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Wednesday 17 April 2019
Livonia Doctor Sentenced to More Than Twelve Years for Conspiring with Others to Illegally Distribute Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
Dr. Zongli Chang, M.D., was ordered today to serve a sentence of 135 months for conspiring with seven other patient recruiters (co-defendants in this case) to illegally distribute prescription drugs, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
Dr. Chang previously pleaded guilty, admitting that from approximately January 2012 to May of 2017, he and his coconspirators engaged in large-scale opioid diversion scheme. The scheme, according to Chang, relied upon “patient recruiters” bringing fake patients to his office. Chang would, in turn, write medically unnecessary and highly addictive controlled substance prescriptions in return for cash payments. Chang commonly wrote prescriptions for controlled substances, to include Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Oxycodone HCl, Alprazolam, Carisoprodol and Promethazine/codeine syrup. The amount paid for a visit and prescription varied, but according to Chang’s plea agreement, he was typically paid at least $150, up to as high as $400 for more desirable opioid controlled substances. Chang further acknowledged that following the issuance of prescriptions, the recruiters would transport the patients to pharmacies where the prescriptions were filled, and then take possession of the controlled substances for further illegal distribution. These controlled substances had a conservative street value in excess of $18,000.000.
Since the charges in this case were unsealed in January, 2018, six of the seven patient recruiters have also pleaded guilty to engaging in this conspiracy.
In addition to serving a 135-month sentence, United States District Court Judge Sean Cox ordered Chang to pay a $1 million criminal fine. Chang also agreed to the entry of a $3 million forfeiture judgment, satisfied in large part by assets seized near the time of his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Schneider noted that “this sentence sends a strong message to every other physician that deliberately writes unnecessary opioid prescriptions, knowing full well that the drugs will ultimately be sold on the streets, that they will be treated no differently than any other major drug dealer. A medical license will not shield them from criminal consequences.”
“We entrust physicians to care for their patients in a manner that is consistent with their oath to do no harm,” said FBI SAC Slater. “Prescribing opioids with the knowledge that the drugs would ultimately be distributed illegally contributes to the ongoing opioid addiction crisis and cannot be tolerated. The FBI and our federal partners remain committed to identifying and disrupting physicians who engage in this type of drug diversion scheme.”
The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative created by Attorney General Sessions, that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis. Dr. Chang’s suspicious patterns of prescriptions were detectable from data analysis by the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit.
The case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and HHS and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brant Cook, John Engstrom and Paul Kuebler.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Unlawful Possession of a HandgunRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Tony Leonard, a/k/a “Tom Cat,” 49, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant pled guilty on November 1, 2018.
According to court records, on August 17, 2017, members of the Lewiston Police Department executed a narcotics-related search warrant at Leonard’s Lewiston residence and seized a Glock .40 caliber handgun and a loaded magazine. Leonard was prohibited from possessing the firearm because of prior felony convictions for aggravated forgery, aggravated assault and drug trafficking.
The case was investigated by the Lewiston Police Department, with assistance provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Las Vegas, Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carlos Francisco Lainez, age 34, of Las Vegas, Nevada, entered a guilty plea to Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), punishable by not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000.00 fine, or both.
The Indictment alleges that on or about February 3, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.
Las Vegas Woman Sentenced to 39 Months in Federal Prison for Operating Fraudulent Tax Return BusinessRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Gloria Harris, 48, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced today to 39 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for operating a fraudulent tax return business. Harris was also ordered to pay more than $548,000 in restitution.
As part of the scheme, Harris prepared more than 100 fraudulent tax returns requesting nearly $600,000 in fraudulent refunds from the IRS.
According to court documents, between 2012 and 2016, Harris operated a covert tax preparation scheme whereby she would file client tax returns as “self-prepared” returns to mask her participation in the filings. Harris would increase the size of the fraudulent returns by falsely claiming that unrelated children were dependents to qualify clients for various tax breaks including the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Harris began to raise suspicion among certain clients by refusing to provide copies of file returns, chastising them for asking questions in writing, and withholding refunds. On one occasion, Harris delivered a $1,400 “refund” in cash to a client in a parking lot. Investigators later learned that this client was a due a refund of more $8,500 from the IRS.
Harris previously pleaded guilty to one count each of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims against the U.S. and aggravated identity theft on July 18, 2018.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Quinn P. Harrington, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
KC Man Who Stockpiled Firearms Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who reportedly struck and dragged a police officer with his vehicle and stockpiled a large number of firearms in preparation for a shootout with officers was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.
Todd R. Leroy, 37, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 years in federal prison without parole.
On Nov. 29, 2018, Leroy pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Law enforcement officers responded to the home of Leroy’s parents on Nov. 15, 2016, to attempt to locate him following a report of his involvement in the assault of a law enforcement officer in Kansas City, Kan., earlier that morning. According to reports, a motorcycle officer with the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department had stopped Leroy, who was driving a BMW, after Leroy’s vehicle struck a road sign. As the officer was standing in the open door of Leroy’s vehicle, Leroy began to speed away. The officer was struck and thrown to the ground, then dragged 30 to 40 feet. Leroy fled from the scene; the officer sustained minor injuries.
When officers searched the basement of Leroy’s parents’ residence, where he was living, officers saw a firearm and a plastic bag of marijuana protruding from a black backpack. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and seized, from the basement, a Palmetto .223-caliber rifle, a DPMS .223-caliber rifle, an Intratec 9mm pistol, a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, a Sig Sauer .357-caliber pistol, a Springfield Arms .45-caliber pistol, multiple live rounds of ammunition, and a ballistic vest. Officers also seized methamphetamine, marijuana, pills, drug paraphernalia, and several cellular telephones.
Leroy was arrested on Aug. 23, 2017. Officers saw Leroy exit a Winnebago recreational vehicle that was parked in a lot at 4900 Raytown Road. A 2012 Ford F-150 pickup truck was parked in the driveway. Leroy, who returned to the Winnebago, started the truck remotely and refused to come out. Tear gas canisters were deployed into the front passenger side of the vehicle, after which Leroy opened the door, holding his girlfriend from behind. Leroy’s right hand was behind her back and he was wearing a holster, but did not have a gun. Leroy was arrested by the officers.
