooperating with the FBI. The following month, Mahde Dannon introduced his brother Moyad Dannon to the cooperating individual, and the cooperating individual later introduced the Dannon brothers to an FBI agent who was acting in an undercover capacity.
Between July 2018 and December 2018, the Dannon brothers sold a number of illegally-obtained firearms to the cooperating individual. Around the same time period, the Dannon brothers also began to manufacture untraceable “ghost guns” by purchasing unserialized firearms parts online and assembling those parts into fully-functioning, .223 caliber, semi-automatic rifles, which they sold to the FBI undercover agent.
In late 2018, the Dannon brothers approached the cooperating individual and FBI undercover agent about manufacturing untraceable, fully-automatic, .223 caliber rifles, using much the same process they used to manufacture the semi-automatic rifles. In February of 2019, the Dannon brothers built one fully-automatic rifle which they provided to the FBI undercover agent.
Shortly thereafter, Moyad Dannon accompanied the undercover agent to a location near the U.S. southwest border in an effort to market that rifle, and additional fully-automatic rifles, to a potential buyer who was also cooperating with the FBI. During that trip, Moyad Dannon learned that the potential buyer sought to ship the fully-automatic weapons to a location in the Middle East, where they would be used by ISIS. Despite learning of the ultimate destination of the weapons, the Dannon brothers agreed to manufacture and sell at least 55 additional fully-automatic “ghost guns” to the buyer from the southwest border, believing those weapons would be shipped to the Middle East, to ISIS and its members.
In furtherance of that agreement, on May 15, 2019, Mahde and Moyad Dannon manufactured five untraceable, fully-automatic, .223 caliber rifles from parts they had purchased online. At that time, the Dannon brothers were fully aware that the plan was to send the five automatic rifles overseas to ISIS. After building the fully-automatic rifles, the Dannon brothers sold all five weapons to undercover FBI agents posing as employees of the buyer from near the southwest border. Almost immediately thereafter, the Dannon brothers were arrested by the FBI.
“This case is the first of its kind for the Federal Bureau of Investigation where you have individuals allegedly making guns to sell and/or send overseas to ISIS,” said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “This indictment paints a vivid picture of the rapid rise of homegrown violent extremism and the lengths people are willing to go to in their support of terrorist activity.”
Mahde and Moyad Dannon appeared in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis on Thursday, July 11, 2019, to be arraigned on the charges in the Indictment. The Dannons were previously ordered detained, without bond, pending a trial in this matter.
The Dannon brothers face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the firearms charges, and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the attempt to provide material support to ISIS charge. The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Rinka, Chief of the National Security Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Trial Attorney Paul Casey of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Daniel Owens, 27, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that on January 23, 2019, Greece Police Officers were called to 254 Estall Road for a report of people building bombs at that address. After knocking on the door and being let into the house, officers found several rounds of 12 gauge shotgun ammunition. Officers also found a device which appeared to be a pipe bomb, a glass bottle containing isopropyl alcohol, which officers believed was a Molotov cocktail device, and a glass jar containing metal screws and nails. During conversations with officers, the defendant admitted to building the pipe bomb and packing it with the screws and nails.
In 2018, Owens was convicted in Monroe County Court of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.
The matter was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office as part of its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
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Federal Jury Convicts Two of Kidnapping ChargesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 10, 2019, following a three-day trial before Chief Judge Pamela Reeves of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, a jury convicted Josh Small and Joni Amber Johnson of Princeton, West Virginia, of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping. Sentencing is set for Joni Amber Johnson on November 25, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. and for Josh Small on December 4, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Both Joni Amber Johnson and Josh Small face a sentence of up to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Evidence at trial revealed that on June 30, 2018, Small and Johnson used a gun to force their way into the home of a 73-year-old Tennessee woman and tied her up. Small and Johnson then stole jewelry, firearms, cash, a knife, and other items from the victim before taking her phone and leaving her with her hands and feet bound. Small and Johnson were later arrested in West Virginia where Small was caught with several items stolen from the victim.
The investigation that led to these convictions was the product of a partnership between the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office; Knox County Sheriff’s Office; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Mercer County, West Virginia, Sheriff’s Office; Virginia State Police; Giles County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office; Montgomery County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office; Bland County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF); and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant United States Attorneys Alan Kirk and Kevin Quencer represented the United States at trial.
Federal Jury Convicts Hardin County Man of Illegal Possession of an Explosive DeviceRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – After a three day federal jury trial, a Hardin County man has been found guilty of illegal possession, manufacture and transfer of a destructive device. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on August 24, 2018, TBI Special Agents began investigating Jonathan Edward White, of Hardin County. During the course of the investigation, agents determined that White might be in possession of an explosive device. That same day, White met with agents working in an undercover capacity and provided them with a pipe bomb. Special Operations personnel from the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded and rendered the explosive device safe. Jonathan White was arrested without incident and charged with one count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon under state law. In the resulting federal investigation, the ATF Explosives Enforcement Branch examined the device and determined it to be an improvised explosive bomb which qualifies as a destructive device, as defined by Title 26, USC, § 5845.
The federal indictment charged that White knowingly and unlawfully made, possessed, and transferred a prohibited destructive device, more commonly known as a pipe bomb, in violation of Title 26, USC, § 5861 and 5871.
Sentencing is set for October 10, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen. White faces up to 10 years imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This office, along with our law enforcement partners, takes all bomb threats seriously, and we are vigilant to protect and prevent property damage, bodily injury, and death from any explosive device in West Tennessee. We commend the quick, thorough, and coordinated response of all of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, and we are pleased that this dangerous offender has been held accountable."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson remarked, " ATF's priority to reduce violent crime in order to provide a safe environment for the community was evident as ATF's explosives experts working with our partners were instrumental in mitigating the potential destructive force this incident may have caused."
This case was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office; Savannah Police Department; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Tennessee Highway Patrol; Tennessee Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This case is being prosecuted by the Eastern Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on behalf of the government.
Edenton Man Sentenced for Theft OffenseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that on June 24, 2019, in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced ASHIRI SHARI STALLINGS, 22, of Edenton, North Carolina to 16 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
STALLINGS was named in an Indictment filed on March 28, 2018, charging him with receipt of stolen government money or property exceeding $1,000. On January 2, 2019, STALLINGS pleaded guilty.
STALLINGS participated in a plot to burglarize the Edenton Post Office in Edenton, North Carolina five times in 2015. The post office lost $26,190.91 in cash or other property as a result of the burglaries.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Eastpointe Man Sentenced to 56 Years for Robbing Eight Retail Stores in Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
An Eastpointe man was sentenced today to 56 years after having been convicted in November, 2018, of robbing eight retail stores at gunpoint between June 26, 2017, and October 18, 2017, and attempting to rob a ninth store, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy R. Slater, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sentenced was Mohamed Abdi, 33, of Eastpointe, Michigan.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Mohamed Abdi started his robbery spree on June 26, 2017, when he attempted to rob a Family Dollar located on Nine Mile Road in Eastpointe, Michigan, at gunpoint. That robbery attempt failed when the store clerk was unable to open the register, but undeterred, Abdi drove two miles down the road to a CVS in Warren and robbed it hours later that day.
Abdi proceeded to rob seven other CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies throughout the greater Detroit area. Each time, Abdi walked into the store wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses, and a long sleeve shirt. Abdi waited until the store was empty and then demanded the money from the register while brandishing a handgun tucked in his waistband. In addition to brandishing a gun, Abdi also threatened several of the clerks, including telling the clerk who failed to open her register at the Family Dollar in Eastpointe that she was lucky he did not shoot her.
During his robbery spree, Abdi picked stores that appeared to be empty based on the number of cars in the parking lot and the number of customers in the stores. Abdi robbed the following stores:
- June 26, 2017: CVS Pharmacy, 13608 East Nine Mile Road, Warren
- July 11, 2017: Rite Aid Pharmacy, 15411 Southfield Road, Allen Park
- July 24, 2017: CVS Pharmacy, 27700 Harper Avenue, St Clair Shores
- July 30, 2017: Rite Aid Pharmacy, 35101 East Michigan Avenue, Wayne
- July 31, 2017: CVS Pharmacy, 15051 East Thirteen Mile Road, Warren
- October 16, 2017: CVS Pharmacy, 3647 Dix Avenue, Lincoln Park
- October 17, 2017: CVS Pharmacy, 31240 Harper Avenue, St Clair Shores
- October 18, 2017: CVS Pharmacy, 22515 Mack Avenue, St Clair Shores
Abdi took $2,825.66 from the eight stores affected by his robbery spree.
The investigation was led by members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force in conjunction with police departments in Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Livonia, St Clair Shores, Warren, and Wayne.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanine Brunson and Shane Cralle.
