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11 June 2019
Indictment Charges 14 Men with Trafficking Heroin, Cocaine and Fentanyl in New HavenRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Interim Police Chief Otoniel Reyes of the New Haven Police Department today announced that a grand jury in New Haven has returned a nine-count superseding indictment charging the following 14 individuals with heroin, cocaine and fentanyl trafficking offenses:
MALBIN RUBIERA-HERRERA, a.k.a. “Chaca,” 28, of New Haven
JUAN LANTIGUA-CID, a.k.a. “Manager,” 46, of Linden, New Jersey
EDUARDO RAMOS, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
BRIAN ABREU, a.k.a. “Braga,” 26, of New Haven
WILLIAM CLAUDIO-SUAREZ, a.k.a. “Willy,” 33, of New Haven
PEDRO ORTA-RIVAS a.k.a. “Cuba” and “El Brujo,” 50, of East Haven
OSVALDO HODGE, a.k.a. “Mono,” 43, of New Haven
STEVEN SANTOS, 38, of Bridgeport
JOSE ANGEL SUAREZ, 36, of Veja Baja, Puerto Rico
MARIO LLANOS-AYALA, 44, of Deltona, Florida
ROBERTO ANTHONY TORRES, a.k.a. “Toni,” 52, of New Haven
MICHAEL MILLER, 38, of New Haven
TAKAI QUNTAY BELLAMY, 25, of New Haven
CHRISTIAN RIVERA-TORRES, a.k.a. “Pantera,” 40, of New HavenThe indictment stems from an investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera acquired heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates in the greater New Haven. Between October and December 2018, investigators made controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine from Rubiera-Herrera. Subsequent court-authorized wiretaps revealed a widespread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the trafficking of kilogram-quantities of heroin into Connecticut.
On April 30, 2019, Rubiera-Herrera, Juan Lantigua-Cid, Eduardo Ramos and Brian Abreu were arrested on federal criminal complaints. On that date, a search of Rubiera-Herrera’s residence on Augustine Street revealed approximately 700 gross grams of fentanyl.
On May 8, 2019, the grand jury returned an indictment charging the four defendants arrested on April 30, as well as William Claudio-Suarez, Pedro Orta-Rivas and Osvaldo Hodge, who were subsequently arrested. The superseding indictment, which was returned on June 5, was unsealed yesterday after the arrests of Steven Santos, Roberto Anthony Torres and Takai Quantay Bellamy. Michael Miller and Christian Rivera-Torres are being transferred from state to federal custody today, and Llanos-Ayala is currently in state custody in New Jersey. Suarez is being sought by law enforcement.
All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. If convicted of this charge, based on their conduct and the quantity of controlled substances attributable to them as a result of their involvement in the conspiracy, Rubiera-Herrera, Lantigua-Cid, Ramos and Abreu face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Claudio-Suarez, Orta-Rivas, Santos, Suarez, Llanos-Ayala and Torres face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Hodge, Miller, Bellamy and Rivera-Torres face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also charges Rubiera-Herrera, Abreu, Orta-Rivas and Hodge with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute various narcotics.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, East Haven Police Department, Easton Police Department, Orange Police Department, and the Cape May County (N.J.) Prosecutor’s Office, Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force.
The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and S. Dave Vatti.
Indiana Man, Woman Indicted for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Indiana man and woman who were stopped on Interstate 44 en route to Chicago, Illinois, were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Steven Hook, 38, and Tallisha R. Malone, also known as Tallisha Washington, 39, were charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Hook and Malone on June 3, 2019.
The federal indictment alleges that Hook and Malone participated in conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Greene County, Missouri, from May 31, 2019, to June 3, 2019. The indictment also charges Hook and Malone with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on June 3, 2019.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Hook was driving a vehicle rented by Malone, a passenger, on eastbound Interstate 44 on June 3, 2019. A state trooper stopped the vehicle for speeding. When the trooper searched the vehicle, the affidavit says, he found three bundles of methamphetamine in a small luggage bag. The trooper also found two plastic bags with bedding inside; inside the bedding of both plastic bags were a total of 33 bundles of methamphetamine.
Malone told law enforcement officers she rented the vehicle in Los Angeles, California. She drove to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she met Hook. She allegedly was supposed to drive the vehicle to Chicago to drop the vehicle off to another person.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Illegal Alien Who Used Another Person’s Social Security Number Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Juan Gabriel Xiquita-Aju, age 30, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2019, guilty plea to one count of misuse of a social security number.
At the guilty plea, Xiquita-Aju admitted that on July 12, 2016, he used someone else’s social security number on employment forms when applying for work in Independence, Iowa. He also used a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed the employment forms. Xiquita-Aju first came to the attention of immigration officials in March 2017 after his arrest for operating while intoxicated in Allamakee County, Iowa.
Xiquita-Aju was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Xiquita-Aju was sentenced to 106 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Xiquita-Aju is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Three Prior DeportationsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison.
Jorge Matute-Banegas, age 28, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Belmond, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 6, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony.
At the guilty plea, Matute-Banegas admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in June 2011, April 2013 and October 2014 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Matute-Banegas was found by immigration agents in December 2018 after he was charged in Wright County, Iowa, with driving without a license.
Matute-Banegas has prior convictions in Pinal County, Arizona, in July 2012 for possession of marijuana for sale, an aggravated felony, and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in October 2014 for illegal reentry into the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony.
Matute-Banegas was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Matute-Banegas was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Matute-Banegas is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-3002.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Golden City Man Indicted for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Golden City, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for producing child pornography.
Elliot Alden Nelson, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri.
Today’s indictment alleges that Nelson used a minor, identified in court documents as Jane Doe (born in 2004), to produce child pornography from April 11 to April 22, 2019. The indictment also charges Nelson with using the internet and a cell phone to attempt to entice the child victim to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Georgia Podiatrist Sentenced to 36 months for his role in Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
A Georgia podiatrist was sentenced for his participation in a kickback scheme where he prescribed medication that was ultimately paid for by a federal program that provides low cost medication to members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. for the Southern District of Florida, Cyndee Bruce, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office, Christopher Cave, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Southern Area Field Office (USPS-OIG), Frank Robey, Commander, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Southeast Fraud Field Office, H. Peter Kuehl, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Miami Field Office, and Thomas W. South, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General (OPM-OIG), made the announcement.Dr. Alap Shah, 44, of Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Shah was also ordered to pay a $300 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $55,300. On January 8, 2019, after a week-long jury trial, Shah was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and receive health care kickbacks and two counts of receiving kickbacks. According to the evidence introduced at trial, the defendant was a podiatrist in Columbus, Georgia. In February 2014, Shah was approached by Paul Meek and Gary Small, the owners of PGRX, a marketing company that paid kickbacks to medical professionals in return for the referral of patients with prescriptions to their company for expensive compounded medications. PGRX would then refer these patients to Atlantic Pharmacy, a pharmacy that submitted claims to TRICARE, a health insurance program that provides low cost health insurance to members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
According to the evidence introduced at trial, during the course of the conspiracy, Shah received $55,300 in kickback payments for the referral of patients to PGRX. These referrals, in turn caused Atlantic Pharmacy to submit claims for medications that cost up to $4782.00 for a one- month supply. The evidence showed that PGRX and Shah signed phony Medical Director and speaker agreements in order to cover up the true nature of payments. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Shah and his co-conspirators engaged in a series of email and text messages in which they discussed the need to recruit TRIACRE beneficiaries and prescribe them expensive compounded medications. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the evidence demonstrated that Shah wrote prescriptions that caused TRICARE make payments to Atlantic Pharmacy in the approximate amount of $1,033,090.00.
“Dr. Shah chose to line his pockets rather than uphold the trust his patients placed in him,” said U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to identify for prosecution individuals, including healthcare providers, who carry out kickback schemes against Tricare or other federal health care programs for their own personal financial benefit at a loss to the deserving beneficiaries.”
“Shah ignored his Hippocratic Oath when he decided to pursue personal profit over patient care,” said Cyndy Bruce, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “DCIS and its law enforcement partners are fiercely committed to protecting America’s Warfighters and the integrity of TRICARE, the military health care program.”“The sentence obtained today has been the culmination of a thorough investigation completed by our agents revealing abuse by medical professionals of Federal benefits programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Cave, of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Southern Area Field Office. “The USPS-OIG, along with our law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously investigate these types of cases in order to deter and stop these fraud schemes.”
“Those who choose to attempt to defraud the U.S. healthcare system, undermine the entire system and those providers who obey the law,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “We hope that today's sentencing will deter others from this type of illegal scheme.”
“The FDA recognizes that compounded drugs can serve an important role for patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug product. But when doctors disregard the drug approval process for personal profit, they put their patients at risk,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge H. Peter Kuehl, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice physicians who endanger the health of unsuspecting American consumers in this manner.”
“Dr. Shah not only violated the laws of the United States - he violated the trust placed in him by his patients,” said Thomas W. South, OPM’s Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. “Every patient deserves health care providers that meet the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior. Today’s sentencing reminds all providers that they must observe those standards, and reflects the commitment of the OPM-OIG to pursue improper and illegal conduct that puts the health and wellbeing of Federal employees, annuitants, and their families at risk.”