Inside the pickup truck, officers found a safe on the rear floorboard that contained a Heritage Rough Rider .22-caliber revolver, an AR Model 15 .223-caliber rifle, a Smith & Wesson .44-caliber revolver, a Ruger .22-caliber handgun, a Walther .22-caliber handgun, a Ruger .380-caliber handgun, an AP-MBP 7.65x25mm semi-automatic handgun, an FEG Model AP .765mm, a Cimmaron .22-caliber two-shot derringer, and various ammunition. Officers also found a bulletproof vest in the truck and $60,100 in a black nylon bag.
Officers searched the Winnebago and found a bullet-proof vest, a Mossberg pump shotgun with no serial number, a Taurus .40-caliber handgun, a Taurus .38-caliber revolver, a Mossberg 20-gauge pump shotgun, a Marlin lever action 30x30 rifle, a Winchester .22-caliber rifle, a Cobra Arms .380-caliber handgun, and $380.
According to court documents, Leroy reportedly obtained a large number of firearms in the event he became engaged in a standoff with police officers.
According to court documents, Leroy was involved in multiple drug sales. Additionally, Leroy has three prior felony convictions for possessing methamphetamine, two prior felony convictions for burglary, and prior felony convictions for property damage and tampering.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Justice Department releases reports focused on improving safety and wellness of the nation's 800,000 law enforcement officersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."
"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. "In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us."
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said: "We owe it to the men and women who protect us to understand the challenges they face on the job and away from it, and ways we as a Department and a country can better support them.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Justice Department Awards $8.4 Million to Support Native American Crime Victims in Ten States-Arizona Receives over $1.5 MillionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, the Office of Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded more than $8.4 million to support crime victims in Native American communities in 10 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Washington. The group of 17 awards is the fifth in a series of grants being made by OVC to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. OVC has now awarded more than $34 million of nearly $100 million to support tribal victim service programs.
The awards - 63 in total so far - will fund critical crime victim services, such as counseling, transitional housing, emergency services and transportation. The grants are supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees and special assessments. The fund includes zero tax dollars.
“American Indian and Alaska Native communities face extensive public safety challenges, but through creative approaches that combine traditional methods with innovative solutions, they are demonstrating their determination to meet the needs of victims in their communities,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “These grants, part of historic levels of funding awarded by the Department of Justice to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, will provide significant resources to bring critical services to those who suffer the effects of crime and violence.”
“We congratulate Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, and San Carlos Apache Tribe on being selected for these awards from DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “The $1.5 million in OVC funding will help these communities to expand their services for crime victims and help to prevent victims from suffering further harm.”
According to OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Alaska Natives experience violent crime at rates far greater than the general population.
The following tribes (or tribal organizations) are the 17 receiving grant awards this week. More than 150 tribes are expected to receive funding this spring to help their communities support crime victims over the next three years:
- The Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona) received $491,450 to enhance existing services to victims by providing crisis intervention and response, resources, referrals, accompaniment to forensic interviews and hospitals, and court advocacy. Funding will support a victim advocate, staff training, transportation for victims, program and office supplies, and emergency assistance.
- The Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (Arizona) received $336,031 to enhance its existing victim services program by creating a multi-disciplinary team, which will expand services to victims of violent crimes. Funding will support a victim services liaison, staff training, program and office supplies, staff training and emergency assistance.
- The San Carlos Apache Tribe (Arizona) received $716,117 to expand its existing victim services programs by supporting a victim advocate, case manager, program manager, staff training, transportation for victims, program and office supplies, a consultant to serve as a forensic interviewer, and a consultant to provide training on a trauma-informed approach to victim services.
- The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (South Dakota) received $315,000 to provide victim services on and around the Flandreau reservation. Funding will expand victim assistance and establish new services for unemployed battered women and their children in remote rural areas on and off the reservation.
- The Akiak Native Community (Alaska) received $450,932 to develop a comprehensive victim services program to assist all victims in the community. Funding will support staff training, program and office supplies, travel to Anchorage for victims to access counseling and other services not available in the community, and emergency assistance.
- The Seneca Cayuga Nation (Oklahoma) received $720,000 to enhance and expand its existing victim services program by funding long-term support and other victim services that are not currently available. Funding will support staff training, program and office supplies, transportation and emergency assistance.
- The Taos Pueblo Administration (New Mexico) received $694,002 to enhance existing victim services and build program capacity, with a focus on victims of elder abuse and domestic violence. Funding will support the establishment of a case management system, a financial counselor to assist elder victims of financial fraud and abuse, and emergency assistance.
- The New Stuyahok Village (Alaska) received $382,750 to conduct a community needs assessment and prepare a strategic plan to develop a victim services program, with a focus on shelters, advocacy, crisis counseling and other services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and other violent crimes.
- The Coeur d’Alene Tribe (Idaho) received $478,504 to expand victim-centered services through a tribal healing and recovery program. Funding will support staff training, program and office supplies, transportation for victims, outreach and emergency assistance.
- The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (California) received $40,000 to enhance local transportation for victims within the tribe’s five-county service area.
- The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington (Washington) received $381,933 to expand and enhance the existing victim assistance program by increasing services to children and elders who are victims of crime. Funding will support the hiring of a social worker, staff training, program and office supplies, and transportation for victims.
- The Suquamish Tribe (Washington) received $356,621 to enhance existing services by conducting a needs assessment and developing a comprehensive strategic plan for coordinating and integrating the delivery of services to crime victims. Funding will support travel for victims to access specialized services not available locally, program and office supplies, a forensic interviewer, a strategic planning consultant, and trauma response training for staff.
- The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Idaho) received $649,244 to address four critical needs in existing programming, including shelter renovations to ensure safety and accessibility, trauma-informed case management, satellite victim service offices and expansion of services to vulnerable adults. Funding will support a case manager, domestic violence shelter and office space, program and office supplies, and emergency assistance.