East Amherst Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for His Role in Multi-Million Dollar Illegal Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Darryl Williams, 47, of East Amherst, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Tokash, who handled the case, stated that between June 2013 and September 2015, the defendant conspired with others to sell fentanyl and cocaine. Williams formed a relationship with co-defendant Jose Ruben Gil and agreed to distribute large amounts of drugs for Gil in Western New York and other cities. Gil, who was based out of California, requested that the defendant and co-defendant Troy Gillon meet with him in California on at least two occasions to arrange for the set-up and delivery of illegal narcotics to Buffalo and other cities. The defendant began receiving large shipments of cocaine via surface shipment on tractor-trailers, the proceeds of which were sent back to Gil via surface transportation.
On June 23, 2013, California Highway Patrol stopped a tractor-trailer in Barstow, California which resulted in the seizure of approximately $420,000 in United States Currency. The cash seized from this tractor¬ trailer constituted proceeds from the sale of heroin and cocaine, which the defendant was sending to Gil to pay for those illegal drugs.
Gil was arrested in California on January 13, 2014. Thereafter, Gil's associate, Herman Aguirre, continued the cross-continent drug trafficking operation with the defendant while Gil was in prison. After Gil's arrest, and at Herman Aguirre's direction, the defendant took the money from the proceeds of the drugs sales in Buffalo and other East Coast cities, brought it to Bank of America locations in Western New York, and deposited it into accounts held by three California-based corporations, including Triton Foods, Kamara Investments, and Fresh Choice Produce. Subsequent to those deposits, the principals of those three corporations engaged in further financial transactions for the purpose of withdrawing or otherwise debiting the funds from the bank accounts to give to Gil and/or Herman Aguirre to pay for the heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. The transactions were designed to avoid a transaction reporting requirement under Federal law and while knowing that the property involved in the financial transactions represented the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit, the unlawful sale of illegal narcotics.
In mid-July 2013, Herman Aguirre gave Williams his night deposit lock box key for the Bank of America branch located on Dick Road in Depew, NY. During the period from July 2013 to September 2014, the defendant engaged in numerous financial transaction whereby he deposited cash into the Dick Road branch lock box for the benefit of Triton Foods.Because the quantities of drugs shipped were so large, and the proceeds so great, Williams invited others into the drug trafficking organization. The defendant introduced co-defendants Maulana Lucas and Troy Gillon to co-defendant Herman Aguirre, who was shipping the drugs from California. Lucas and Gillon then assisted with distributing the drugs, collecting proceeds from the same, and depositing proceeds from the same into banks located in Western New York. In the Western District of New York alone, Williams personally deposited a total of approximately $19,000,000 in cash into accounts.
Between July 15, 2014, and March 18, 2015, the defendant received 29 pallets of shipments of controlled substances from Herman Aguirre. Each pallet contained a combination of approximately 30-50 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Williams also directed Shirley Grigsby to accept packages of drugs at her places of employment, as well as the apartment in which she was living in. On March 23, 2015, Buffalo Police seized 22 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of heroin, and eight kilograms of fentanyl at Shirley Grigsby's apartment.
In addition, the defendant had an apartment on Niemel Drive in Niagara Falls, NY where he stored kilogram quantities of drugs that were shipped from California.On July 31, 2015, federal agents executed a search warrant on another home registered to the defendant, on Boca Place in East Amherst, NY. $43,940.00 in U.S. currency was seized from the premises, along with drug packaging material, bank deposit slips, and a key to a safety deposit box, which was subsequently opened and contained $31,000.00 in U.S. currency.
Williams was arrested in August 2016 along with 16 other defendants. All defendants have been convicted.
“Large scale transnational drug trafficking organizations such as this one serve as a pipeline to ensure the delivery of misery to our community,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “By completely dismantling them through highly successful and comprehensive prosecutions such as this, we help to remove not only drugs but the despair and harm they bring to the lives of those who both consume them and distribute them.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Jonathan D. Larson, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office.
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Dominican National Sentenced for Social Security Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lynn was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Nelson Bolivar, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. Bolivar will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In May 2019, Bolivar pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. Bolivar was arrested and charged in a July 2018 federal law enforcement sweep of 25 individuals accused of document and benefit fraud.
Dubbed “Double Trouble,” the July 2018 investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), comprised of local, state and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes.
On July 13, 2015, Bolivar, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, applied for a Massachusetts Identification Card using the name and Social Security number of a Puerto Rican citizen. He presented a Puerto Rican birth certificate and a Social Security card in the other person’s name to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles as proof of his identity. Based on the application and supporting identity documents, Bolivar was issued an identification card in the name of the Puerto Rican citizen. Bolivar also used the name and Social Security number of a Puerto Rican citizen to receive MassHealth benefits.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Charged with Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was arrested and charged today in federal court in Boston with distributing fentanyl.
Milton Elias Lara, 42, a Dominican national residing in Methuen, was charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Lara appeared in federal court in Boston today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 18, 2019. Lara is also subject to an ICE detainer.
During the course of an investigation, Lara was identified as a fentanyl distributor operating in the Merrimack Valley. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lara’s apartment, they seized approximately 800 grams of fentanyl, 100 grams of cocaine, and drug packaging tools and materials. Lara was subsequently arrested.
The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Andover, Billerica, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, and North Andover Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Trafficking Aggravated Assault While ArmedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jonathan Webb, 22, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a long-term multi-jurisdictional firearm trafficking investigation as well as a shooting that occurred in Southeast Washington, D.C. that left a teenager severely injured.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police.
On July 10, 2019, Webb pleaded guilty to a two-count Information charging Conspiracy to Engage in the Trafficking of Firearms and Aggravated Assault While Armed. Webb will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Amit Mehta on September 5, 2019.
Yesterday’s plea agreement is the result of a long-term investigation by ATF, MPD, and the Virginia State Police into a firearms trafficking ring operating in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. Members of the conspiracy traveled from D.C. into Virginia to illegally purchase firearms, and then returned to the District to file-off the serial numbers and resell the guns.
According to court documents, during the summer of 2018, Webb, who was prohibited from lawfully purchasing a gun, traveled with his co-conspirators to a licensed firearms dealer in Virginia to acquire a firearm. After Webb selected a pistol, he handed money to a co-conspirator who purchased the firearm on his behalf. Webb and his co-conspirators then returned to Washington, D.C., where they filed-off the serial number and Webb took possession of the firearm. Webb’s co-conspirators trafficked approximately 31 firearms during the course of this conspiracy. On at least one occasion, Webb and other members of the conspiracy posed for photographs while holding firearms and filmed a music video using firearms purchased during the course of this conspiracy.
According to court documents, on October 8, 2018, a teenager, identified in court records by the initials “E.L.”, was walking down the sidewalk in the Congress Heights area of the city, when E.L. saw Webb standing on a porch. E.L. continued walking, but encountered Webb again on the block when Webb walked out from between two houses and approached the teenager. Webb immediately drew a firearm and fired repeatedly at E.L. The teenager was hit multiple times, suffering a pelvic fracture, a left arm fracture, right thigh fracture, and a spinal injury; E.L. suffered from paralysis because of the spinal injury.
Finally, they commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin L. Rosenberg, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emile Thompson, of the Homicide Section, who prosecuted the case.
Department of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems.
TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). The Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed the connections which allows tribes to seamlessly submit new and updated sex offender information directly from TTSORS to NSOR.
“The Department of Justice is dedicated to addressing the public safety crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the high rates of sexual violence against women and children,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Providing a direct connection to the FBI National Sex Offender Registry gives tribal law enforcement the information they need to investigate and prevent these heinous offenses.”
American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer persistently high rates of victimization, including from sexual assault. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. In June, the department extended a deadline for tribes to apply for up to $167 million in federal funds through August 16, 2019, to support crime victims throughout Indian country.
“The direct connection between the National Sex Offender Registry and Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System provides increased resources for identifying, tracking, and sharing information about persons convicted of committing these crimes,” said Gwendena L. Gatewood, Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. “It will also allow for further improvements in providing a safer community for all involved to integrate tribal law, custom, tradition and practices in a comprehensive fashion consistent with holding offenders accountable.”
“Standing Rock has always had a priority of ensuring public safety,” said Mike Faith, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “Technological advances to our systems ensure that our SORNA staff are able to input offender information and get back in the field while ensuring compliance is maintained.”
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, requires that, when an offender initially registers or updates his or her information in a jurisdiction, that the state, tribe, territory or District of Columbia must submit immediately the information to NSOR as well as other jurisdictions where the offender has to register. TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with SORNA requirements. TTSORS was created to assist the Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.