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan thanked DCIS, USPS-OIG, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, FDA-OCI, and OPM-OIG for their investigative efforts in this case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Bernstein and Jonathan Stratton.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Former Villanova University Campus Ministry Official Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Timothy O’Connell, 52, of Drexel Hill, PA entered a plea of guilty before the Honorable Gerald J. Pappert on one count of receipt of child pornography.
On February 10, 2018, the defendant received images depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of pre-pubescent children. The victims depicted in the child pornography included a two-year old child identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in another child abuse investigation. At the time he committed the crime, the defendant was employed as Associate Director of Campus Ministry at Villanova University. On January 3, 2019, the defendant was indicted for receipt of child pornography.
“Child exploitation is a pervasive problem that demands a sustained, aggressive response,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The allegations in this case are particularly disturbing due to the defendant’s history as a spiritual leader in a position of community trust at Villanova. We stand ready with our federal and local partners to identify and prosecute those who would prey upon minor children.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Villanova University Department of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya T. De Souza.
Former Toledo mail carrier sentenced to more than a year in prison for stealing parcels containing marijuana, as well as having a firearmRead the Press Release
A former U.S Postal carrier from Toledo was sentenced to more than a year in prison for stealing parcels containing drugs from the mail, as well as having a firearm.
Ramon Johnson, 27, was sentenced to 14 months in prison and fined $5,000. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a firearm in federal facilities, theft of mail by a postal employee and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.
Johnson removed two packages on September 19, 2018, that were intended to be delivered. He also possessed marijuana that day with the intention to distribute the marijuana. Johnson also possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition at the U.S. Postal Service building at 435 South St. Clair Street in Toledo, according to court documents.
The case was investigated by the U.S Postal Service -- Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Toledo Metro Drug Task Force. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Alissa M. Sterling.
Former Tinto Dishwasher Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Unemployment Fraud Scheme Targeting CoworkersRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Terron Mason Moore, 34, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 45 months’ incarceration, three years supervised release and restitution of $171,895 by Judge Gerald J. Pappert. In February 2019, defendant pled guilty to seventeen counts of mail fraud, conversion of government funds, and aggravated identity theft in connection with his scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Fund of $171,895.
For over three years, the defendant operated a fraud and identity theft scheme, by stealing the personal identifiable information of approximately twenty-one individuals, including their social security numbers. He used this information to file fraudulent unemployment compensation claims for the purpose of unlawfully obtaining government funds which are reserved for the purpose of assisting working people who have lost their jobs.
The defendant chose targets known to him as they all worked at his same employer, the popular Philadelphia restaurant Tinto. Many of the victims were students or at the start of their careers, who have suffered financial harm due to defendant’s crimes. By taking advantage of his coworkers, the defendant funded a lifestyle which he otherwise would not have enjoyed including trips to Jamaica and Las Vegas.
“Instead of putting in an honest day’s work and being paid for those efforts, like his victims all did, the defendant resorted to fraud and theft,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “He stole from his peers – people who were working hard to build their lives in an honest manner, which have now been compromised, and who have suffered great emotional distress as they try to reconstruct their credit and good names. And ironically, he stole from the very same taxpayer funded program that assisted him when he previously filed his own unemployment claim to receive benefits after losing his restaurant job.”
“Terron Mason-Moore defrauded the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry by misusing the stolen identities of his co-workers to obtain over $170,000 in unemployment compensation benefits to which he was not entitled. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to protect the integrity of unemployment insurance benefit programs,” stated Richard Deer, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
The case was investigated by U.S. Department of Labor, United States Postal Inspection – Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.
Former Navy Employee Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses with Multiple VictimsRead the Press Release
A former Navy employee who resided in Maryland before moving to Japan pleaded guilty today to the production, transportation and possession of child pornography.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office made the announcement.
Spencer E. Steckman, 35, formerly of Silver Spring, Maryland, was charged in March 2018 with one count of production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Steckman was detained by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in Japan on March 27, 2018, and transported back to Maryland by the United States Marshals Service to appear in U.S. District Court. U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm for the District of Maryland scheduled sentencing for Nov. 7, 2019. Steckman has remained in custody since his initial detainment.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea agreement, between Aug. 17, 2017, and Sept. 22, 2017, while in Maryland, Steckman enticed a 13-year-old boy to take photographs of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct and then send them to Steckman in exchange for money or PlayStation videogame redemption codes. Between Sept. 24, 2017, and Dec. 4, 2017, Steckman enticed another 13-year-old boy to take photographs and videos of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct and then send them to Steckman in exchange for an iPhone. In mid-November 2017, Steckman moved to Japan to work with Commander Navy Region Japan, where he transported and possessed the child pornography.
Further investigation revealed eight other victims whom Steckman had enticed to produce child pornography, ranging in age from 12 to 17 years old, and dating back to the years 2008 to 2010, when Steckman was residing in San Diego, California.
The FBI’s Baltimore Field Office and the Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from NCIS. Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Navy Employee Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses with Multiple VictimsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Spencer Eugene Steckman, age 35, a Navy employee formerly of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the production, transportation, and possession of child pornography.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea agreement, between August 17, 2017, and September 22, 2017, while in Maryland, Steckman enticed a thirteen-year-old boy to take, and send to Steckman, photographs of the boy engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in exchange for money and PlayStation videogame redemption codes. Between September 24, 2017, and December 4, 2017, Steckman enticed another thirteen-year-old boy to take, and send to Steckman, photographs and videos of the boy engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in exchange for an iPhone. In mid-November 2017, Steckman moved to Japan for work, where he transported and possessed the child pornography.
Steckman was detained by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in Japan on March 27, 2018, and transported back to Maryland by the United States Marshals Service to appear before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. He has remained in custody since that time.
Further investigation revealed eight other victims whom Steckman had enticed to produce child pornography, ranging in age from twelve to seventeen years old, and dating back to 2008-2010, when Steckman was residing in San Diego, California.
As part of his plea agreement, Steckman will be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
Steckman and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Steckman will be sentenced to between 25 and 45 years in federal prison. U.S. District Court Judge Paul W. Grimm scheduled sentencing for November 7, 2019.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the NCIS, and the Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), who are prosecuting the case.
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Former Bowling Coach Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
The former coach of a South King County bowling team was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 25 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for production and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. TY LEE TREDDENBARGER, 54, of Burien, Washington, pleaded guilty in October 2018, admitting he photographed and saved images of his molestation of minor victims between the ages of 13 and 16. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said, TREDDENBARGER committed “a breach of trust as a coach,” and noted that the abuse lasted over a multi-year period.
“This defendant not only groomed the victims, he went to great lengths to convince the victim’s parents that he would take care of these children during out-of-state tournaments and overnight events,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “His horrific betrayal of trust, and using drugs to facilitate his sex abuse, is a parent’s worst nightmare. Instead of a trustworthy mentor these children were violated by a predatory monster.”
According to records filed in the case, in March 2017, a young victim disclosed the abuse to a parent. The Des Moines Police Department and King County Prosecutor’s Office requested assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. HSI and the Seattle Police Department executed court authorized search warrants at TREDDENBARGER’s residence, seizing electronic devices that contained images of the sexual abuse of children. Analysis of the electronic devices revealed more than 300 images and 12 videos of TREDDENBARGER sexually abusing the young victims – many while they were drugged and sleeping. In the search, police also seized a fake smoke detector, fitted with a secret camera, and a small bathroom toiletry bag that also contained a hidden camera. TREDDENBARGER told law enforcement he used these devices to secretly film bowling team members in hotel showers and bathrooms during trips to bowling tournaments.
From the images, law enforcement was able to identify two additional victims. Some of the victims in the images remain unknown. TREDDENBARGER was charged with three counts of production of child pornography -- one count for each of the victims -- and possession of child pornography.
“The years of abuse that the victims in this case suffered at the hands of this dangerous child predator are inexcusable,” said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle. “I applaud the victims for their bravery, as well as all of the law enforcement professionals who helped make today’s sentencing possible. Thanks to their efforts, this dangerous criminal has been removed from our community and will no longer have access to our children.”
Following the sentence in federal court, TREDDENBARGER will be sentenced for child molestation in King County Superior court. As part of the plea agreement, the state sentence will run concurrent to the federal prison sentence.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson. Ms. Gregson is a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation cases in federal court.
Former Assistant Track Coach Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Wellesley High School assistant track coach, who is also a former Harvard University track coach, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to possession of child pornography.
Walter Johnson, 71, of Framingham, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2019.
In January 2017, an investigation began into child pornography being traded by a Craigslist user. The investigation led to Johnson, a track coach at Wellesley High School and a former Harvard University track coach. During a search of Johnson’s home in Framingham, images and videos of child pornography were found on his computer and on a thumb drive hidden in his bedroom. He was arrested on scene and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $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 Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and the Framingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Florida Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Downloading Child Pornography from A Grocery Store Parking LotRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Robert Sciolino (51, Bradenton) to 10 years in federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography. The court also ordered Sciolino to pay $57,000 in restitution to the victims and forfeit six electronic devices that he used in the commission of the offense.