- The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Oklahoma) received $541,872 to expand its existing victim services program by identifying victims in need of additional services and developing resources to meet those needs. Funding will support a senior victim advocate, staff training, program and office supplies, transportation for victims and emergency assistance.
- The Chugachmiut, Inc. (Alaska) received $625,094 to develop the Aprun Aswigmen: Pathway Toward Healing program that will expand and enhance its domestic violence and sexual assault program to serve a broader population of victims. Funding will support a tribal victim services coordinator, forensic medical examination equipment, program and office supplies, and training for staff on serving victims of traumatic brain injury as a result of their victimization.
- The Pokagon Band of Potawtomi Indians (Michigan) received $602,470 to expand its existing victim services program to include services for all victims of crime. Funding will support a project coordinator, adult protective services worker, staff training, outreach materials, legal assistance to victims, staff to conduct a needs assessment and develop a strategic plan, and emergency assistance.
- The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (Utah) received $699,000 to expand its existing victim services program by creating a crime victim services program that is more accessible to tribal members. Funding will support a family services manager; staff training; transport for victims; program and office supplies; and subcontracts with the Family Support Center of Southwestern Utah, Family Support Center of Washington County, Canyon Creek Services, Dove Center and New Horizons. The grant will provide shelter and advocacy services for adult and child victims, and subcontracts with the Iron County Children’s Justice Center and Washington County Children’s Justice Center to provide forensic interviews and exams for child victims.
“American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims continue to face challenges in accessing vital services and resources needed to help survivors address their trauma and navigate a complex system,” said OVC Director Darlene Hutchinson. “The Justice Department has made it a priority to partner with tribes to help victims and their families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence.”
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-051_Crime Victim Grants
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
- The Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona) received $491,450 to enhance existing services to victims by providing crisis intervention and response, resources, referrals, accompaniment to forensic interviews and hospitals, and court advocacy. Funding will support a victim advocate, staff training, transportation for victims, program and office supplies, and emergency assistance.
Jury Convicts Three Men of Trafficking $28 Million of CocaineRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari (619) 546-8402, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Fitzwater (619) 546-8756, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Gibbons (619) 546-8419
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 17, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Three South American men were convicted by a federal jury late yesterday of trafficking approximately 1,230 kilograms (2,706 pounds) of cocaine worth more than $28 million on the high seas. The verdict came after a weeklong trial before U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez.
At trial, the government proved that on December 31, 2017, a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter responded to a report of a suspicious vessel traveling in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, approximately 100 nautical miles north of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The Coast Guard Cutter Stratton launched a helicopter and two small boats to intercept the vessel.
As the helicopter closed in, the defendants – Adrian Andres Cortez-Quinonez, Segundo Marcial Dominguez-Caicedo and Victor Gaspar-Chichande – stopped their go-fast vessel to avoid detection. But as the helicopter circled the vessel, the defendants attempted to evade the helicopter.
The defendants eventually brought their vessel to a stop when they could not outrun the Coast Guard helicopter and then began jettisoning dozens of bails of cocaine overboard. They took off again, but a U.S. Coast Guard marksman onboard the helicopter disabled the fleeing vessel’s engines with precision. The Coast Guard detained the defendants and recovered the jettisoned cocaine. After the defendants were transported to the United States, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration continued the investigation.
“The high seas are not a secret freeway for narco-traffickers to cross with impunity,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “This verdict is proof that we are watching, and we will take whatever action necessary to prevent these dangerous drugs from hitting our streets. I appreciate the efforts of prosecutors Kevin Mokhtari, Ari Fitzwater and Emily Gibbons and our partners at the Coast Guard and the DEA. Their hard work has led to this outcome.”
“Thanks to the determined efforts of the Stratton’s officers and crew, as well as the helicopter detachment, these smugglers have been brought to justice,” said Eleventh Coast Guard District Commander, Rear Admiral Peter W. Gautier. “This seizure is just one example of the thousands of kilograms of narcotics seized every month by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard will continue its tireless fight against trafficking of illegal narcotics at sea and the networks that threaten this country.”
“These traffickers attempted to smuggle more than one ton of cocaine into the United States - which would have had a devastating impact on our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers. “Due to the collaborative efforts of the Coast Guard and DEA, we were able to stop these traffickers and keep these deadly drugs out of our communities.”
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2019 before Judge Benitez.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 18cr0421
Adrian Andres Cortez-Quinonez Age: 24 Ecuador
Segundo Marcial Dominguez-Caicedo Age: 35 Colombia
Victor Gaspar-Chichande Age: 29 Ecuador
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States –
Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503, 70506(b)
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine
Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Onboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States – Title 46, U.S.C., Section 70503
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine
AGENCY
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)Jamestown Couple Arrested, Charged with Multiple 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 Douglas P. Beardsley, 33, and Camille Lopez, 18, both of Jamestown, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and possession of stolen firearms. In addition, defendant Beardsley is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, a search warrant was executed at the defendants’ residence at 70 Forest Avenue in Jamestown. Officers recovered two firearms; $296.00 in US currency; a circular glass mirror with an unknown pill and a quantity of crystal methamphetamine; two digital scales; and a bag of Dimethyl Sulfone, which acts as a cutting agent for methamphetamine. Officers also seized 27 prepaid credit cards; three cell phones; seven live rounds of ammunition; nine spent shell casings; several packaging baggies; two calibration weights; and a case of SD cards. Subsequent investigation determined that two of the firearms recovered were stolen from a residence in Town of Ellicott in January 2019.
Beardsley was previously convicted of three felonies, including Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree, Attempted Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
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Italian Shipping Company to Pay $4 Million for Concealment of Pollution from VesselRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A shipping company based in Italy today admitted discharging oily waste and other pollutants into the sea and then lying about it, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito and Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark announced.