Since 2015, the SMART Office, OCIO, the FBI, the Office of Tribal Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office for Victims of Crime, have worked together to develop the Tribal Access Program to provide tribes direct access to national crime information systems for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes. This includes the ability to directly enter NSOR data and enhance the capacity to collect and submit fingerprints and palm prints to the FBI. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of 72 participating tribes.
Department of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY — The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to input data directly and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry ("NSOR") using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System ("TTSORS"). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program ("TAP"), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems.
TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking ("SMART"). The Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer ("OCIO") developed the connections that allow tribes to submit new and updated sex offender information directly from TTSORS to NSOR.
"The Department of Justice is dedicated to addressing the public safety crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the high rates of sexual violence against women and children," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "Providing a direct connection to the FBI National Sex Offender Registry gives tribal law enforcement the information they need to investigate and prevent these heinous offenses."
American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer persistently high rates of victimization, including from sexual assault. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. In June, the Department extended a deadline for tribes to apply for up to $167 million in federal funds through August 16, 2019, to support crime victims throughout Indian country.
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act ("SORNA"), Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, requires that, when an offender initially registers or updates his or her information in a jurisdiction, that the state, tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia, must submit immediately the information to NSOR as well as other jurisdictions where the offender has to register. TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with SORNA requirements. TTSORS was created to assist the Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.
Since 2015, the SMART Office, OCIO, the FBI, the Office of Tribal Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office for Victims of Crime, have worked together to develop the Tribal Access Program to provide tribes direct access to national crime information systems for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes. This includes the ability to enter NSOR data directly and enhance the capacity to collect and submit fingerprints and palm prints to the FBI. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of 72 participating tribes.
Department of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems.
TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). The Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed the connections which allows tribes to seamlessly submit new and updated sex offender information directly from TTSORS to NSOR.
“The Department of Justice is dedicated to addressing the public safety crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the high rates of sexual violence against women and children,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Providing a direct connection to the FBI National Sex Offender Registry gives tribal law enforcement the information they need to investigate and prevent these heinous offenses.”
“Nine of our Western Washington tribes participate in TAP, and this new ability to share information will improve safety in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “I’m hopeful that more of our tribal partners will successfully apply for TAP funds and we will see additional communities joining in this important information sharing network.”
American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer persistently high rates of victimization, including from sexual assault. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. In June, the department extended a deadline for tribes to apply for up to $167 million in federal funds through August 16, 2019, to support crime victims throughout Indian country.
“The direct connection between the National Sex Offender Registry and Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System provides increased resources for identifying, tracking, and sharing information about persons convicted of committing these crimes,” said Gwendena L. Gatewood, Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. “It will also allow for further improvements in providing a safer community for all involved to integrate tribal law, custom, tradition and practices in a comprehensive fashion consistent with holding offenders accountable.”
“Standing Rock has always had a priority of ensuring public safety,” said Mike Faith, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “Technological advances to our systems ensure that our SORNA staff are able to input offender information and get back in the field while ensuring compliance is maintained.”
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, requires that, when an offender initially registers or updates his or her information in a jurisdiction, that the state, tribe, territory or District of Columbia must submit immediately the information to NSOR as well as other jurisdictions where the offender has to register. TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with SORNA requirements. TTSORS was created to assist the Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.
Since 2015, the SMART Office, OCIO, the FBI, the Office of Tribal Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office for Victims of Crime, have worked together to develop the Tribal Access Program to provide tribes direct access to national crime information systems for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes. This includes the ability to directly enter NSOR data and enhance the capacity to collect and submit fingerprints and palm prints to the FBI. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of 72 participating tribes.
Tribes with TAP access in Western Washington include: Chehalis, Swinomish, Lower Elwha, Quinault, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Suquamish, Tulalip Tribes, Makah, and Lummi Nation.
Department of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems.
TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). The Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed the connections which allows tribes to seamlessly submit new and updated sex offender information directly from TTSORS to NSOR.
“The Department of Justice is dedicated to addressing the public safety crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the high rates of sexual violence against women and children,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Providing a direct connection to the FBI National Sex Offender Registry gives tribal law enforcement the information they need to investigate and prevent these heinous offenses.”
American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer persistently high rates of victimization, including from sexual assault. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. In June, the department extended a deadline for tribes to apply for up to $167 million in federal funds through August 16, 2019, to support crime victims throughout Indian country.
“The direct connection between the National Sex Offender Registry and Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System provides increased resources for identifying, tracking, and sharing information about persons convicted of committing these crimes,” said Gwendena L. Gatewood, Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. “It will also allow for further improvements in providing a safer community for all involved to integrate tribal law, custom, tradition and practices in a comprehensive fashion consistent with holding offenders accountable.”
“Standing Rock has always had a priority of ensuring public safety,” said Mike Faith, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “Technological advances to our systems ensure that our SORNA staff are able to input offender information and get back in the field while ensuring compliance is maintained.”
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, requires that, when an offender initially registers or updates his or her information in a jurisdiction, that the state, tribe, territory or District of Columbia must submit immediately the information to NSOR as well as other jurisdictions where the offender has to register. TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with SORNA requirements. TTSORS was created to assist the Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.
Since 2015, the SMART Office, OCIO, the FBI, the Office of Tribal Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office for Victims of Crime, have worked together to develop the Tribal Access Program to provide tribes direct access to national crime information systems for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes. This includes the ability to directly enter NSOR data and enhance the capacity to collect and submit fingerprints and palm prints to the FBI. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of 72 participating tribes.
Department of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma applauded the decision, which provides a critical tool to combat sexual violence in Indian country. The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems.
TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). The Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed the connections which allows tribes to seamlessly submit new and updated sex offender information directly from TTSORS to NSOR.
“The Department of Justice is dedicated to addressing the public safety crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the high rates of sexual violence against women and children,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Providing a direct connection to the FBI National Sex Offender Registry gives tribal law enforcement the information they need to investigate and prevent these heinous offenses.”
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues (NAIS) and citizen of the Choctaw Nation stated, “Access to information, especially sex offender registries, is essential to keeping tribal communities safe. Indian country is not a safe haven of anonymity for sex offenders. Tribal governments - like their state and local counterparts - should know when sex offenders have moved into their community. I applaud Attorney General Barr’s continued focus on improving public safety in Indian country.”
American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer persistently high rates of victimization, including from sexual assault. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. In June, the department extended a deadline for tribes to apply for up to $167 million in federal funds through August 16, 2019, to support crime victims throughout Indian country.
“The direct connection between the National Sex Offender Registry and Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System provides increased resources for identifying, tracking, and sharing information about persons convicted of committing these crimes,” said Gwendena L. Gatewood, Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. “It will also allow for further improvements in providing a safer community for all involved to integrate tribal law, custom, tradition and practices in a comprehensive fashion consistent with holding offenders accountable.”
“Standing Rock has always had a priority of ensuring public safety,” said Mike Faith, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “Technological advances to our systems ensure that our SORNA staff are able to input offender information and get back in the field while ensuring compliance is maintained.”
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, requires that, when an offender initially registers or updates his or her information in a jurisdiction, that the state, tribe, territory or District of Columbia must submit immediately the information to NSOR as well as other jurisdictions where the offender has to register. TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with SORNA requirements. TTSORS was created to assist the Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.
Since 2015, the SMART Office, OCIO, the FBI, the Office of Tribal Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office for Victims of Crime, have worked together to develop the Tribal Access Program to provide tribes direct access to national crime information systems for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes. This includes the ability to directly enter NSOR data and enhance the capacity to collect and submit fingerprints and palm prints to the FBI. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of 72 participating tribes.
Chicago Pharmacy Technician Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Stealing Opioids and Selling Them for a ProfitRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former technician at a Chicago pharmacy has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for stealing thousands of pills of Hydrocodone and selling them for a profit.
JACQUELINE GREEN worked at Allcare Discount Pharmacy, located in the 2700 block of West North Avenue in Chicago. From October 2015 to December 2017, Green and a co-defendant, ELIZABETH CRUZ, conspired to steal approximately 56,108 pills of Hydrocodone and sell them outside the pharmacy for a profit. Green and Cruz received at least $10,800 in proceeds from the sale of the stolen pills.
Green, 28, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman imposed the prison sentence Wednesday in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Brian McKnight, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“The opioid epidemic has devastated the lives of countless individuals through addiction and overdose,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nani M. Gilkerson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant contributed to this national crisis by helping make opiates available on the street to individuals who otherwise would not and should not have access to them.”
“Pharmacies and their employees are trusted to handle dangerous pharmaceutical medications responsibly,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Bell. “When pharmacy employees illegally divert potent pain medications for illegitimate purposes, they put individuals and their families at risk of drug dependence and overdoses. The DEA will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring violators to justice.”