Sciolino had pleaded guilty on March 22, 2019.
According to court documents, in June 2014, undercover detectives from New Zealand downloaded multiple files depicting child pornography from Sciolino’s residence. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Sciolino’s residence, and recovered two computers and two flash drives. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed 354 images and 619 videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted children as young as three years old being sexually abused.
Between December 2015 and January 2016, undercover FBI agents downloaded multiple files depicting child pornography from a user that was connecting to the internet via unsecured wireless routers, within a 10-mile radius in Sarasota County, Florida. On February 1, 2016, FBI agents, working alongside detectives from the Bradenton Police Department, tracked this user to a grocery store parking lot in Bradenton. At approximately 9:00 p.m., Sciolino was found at the parking lot while he was actively downloading child pornography from his car. A forensic analysis of the devices recovered from Sciolino’s car revealed 1,539 images and 81 videos of child pornography.
“This sentence is the embodiment of unremitting efforts of detectives and agents at the local, federal, and international level to prevent the exploitation and victimization of children,” said Special Agent Dan Ward, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force coordinator in Fort Myers.
This case was investigated by the Bradenton Police Department, the FBI, and the New Zealand Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diego F. Novaes and Lisa M. Thelwell.
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.
Florida Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in $28 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – June 11, 2019 – Christopher B. Warren, 50, of Anthony, Florida was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison for operating a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee. Warren was charged in a 12-count indictment in July 2018 and pleaded guilty to mail fraud and securities fraud in December 2018.
In sentencing Warren, U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson remarked that this was a “terrible crime with lies everywhere,” and that there was no excuse for this conduct. Judge Richardson also ordered Warren to pay $15,666,418.67 in restitution.
Warren was the founder and chief investment officer of Clean Energy Advisors (CEA), a company registered in Wyoming with offices in Nashville, Tennessee, Florida, and other locations. Beginning in November 2013 and continuing through September 2017, Warren devised and operated a scheme to defraud investors by offering investment opportunities in solar farm projects purportedly owned by CEA. To attract investors, Warren claimed that CEA owned working solar farms throughout the state of North Carolina and further claimed that Duke Power agreed to purchase the energy produced by CEA’s farms and that he would use the revenue to pay dividends to investors. Warren recruited 60 investors for its private investment funds: Utility Solar IV and Utility Income Fund and made numerous false misrepresentations, including that CEA owned several solar farms and made millions of dollars selling solar energy to utility companies, knowing at the time that CEA had no earnings, no profits, and had no contracts with any utility company. Warren also provided investors with a list of solar farms purportedly owned by CEA, many of which did not exist and others that were actually owned by other entities.
To hide the fraud, Warren created phone audited financial statements and made regular Ponzi payments to select investors. As the scheme was uncovered, Warren told investors he would repay the principal investments pending the imminent sale of the company to a foreign purchaser. In fact, no sale could have ever materialized.
During the course of the scheme, Warren raised approximately $28 million from investors, misappropriated a significant portion of those funds, including using almost $7 million for the personal benefit of himself and family members, and caused investors to lose more than $15 million.
Warren must report to the Bureau of Prisons by August 8, 2019. To begin serving his sentence.
This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint.
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Five Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging VICTOR HUGO ESPINOZA-HERNANDEZ, age 50, of Honduras, IRAEL PEREZ-LOPEZ, age 34, of Guatemala, VICTOR SANCHEZ-ISMERIO, age 38, of Mexico, MELECIO MORALES, age 33, of Mexico, and ARTURO ESPINOZA-PEREZ, age 30, of Mexico, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.
If convicted of illegal reentry of a deported alien, ESPINOZA-HERNANDEZ, previously removed from the United States and found in Nash County, PEREZ-LOPEZ, who has been convicted of Driving Under the Influence, was previously deported two times, and was found in Brunswick County, and SANCHEZ-ISMERIO, who was previously removed from the United States, has been convicted of attempted Forcible Rape in the Second Degree, and was found in Brunswick County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
MORALES, previously deported three times and found in Sampson County, is alleged to have been previously removed subsequent to a felony conviction (conspiracy to manufacture marijuana). Therefore, if convicted, Morales would face a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
If convicted of illegal reentry subsequent to an aggravated felony, ESPINOZA-PEREZ, previously removed from the United States subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction (statutory rape), and found in Wake County, would face maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.
Fifteen Charged in Multi-State Cocaine, Heroin and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Fifteen individuals were indicted for conspiracy to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin and 400 grams of fentanyl from 2018 to the present.
Beginning prior to 2018, the conspiracy began transporting multi-pound loads of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl from Houston, Texas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida for distribution in the St. Louis area. The drugs were transported utilizing tractor-trailers and vehicles containing specially built concealed compartments. Upon arrival, the drugs were off-loaded at a residence in Spanish Lake, Missouri and then sold throughout the St. Louis area. The proceeds from the sales were compiled by the top St. Louis area distributors at various locations in St. Louis County and St. Louis City, loaded into the transport vehicles, and driven back to Houston, Texas and elsewhere for payment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s and the United States Attorney’s Office’s investigation began in March of 2018 and has resulted in the seizure of over 50 pounds of cocaine, over 25 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, and over $2,000,000.00 in drug proceeds.
“This 15 month long drug investigation by DEA agents and task force officers extended from the Southern U.S. border to north St. Louis City,” stated DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Bill Callahan. “This drug trafficking organization was responsible for bringing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl into north St. Louis City, and preyed upon our neighbors who suffer from the disease of addiction. The DEA and our state and local law enforcement partners work hard every day to interdict these dangerous drugs and hold drug traffickers accountable for the destruction they cause families and communities effected by drug addiction and drug violence.”
The following fifteen individuals were charged:
Guy R. Goolsby, 39, of St. Louis, Missouri,
Grant A. Berry, 41, of St. Louis, Missouri,
David M. Foston, 47, of St. Louis, Missouri,
Kennerson L. Gooden, 50 of Houston, Texas,
David M. Martinez, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
Chivas Holmes, 42, of St. Louis Missouri,
Antonio T. Boyd, 52, of St. Louis, Missouri
Jonathan W. Jefferson, 57 of Houston, Texas,
Harold Arceneaux, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia,
Otis B. Dodd, 67, of Houston, Texas,
David Lee Trevino, 46, of San Antonio, Texas,
Carlos Macias, 40, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
Lina Katiuzca Macias, 43, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
Jorge A. Lopez-Duran, 41, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
Shannon L. Holmes, 52, of St. Louis, Missouri.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the St. Louis Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the DEA’s Houston, Texas and Miami, Florida Divisions, the United States Marshal’s Service, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Charles County Police Department, and the Phelps County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John Mantovani of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force of the United States Attorney’s Office is handling the case.
Felon from Plain Dealing sentenced to 78 months in prison for possessing loaded shotgunRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Johann Gary Barnes, 47, of Plain Dealing, Louisiana, was sentenced Monday to six and a half years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A Benton police officer pulled over Barnes’ pickup truck on January 29, 2018. While the officer was speaking to Barnes and the passenger, he observed a small amount of marijuana in the center console of the pickup truck and a sawed-off shotgun at the foot of the driver’s seat. The shotgun was an Ithaca, model: 37 Featherlite, 12-gauge shotgun loaded with four rounds in the magazine tube and one in the chamber. Barnes pleaded guilty to the current federal charge on November 15, 2018.
Barnes was previously convicted on March 1, 2004 in Caddo Parish for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug and was convicted on September 27, 2005 for possession of a firearm by a felon. Under federal law, convicted felons are not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The ATF and the Benton Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Federal Judge Hands Down 7.5 Year Sentence to Valdese, N.C. Man on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced today Christopher Eric Alexander, 42, of Valdese, N.C. to 90 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for receiving child pornography, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Reidinger also ordered Alexander to register as a sex offender following his release from prison.
U.S. Attorney Murray is joined in making today’s announcement by John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division.
According to court documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, law enforcement became aware that an individual in Burke County, later identified as Alexander, was using a file sharing website to receive child pornography. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that between May 24, 2017, and April 15, 2018, Alexander received and possessed a total of 34 videos and 419 images of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent minors engaging in sadistic and masochistic conduct with adults. Alexander also admitted distributing child pornography through the file sharing service.
On October 5, 2018, Alexander pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a facility. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.
The investigation was handled by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Father and Son Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Violent CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Anthony Phillips III (18, Tampa) to 20 years in federal prison for two counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing firearms in furtherance of carjacking, which he committed with his father, Anthony Phillips, Jr., in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Phillips III had pleaded guilty on March 14, 2019.
According to court documents, in each of the carjackings, the defendants held firearms against the heads or chests of their victims. In the first carjacking, committed on New Year’s Day in 2018, in Tampa, the defendants stripped and pistol whipped the victim, and threatened to harm his family if he reported the incident to law enforcement. In the second carjacking, committed two days later, in St. Petersburg, the defendants and two others took a vehicle from a pediatrician’s parking lot in broad daylight. During the incident, the assailants pressed firearms against the chests of two parents, who successfully begged for the return of their one-year-old infant that was still in the vehicle. Later that day, as United States Marshals deputies arrested the defendants, they attempted a forceful escape.