The company, d’Amico Shipping Italia S.p.A., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging it with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. Under terms of the plea agreement, d’Amico will pay a $4 million penalty and be placed on probation for four years. During probation, the company will be subject to the terms of an environmental compliance program that requires outside audits by an independent company and oversight by a court-appointed monitor
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The charge to which d’Amico pleaded guilty related to the deliberate concealment of vessel pollution from an oil tanker – the M/T Cielo di Milano – owned by that company, which visited ports in New Jersey multiple times, as well as ports in Maryland and Florida. The company admitted that the ship’s crew intentionally bypassed required pollution prevention equipment by discharging machinery space bilge water and oily waste from the vessel’s engine room through its sewage system into the sea. The company also admitted that crew members falsified the vessel’s Oil Record Book, a required log regularly inspected by the Coast Guard; made false statements to the Coast Guard during its inspection of the M/T Cielo di Milano in January 2015; and destroyed the vessel’s sounding log after the Coast Guard had boarded the vessel.
The company admitted the following in a detailed joint factual statement filed in Court:
- From August 2014 through January 2015, the M/T Cielo di Milano used two different methods to illegally dispose of oily waste, both of which involved discharging it from the vessel’s sewage holding tank into the sea.
- Some of the discharges took place within the exclusive economic zone, that is, within 200 nautical miles of the United States.
- Two different chief engineers were involved in the illegal discharges and the intentional falsification of the Oil Record Book to cover up those discharges.
- One chief engineer falsified the Oil Record Book to state that bilge water had been processed through the vessel’s pollution control equipment when, in fact, it had not.
- The crew routinely hid equipment used to conduct the discharges when the vessel entered port.
- During a Coast Guard inspection of the vessel in Bayonne, New Jersey, in January 2015, the chief engineer and second engineer lied to inspectors and told lower-level crew members to lie as well.
- After the Coast Guard departed the vessel, the chief engineer destroyed a notebook containing tank soundings by burning the pages in the vessel’s boiler flame in order to conceal the notebook from the Coast Guard.
The proposed $4 million penalty includes $1 million in organizational community service payments to restore the coastal environment of New Jersey. The plea agreement directs funds to environmental projects that will be selected by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support the cleanup of marine pollution, preservation of aquatic life, and restoration of the shorelines around Newark Bay.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito and Assistant Attorney General Clark credited special agents of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Cox and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eric J. O’Hearn, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen P. O’Leary of the Health Care and Government Fraud Unit and Kelly Graves of the Organized Crime Unit in Newark.
Houston Man Hammered for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for nearly 30 years for sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. John Ferguson was found guilty following a bench trial May 30, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller, who presided over that trial, ordered Ferguson to serve a total of 324 months in federal prison to be followed by a life term of supervised release. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Additional information was also presented today, including a letter presented to the court from the mother of the victim detailing the torment Ferguson inflicted on her and her family. “He used that trust to assault my daughter while she was too young to communicate,” she said.
“I am still having trouble finding the words to say, but I can say that this severe emotional pain that I carry and try to push pack is heavy, it never gets any less severe, and is something that won’t go away,” she added.
Ferguson will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Ferguson’s residence in July 2015. The warrant was obtained based on information that led investigators to believe that Ferguson was accessing files from a website known to contain child pornography. The search resulted in the seizure of computers which yielded numerous photos and videos of child pornography.
In some of the videos, an underage girl is seen being sexually assaulted and in lewd and lascivious poses that show her genitalia. The minor female is seen on heavily stained carpet and on a bathroom counter during these acts. These items were later proven to match those seen in Ferguson’s residence. He is also seen in the videos.
As part of the investigation, authorities sent the images/videos to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), who identified several videos that Ferguson appeared to have produced. NCMEC contacted the FBI which resulted in the victim’s identification.
Ferguson was originally charged by criminal complaint, but fled before apprehension. Ultimately, he was captured.
This case was initiated pursuant to a nationwide investigation known as Operation Pacifier which targeted users of a TOR network child pornography website whose primary purpose was to advertise and distribute child pornography. Following the February 2015 arrest of the primary site administrator, law enforcement was able to identify more than 1,000 U.S.-based user IP addresses. One of those addresses resolved back to Ferguson's residence.
Ferguson has been in custody since his arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack prosecuted the case, which 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.”
Haitian National Sentenced for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp has sentenced Alain Nezius (36, Orlando) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Nezius had pleaded guilty on January 29, 2019.
According to court documents, in 2007, Nezius was deported to Haiti following multiple convictions for possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver it. He illegally returned to the United States after being deported and has a current outstanding order of removal with the Department of Homeland Security.
After illegally reentering the United States, Nezius assumed his deceased brother’s identity and obtained a Florida driver license in his brother’s name. On April 17, 2018, Nezius attached and submitted his own photo with an application to renew his brother’s U.S. passport. The U.S. Department of State recognized that the alleged passport applicant was deceased and that the submitted photograph did not match the previous photographs associated with the passport. On the passport application, Nezius represented himself to be his deceased brother, who was a naturalized U.S. citizen.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations as part of Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, ICE.
Guatemalan Presidential Candidate Charged with Conspiring to Import Cocaine into the United States and Related Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced today that Guatemalan presidential candidate MARIO AMILCAR ESTRADA ORELLANA (“ESTRADA”) and JUAN PABLO GONZALEZ MAYORGA (“GONZALEZ”) have been charged in Manhattan federal court with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and a related weapons offense of conspiring to use and possess machineguns. ESTRADA and GONZALEZ were arrested earlier today in Miami, Florida, and will appear tomorrow before United States Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman in Miami federal court.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, Estrada and Gonzalez conspired to solicit Sinaloa Cartel money to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala. In return, the two allegedly promised to assist the cartel in using Guatemalan ports and airports to export tons of cocaine into the U.S. As further alleged, Estrada and Gonzalez attempted to arrange the assassinations of political rivals. Thanks to the DEA, Estrada stands no chance of election in Guatemala, but he and Gonzalez face justice in the United States.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Adolphus P. Wright said: “The DEA Miami Field Division is very happy with the arrests of Mario Estrada Orellana and Juan Gonzalez Mayorga. Today’s action is the direct result of the strong partnership with our Guatemalan counterparts. Together with our international law enforcement partners, we will continue our efforts to keep illegal drug trafficking from corrupting the just political systems of our Central and South American neighbors, as we also endeavor to prevent such activity from harming the United States.”