The government was represented by Ms. Gilkerson and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rojas.
Cruz, of Stone Park, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the same charge as Green. Cruz admitted in a plea agreement that she concealed the theft by falsifying the pharmacy’s inventory to make it look like the pills had either not been received from the distributor or had been dispensed to patients. Judge Guzman set Cruz’s sentencing for Sept. 5, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
Buffalo Woman Pleads Guilty for Her Role in Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Sucley Romero, 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that between July and September 29, 2017, the defendant conspired with others to sell cocaine.
In July 2017, Romero agreed with co-defendant Daniel Navarro to receive a package of cocaine, shipped from Puerto Rico, at her Tower Street residence in exchange for payment. The defendant knew that the package contained cocaine and belonged to Cesar Rivera-Figueroa, who was the leader of a drug trafficking organization managed, at the time, by Daniel Navarro. Romero also knew that the cocaine would be distributed in the Buffalo area.
On July 26, 2017, a United States Postal Service parcel addressed to the defendant was intercepted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. A few days later, a search warrant was executed on the package. Concealed within a toy “cash box” was a kilogram-sized brick of suspected cocaine.
Romero is one of 12 defendants charged in this case and the fifth to be convicted. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 22, 2019, before Judge Vilardo.
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Bradenton Man Sentenced to 70 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Sex Abuse Video Series of A One-Year-Old Child for Dark Web ForumRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Chief U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced James Lockhart (31, Bradenton) to the statutory maximum penalty of 70 years in federal prison for producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography.
Lockhart had pleaded guilty on March 26, 2019.
According to court documents, between March 2016 and February 2018, Lockhart produced a sexually violent four-video series of child sex abuse where he recorded himself having sex with a one-year-old child. He then distributed the videos on a dark web forum. In the videos, Lockhart displayed signs bearing the dark web forum’s name and his online moniker in order to gain notoriety in the forum and elsewhere. In addition to the dark web series, Lockhart created other sex abuse videos and images of the child. He also bragged of sexually abusing a second one-year-old child.
Lockhart also collected child pornography involving other victims. Following the execution of a search warrant at Lockhart’s residence, authorities seized devices containing 43 videos depicting child pornography and at least 4,000 images of child pornography. Lockhart’s child pornography collection included infants and sadomasochistic and violent conduct.
“This deviant committed the most horrible atrocities imaginable to a one-year-old child,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Cochran. “HSI’s national and international partnerships have helped ensure that this predator will never again harm a child.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (Boston and Tampa), with assistance from the Queensland Police Service, Commonwealth of Australia. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Bozeman area man charged with destruction of government propertyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Bozeman area man appeared in court today on charges of destruction of government property, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
William David Hutton, 54, had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch. Hutton waived a preliminary hearing. Judge Lynch detained Hutton pending further proceedings.
The complaint charges Hutton with destruction/attempted destruction of government property. Court documents allege Hutton drove his vehicle into an entrance of the Bozeman Federal Building, at 10 East Babcock St., on July 8.
The complaint is merely an accusation and Hutton is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hutton faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Federal Protective Service and Bozeman Police Department.
Pacer case reference. 19-mj-45-JCL. 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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Boston Man Arrested on Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was charged in federal court in Boston yesterday in connection with the unlicensed transportation of a firearm.
Kenny Romero, 24, was charged with one count of unlicensed transportation of firearms. Romero was arrested on Tuesday night and appeared in federal court in Boston yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell, who issued a voluntary order of detention.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers discovered Romero to be in possession of a firearm during a vehicle stop in December 2016. Subsequent investigation revealed that the firearm, which had allegedly been used in a shooting earlier that month, was purchased in Virginia in November 2016. Federal agents learned that another individual purchased the firearm at Romero’s direction, and Romero subsequently transported the firearm from Virginia back to Massachusetts, where he resides.
The charge of unlicensed transportation of firearms provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. 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 Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the ATF - Falls Church Field Office, and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Berks County Man Sentenced to over 44 Years’ Imprisonment for Armed Bank Robberies in York, Lebanon and Berks CountiesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Derek Pelker, age 29, of Reading, Pennsylvania was sentenced on July 10, 2019, by U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane to 533 months’ imprisonment for armed bank robbery. As part of his sentencing, Judge Kane also ordered Pelker to pay restitution in the amount of $318,000.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Pelker was convicted on May 21, 2018, on four counts of armed bank robbery, four counts of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence; and, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges stem from the armed robbery of the Susquehanna Bank in East Prospect, Pennsylvania on April 24, 2015; the BB&T Bank in Valley View, Pennsylvania on November 16, 2015; the Gratz Bank in Valley View, Pennsylvania on January 14, 2016; and the M&T Bank in Lebanon on April 5, 2016.
Pelker’s co-defendants were previously sentenced for their involvement in the robberies:
- June 13, 2018, Ryan Martin was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the BB&T and Gratz robberies;
- July 16, 2018, Morgan Steiner was sentenced to 9 month’s imprisonment for purchasing the firearm Pelker used in the Susquehanna Robbery;
- July 24, 2018, Lindsay Scholl was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for the attempted disposal of the weapon used in the Lebanon Robbery;
- July 24, 2018, Kelsie Bair was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment also for the attempted to disposal of the weapon used in the Lebanon Robbery;
- July 24, 2018, Andrew Ishman was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the Susquehanna Robbery;
- August 21, 2018, Shannon Gadzouris was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the M&T robbery;
- August 22, 2018, Ryan Miller was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the Susquehanna Robbery and the robbery of the National Penn Bank in Oley, Pennsylvania on May 20, 2015; and
- December 17, 2018, Derek Pelker’s brother, Keith Pelker, was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the Gratz and M&T robberies.
The case was investigated by the FBI Capital City Violent Crimes Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, the South Lebanon Township Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. The Capital City Violent Crimes Task Force consists of representatives from the FBI’s Harrisburg Field Office and the Harrisburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford 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.
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Berkeley County man admits to drug traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Anthony Wayne Harrison, II, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Harrison, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin.” Harrison admitted to selling heroin in Berkeley County in July 2018.
Harrison is facing up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Armed Robber Sentenced to 7 YearsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Lamontay D. Rivera, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to seven years in federal prison for robbing a Madison restaurant while armed with a handgun. Rivera pleaded guilty to this charge on March 12, 2019.
Rivera’s co-defendant, Johnell Britt, was also sentenced to seven years in federal prison, because he also possessed a handgun during the robbery. Britt was sentenced by Judge Conley on June 4.
Rivera and Britt robbed a Subway restaurant on Cottage Grove Road in Madison on August 20, 2018. They were identified as the armed robbers from surveillance cameras, physical evidence subsequently seized from their vehicle, and DNA evidence.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
The charges against Rivera and Britt were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
Antitrust Division Announces New Policy to Incentivize Corporate ComplianceRead the Press Release
During remarks today, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim announced the Antitrust Division’s new policy for incentivizing antitrust compliance. For the first time, the Division will consider compliance at the charging stage in criminal antitrust investigations, a change which is reflected in the Justice Manual. The Division also announced revisions to its Manual and published a document to guide prosecutors’ evaluation of corporate compliance programs at the charging and sentencing stage.
“The Antitrust Division is committed to rewarding corporate efforts to invest in and instill a culture of compliance,” said Assistant Attorney General Delrahim. “The Division’s Leniency Policy has long provided the ultimate credit for effective antitrust compliance programs. Beyond leniency, recently we have credited prospective compliance efforts at sentencing. Crediting compliance at charging is the next step in our continued efforts to deter antitrust violations and reward good corporate citizenship. We also remain dedicated to predictability and transparency. As such, in concert with today’s policy changes, the Division issued a public guidance document that outlines what prosecutors look for when evaluating antitrust compliance programs.”
The Justice Manual previously explained the Antitrust Division’s policy “that credit should not be given at the charging stage for a compliance program.” That text has been deleted.
The Division also updated its Manual. The revisions address evaluating compliance programs at the charging and sentencing stage, and Division processes for recommending indictments, plea agreements, and selecting monitors.
For the first time, the Division also published a guidance document that focuses on evaluating compliance programs in the context of criminal violations of the Sherman Act. It is intended to assist Division prosecutors in their evaluation of compliance programs at both the charging and sentencing stage of investigations, and to provide compliance officers and the public greater transparency of the Division’s compliance analysis. To that end, it contains two sections: the first relates to evaluating antitrust compliance programs at the charging stage, and the second addresses compliance considerations at sentencing.