Anthony Phillips, Jr. (39, Tampa) pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018, to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a carjacking. He was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on March 12, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Escape from Federal Custody Results in ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who escaped from custody while serving a federal sentence in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Ramius Hardiman, age 26, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from federal custody.
In a plea agreement, Hardiman admitted that he was in federal custody at the Gerald R. Hinzman Center pursuant to a federal court order issued in a 2013 federal firearm case beginning on October 23, 2018. On November 15, 2018, Hardiman escaped from custody by signing out of the facility and failing to return. Hardiman was ultimately arrested by the North Liberty Police Department on January 9, 2019.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hardiman remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hardiman faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the North Liberty, Iowa, Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00050.
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Erie Felon Charged with Violating Federal Fireams LawsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Charles L. McIntosh, 25, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, in and around April 2019, McIntosh possessed two firearms while being a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
El Departamento de Justicia Resuelve una Denuncia Contra una Empresa Agrícola Que Cultiva Fresas por Discriminar a Trabajadores en Este PaísRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con Sam Williamson Farms, Inc. («SWF»), una empresa agrícola que cultiva fresas en Dover, Florida. Este acuerdo resuelve la investigación del Departamento para determinar si SWF vulneró la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés) al preferir contratar a individuos con visas H-2A para cosechar su cosecha de fresas en vez de a trabajadores en este país. Este es el séptimo acuerdo bajo la Iniciativa para la Protección de los Trabajadores en los EE. UU., de la División de Derechos Civiles, cuya meta es enfocarse en investigar y tomar medidas de ejecución contra empresas que discriminan a trabajadores en este país a favor de trabajadores con visas temporales.
La investigación independiente del Departamento concluyó que a finales de la temporada de recogida de fresas del 2016-2017, SWF informó a sus trabajadores existentes en este país que la próxima temporada usarían a trabajadores con visa H-2A de un contratista de trabajos agrícolas para cosechar sus fresas, y empleó a un contratista de trabajo agrícolas con el fin expreso de obtener a trabajadores con visa H-2A. Al final, aquellos puestos como recogedor de fresas fueron ocupados por 300 trabajadores con visa H-2A y no por trabajadores en este país. El negarse a reclutar o a contratar a trabajadores disponibles y cualificados en este país por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía vulnera la INA.
«Mientras que los trabajadores con visa H-2A pueden proporcionar a los empleadores la mano de obra necesaria cuando no hay suficientes trabajadores interesados en este país, los empleadores no pueden disuadir o pasar por alto a trabajadores cualificados y disponibles en este país por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía. Este acuerdo refleja el compromiso continuo de la División de Derechos Civiles a proteger a los trabajadores en este país de la discriminación», afirmó el Fiscal General Auxiliar, Eric Dreiband, de la División de Derechos Civiles.
Conforme el acuerdo, SWF pagará $60.000 en sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos, pagará hasta $85.000 en pagos retroactivos a trabajadores elegibles en este país y mejorará sus esfuerzos de publicidad y reclutamiento por atraer a trabajadores en este país para futuros puestos. Asimismo, el acuerdo requiere que SWF capacite a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA y que se someta a los requisitos del Departamento de supervisión.
En virtud de la Iniciativa para la Protección de los Trabajadores en los EE. UU., la División de Derechos Civiles ha iniciado decenas de investigaciones, presentado un pleito y llegado a acuerdos con siete empleadores. Desde la incepción de la Iniciativa, los empleadores han acordado pagar o han distribuido más de $1,1 millones en pagos retroactivos a trabajadores afectados en este país y sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos. La División también ha aumentado su nivel de colaboración con otras agencias federales para combatir la discriminación y abusos por parte de empleadores que usan a trabajadores temporales con visa.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División es responsable de aplicar la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, esta ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; prácticas documentales injustas; y represalias y la intimidación.
Para más información sobre protecciones contra la discriminación en el empleo en virtud de las leyes migratorias, llame a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1‑800‑255-7688 (1‑800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llame a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); inscríbase a un seminario en línea gratuito; mande un correo electrónico a [email protected] o visite la página web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
Aquellos postulantes o empleados que creen haber sido víctimas de discriminación por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión en el proceso de la verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) con base en su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen; o represalias pueden presentar una denuncia o llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores para pedir ayuda.
Dominican and Puerto Rican Men Arrested for Immigration Offenses, Following Apprehension in USVI Territorial WatersRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Eduardo Javier Reyes of the Dominican Republic and Arturo Serrano Arizmendi of Puerto Rico appeared Monday, June 10th before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for an initial appearance after their arrest on Saturday for immigration related offenses, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court records, Customs and Border Protection interdicted a vessel traveling from St. Thomas towards Savannah Islands on Friday evening without navigational lights. On board the vessel were the captain, Arturo Serrano Arizmendi, and the five illegal aliens, identified as Eduardo J. Reyes, Elaine de Moura, Viener Dos Santos, Cairo G. Ferreira, and Ronaldo Alves. Arizmendi was charged with transporting illegal aliens; Reyes and de Moura with entering the United States without inspection; and Santos, Ferreira and Alves with reentering the United States after prior deportations.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Remind the Public to Be Aware of Fraud When Disaster Strikes and Report it to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
As severe weather continues across the United States and this year’s hurricane season begins, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Trent Shores remind the public to be on the lookout for fraud against natural disaster victims and to report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF).
“Committing fraud against natural disaster victims is an inexcusable crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen. “It is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
“In Oklahoma, ten counties were recently approved to receive federal disaster assistance due to the severe weather and flooding that began in May,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “As Oklahomans recover and rebuild, they should be wary of fraudsters and con artists who would seek to exploit victims of this extreme weather season. I strongly encourage the public to contact the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 to report any instances of fraud.”
The Department of Justice established the NCDF in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
Numerous U.S. Attorneys’ offices in districts impacted by hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
"The Department of Justice and the NCDF is committed to ensuring each report of disaster fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency. Do not let disaster strike twice. Report suspected disaster fraud to the NCDF, which has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints during hurricane season,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director.
Eighteen major disaster declarations have already been declared in 2019 for events including recent storms, tornadoes, and flooding across the Midwest; Typhoon Wutip in Guam; and severe winter storms and mudslides in Oregon, California. Unfortunately, and inevitably, natural and man-made disasters will continue to occur across our great nation. These terrible and often tragic events leave many people without food, water, or shelter, and often cause devastating damage to life and property. Nevertheless, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns via profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Members of the public are reminded to be extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. They are also reminded to report suspected waste, fraud, abuse, or allegations of criminal conduct. If members of the public believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, they are strongly encouraged to contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free by phone at (866) 720-5721, email at [email protected], or fax at (225) 334-4707. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To learn more about the NCDF please visit the website at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement.
Department of Justice Reminds the Public to be Aware of Fraud When Disaster Strikes and Report it to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
As the 2019 hurricane season begins, the Department of Justice reminds the public to be on the lookout for fraud against natural disaster victims, and report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF). The Atlantic Hurricane Season opened June 1 and runs through November 30.
“Committing fraud against natural disaster victims is an inexcusable crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen. “It is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
The Department of Justice established the NCDF in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
Numerous U.S. Attorneys’ offices in districts impacted by recent hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
"The Department of Justice and the NCDF is committed to ensuring each report of disaster fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency. Do not let disaster strike twice. Report suspected disaster fraud to the NCDF, which has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints during hurricane season,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director.
Eighteen major disaster declarations have already been declared in 2019 for events including recent storms, tornadoes, and flooding across the Midwest; Typhoon Wutip in Guam; and severe winter storms and mudslides in Oregon, California. Unfortunately, and inevitably, natural and man-made disasters will continue to occur across our great nation. These terrible and often tragic events leave many people without food, water, or shelter, and often cause devastating damage to life and property. Nevertheless, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns via profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Members of the public are reminded to be extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. They are also reminded to report suspected waste, fraud, abuse, or allegations of criminal conduct. If members of the public believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, they are strongly encouraged to contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free by phone at (866) 720-5721, email at [email protected], or fax at (225) 334-4707. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To learn more about the NCDF please visit the website at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement.
Department of Justice Reminds the Public to be Aware of Fraud When Disaster Strikes and Report it to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
As the 2019 hurricane season begins, the Department of Justice reminds the public to be on the lookout for fraud against natural disaster victims, and report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF). The Atlantic Hurricane Season opened June 1 and runs through November 30.
“Committing fraud against natural disaster victims is an inexcusable crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen. “It is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
The Department of Justice established the NCDF in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
Numerous U.S. Attorneys’ offices in districts impacted by recent hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
"The Department of Justice and the NCDF is committed to ensuring each report of disaster fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency. Do not let disaster strike twice. Report suspected disaster fraud to the NCDF, which has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints during hurricane season,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director.