As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in federal court:[1]
Since in or about December 2018, the DEA has been investigating several individuals (the “Estrada Conspiracy”) who attempted to solicit funding from international drug cartels to support ESTRADA’s presidential campaign (the “Estrada Campaign”). During certain of these negotiations, members of the Estrada Conspiracy, including ESTRADA and GONZALEZ, interacted with purported members and associates of the Sinaloa Cartel – a powerful international drug-trafficking organization based in Mexico – who were, in fact, confidential sources (the “CSes”) acting at the DEA’s direction.
During the course of these meetings and other communications, some of which were video and audio recorded, ESTRADA and GONZALEZ requested millions of dollars in drug proceeds from the Sinaloa Cartel to support the Estrada Campaign. In exchange for financial support from the Sinaloa Cartel, ESTRADA and GONZALEZ agreed that if ESTRADA were elected president of Guatemala, ESTRADA would provide Guatemalan state-sponsored support to the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking activities. Among other things, ESTRADA and GONZALEZ agreed to provide the Sinaloa Cartel with unfettered access to Guatemalan airports and maritime shipping locations so that the cartel could transport ton quantities of cocaine through Guatemala and ultimately into the United States. ESTRADA also offered to appoint members of the Sinaloa Cartel to high-ranking government positions in Guatemala so that the CSes would be positioned to advance the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking activities.
ESTRADA and GONZALEZ also directed the CSes to hire hitmen to assassinate political rivals to ensure that ESTRADA was elected president of Guatemala. In particular, ESTRADA and GONZALEZ identified specific targets by name and agreed to provide the hitmen with firearms, including AK-47s, to carry out the murders.[2]
Origins of the Estrada Conspiracy
On or about January 6, 2019, one of the CSes (“CS-1”) met with GONZALEZ at his office in the vicinity of Guatemala City, Guatemala (the “January 6 Meeting”). During the January 6 Meeting, GONZALEZ explained to CS-1, in substance and in part, that GONZALEZ was an active member of a political party in Guatemala (“Party-1”), and that Party-1’s presidential candidate was ESTRADA. GONZALEZ told CS-1 that the Estrada Campaign needed drug cartel funding to compete in the upcoming presidential election, and he asked if CS-1 knew of any drug cartels that would be interested in providing such funding. GONZALEZ also stated that ESTRADA, if elected president of Guatemala, would use various government agencies to support the cartel’s drug trafficking activities in Guatemala. For example, GONZALEZ told CS-1 that, if a drug cartel provided funding to the Estrada Campaign and ESTRADA won, the Cartel would have direct influence on the appointed secretaries of the Interior, which oversees the police, and Defense, which oversees the military.
The next day, CS-1 met with GONZALEZ and ESTRADA in the vicinity of Guatemala City (the “January 10 Meeting”). During the January 10 Meeting, CS-1 told ESTRADA that CS-1’s contacts in the Sinaloa Cartel could provide funding, but that the cartel had concerns about whether ESTRADA could provide the cartel with access to the Government of Guatemala. ESTRADA responded that, if elected president, ESTRADA would appoint members of the Sinaloa Cartel to the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense, and to positions controlling Guatemala’s seaports and airports. ESTRADA also asked that CS-1 provide the names of three potential candidates for each position so ESTRADA could choose between them.
The Defendants Meet Purported Sinaloa Cartel Representative CS-2
On or about February 7, 2019, GONZALEZ met with CS-1 and a second confidential source involved in this investigation (“CS-2”) in the vicinity of Guatemala City (the “February 7 Meeting”). The February 7 Meeting was audio and video recorded. During the February 7 Meeting, GONZALEZ asked, in substance and in part, whether CS-1 and CS-2 could assassinate certain other political rivals who were threats to win the election. GONZALEZ stated that it “wouldn’t be difficult” to kill a particular candidate because the candidate was “hated,” but cautioned that another candidate was “well protected.” GONZALEZ also stated that the Estrada Campaign “would pay you to do it” if the CSes carried out the requested murders.
The following day, on or about February 8, 2019, ESTRADA and GONZALEZ met with CS-1 and CS-2 in the vicinity of Guatemala City (the “February 8 Meeting”). This meeting was audio and video recorded. During the February 8 Meeting, ESTRADA told CS-1 and CS-2 that he could win the election if the Sinaloa Cartel provided the Estrada Campaign with approximately 10 to 12 million U.S. dollars. ESTRADA explained that he needed to deliver a sizeable amount of money to each of the 22 districts in Guatemala so that he could obtain the necessary votes in each district and that he was planning to hire an individual for approximately $2 million to help build the Estrada Campaign’s online presence.
CS-2 stated that, in exchange for the drug money, CS-2 wanted ESTRADA to help the Sinaloa Cartel transport cocaine through airports in Guatemala. CS-2 estimated that the Sinaloa Cartel would send approximately six cocaine-laden airplanes per month through Guatemala, each of which would carry multiple tons of cocaine, and that CS-2 would pay ESTRADA 10 percent of the approximate value of cocaine on each plane. ESTRADA agreed to assist the Sinaloa Cartel’s activities in exchange for campaign financing as proposed by CS-2. GONZALEZ and ESTRADA also again discussed assassinating political rivals, and ESTRADA provided CS-2 with the names of two individuals who were potential targets. ESTRADA also identified one individual to target first, and he noted that this assassination would be easy to complete because the target had many enemies in Guatemala.
February 2019 Meetings in Florida and Guatemala
On or about February 14, 2019, GONZALEZ met with CS-2 and an undercover officer (“UC-1”) in an undercover DEA warehouse (the “Warehouse”) in Florida (the “February 14 Meeting”). This meeting was audio and video recorded. During the February 14 Meeting, CS-2 introduced UC-1 to GONZALEZ as a hitman who was available for hire to carry out the assassinations proposed by GONZALEZ and ESTRADA.