Alaska Man Charged with the Wasteful Killing of a Polar BearRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Christopher L. Gordon, 35, of Kaktovik, Alaska, has been federally charged for knowingly taking a polar bear in a manner unlawful under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, by shooting and killing the polar bear and leaving the harvestable remains to waste. Gordon has been charged in Fairbanks with one count of wasteful taking of a marine mammal.
According to the charging document, on Dec. 20, 2018, near the village of Kaktovik, Gordon allegedly left butchered whale meat outside in the front yard of his residence for a substantial period of time, which attracted a polar bear and other animals to his front yard. Gordon then allegedly shot and killed the polar bear because it was trying to eat the improperly stored whale meat; the shooting was not done in self-defense.
Between Dec. 20, 2018, and May 22, 2019, Gordon allegedly left the polar bear carcass in his front yard without salvaging any portion of the polar bear and allowing it to become covered with snow. This caused a snow removal vehicle to move the polar bear carcass and rip off one of its legs. On May 22, 2019, Gordon caused the polar bear carcass to be discarded and burned in the Kaktovik dump without using any of its parts for subsistence purposes.
If convicted, Gordon faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
The charges in the information are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Additional Taxpayer Indicted in Schemes to Corrupt and Defraud District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and RevenueRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Davoud Jafari, 68, of Washington, D.C., was arrested yesterday on a federal indictment for participating in corruption and fraud schemes centered at the District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and Revenue announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu
Last week, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment alleging that Jafari, the owner of Zeba, a bar located at 3423 14th Street, N.W., Vincent Slater, 41, of Temple Hills, MD, the former supervisor of OTR’s Compliance Administration Adjustment Unit, and Anthony Merritt, 44, of Washington, D.C., a former employee of the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), conspired to fraudulently reduce Zeba’s tax liabilities by paying bribes to Slater.
According to the indictment, on a monthly basis between October 2012 and December 2017, Slater used his position at OTR to provide Jafari with documents fraudulently representing that Zeba had filed and paid its monthly sales and use taxes when in fact no taxes had been paid. Slater also intervened when other OTR employees sought to make collection efforts against Jafari’s business, and created false tax credits that could be applied against the business’s outstanding tax liabilities. Slater relied upon Merritt to communicate with Jafari and to collect bribe payments.
This is the second indictment alleging a bribery scheme centered at OTR involving Slater and Merritt. Slater and Merritt were also arrested and charged with bribery and related offenses involving additional District business owners in May 2019.
Jafari was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and was released on personal recognizance. Slater and Merritt are expected to be arraigned at a future court date. The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; Slater and Jafari are each charged with one count of bribery, and Merritt is charged with two counts of bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201; and all three defendants are charged with three counts of money, property, and honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. The next court 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 Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201, the statutory maximum penalty is 15 years; and for Money, Property, and Honest Services Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346, the statutory maximum penalty is 20 years.
These cases are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Miller and Molly Gaston of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section are prosecuting the case.
10 Defendants from South Carolina Lowcountry Face Federal Charges for Drug Distribution ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced that joint federal, state, and local investigation has resulted in 10 individuals being charged in two separate cases in federal court for their roles in drug trafficking organizations that operated in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
“Today, we announce the takedown of 10 bad actors through Operation Low Country Line,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “This represents a line of state, local, and federal authorities working in lockstep with one another to curb the violence. We have drawn a line as we warn those intent on violating the rights of citizens to be safe in their communities that there will be consequences. With freedom comes responsibility: The responsibility to adhere to the rule of law.”
“These indictments and arrests are the results of a committed partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement. Together, we will remain resolved to investigate and arrest those individuals who pose a direct threat to our communities by trafficking in drugs and violence,” said Jody Norris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI.
In the first indictment, six defendants have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine. Additionally, three of the defendants have been charged with firearms offenses:
Lamar Louis Johnson, a/k/a “McJag,” age 39, of Mount Pleasant, was attributed 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine;
Theadore Bernard Gadsden, a/k/a “Teddy,” a/k/a “Chest,” age 30, of Mount Pleasant, was attributed a quantity of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking;
Jaton Edwards, a/k/a “Julio,” age 29, of North Charleston, was attributed 500 grams or more of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm;
Jarvis Behrens, age 27, of Mount Pleasant, was attributed 500 grams or more of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine;
Theodore Bernard Gadsden, age 60, of Mount Pleasant, was attributed a quantity of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine; and
Pierce Nelson, age 28, of Mount Pleasant, was attributed a quantity of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In the second indictment, four defendants have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base. Three have been taken into custody:
Devant Porcher, a/k/a “Dub,” age 34, of North Charleston, was attributed 100 grams or more of heroin, 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine in the conspiracy count and charged with 13 additional counts related to the distribution of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base;
Melinda Lee Lynch, age 40, of Moncks Corner, was attributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine in the conspiracy count and charged with possessing with intent to distribute and distributing methamphetamine and heroin; and
Wandesha Smalls, age 36, of North Charleston, was attributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of heroin in the conspiracy count and charged with possessing with intent to distribute and distributing methamphetamine and heroin.
These nine defendants were taken into custody yesterday morning. During the course of the investigation into these drug trafficking organizations, agents have seized almost two kilograms of cocaine, almost 100 grams of crack cocaine, 480 grams of heroin, 440 grams of methamphetamine, and seven firearms.
Johnson faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. Theadore Gadsden, Edwards, Behrens, Porcher, Lynch, and Smalls each face up to 40 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. Theodore Gadsden, Nelson, and Simmons each face up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service, North Charleston Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, City of Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Kittrell and Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office are prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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20190710-1_-_indictments_-_operation_low_country_indictment_1.pdf 20190710-1_-_indictments_-_operation_low_country_indictment_2.pdf
10 July 2019
Youngstown, Ohio Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Dealing Heroin and Violating the Release Conditions of a Previous Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – An Ohio resident has been sentenced in federal court to four years (48 months) in prison and six years supervised release on his conviction of violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Frank Christian, 46, of Youngstown, Ohio.
According to information presented to the court, on or about February 22, 2016, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Christian possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. Christian’s conduct also violated the conditions of his supervised release related to a previous federal drug trafficking conviction, and Judge Bissoon imposed an incremental 12-month term of imprisonment to run consecutively to the 48-month sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, and the New Castle Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Christian.
West Virginia Woman Accused in Multi-State Fraud Scheme Targeting Kmart StoresRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A West Virginia woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The seven-count Indictment, returned on June 25 and unsealed yesterday, named Tanya Thompson, aka Tanya Whetzel, 37, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, as the sole defendant.
According to indictment presented to the court, from approximately June 2017 until December 2017, Thompson traveled to approximately 25 states and purchased, among other things, third party gift cards, including prepaid credit cards, at various Kmart stores using fraudulent mobile phone coupons. The total loss from the fraud scheme is approximately $101,567.50.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison for each count, a fine of $250,000 for each count, or both for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Waterloo Couple, Both Convicted Felons, Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Waterloo couple who threatened the woman’s ex-boyfriend with a gun were sentenced today to federal prison.
John Joseph Sanford, Jr., age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 6, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Laika Latrece Burt, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 1, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At their guilty pleas, Sanford and Burt both admitted that they knowingly possessed a firearm on January 1, 2018, after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. Evidence shows that on January 1, 2018, Burt retrieved a gun from her house and she and Sanford drove to her ex-boyfriend’s home where they threatened him with the loaded handgun. Police responded to the residence and found the loaded handgun in Burt’s car. Sanford and Burt were later married in April 2018.
Sanford had previously been convicted in the Iowa District Court in Black Hawk County of (1) burglary, second degree, in 1994; (2) distribution of a controlled substance to a person under age eighteen in 1998; (3) possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 1998; and (4) possession of cocaine base, third offense, in 2007. Sanford is currently serving a five year sentence for a conviction on January 25, 2019, in Black Hawk County for possession of methamphetamine, third offense, and possession of cocaine, third offense.
Burt had previously been convicted in the Iowa District Court in Black Hawk County in 2001 of (1) possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; and (2) a drug tax stamp violation. Burt is currently serving a five year sentence for a conviction on November 26, 2018, in Black Hawk County for possession of marijuana, third offense.
Sanford and Burt were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Sanford was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Burt was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sanford and Burt are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to an Iowa state prison to complete their state sentences.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-2009.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Two Inmates at FCI Morgantown indicted for contrabandRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Joe Pruitt and John Joseph Kopp, both inmates at FCI Morgantown in Morgantown, West Virginia, were indicted by a federal grand jury today for possession of contraband, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Pruitt, age 26, and Kopp, age 44, are each charged with one count of “Possession of a Prohibited Object (Narcotic),” one count of “Possession of a Prohibited Object (Cellular Telephone),” and one count of “Possession of a Prohibited Object (Alcohol).” Pruitt and Kopp are accused of having suboxone, alcohol, and two cell phones inside FCI Morgantown in December 2018.