Eighteen major disaster declarations have already been declared in 2019 for events including recent storms, tornadoes, and flooding across the Midwest; Typhoon Wutip in Guam; and severe winter storms and mudslides in Oregon, California. Unfortunately, and inevitably, natural and man-made disasters will continue to occur across our great nation. These terrible and often tragic events leave many people without food, water, or shelter, and often cause devastating damage to life and property. Nevertheless, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns via profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Members of the public are reminded to be extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. They are also reminded to report suspected waste, fraud, abuse, or allegations of criminal conduct. If members of the public believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, they are strongly encouraged to contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free by phone at (866) 720-5721, email at [email protected], or fax at (225) 334-4707. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To learn more about the NCDF please visit the website at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement.
Department of Justice Reminds the Public to be Aware of Fraud When Disaster Strikes and Report It to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – As the 2019 hurricane season begins, the Department of Justice reminds the public to be on the lookout for fraud against natural disaster victims, and report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF). The Atlantic Hurricane Season opened June 1 and runs through November 30.
“Committing fraud against natural disaster victims is an inexcusable crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen. “It is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
The Department of Justice established the NCDF in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
Numerous U.S. Attorneys’ offices in districts impacted by recent hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
"The Department of Justice and the NCDF is committed to ensuring each report of disaster fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency. Do not let disaster strike twice. Report suspected disaster fraud to the NCDF, which has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints during hurricane season,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director.
Eighteen major disaster declarations have already been declared in 2019 for events including recent storms, tornadoes, and flooding across the Midwest; Typhoon Wutip in Guam; and severe winter storms and mudslides in Oregon, California. Unfortunately, and inevitably, natural and man-made disasters will continue to occur across our great nation. These terrible and often tragic events leave many people without food, water, or shelter, and often cause devastating damage to life and property. Nevertheless, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns via profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Members of the public are reminded to be extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. They are also reminded to report suspected waste, fraud, abuse, or allegations of criminal conduct. If members of the public believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, they are strongly encouraged to contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free by phone at (866) 720-5721, email at [email protected], or fax at (225) 334-4707. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To learn more about the NCDF please visit the website at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement.
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Dauphin County Man Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Santino Rey Texidor, age 29, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pled guilty yesterday to drug trafficking charges before Magistrate Judge Susan Schwab. Sentencing was deferred pending the preparation of a presentence report.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Texidor pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine in Harrisburg in 2015.
This case was part of a joint investigation with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General – Narcotics Investigations and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert Smulktis and Assistant United States Attorney Daryl Bloom.
“In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, we are particularly proud of the strong working partnerships that we enjoy with state and local law enforcement. This combined investigation including prosecution assistance from the PA Office of Attorney General once again shows that there are no boundaries when the goal is to remove illegal drugs from our communities and keep our streets safe,” said United States Attorney David J. Freed.
“As Attorney General, I am committed to keeping Pennsylvanians safe and getting dangerous drugs off their streets,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “The defendant was peddling large quantities of cocaine into our communities, threatening the safety of the people of Dauphin County. I’m proud of the strong collaboration between my Office and our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office which resulted in today’s guilty plea.”
A sentence following a finding of guilt will be imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 40 years of imprisonment, a mandatory four year term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $5,000,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Columbia County Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced that a Columbia County man pleaded guilty on June 3, 2019 in United States District Court in Williamsport, before United States District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann, to drug distribution resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, James Mark Minichella, age 23 of Catawissa, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a controlled substance, heroin, a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, causing the death of another person.
The deadly distribution occurred on or about August 11, 2017 and resulted in the death of a 20-year old man.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Scranton, and the Pennsylvania State Police - Troop N, Bloomsburg. Prosecution is assigned to United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement 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 enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute for drug distribution resulting in death is life imprisonment and $1,000,000 fine.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Cocaine seizure in Augusta raises Savannah port total to more than $53 millionRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Renewed action to scrutinize shipments into the growing Port of Savannah have led to significant recent drug seizures, including two arrests and more than 20 kilos of cocaine seized in a weekend raid at an Augusta warehouse.
Jimmy Alexander Pujols, 35, and Fausto Mendez Ramos, 40, are charged in a federal complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine after their arrests Friday, June 7, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “Drug distribution networks moving their loads by sea, often hide their drugs in cargo containers, as was the case in this investigation. This case is a perfect illustration of the battle DEA and its law enforcement counterparts face when trying to prevent dangerous drugs from entering our country and ultimately hitting the streets of our communities. As a result of DEA’s unwavering commitment to protect communities and through the strength of its law enforcement partnerships, this poison never reached its intended users.”
“Identifying and intercepting transnational drug traffickers is one of Homeland Security Investigations’ highest priorities to protect the public from the serious harm these criminals inflict without any regard for the violence and public health damage they cause,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta Nick S. Annan. ”While transnational criminal organizations continually seek vulnerabilities to U.S. border controls, this case illustrates the excellent interagency coordination that exists between federal, state and local law enforcement partners to identify and stop them at the Port of Savannah.”
“This case exemplifies the commitment of CBP’s partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement and other key stakeholders to protect the American public,” said Donald F. Yando, Director of Field Operations for the Atlanta Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree, who has two investigators assigned to the Augusta DEA Task Force, lauded the DEA/RCSO’s continued partnership. “This operation and associated seizures reinforce our commitment to remove dangerous drugs from the streets of Augusta and elsewhere,” Roundtree said.
A criminal complaint contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Marcela Mateo.
Coborn’s Pharmacy to Pay $225,000 for Violations of the Controlled Substances Act Resulting in Theft of OpioidsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald today announced that COBORN’S, INCORPORATED d/b/a COBORN’S PHARMACY has agreed to pay $225,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping and other requirements of the Controlled Substances Act, which enabled a Coborn’s Pharmacy employee to engage in a years-long pattern of diverting opioids for personal use.
According to the allegations, between 2011 and 2015, COBORN’S PHARMACY did not adequately monitor its employee’s conduct, and failed to keep complete and accurate records regarding the receipt and dispensing of Schedule II controlled substances, including but not limited to oxycodone and hydrocodone. These alleged violations enabled the pharmacist in charge of one of COBORN’S PHARMACY’s retail stores to fabricate nine patient accounts and create numerous false prescriptions that were recorded on COBORN’S PHARMACY’s computerized prescription management system. At the time, COBORN’S PHARMACY’S system did not consistently identify and process cash prescriptions, failing to prevent the diversion that occurred.
Congress enacted the Controlled Substances Act’s recordkeeping and prescribing requirements to prevent the diversion of controlled substances for illegal purposes. As a result of COBORN’S PHARMACY’s alleged actions, hundreds of doses of controlled substances went unaccounted for and were diverted for illicit purposes, namely personal use by the pharmacist in charge.
Upon learning of its employee’s pattern of theft, COBORN’S PHARMACY reported the misconduct to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), leading to a federal investigation that resulted in the pharmacist in charge pleading guilty to Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 843(a)(3) and (d)(1). COBORN’S PHARMACY has since enhanced its recordkeeping and compliance program, including making needed improvements to its computerized prescription management system, in response to concerns raised by DEA in the course of an audit revealing shortages and overages of various controlled substances and problematic recordkeeping procedures. This settlement addresses the independent obligation of COBORN’S PHARMACY to ensure it has systems in place adequate to prevent theft and fraudulent prescriptions from occurring in the future, as required by 21 U.S.C. §§ 827, 829, 942, and associated regulations.
“Prescription drug diversion can lead to devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald. “Pharmacies must uphold their obligation to ensure that these dangerous drugs are tracked and safeguarded in compliance with the Controlled Substances Act’s strict requirements.”
“Pharmacies are responsible for helping ensure that medications are not diverted,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Diversion Program Manager William Stockmann said. “In addition to policing employees and customers, pharmacies are required to inventory their controlled substances, verify the dispensing of controlled substances and monitor daily record-keeping requirements. When one or more of these responsibilities break down, diversion occurs and medication has the potential to fall into the wrong hands. As seen with this pharmacist, opioid addiction and abuse can affect anyone, no matter the profession. Addiction does not discriminate.”
This case was investigated by the Diversion Group of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Minneapolis-St. Paul District Office and handled by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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Claudius English Convicted of Sex Trafficking Minors, Kidnapping, and Use of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced that CLAUDIUS ENGLISH was convicted yesterday of multiple counts of sex trafficking minors, attempted sex trafficking of minors as young as 8 years old, kidnapping of a minor, and using a firearm to commit the kidnapping.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As a unanimous jury determined without hesitation, Claudius English engaged in a predatory reign of terror and exploitation of children – girls as young as 8 years old. Thanks to HSI and the NYPD, English now awaits a lengthy prison sentence.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said: “English chose a business of preying on children as young at 8 and exploiting their innocence, forcing them to have sex with his already established clientele. He carried out his predatory acts and targeted minors on the internet, once again highlighting the importance of internet safety. The heinous acts of this individual robbed his victims of their childhood, and this guilty verdict will ensure that he faces time for his criminal actions.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “The NYPD is committed to ensuring child predators are taken off our streets; we will continue working tirelessly to bring them to justice. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals who engage in these reprehensible crimes are held accountable for the misery and anguish they cause.”