GONZALEZ then discussed with CS-2 and UC-1, in substance and in part, the Estrada Campaign’s desire to assassinate certain political rivals. GONZALEZ identified the person he thought was easiest “to take out,” and stated that he wanted it done “as fast as possible.” GONZALEZ also promised to provide CS-2 and UC-1 with more information on their initial targets, and GONZALEZ told them that “we want to see the public reaction after the first two hits” before going forward with the others. GONZALEZ also told them that he could provide “lots of AK-47s” to carry out the job, and when UC-1 specified that he needed “3 AK-47s and 2 pistols,” GONZALEZ replied that “Mario [ESTRADA] will have everything ready for you.”
During the meeting, CS-2 and UC-1 also showed GONZALEZ approximately $5 million in supposed drug proceeds for the Estrada Campaign. GONZALEZ then placed a video call to ESTRADA. During that call, GONZALEZ handed the phone to CS-2, and CS-2 used GONZALEZ’s phone to show ESTRADA the Warehouse and purported bulk currency in various locations in the Warehouse.
On or about February 27, 2019, ESTRADA met with CS-1 and CS-2 on an undercover DEA yacht (the “UC Yacht”) in the vicinity of Miami, Florida (the “February 27 Meeting”). This meeting was audio and video recorded. During the February 27 Meeting, CS-2 and ESTRADA discussed, among other things, their agreement concerning how ESTRADA would support the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking if ESTRADA were elected president. ESTRADA stated, in substance and in part, that he was “convince[d] that I’m going to win [the election]” and that after he won, ESTRADA would support the cartel’s drug trafficking activities in Guatemala. In particular, ESTRADA agreed to accept the Sinaloa Cartel’s cocaine-laden planes at airports and ports in Guatemala. ESTRADA also agreed to appoint cartel members to key government positions. ESTRADA also told CS-2 that he no longer wanted CS-2 and UC-1 to move forward with the proposed assassinations. ESTRADA explained that someone else was going to assassinate one of the potential targets, and ESTRADA thought it would bring too many problems if they proceeded with the other assassinations.
March 2019 Meetings in Florida and Guatemala
On or about March 4, 2019, ESTRADA met with another individual (“CC-1”) and CS-1 at ESTRADA’s office in the vicinity of Guatemala City (the “March 4 Meeting”). This meeting was audio recorded. During the March 4 Meeting, ESTRADA stated, in substance and in part, that the Estrada Campaign urgently needed funds from the Sinaloa Cartel to pay its expenses. ESTRADA, CC-1, and CS-1 discussed how they could deliver the Cartel’s money to the Estrada Campaign in Guatemala. ESTRADA suggested that they use the UC Yacht to transport ESTRADA’s money. ESTRADA then took out a map, and demonstrated how the UC Yacht could travel from Miami, through Cuba, before arriving in Guatemala. CC-1 questioned whether law enforcement would detect the UC Yacht, and ESTRADA responded that those risks were mitigated by the fact that the UC Yacht was a luxury yacht, flying the American flag, and sailed by American citizens. ESTRADA further explained that it might be easier to buy a yacht than to pay the transportation fees they had been discussing.
On or about March 5, 2019, ESTRADA met again with CC-1 and CS-1 at ESTRADA’s office (the “March 5 Meeting”). This meeting was audio recorded. During the March 5 Meeting, ESTRADA stated, in substance and in part, that he was arranging for another crew to get involved to bring the balance of the money from the Sinaloa Cartel to Guatemala because ESTRADA had run out of money himself and his campaign was stalling. ESTRADA also stated that he was separately working with a drug trafficker based in Guatemala, who was also supporting ESTRADA’s bid for president. ESTRADA also told CS-1 that he heard that people from another drug cartel wanted to provide ESTRADA with funding as well.
* * *
The Complaint charges ESTRADA, 58, and GONZALEZ, 50, in two counts: (1) conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and (2) conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during, and to possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine-importation conspiracy. If convicted, ESTRADA and GONZALEZ each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment on Count One, and a maximum term of life imprisonment on Count Two.
The potential mandatory minimum and maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Miami Field Office and its Guatemala Country Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Laroche and Jason A. Richman are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
[2] The DEA promptly notified local authorities about these threats.
Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to more than two and a half years in prison for possession of a firearm by convicted felon.
According to court documents, Darren Brown, aka “Diego”, 25, sold a stolen .270 caliber rifle to a confidential informant in January 2016. The firearm was traced to a break-in of a Chesapeake family residence. Additionally, when the FBI arrested Brown in December 2018, he was in possession of Haskell JHP .45 caliber pistol. Brown was a member of the Nine Trey Gangsters, a subset of the United Blood Nation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Andrew C. Bosse prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-178.
Four Men Fined After Illegally Sport Hunting from HelicopterRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Four men have been sentenced after their involvement in illegal sport hunting from a helicopter in violation of the federal Airborne Hunting Act, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. In September and October of 2018, Cody Morganthaler, 36, of Oklahoma, pleaded guilty along with Edelmiro Martinez, 33, Eduardo Lopez, 39, and Inocente Sanchez, 56, all of Laredo.
Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison sentenced Morganthaler, Martinez, and Lopez to the maximum allowed fine of $5,000, all of whom must also serve one year of probation. Sanchez was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and must also serve the year of probation. While on probation, all of the men will not be allowed to possess firearms for personal sporting purposes.
“This case is an excellent example of the cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Game Wardens of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD),” said Phillip Land, Special Agent in Charge of FWS-Office of Law Enforcement - Southwest Region. “We take very seriously our mission and will continue to concentrate on and aggressively pursue individuals who are involved in the illegally taking of wildlife in Texas. We would like to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecuting this case and holding these individuals accountable."
At the hearing today, all four defendants claimed that while they knowingly engaged in the hunt, they did not know it was a crime to hunt animals from the air for sporting purposes. Judge Ellison noted he did not believe those claims.