Pruitt and Kopp each face up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the narcotics count and face up to one year incarceration and a fine of up to $200,000 for each of the alcohol and cell phone counts. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Prisons Special Investigation Services investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Third Man Arrested in Hotel RobberyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Three alleged members of the 103 criminal street gang have been charged for their participation in a robbery of America’s Best Value Inn hotel, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Two were previously in custody. Law enforcement arrested the third man - Bernard Robinson, 19 – yesterday. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan today at 10:00 a.m.
A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment April 25, 2019, against Leonard Murphy, 19, Corey Bishop, 20, and Robinson. Bishop and Murphy made their initial appearances May 2, 2019, at which time U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan found them to be a danger to the community and ordered them into custody pending further criminal proceedings. They are currently set for trial in October 2019.
The three men are each charged with one count of robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The indictment alleges that on July 26, 2018, law enforcement responded to an aggravated robbery at the America’s Best Value Inn on the Southeast side of Houston. Upon arrival, authorities officers discovered that a group of males had allegedly confronted the hotel’s clerk and demanded access to the cash kept in the lobby. The indictment alleges the three men pistol-whipped the clerk and ultimately shot him.
After stealing the money, they fled from the hotel and into a waiting vehicle, according to the charges.
If convicted, each faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the robbery. The firearms charges also carries a minimum of 10 years which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. Each conviction also carries a possible fine of up to $250,000.
The Houston Police Department and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Collins is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Texas Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Gregory Smith, 51, Houston, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 11 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Smith pleaded guilty to this charge on April 17, 2019.
The investigation revealed that Smith was mailing packages containing cocaine from Houston to co-defendant Joseph Harper in Madison. In total, postal records from November 2017 to November 2018 showed 32 packages mailed from Smith to addresses in Wisconsin or Iowa associated with Harper. Based on witness statements and multiple cocaine seizures in the case, agents learned that each of the packages contained between a half kilogram and one kilogram of cocaine.
In addition, postal records from November 2017 to November 2018 showed that 48 packages were mailed from the Madison area by Harper or his associates to addresses associated with the Smith in Houston. Federal agents executed search warrants on five of these packages and identified over $85,000 in cash. Based on communications between Smith and Harper, along with other investigative information, agents learned that each of the 48 packages sent to the Smith contained money to pay for cocaine.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Conley noted that Smith played a critical role in the large-scale interstate conspiracy which involved at least 16 kilograms of cocaine. Judge Conley also noted that Smith has a lengthy criminal history including four prior felony drug trafficking convictions.
A total of 12 individuals have been charged for participating in this cocaine distribution scheme. In addition to Smith, eight other defendants have pleaded guilty. Smith is the first to be sentenced.
The charge against Smith is the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Suspected Shooter in Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A previously convicted felon is now in federal custody after exchanging gun fire outside of a local fast food restaurant, announced United States Attorney Russell Coleman.
“Federal law enforcement is actively engaged with our LMPD partners in removing trigger-pullers from Louisville’s streets,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.
Kendrick C. Brown, 29, of Louisville, has been charged with one count of possessing a firearm after being a convicted felon, a federal felony that could lead to significant federal prison time.
According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Louisville, on Monday, May 13, 2019, at around 1:06 p.m., Brown and another individual exchanged gunfire in the parking lot of Indi’s restaurant at 1333 W. Broadway in Louisville, Kentucky. Both individuals retreated to their vehicles and fled the scene following the shooting.
The complaint further states that 911 callers described both vehicles, including a description of Brown’s license plate. Louisville Metro Police located Brown’s pickup truck near the University of Louisville Hospital a short time later.
Brown is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a Sig-Sauer 9mm, model P229 firearm. Brown was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
If convicted at trial, the maximum sentence for unlawfully possessing a firearm is no more than ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin McKenzie. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Kentucky. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The complaint is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative in the Western District of Kentucky.
The charging of a person is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Southbury Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Elderly ClientRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT J. BARRY, 78, of Woodbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, the first six months of which Barry must serve in home confinement, for stealing from his elderly client trust accounts.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Barry was a partner in the law firm of Sturges and Mathes, located in Southbury. The firm specialized in trust and estates work, and Barry headed that practice. As part of his practice, Barry drafted trust agreements for clients designating himself as successor trustee in the event of the client’s death or incapacity. He also prepared wills for clients that named Barry as executor of the client’s estate upon death.
Beginning in June 2010 and continuing until approximately December 2015, Barry engaged in a scheme to defraud an elderly victim by stealing money from the victim’s client trust accounts while the victim was alive, and then stealing money from the victim’s estate after the victim died. Barry, in his role as executor and successor trustee for the victim, directed Sturges and Mathes staff members to prepare checks drawn on the victim’s accounts payable to the Sturges and Mathes operating account. Once the money was deposited into the firm’s operating account, Barry directed staff to cut a check against the firm operating account payable to a special account in the firm’s name over which Barry had exclusive control. Barry then wrote himself checks from the special account to his personal bank account.
In furtherance of the scheme, Barry caused numerous false and misleading statements to be sent to the victim and the victim’s residual beneficiary about the disposition of assets.
Through this scheme, Barry stole more than $2.4 million from the victim and the victim’s estate.
In order to hide the excess fees that he had taken, Barry also caused a false federal estate tax return to be filed with the IRS. The tax return underreported the amount of the victim’s estate by approximately $937,000.
Judge Chatigny ordered Barry to pay $2,440,285 to the victim’s estate, and $1,507,240 to residual beneficiaries of other estate clients.
On September 5, 2018, Barry pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Barry, who is released on a $100,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on September 3, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Wines and Jennifer Laraia.
South Boston Man Sentenced for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl in Public Housing DevelopmentsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing heroin and fentanyl.
Jomar Ventura, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2019, Ventura pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
On four occasions between March and May 2018, Ventura distributed a total of over 44 grams of heroin and fentanyl to a cooperating witness in the Mary Ellen McCormack and Old Colony public housing developments in South Boston. Court-authorized recordings of each transaction and laboratory results confirmed that the drugs were heroin and fentanyl. Evidence presented in connection with sentencing hearing demonstrated that Ventura had been distributing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine regularly for at least six months.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna Nuzum of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit 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. PSN is 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.
Rural Metro of Southern Ohio, Inc. Agrees to Pay $275,116 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to MedicareRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Rural Metro of Southern Ohio, Inc. (“Rural Metro”) has agreed to resolve civil allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims to the federal government, agreeing to pay $275,116.22.
The United States alleged that Rural Metro violated the False Claims Act by submitting, or causing the submission of, false claims to Medicare, for overnight hospital discharge ambulance transports that were not medically necessary, between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2017. To be medically necessary, ambulance transportation requires that a patient’s medical condition prohibit other methods of transportation, but Rural Metro submitted claims for patients who could have been appropriately transported by other means.
“Those who participate in Medicare must play by the rules,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Paying for unnecessary services deprives the Medicare Program of invaluable resources and weakens its ability to actually provide appropriate services to its beneficiaries. Our Office is committed to taking the steps necessary to protect Medicare from fraud and abuse and to recovering taxpayer money that was obtained inappropriately.”
“When companies try to boost their profits by billing federal health care programs for medically unnecessary services, the Office of Inspector General will ensure they are held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, HHS-OIG.
Nicholas Ratterman, a former Rural Metro employee, originally filed this lawsuit under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permits private individuals with knowledge of fraud to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. Mr. Ratterman will received approximately $44,000 from the settlement with Rural Metro.
The government’s action in this matter illustrates its commitment to combat health care fraud using the False Claims Act. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Williams and Mary Melton handled the matter for the United States.
The case is captioned United States ex rel. Ratterman v. Mercury Ambulance Services, Inc., et al., Case No. 17-cv-148-JMH. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Previously Convicted Felon from Essex County Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man who negotiated the sale of 17 firearms over a five-month period was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Reginald Moultrie, 50, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On July 20, 2017, Moultrie, who had at least one prior felony conviction in Essex County Superior Court, possessed an assault rifle capable of accepting a large capacity magazine. As part of the plea agreement, Moultrie also acknowledged that between May 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2017, he negotiated the sale of 17 firearms. Moultrie’s nephew, Richard Lowman, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed business of dealing in firearms and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Moultrie to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked officers from the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Department of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.
Previously Convicted Sex Offender from Albuquerque, N.m., Pleads Guilty to 12 Counts of Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography in Violation of Federal LawRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Donald Tolbert, 50, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to 12 counts of distribution, receipt, and possession of videos and images containing child pornography in violation of federal law.