According to the evidence presented during the trial:
In 2013, CLAUDIUS ENGLISH sex trafficked multiple minor victims out of his apartment in the Bronx. ENGLISH used the Internet to find, recruit, and lure minor victims to his apartment, where he photographed them in sexually suggestive poses. ENGLISH then sent these photographs to his regular clients, and created advertisements that he posted on Backpage. ENGLISH arranged for his clients to pay for sex with at least four minor victims who testified at trial. Additionally, for one of his clients, ENGLISH took substantial steps to obtain and sex traffic girls as young as 13, 11, and 8.
On November 15, 2013, ENGLISH lured a 14-year-old girl from New Jersey to his apartment for the purpose of selling her for sex. When the victim resisted and said she wanted to leave, ENGLISH pointed a loaded gun at her head and refused. After several hours, the victim convinced ENGLISH to accompany her outside. Even though ENGLISH brought his gun with him, the victim ran away and called 911. NYPD officers responded promptly enough that the victim was able to lead them back to ENGLISH’s apartment, where ENGLISH was caught trying to flee.
* * *
ENGLISH, 45, of Bronx, New York, was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors (COUNT ONE), four counts of sex trafficking of minors (COUNTS TWO, THREE, FOUR, and EIGHT), three counts of attempted sex trafficking of minors (COUNTS FIVE, SIX, and SEVEN), kidnapping a minor (COUNT NINE), and the use of a firearm in furtherance of the kidnapping (COUNT TEN). ENGLISH faces a statutory maximum sentence of life, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 27 years.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD, and expressed gratitude for the efforts of HSI’s New York Trafficking in Persons Unit. Mr. Berman also expressed gratitude to the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael K. Krouse, Ni Qian, and Frank Balsamello are in charge of the prosecution.
Chicago-Area Physical Therapy Center and 4 Nursing Facilities to Pay $9.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today announced that a Chicago-area physical therapy center and four nursing facilities have agreed to pay $9.7 million to resolve civil allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by providing unnecessary services to increase Medicare payments.
The settlements and consent judgments resolve allegations that skilled therapy service provider QUALITY THERAPY & CONSULTATION INC. and its owner, FRANCES PARISE, worked with the four skilled nursing facilities — THE CARLTON AT THE LAKE INC., RIDGEVIEW REHAB AND NURSING CENTER, LAKE SHORE HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTRE LLC, and BALMORAL HOME INC. — to increase Medicare reimbursements by “upcoding” their patients’ “Resource Utilization Group” scores. A “RUG” score indicates a patient’s care requirements based on the level of physical-, occupational-, and speech-rehabilitation therapy the patient receives, and the complexity of the skilled nursing care the patient requires. The higher the RUG score, the higher the amount paid by Medicare to the nursing facility. The allegations also contend that the providers rendered skilled therapy to patients who did not need it or could not benefit from it, as part of an effort to bill the highest possible amount to Medicare.
The settlements and consent judgments resolve a civil lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago by a former employee of Quality Therapy and Consultation under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act. The Act permits private citizens to bring lawsuits on behalf of the United States for false claims, and to share in any recovery. The United States intervened in the lawsuit prior to the settlements and consent judgments.
The settlements and consent judgments were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. North.
Per the terms of the settlements and consent judgments, Parise and the companies agreed to pay the following amounts:
- Carlton at the Lake, located in the Buena Park neighborhood of Chicago: $3.63 million.
- Lakeshore Healthcare, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago: $2.73 million.
- Balmoral Home, located in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Chicago: $1.17 million.
- Quality Therapy and Consultation, formerly located in suburban Orland Park: $1.09 million.
- Ridgeview Rehab, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago: $1 million.
- Frances Parise: $160,000.
Frances Parise also agreed to be excluded from all participation as a provider in Medicare, Medicaid and all federal health care programs for a period of five years.
The public is reminded that civil allegations are accusations only, and there was no determination of liability as part of the settlements and consent judgments.
Charlestown Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Charlestown man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for bank robbery.
Robert H. Brady, 42, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Feb. 7, 2019, Brady pleaded guilty to bank robbery.
On June 28, 2018, a masked individual, later determined to be Brady, entered a branch of the Cambridge Savings Bank in Charlestown and approached two bank tellers demanding the tellers take money from their cash drawers and the bank’s vault and give it to him. Brady took the money and threatened to return to the bank and “blow it up” if the tellers reported the robbery. As Brady fled the area, a GPS tracking device activated within the stolen money, allowing law enforcement to track a location in Charlestown where they eventually located Brady, who was found to be in possession of a large sum of money.
Brady faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution in the amount of $912. 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Cary Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Cocaine Distribution and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced MARCUS ANTONIO BLANKS, 32, of Saint Pauls, North Carolina, to 168 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On February 6, 2019, BLANKS pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity Cocaine, Cocaine Base (Crack), and Marijuana; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
In February 2018, a detective with the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD), was contacted by a confidential informant (CI) who advised that BLANKS was selling large quantities of cocaine in the Parkton area of Robeson County. On February 27, 2018, under the direction of law enforcement, the CI purchased 56.7 grams of cocaine from BLANKS.
On March 15, 2018, the CI purchased approximately 3.5 ounces of cocaine from BLANKS. However, prior to completing the transaction, the CI requested that BLANKS cook some of the cocaine into cocaine base (crack). BLANKS cooked a portion of the cocaine and subsequently provided the CI with 63 grams of cocaine base and 42.8 grams of cocaine.
The investigation further revealed that Edward Jones was the supplier of the controlled substances for BLANKS. Jones previously pled guilty to federal drug charges on November 15, 2018 and is awaiting sentencing.
Robeson County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant on the home of BLANKS. Upon arrival at the residence, BLANKS was observed fleeing the residence on foot. After a brief pursuit, he was captured and detained. A search of the residence uncovered 77.6 grams of cocaine, 187.2 grams of marijuana, a .22 caliber rifle, a 9mm handgun, and $2,424 in U.S. currency.
This case was brought using the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcemen
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon.
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Leon R. Williams, 39, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura A. Higgins, Jeremiah E. Lenihan, and Joshua A. Violanti, who are handling the case, stated that between October 17 and November 22, 2017, the defendant sold heroin on five separate dates to an individual working with investigators.
On November 29, 2017, a New York State search warrant was executed at the Williams’ Texas Street residence in Buffalo. Investigators recovered heroin and cocaine, scales, razor blades, cutting agents, and $73,743 in U.S. currency, which was concealed inside of a vacuum cleaner, a backpack, and within a drop ceiling between two bedrooms. In addition, a Glock, .40 caliber firearm was recovered along with a magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition loaded within the firearm.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 24, 2019, before Judge Wolford.
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Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TERRANCE CLARK, also known as “T-Time,” 24, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to firearm offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 3, 2019, officers with the Bridgeport Police Department’s Tactical Narcotics Team arrested Clark after they found him in possession of crack cocaine, which was packaged for street level distribution, as well as a Glock 22 .40 caliber firearm loaded with a high capacity magazine.
Clark’s criminal history includes felony convictions in state court for possession of a firearm without a permit, stealing a firearm, and possession of narcotics.
Clark pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for September 17, 2019.
Clark is detained pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution 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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Running IRS Tax Refund Scheme in Central New YorkRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Arkmallah Hilliard, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to serve 5 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, and ordered to pay $943,597.00 in restitution to the IRS, after previously pleading guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office.
Hilliard previously pled guilty to conspiring with former Utica resident Anas Wilson and others to defraud the IRS by filing false and fraudulent income tax returns in the names of various individuals and obtaining tax refunds to which they were not entitled. Hilliard used his own bank accounts and others he controlled that were opened by co-conspirators to receive the tax refunds, after which Hilliard and others withdrew, spent, and transferred the money for their own purposes. The conspiracy netted Hilliard, Anas Wilson, and others a total of more than $900,000.00 in tax refunds from the IRS based on their filing of over 400 fraudulent income tax returns. Anas Wilson previously pled guilty to similar charges in federal court in Syracuse and is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence.
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. presided over the case and sentenced both Hilliard and Wilson.
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Attorney General William P. Barr Appoints U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing to A New Working Group on Gun Crimes Connected to Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General William P. Barr today announced the formation of a Domestic Violence Working Group focused on using the tools of federal prosecution to prevent domestic violence by keeping guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers and those subject to a victim protective order. The group will operate under the auspices of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee and be comprised of nine U.S. Attorneys across the country, including Western District of Oklahoma U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
"Too often, domestic abusers start with threats and abuse, and end up committing extreme violence and even homicide, with devastating impact on families and the community around them," said Attorney General Barr. "I have directed this working group to examine this issue and determine the best way to use federal gun prosecutions and other appropriate tools to supplement state, local and tribal efforts to address domestic violence."