Prior to the weekend of Oct. 14, 2017, Morganthaler booked a hunt at the Laredo Hunting Resort in Laredo, which Martinez owned. Lopez organized the hunt. A total of $12,000 was paid on Morganthaler’s behalf to hunt four exotic animals - an addax, a mouflon, an aoudad and a blackbuck antelope.
On Oct. 14, Morganthaler was able to locate, shoot and kill the addax and mouflon from the ground. Due to a time shortage, Lopez suggested Morganthaler shoot the remaining two animals from a helicopter. Morganthaler and Martinez agreed.
The following day, Sanchez piloted his helicopter with Morganthaler and Lopez as passengers. Morganthaler then used a rifle to locate, shoot and kill the aoudad and blackbuck antelope from within the helicopter for the purpose of trophy-hunting.
“The circumstances in this particular case would make any sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts furious,” said Kevin Winters, Texas Game Warden. “The fact that these individuals organized a trophy hunt from a helicopter, which resulted in the harvesting of a trophy Aoudad (Barbary Sheep) and Blackbuck (Antelope), is unethical and is a violation of both state and federal laws. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens strive to protect our states natural resources.”
It is a violation of the federal Airborne Hunting Act to use an aircraft to shoot for the purpose of capturing or killing an animal for sport or trophy-hunting. Under federal law, any animals, weapons or aircraft which are involved or used to commit the violation are subject to forfeiture to the United States.
The FWS conducted the investigation with the assistance of the TPWD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher dos Santos prosecuted the case.
Former Owner of Large Michigan Farming Operation Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Crop Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
Mike Stamp Owned Stamp Farms, Fraudulently Obtained a $68 Million Operating Loan
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Mike Stamp, age 46, of Decatur, Michigan, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit crop insurance fraud. The convictions arise from acts that occurred while he owned and operated Stamp Farms. Stamp’s wife, Melissa Stamp, age 38, pled guilty to misprision of a felony for some of her actions in connection with Stamp Farms.
Mike Stamp admitted he fraudulently obtained a $68 million operating loan from Wells Fargo Bank in December 2011 by misrepresenting the amount of land he farmed and the value of his company’s assets, including harvested grain, fertilizer and fuel. After he obtained the loan, he continued to make misrepresentations to Wells Fargo about his business, including by creating false farmland leases and other documents.
Mike Stamp also admitted that he defrauded the federal crop insurance program by filing false claims, falsifying harvested crop records, and obtaining crop insurance in the names of entities with no insurable interest.
Melissa Stamp admitted that she was aware of Mike Stamp’s fraud, did not report it to authorities, and helped hide money from Wells Fargo and other creditors of Stamp Farms.
"Bank fraud is a very serious financial crime," said Manny Muriel, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation for the Detroit Field Office. "Providing false or misleading documents to financial institutions undermines the integrity of our financial system and will not be tolerated."
Anthony Mohatt, Special Agent-In-Charge, United States Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, said, "The efforts of the investigative team provide a strong deterrent to those committing fraud against the federal crop insurance program and will help protect the integrity of this program thus ensuring that taxpayer dollars are safeguarded. We will continue to work towards our goal of prosecuting individuals who commit fraud in crop insurance programs."
The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations and USDA-Office of Inspector General. AUSA Clay Stiffler and former AUSA Mike MacDonald handled the prosecution.
END
Former North Tonawanda Pharmacist Sentenced for Prescription FraudRead 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 Patrick R. McQuade, 29, of North Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of obtaining controlled substances through fraud, was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $7,793.78 in restitution to the Rite Aid Corporation. As a condition of his probation, McQuade is prohibited from employment as a pharmacist.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth T. Molisani, who handled the case, stated that between January 2015 until his firing in December 2017, the defendant was employed by the Rite Aid Corporation as a New York State licensed pharmacist. McQuade was fired after an internal investigation discovered that he created fictitious patient accounts which enabled him to create fraudulent prescriptions using Rite Aid’s inventory system. After creating a fraudulent prescription, the defendant then dispensed and diverted the controlled substances for personal use.
McQuade created 20 fictitious patient profiles and 47 fraudulent prescriptions to dispense a total of 1,874 dosage units of Alprazolam, Phentermine, Cialis, and Synjardy of varying strengths. Internal investigators verified that none of the doctors listed on the prescriptions had prescribed the medications to the fictitious patients.
At the time of his arrest, the defendant was working as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.
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Former Manager for International Airline Pleads Guilty to Acting as an Agent of the Chinese GovernmentRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, Ying Lin pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), without notification to the Attorney General, by working at the direction and control of military officers assigned to the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations. Lin, a former manager with an international air carrier headquartered in the PRC (the Air Carrier), abused her privileges to transport packages from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) to the PRC aboard Air Carrier flights at the behest of the PRC military officers and in violation of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr of the FBI’s New York Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the guilty plea.
“This case is a stark example of the Chinese government using the employees of Chinese companies doing business here to engage in illegal activity,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Covertly doing the Chinese military’s bidding on U.S. soil is a crime, and Lin and the Chinese military took advantage of a commercial enterprise to evade legitimate U.S. government oversight.”
“The defendant’s actions as an agent of the Chinese government helped Chinese military officers to evade U.S. law enforcement scrutiny of packages that they sent from New York to Beijing,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This case demonstrates how seriously we address counterintelligence threats posed by individuals in the United States who work for foreign governments, such as China.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners do all we can every day to protect this country from the threats we can see, and we work even harder to find the threats we can’t see,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Ms. Lin was secreting packages through some of the country's busiest airports, using her work with the Chinese government to thwart our security measures. We believe this case isn’t unique and hope it serves as an example that the Chinese and other foreign governments can't break our laws with impunity.”
“Lin’s criminal actions exploited the international boundary of the United States as she used her position to smuggle packages onto planes headed to China,” said HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Melendez. “We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our international airports so they are not used as a front for illicit activities.”