According to Tolbert’s plea agreement, he committed these offenses between July 17, 2012, and September 20, 2012. During that time, Tolbert sent and received numerous images and videos of child pornography by email. Tolbert then transferred several of those pornography images and videos between his multiple email accounts. Tolbert also stored videos and images of child pornography on his mother’s computers. Tolbert committed these offenses after being previously convicted in New Mexico state court of two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor under the age of 13.
Tolbert is currently in custody pending sentencing where he faces a term of imprisonment in the range of 30 to 35 years (360 to 420 months).
The Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, New Mexico State Probation and Parole, and the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristopher N. Houghton and Alexander M. Uballez are prosecuting the case.
Owner of Essex County-Based Medical Transportation Company Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Qaiser Gondal, age 47, of Watervliet, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud Medicaid.
The announcement was made by:
- United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith;
- New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett;
- James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI);
- New York State Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro; and
- Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly.
Today’s plea is the result of a state and federal investigation into Medicaid fraud committed by the owners and operators of medical transportation companies based in Essex County.
Qaiser Gondal operated Ti Taxi Inc. (“Ti Taxi”), a Medicaid-funded transportation company based in Ticonderoga, New York.
As part of his plea, Qaiser Gondal admitted that he committed a variety of frauds against Medicaid and the New York State Department of Health, including: billing Medicaid and receiving payment for trips where beneficiaries drove themselves to their own medical appointments, and falsifying the identities of the drivers for those trips; billing Medicaid and receiving payment for roundtrips to and from medical appointments when the beneficiaries took only one-way trips with Ti Taxi; and falsifying pick-up and drop-off locations, in order to increase the purported distances traveled and therefore be able to claim and receive higher Medicaid payments.
Qaiser Gondal also admitted that he paid kickbacks and bribes to Medicaid beneficiaries in order to induce those beneficiaries to schedule and keep scheduling medical transportation appointments with Ti Taxi. Kickbacks included cash, phone cards, cigarettes and tobacco, and free goods at Gondal’s convenience store in Ticonderoga.
Qaiser Gondal faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years, when he is sentenced on November 14, 2019 by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Qaiser Gondal has also agreed to pay $325,000 in restitution.
Yesterday, Khurram Gondal, age 38, of Ticonderoga, pled guilty to health care fraud in connection with fraudulent Medicaid billing practices connected to two other medical transportation companies, Green Mountain Medical Transportation Inc. and Four Way Taxi, Inc. Khurram Gondal, who is Qaiser Gondal’s brother, also faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 14, 2019 by Judge McAvoy. Khurram Gondal has agreed to pay $60,000 in restitution.
Charges remain pending against several other defendants. Those defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The federal charges are being investigated by the FBI and the New York State Police’s Special Investigations Unit, and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Parallel state charges are being investigated by the New York State Police’s Special Investigations Unit, as well as the Office of the New York State Inspector General, and are being prosecuted by Rensselaer County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf as Special Prosecutor.
Several additional agencies assisted in this investigation, including the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; New York State Police-Troop B; the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Division of Investigations; New York State Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); Essex County Sheriff’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG); and the New York State Department of Labor.
Owner and Principal of Investment Firm Indicted for Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the indictment and arrest of DONALD BLAKSTAD for his participation in a scheme to trade on inside information that was misappropriated from Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”), a San Diego-based biotechnology company whose stock trades on NASDAQ. BLAKSTAD’s scheme yielded more than $6 million in illegal profits.
Mr. Berman also announced today the unsealing of charges against MARTHA BUSTOS, a certified public accountant formerly employed by Illumina, who pled guilty on June 28, 2019, and is cooperating with the Government.
BLAKSTAD was arrested this morning in San Diego, California, and will be presented today before United States Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. In a separate action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed civil charges against BLAKSTAD and BUSTOS.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Donald Blakstad allegedly used his connections to gather inside information that he and his associates then traded on, to the tune of more than $6 million in profits. Trading stocks based on stolen information strikes at the foundation of our nation’s financial markets and today’s arrest and charges are part of our ongoing commitment to protecting the integrity of those markets.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney said: “Those who base trading decisions on proprietary information they shouldn’t have access to are not only engaging in a practice that’s unfair, but also illegal. Blakstad’s arrest today once again highlights the FBI’s ongoing efforts to eradicate this unlawful behavior and preserve the integrity of our financial markets.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed today[1]:
BLAKSTAD was the owner and principal of an investment fund known as Midcontinental Petroleum Inc., which purported to be in the business of soliciting investments in the oil and gas industry. BUSTOS was a certified public accountant who worked in Illumina’s accounting department. By virtue of her employment at Illumina, BUSTOS had access to material nonpublic information about Illumina’s financial condition, including its earnings.
On multiple occasions, from 2016 through 2018, BLAKSTAD obtained inside information about Illumina’s financial condition from BUSTOS before Illumina publicly announced its quarterly financial results. As BLAKSTAD knew, BUSTOS owed a duty to keep inside information about Illumina confidential.
BLAKSTAD, aware of BUSTOS’s breach of duty to Illumina, used this inside information to make profitable trades in Illumina securities. At times, BLAKSTAD tipped his associates so that they could trade Illumina stock and options based on the inside information. At other times, in order to avoid detection, BLAKSTAD arranged for his associates to purchase Illumina securities for BLAKSTAD’s benefit in accounts controlled by his associates.
Following the public announcement of Illumina’s earnings, BLAKSTAD and his associates sold the Illumina securities at a significant profit, sometimes exceeding more than 2,000 percent. In total, BLAKSTAD and his associates made more than $6 million in profits from purchasing and selling Illumina securities.
* * *
BLAKSTAD, 60, of San Diego, California, is charged with the offenses set forth in the chart attached to this release.
On June 28, 2019, BUSTOS, 31, of San Diego, California, pled guilty in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein to three counts: conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The maximum sentences for each charge are included in the attached chart.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the work of the FBI, and thanked the SEC for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward A. Imperatore and Brendan F. Quigley are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and BLAKSTAD is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Count
Charge
Maximum Penalties
1
Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 371)
Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense
2
Securities Fraud (15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff; 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5; 18 U.S.C. § 2)
20 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense
3
Securities Fraud (15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff; 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5; 18 U.S.C. § 2)
20 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense
4
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349)
20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense
5
Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 & 2)
20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Morris Dewayne Carroll (45, Orlando) to nine years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Carroll had pleaded guilty on April 18, 2019.
According to court documents, on January 25, 2019, officers from Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation encountered Carroll at an Orlando-area hotel. Carroll was the subject of an outstanding felony arrest warrant. When officers executed the arrest, they found him in possession of a loaded, stolen handgun. Carroll’s criminal history includes convictions for sexual battery, failure to register as a sex offender, delivery of cocaine, unlawful discharging of a firearm, and domestic assault. As a previously convicted felon, Carroll is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
“HSI has formed a strong partnership with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, and we have continued to leverage our authorities to keep our communities safe,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Bringing criminals to justice is a collective team effort by law enforcement.”
This case was investigated by United States Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, ICE.
Ohio Woman Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin and Launder the ProceedsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – An Ohio resident has been sentenced in federal court to four years and four months (52 months) in prison on her convictions of conspiracy to distribute heroin and money laundering, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Britny Beaver, 25, of East Liverpool, OH.
According to information presented to the court, from January 2015 to February 2016, Beaver conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute kilogram quantities of heroin. She also conspired to launder $60,000 of the proceeds of the heroin trafficking.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Cercone stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to address the factors set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hopewell Township Police Department, Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, Aliquippa Police Department, and the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Beaver
New Jersey Man Admits Role in $2 Million Fraudulent Check Scheme Targeting Home-Improvement StoresRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a phony check scheme that resulted in the theft of over $2 million in merchandise from multiple home improvement stores throughout the country, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
John Muyeka, 44, of Sayreville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with one count of misprision of a felony before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Starting in December 2013 and continuing through February 2017, Muyeka and other conspirators agreed to obtain merchandise or store credit from home improvement stores in locations along the eastern United States, including New Jersey, by purchasing items with fraudulent checks.
The individuals entered home improvement and other retail stores and gathered several high-value items like air conditioners or hardwood flooring. They then typically “purchased” the items either by handing a cashier a fraudulent check with a phony name but authentic account and routing numbers, or by pretending to be an authorized signatory on a store credit account that the individuals had previously opened with a phony check.
During some of the transactions, the conspirators displayed fake driver’s licenses that had been created by Muyeka, which either duplicated the phony name imprinted on the fraudulent check they presented for payment or matched the name of an authorized signatory on a store credit account that they had previously opened.