"Operation 922" is the Western District of Oklahoma's violent crime initiative targeting firearms defendants who have engaged in domestic violence. Since this program began in March 2018, the U.S. Attorney's Office has brought charges in 55 separate domestic-violence-derived cases. To date, 48 defendants have pleaded or been found guilty. Of those, 25 have been sentenced to a collective total of 2,415 months in federal prison. Two more "Operation 922" defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in June.
"'Operation 922' has served as a blueprint for using federal firearms prosecutions to protect victims of domestic violence," said U.S. Attorney Downing. "For the sake of those victimized by violent spouses and intimate partners, I am proud to be able to share our experience with the Attorney General's Advisory Committee."
Federal law has long barred convicted felons, as well as individuals subject to certain domestic violence protective orders or convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, from possessing firearms. Offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of homicide. Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don't have that same access to a firearm. According to one recent study, more than half of America's mass shootings are cases of extreme domestic violence. Keeping guns from domestic abusers legally prohibited from possessing them would significantly reduce violence in America, a major priority of the Justice Department.
However, federal gun cases involving domestic violence present unique challenges. In some states, the federal and state definitions of domestic violence differ, requiring complex legal analysis that varies based on the location of conviction. U.S. Attorneys' offices have worked tirelessly over the years to address these legal challenges with tremendous success. The Working Group will share best practices, legal analysis, and guidance on prosecuting abusers who unlawfully possess guns. It will also advise U.S. Attorneys across the country on outreach to local law enforcement, judges, and nonprofit groups.
Working Group members are:
- Scott W. Brady, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- Nicola T. Hanna, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
- Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
- Erin Nealy Cox (chair), U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
- Christina E. Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
- Byung J. Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
- R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
- Timothy J. Downing, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Creation of a Working Group on Prosecuting Gun Crimes to Stop and Reduce Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr today announced the formation of a Domestic Violence Working Group aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers, using the tools of federal prosecution to stop and prevent domestic violence. The group will operate under the auspices of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and be comprised of nine U.S. Attorneys across the country, chaired by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
“Too often, domestic abusers start with threats and abuse, and end up committing extreme violence and even homicide, with devastating impact on families and the community around them,” said Attorney General Barr. “I have directed this working group to examine this issue and determine the best way to use federal gun prosecutions and other appropriate tools to supplement state, local and tribal efforts to address domestic violence.”
“With so many domestic disputes escalating from bruises to bullets, we felt we needed to supplement our state and local partners’ efforts to curb domestic violence with federal prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “We hope our initial cases send a message to convicted abusers: Not only could the Justice Department theoretically prosecute abusers for firearm possession – they have and they will.”
Federal law has long barred convicted felons, as well as individuals subject to certain domestic violence protective orders or convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, from possessing firearms.
Offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of homicide. Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have that same access to a firearm. And according to one recent study, more than half of America’s mass shootings are cases of extreme domestic violence.
Keeping guns from domestic abusers legally prohibited from possessing them would significantly reduce violence in America, a major priority of the Justice Department.
However, federal gun cases involving domestic violence present unique challenges. In some states, the federal and state definitions of domestic violence differ, requiring complex legal analysis that varies based on the location of conviction.
U.S. Attorneys’ offices have worked tirelessly over the years to address these legal challenges with tremendous success. The Working Group will share best practices, legal analysis and guidance on prosecuting abusers who unlawfully possess guns, and will advise U.S. Attorneys across the country on outreach to local law enforcement, judges, and nonprofit groups.
Working Group members include:
- Scott W. Brady, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- Nicola T. Hanna, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
- Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
- Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
- Christina E. Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
- Byung J. Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
- R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
- Timothy J. Downing, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney Trent Shores Announce the Creation of a Working Group on Prosecuting Gun Crimes to Stop and Reduce Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced the formation of a Domestic Violence Working Group aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers, using the tools of federal prosecution to stop and prevent domestic violence. The group will operate under the auspices of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and be comprised of nine U.S. Attorneys across the country, chaired by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
“Too often, domestic abusers start with threats and abuse, and end up committing extreme violence and even homicide, with devastating impact on families and the community around them,” said Attorney General Barr. “I have directed this working group to examine this issue and determine the best way to use federal gun prosecutions and other appropriate tools to supplement state, local and tribal efforts to address domestic violence.”
“Domestic violence abusers often escalate from fists to firearms. They drive-up violent crime numbers across a number of categories, including sexual assault and homicide. I am honored Attorney General Barr asked me to join this domestic violence working group,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “As a career prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the tragic effects of domestic violence not only on the victim, but also on children in the household. It is not uncommon that those children are also severely impacted for the rest of their lives. Moreover, domestic violence is a particular problem in Indian Country, as Native American women and children are often victimized at higher rates than other demographics in America.”
Federal law has long barred convicted felons, as well as individuals subject to certain domestic violence protective orders or convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, from possessing firearms.
Offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of homicide. Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have that same access to a firearm. And according to one recent study, more than half of America’s mass shootings are cases of extreme domestic violence.
Keeping guns from domestic abusers legally prohibited from possessing them would significantly reduce violence in America, a major priority of the Justice Department.
However, federal gun cases involving domestic violence present unique challenges. In some states, the federal and state definitions of domestic violence differ, requiring complex legal analysis that varies based on the location of conviction.
“Our working group will look at how to strategically use federal gun prosecutions involving domestic abusers to protect victims, prevent homicides, and generally lower our violent crime rates in America. We recently instituted a localized federal domestic violence prosecution initiative in partnership with the Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,” continued U.S. Attorney Shores. “Assistant United States Attorney and Tribal Liaison Shannon Cozzoni is helping to lead that effort for our office. She is an experienced and talented prosecutor who is passionate about this topic and understands the value of community based services to advocate for victims and deter domestic violence.”
U.S. Attorneys’ offices have worked tirelessly over the years to address these legal challenges with tremendous success. The Working Group will share best practices, legal analysis and guidance on prosecuting abusers who unlawfully possess guns, and will advise U.S. Attorneys across the country on outreach to local law enforcement, judges, and nonprofit groups.
Working Group members include:
• Scott W. Brady, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky
• Nicola T. Hanna, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
• Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
• Christina E. Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
• Byung J. Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
• R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
• Timothy J. Downing, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
Attorney General William Barr Announces Domestic Violence Working Group Chaired by U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy CoxRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr today announced the formation of a Domestic Violence Working Group aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of convicted abusers, using the tools of federal firearm prosecutions to prevent domestic violence.
The group will operate under the auspices of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and be comprised of nine U.S. Attorneys across the country, chaired by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
“Too often, domestic abusers start with threats and abuse, and end up committing extreme violence and even homicide, with devastating impact on families and the community around them,” said Attorney General Barr. “I have directed this working group to examine this issue and determine the best way to use federal gun prosecutions and other appropriate tools to supplement state, local and tribal efforts to address domestic violence.”
“With so many domestic disputes escalating from bruises to bullets, we felt we needed to supplement our state and local partners’ efforts to curb domestic violence with federal prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “We hope our initial cases send a message to convicted abusers: Not only could the Justice Department theoretically prosecute abusers for firearm possession – they have and they will.”
Federal law has long barred convicted felons, as well as individuals subject to certain domestic violence protective orders or convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, from possessing firearms.
Offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of homicide. Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have that same access to a firearm. And according to one recent study, more than half of America’s mass shootings are cases of extreme domestic violence.
Keeping guns from domestic abusers legally prohibited from possessing them would significantly reduce violence in America, a major priority of the Justice Department.
However, federal gun cases involving domestic violence present unique challenges. In some states, the federal and state definitions of domestic violence differ, requiring complex legal analysis that varies based on the location of conviction.
The Working Group will share best practices, legal analysis and guidance on prosecuting abusers who unlawfully possess guns, and will advise U.S. Attorneys across the country on outreach to local law enforcement, judges, and nonprofit groups.
Working Group members include:
- Scott W. Brady, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- Nicola T. Hanna, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
- Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
- Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
- Christina E. Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
- Byung J. Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
- R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
- Timothy J. Downing, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
Examples of domestic violence firearm prosecutions already underway in the Northern District of Texas can be found here.
Arrested in Granite Bay, Contra Costa County Woman Is Sentenced to 3½ Years in Prison for Mail Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Toni Tinay, 24, of Oakley, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to three and a half years in prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possessing counterfeited U.S. Postal Service keys, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Tinay was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and pay $2,936 in restitution to victims.
According to court documents, between February and August 2018, Tinay participated in a scheme to defraud banks in which she and at least one accomplice used counterfeited U.S. Postal Service keys to break into residential mailboxes throughout the Eastern and Northern Districts of California. Tinay and the accomplice stole mail from the mailboxes and collected bankcards, personal and business checks, and government-issued IDs. Tinay then fraudulently activated and used the bankcards to withdraw cash at ATMs and make purchases at retail establishments. On August 29, 2018, when she was arrested in Granite Bay, she and her accomplice were found to be in possession of stolen mail and at least four counterfeited U.S. Postal Service keys, which they intended to use to steal additional mail.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Placer County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ARTIE DUSTIN POPE, 28, of Moore, has been sentenced to 292 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as part of that drug trafficking, announced Timothy J. Downing, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Artie Dustin Pope and SKYLA RAE POPE, 27, also of Moore, on March 7, 2018. Both defendants were charged with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Artie Dustin Pope was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to an affidavit in support of a search warrant filed in Cleveland County District Court, law enforcement learned in January 2018 that Pope was planning to transport as much as 100 pounds of methamphetamine from Kansas to the Oklahoma City area. According to court records, agents found approximately 45 pounds of methamphetamine, ten pounds of marijuana, and several firearms in his residence after his arrest.
Both defendants pleaded guilty on May 22, 2018. Artie Dustin Pope admitted he conspired to distribute drugs and possessed a firearm to facilitate drug trafficking. Skyla Rae Pope admitted she participated in the conspiracy.
On June 10, 2019, U.S. District Judge Robin J. Cauthron sentenced Artie Dustin Pope to 292 months in prison, which is more than 24 years. After release from prison, he will serve five years on supervised release. On May 23, 2019, the court sentenced Skyla Rae Pope to ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendants also forfeited a 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, a revolver, and two shotguns.
Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Petermann, this case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma District 21 Drug Task Force, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Norman Police Department. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on the most violent offenders and partners with local prevention and re-entry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Reference is made to public filings for further information.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud the GovernmentRead the Press Release
DENVER – Tramell Thomas, age 40, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced late last week to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for his participation in a financial aid fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn and Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General’s Western Regional Office Adam Shanedling. Thomas was also ordered to pay $563,890.85 in restitution to the Department of Education and various community colleges. The court also issued a final order of forfeiture for a personal money judgment in the amount of $260,226.85.
Thomas was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the government through the submission of 181 false Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs). Thomas was also convicted of six counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud resulting from the mailing of debit cards that contained federal student aid to addresses under the conspirators’ control.
In sum, the conspirators visited Department of Corrections websites for the states of Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio, and they retrieved the names, dates of birth, and release dates of state inmates. Armed with this information, one of the conspirators obtained these inmates’ social security numbers through her employment at a bank. Once the conspirators had this information, they filled out FAFSAs requesting federal student aid to attend community colleges in Colorado and Arizona. The conspirators chose inmates serving long prison sentences, believing that these inmates were less likely to notice that their identities had been stolen. All told, the conspirators filed claims seeking approximately $1.3 million dollars. The Department of Education paid out approximately $563,000, with $419,000 of these funds forwarded to the conspirators in the form of debit cards, which they used for their personal expenses. The remainder of the money was paid to the community colleges. Once the fraud was discovered, those colleges returned the funds to the Department of Education. Thomas’s conspirators, Heather Carr, Mercedes Diaz, and Marcelle Green, all pled guilty and are serving their prison sentences.
“Defrauding the government is a crime against not only the Department of Education, it is a fraud against the taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn. “This prison sentence is a reflection of that fact.”
“I am proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for their work in this case and their dedication to protecting the integrity of Federal student aid funds and students that rely on those funds to make their dreams of higher education a reality,” said Adam Shanedling, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Western Regional Office. "We will continue to pursue those who participate in student aid fraud rings and criminally target these funds for their own selfish purpose. America’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
This case was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha Paluch and Bryan Fields.
Anderson Man Indicted for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Anderson, Missouri, man was indicted by a grand jury today for possessing more than a kilogram of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
William S. Divine, 42, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed on June 6, 2019.
The federal indictment alleges that Divine was in possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on June 5, 2019.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Anderson police officers saw a woman who was known to have outstanding state warrants leaving the Econo Lodge at 491 E. Highway 76 on June 5, 2019, and attempted to stop her vehicle. The woman, who is not identified in court documents, attempted to flee from the officers and struck a law enforcement vehicle. Her vehicle was disabled and she fled on foot with officers in pursuit. The woman eluded officers, who saw her drop a clear plastic bag that contained approximately one-half ounce of methamphetamine.
Surveillance video from the Econo Lodge showed the woman entering a room rented by Divine, the affidavit says. Officers searched the room and found a backpack that contained eight individually wrapped bags with a total of 1,360 grams of methamphetamine. According to the affidavit, the backpack also contained a loaded Taurus .45-caliber handgun, as well as documents with Divine’s name on them. Surveillance video from the Econo Lodge showed that Divine entered the room carrying the backpack found to contain the methamphetamine and the handgun.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black. It was investigated by the Anderson, Missouri, Police Department; the McDonald County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department; the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team; and the FBI.
Akron man sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for leading conspiracy that brought methamphetamine and heroin from California to Akron areaRead the Press Release
An Akron man was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for leading a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and heroin.
Patrick Griffin, 32, was sentenced to 210 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
“This defendant orchestrated large shipments of heroin and methamphetamine from California to Ohio and sold these dangerous drugs around Akron,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “These drugs have caused particular pain in Summit County. A sentence of over seventeen years imprisonment is an appropriate punishment, as it reflects the harm the defendant caused to our community.”
Griffin received the methamphetamine and heroin from a source in California. He and others distributed the drugs to customers between 2015 and 2018, according to court documents.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Daly following an investigation by the Summit County Sheriff's Office, Summit County Drug Unit, Summit County Prosecutor's Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshal Service and police departments from Copley, Barberton, Reminderville, Cuyahoga Falls, Springfield, New Franklin, Stow, the University of Akron and Silver Lake.
Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Creation of a Working Group on Prosecuting Gun Crimes to Stop and Reduce Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr today announced the formation of a Domestic Violence Working Group aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers, using the tools of federal prosecution to stop and prevent domestic violence. The group will operate under the auspices of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and be comprised of nine U.S. Attorneys from across the country, and chaired by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
"Too often, domestic abusers start with threats and abuse, and end up committing extreme violence and even homicide, with devastating impact on families and the community around them." said Attorney General Barr. "I have directed this working group to examine this issue and determine the best way to use federal gun prosecutions and other appropriate tools to supplement state, local and tribal efforts to address domestic violence."
"Every day, at least three women in the United States are murdered by their husband or boyfriend," said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. "With domestic violence being the leading cause of injury to women, this working group will bring federal resources to a nationwide problem."
Federal law has long barred convicted felons, as well as individuals subject to certain domestic violence protective orders or convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, from possessing firearms.
Offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of committing a homicide. Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have that same access to a firearm. And according to one recent study, more than half of America’s mass shootings are cases of extreme domestic violence.
Keeping guns from domestic abusers legally prohibited from possessing them would significantly reduce violence in America, a major priority of the Justice Department.
However, federal gun cases involving domestic violence present unique challenges. In some states, the federal and state definitions of domestic violence differ, requiring complex legal analysis that varies based on the location of the conviction.
U.S. Attorneys’ offices have worked tirelessly over the years to address these legal challenges with tremendous success. The Working Group will share best practices, legal analysis and guidance on prosecuting abusers who unlawfully possess guns, and will advise U.S. Attorneys across the country on outreach to local law enforcement, judges, and nonprofit groups.
Working Group members include:
• Scott W. Brady, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky
• Nicola T. Hanna, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
• Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
• Christina E. Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
• Byung J. Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
• R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
• Timothy J. Downing, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
8 Gadsden County Residents Charged in 83-Count Indictment for Dogfighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging eight defendants with 83 counts of federal dogfighting offenses stemming from an investigation into drug trafficking and a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation involving approximately 100 dogs. The indictment was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Most of the dogs used by the defendants were recovered by the United States Marshals Service and placed with appropriate foster organizations. In addition to setting out the facts supporting the charges, the indictment alleges that at one of the locations searched where dog fighting events were conducted, investigators discovered the remains of a recently-deceased dog, confirming that dog fights were recently held at that location.
“The United States Attorney’s Office takes allegations of dogfighting very seriously. Our society can be judged, in part, by how we treat our animals,” Keefe said. “This office will work with our partners at the federal, state, and local levels to pursue such cases vigorously."
The defendants named in this indictment are:
● Jermaine Terrell Hadley, 31, Quincy, Florida;
● Devar San Jacus Donaldson, 27, Quincy, Florida;
● Sariem Shanquell McMillian, 23, Quincy, Florida;
● Randell Lavel Colston, 47, Quincy, Florida;
● Bob Streets, 35, Quincy, Florida;
● Zanntayfey Yohoun Bennett, 35, Quincy, Florida;
● Dennis Lamar Howard, 45, Chattahoochee, Florida; and
● Leonard Safford, 37, Gretna, Florida.
The indictment and arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a joint federal, state, and local cooperative, which targeted a drug trafficking organization that also allegedly organized and conducted a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation throughout the Northern District of Florida between 2014 through
2019. During the operation, search warrants were executed on properties allegedly involved in training, housing, and conducting illegal dogfights.
The charged defendants face penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000, per count of conviction.
On May 8, 2019, Hadley, Donaldson, McMillian, and Colston were among a dozen individuals indicted on federal drug trafficking offenses for allegedly distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA throughout the north-central Florida Panhandle between 2018 and 2019.
The cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Chattahoochee Police Department, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Air National Guard Counterdrug Program. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Mountin.
The OCDETF approach to combating drug trafficking is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt and dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize its assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.