In total, the conspirators allegedly stole over $2 million in merchandise from various retailers in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and South Carolina.
The count of misprision carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, with the investigation. He also thanked the Union Township Police Department, the Holmdel Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, the Totowa Police Department, and the Monroe Township Police Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason S. Gould of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Mexican National Sentenced After Repeatedly Illegally Re-entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has been sentenced in federal court after repeatedly illegally entering the United States.
Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Vazquez, 42, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Tuesday, July 10, to four years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
On Feb. 5, 2019, Rodriguez-Vazquez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported for an aggravated felony, his second violation of this statute.
According to court documents, Rodriguez-Vazquez has illegally entered the United States on five different occasions. Rodriguez-Vazquez illegally entered the United States in 1991, then again in 2000. Rodriguez-Vazquez was convicted of possessing marijuana with the intent to sell on Feb. 4, 2003, and was deported.
On April 16, 2004, Rodriguez-Vazquez had his probation revoked because he again illegally re-entered the United States for the third time. On April 4, 2005, Rodriguez-Vazquez was convicted in the U.S. District Court of Kansas of illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported for an aggravated felony. He was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and later deported.
Rodriguez-Vazquez illegally re-entered the United States the fourth time on April 8, 2011. Rodriguez-Vazquez was arrested and subsequently convicted in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas on Sept. 21, 2011, of illegally re-entering the United States. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and was deported on Aug. 14, 2014.
Rodriguez-Vazquez claims to have last entered the United States without inspection sometime in June 2018. He was arrested by Riverside, Missouri, police officers for loitering on Sept. 16, 2018.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, It was investigated by the Riverside, Mo., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of MinorRead the Press Release
BOISE – Vincent Paul Ingolia, 45, of Meridian, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to 120 months in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered that Ingolia be placed on supervised release for five years following his prison sentence. Ingolia pleaded guilty on April 10, 2019.
According to court records, on March 15, 2018, Ingolia posted an advertisement on Craigslist seeking a young girl for sexual activity. An agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) responded to the advertisement, posing as a 13-year-old girl. During e-mail communications, Ingolia offered to pay the minor in exchange for sexual contact, and made numerous statements intended to entice and persuade the 13-year-old into meeting and engaging in sexual contact with him. Ingolia arrived at a gas station in Boise to meet with the 13-year-old. Once he arrived, Ingolia told the officer he believed he was speaking to law enforcement and fled the area.
During a subsequent investigation to identify Ingolia, HSI agents discovered Ingolia had posted at least ten other Craigslist advertisements seeking young girls for “porn productions,” or to exchange sex for money. In August of 2018, HSI agents served a search warrant at Ingolia’s residence in Meridian. Ingolia was present and admitted to agents that he was the individual speaking to the undercover officer, and that he believed he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl. He admitted traveling to the gas station to meet the minor for sex, but then realized “it was a sting,” so he left. He also admitted to previously communicating with other minors on Craigslist advertisements, during which he discussed meeting for sexual contact and offered money for sex, but denied ever meeting or having sexual contact with any minor.
At sentencing, Judge Winmill also ordered Ingolia to forfeit the cellular phone he used in the commission of the offense. As a result of his conviction, Ingolia will be required to register as a sex offender.
The investigation was part of “Operation Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” a joint state and federal undercover operation conducted in Ada County, Idaho in March of 2018 to identify individuals predisposed to meet minors for sexual contact. Participating agencies included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Garden City Police Department, the Boise Police Department, the Nampa Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office Special Investigation Unit, the Idaho Criminal Intelligence Center, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is pleased with the results of the joint operation,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis. “Project Safe Childhood (PSC) has been and is an important priority of the Department of Justice. Working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement, we seek to protect children by diligently investigating and prosecuting online sexual offenses involving minors. This operation helped safeguard children.”
“HSI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting children from predators who seek to take advantage of their innocence,” said Brad Bench, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Seattle. “The sexual abuse of a child is an appalling crime and HSI is steadfast in our commitment to find and remove these criminals from our communities.”
“The sentencing of the final defendant brings to a close this very successful operation,” Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. “I’m pleased with the outcome and proud of the cooperation exhibited by so many law enforcement agencies. Young Idahoans are safer as a result.”
Ingolia is the last of ten defendants charged in federal court as a result of Operation Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Previously, the following defendants were sentenced in federal court as a result of Operation Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
- Bruce Froman, 41, of Meridian, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for attempted coercion and enticement on August 14, 2018.
- Steven Walker, 49, of Boise, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor on September 4, 2018.
- Jason Kitley, 48, of Eagle, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor on September 24, 2018.
- Anthony Magana, 31, of Boise, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor on October 11, 2018.
- Gary Baker, 49, of Caldwell, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor on November 1, 2018.
- Omar Luna, 28, of Boise, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor on November 1, 2018.
- Jerry Moore, 43, of Weiser, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 180 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for attempted sexual exploitation of children on November 19, 2018.
- Robert Williams, 39, of Boise, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor on December 17, 2018.
- Chancey Bailey, 33, of Carlin, Nevada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill to five years of probation and six months of home confinement, for attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor on July 9, 2019.
The cases were 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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Martinsburg man admits to drug traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Tywonne Crawford, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing cocaine and heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crawford, age 39, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine Base.” Crawford admitted to conspiring with others to distribute heroin and cocaine base from October to November 2018 in Berkeley County.
Crawford is facing up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Man Believed to Have Entered US Illegally Charged with Fraud, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. – An individual believed to have entered the United States illegally in March 2018 has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The 12-count indictment named Janos Vaczi, 48, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, from in and around March 2018, to on or about June 22, 2019, Vaczi conspired to use unauthorized access devices by installing skimming equipment on ATMs in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, which resulted in losses to banks, credit unions and their customers.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 60 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
MS-13 Member Sentenced for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An MS-13 member was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy.
Nelson Cruz Rodriguez Cartagena, a/k/a “Inquieto,” 25, a Salvadoran national illegally residing in Everett, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 17 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Rodriguez will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In April 2019, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. Rodriguez was arrested in Everett after law enforcement determined that he had reentered the United States after having been deported in 2016.
Rodriguez is a full member, or “homeboy,” in MS-13’s Everett Locos Salvatrucha (ELS) clique. On recorded prison calls with a detained ELS clique leader, Rodriguez discussed buying guns for the ELS clique; maintaining and supervising the clique’s marijuana trafficking business; the need to collect dues from clique members; the need to send money to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador due on the 13th of each month; and reporting on the clique’s day-to-day racketeering activities. When the clique leader began to suspect that a member of the ELS clique had cooperated with law enforcement leading to his arrest, he enlisted Rodriguez’s help to ferret out the informant. Rodriguez provided the true names of two young ELS clique members, and the leader concluded that one of them, Jose Aguilar Villanueva, a/k/a “Fantasma,” was the clique member responsible for his arrest. Once ELS (incorrectly) identified Villanueva as an informant, members of ELS, including Rodriguez, met at the clique’s “destroyer house,” – a residence where clique members stored knives, machetes, marijuana, and money – to discuss gang business and to plan the murder of Villanueva. Ultimately, on the night of July 5, 2015, two young ELS probationary members, or “chequeos,” lured Villanueva into a park in Lawrence and stabbed him to death. Villanueva was 16-years-old.
On Jan. 2, 2016, three young ELS clique members murdered 19-year-old Omar Reyes, an associate of the rival gang,18th Street, by shooting him in the head under a bridge in Everett. Immediately after the murder, the ELS clique members called Rodriguez, who called another ELS homeboy to report the murder. Rodriguez then helped the three ELS clique members hide the murder weapon from the police.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement. The U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts provided crucial assistance with the case.
Local Woman Sentenced for Filing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Western Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to one day incarceration and one year probation, including eight months home confinement, and restitution in the amount of $47,378 payable to the Internal Revenue Service on her conviction of filing false income tax returns, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Tina Gordon of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Gordon filed two false tax returns for calendar years 2010 and 2011, which were verified by written declarations that Gordon knew were false. In the 2010 tax return, Gordon falsely stated that her "other income" (line 21 of Form 1040) was $13,250, whereas, as she then and there well knew her "other income" was in fact much greater, an amount of approximately $69,076 (approximately $55,826 of unreported "other income"). In the 2011 tax return, Gordon falsely stated that her "other income" (line 21 of Form 1040) was $1,856,252 (identified elsewhere in her return as "gambling winnings"), whereas, as she then and there well knew, her "other income" was in fact much greater, an amount of approximately $1,996,226 ("approximately $139,974 of unreported "other income").
United States Attorney Brady commended the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Tina Gordon.