Lin worked for the Air Carrier from 2002 through the fall of 2015 as a counter agent at JFK Airport and from the fall of 2015 through April 2016 as the station manager at Newark Liberty International Airport. During her employment with the Air Carrier, Lin accepted packages from the PRC military officers, and placed those packages aboard Air Carrier flights to the PRC as unaccompanied luggage or checked in the packages under the names of other passengers flying on those flights. As the PRC military officers did not travel on those flights, Lin’s actions were contrary to a security program that required that checked baggage be accepted only from ticketed passengers, thereby violating TSA regulations. In addition, Lin encouraged other Air Carrier employees to assist the PRC military officers, instructing those employees that because the Air Carrier was a PRC company, their primary loyalty should be to the PRC.
In exchange for her work at the direction and under the control of PRC military officers and other PRC government officials, Lin received benefits from the PRC Mission and PRC Consulate in New York. These benefits included tax-exempt purchases of liquor, cigarettes and electronic devices worth tens of thousands of dollars. These benefits also included free contracting work at the defendant’s two residences in Queens, New York, by PRC construction workers who were permitted under the terms of their visas to work only on PRC government facilities.
When sentenced, Lin faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. As part of the guilty plea, Lin agreed to forfeit approximately $25,000 as well as an additional $145,000 in connection with her resolution of the government’s forfeiture verdict in United States v. Zhong, No. 16-CR-614 (AMD).
Mr. Demers and Mr. Donoghue expressed their appreciation to the Transportation Security Administration for their assistance on the case. The government’s case is being handled by the National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Alexander A. Solomon, Ian C. Richardson and Sarah M. Evans are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Matthew R. Walczewski of the Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The forfeiture aspect of the case is being handled by EDNY Assistant United States Attorney Brian Morris of the Office’s Civil Division.
Former Manager for International Airline Pleads Guilty to Acting as an Agent of the Chinese GovernmentRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Ying Lin pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), without notification to the Attorney General, by working at the direction and control of military officers assigned to the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations. Lin, a former manager with an international air carrier headquartered in the PRC (the Air Carrier), wrongly facilitated the transport of packages from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) to the PRC aboard Air Carrier flights at the behest of the PRC military officers and in violation of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant’s actions as an agent of the Chinese government helped Chinese military officers to evade U.S. law enforcement scrutiny of packages that they sent from New York to Beijing,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This case demonstrates how seriously we address counterintelligence threats posed by individuals in the United States who work for foreign governments, such as China.” Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful appreciation to the TSA for their assistance on the case.
“This case is a stark example of the Chinese government using the employees of Chinese companies doing business here to engage in illegal activity,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Covertly doing the Chinese military’s bidding on U.S. soil is a crime, and Lin and the Chinese military took advantage of a commercial enterprise to evade legitimate U.S. government oversight.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners do all we can every day to protect this country from the threats we can see, and we work even harder to find the threats we can’t see,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Ms. Lin was secreting packages through some of the country's busiest airports, using her work with the Chinese government to thwart our security measures. We believe this case isn’t unique and hope it serves as an example that the Chinese and other foreign governments can't break our laws with impunity.”
“Lin’s criminal actions exploited the international boundary of the United States as she used her position to smuggle packages onto planes headed to China,” said HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Melendez. “We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our international airports so they are not used as a front for illicit activities.”
Lin worked for the Air Carrier from 2002 through Fall 2015 as a counter agent at JFK Airport and from Fall 2015 through April 2016 as the station manager at Newark Liberty International Airport. During her employment with the Air Carrier, Lin accepted packages from PRC military officers, and placed those packages aboard Air Carrier flights to the PRC as unaccompanied luggage or checked the packages under the names of other passengers on those flights. Because the PRC military officers did not travel on those flights, Lin’s actions violated TSA regulations that required that checked baggage be accepted only from ticketed passengers. In addition, Lin encouraged other Air Carrier employees to assist the PRC military officers, instructing them that because the Air Carrier was a PRC company, their primary loyalty should be to the PRC.
In exchange for her illegal acts, Lin received benefits from the PRC Mission and PRC Consulate in New York, including tax-exempt purchases of liquor, cigarettes and electronic devices worth tens of thousands of dollars, and free contracting work at her two residences in Queens, by PRC construction workers who were permitted under the terms of their visas to work only on PRC government facilities.
When sentenced, Lin faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. As part of the guilty plea, Lin agreed to forfeit approximately $25,000 as well as an additional $145,000 in connection with her resolution of the government’s forfeiture verdict in United States v. Zhong, No. 16-CR-614 (AMD).
The government’s case is being handled by the National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Alexander A. Solomon, Ian C. Richardson and Sarah Evans are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Matthew R. Walczewski of the Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The forfeiture aspect of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Morris of the Office’s Civil Division.
The Defendant:
YING LIN
Age: 48
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 15-CR-601 (AMD)
Former Lackawanna County Prison Employee Sentenced to 14 Months’ Imprisonment for Providing Drugs to InmatesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jerry Defazio, age 40, of Archbald, Pennsylvania, a former contract employee with the Lackawanna County Prison, was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment followed by two years’ supervised release by Senior U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo, for providing and attempting to provide prohibited objects, including illegal drugs, to inmates at the Lackawanna County Prison.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Defazio previously pleaded guilty to providing and attempting to provide contraband in prison. Defazio admitted that between November 2015 and April 2016, while working at the prison, he provided and attempted to provide Oxycontin pills (oxycodone), suboxone, and tobacco to inmates on several occasions and received payments ranging from $50 to $600 for smuggling the drugs and tobacco into the prison.
To date, three people have been charged in connection with the investigation. Deanna Tallo previously pleaded guilty to providing contraband in prison, and Thomas Coss pleaded guilty to obtaining and possessing contraband in prison. Both are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
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Former Jefferson Hills Man Sentenced to 8+ years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania has been sentenced to 100 months incarceration to be followed by 6 years of supervised release on his conviction of federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Court Judge David Cercone imposed the sentence on Deon Webb, 45.
According to information presented to the court, in and around October, 2017, Webb conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office – DANET conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case.
Former Erie Resident Admits Robbing Northwest BankRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Peter Plaza, Jr., 37, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about December 13, 2018, Plaza entered the Northwest Bank, 3407 Liberty Street in Erie and by force, violence and intimidation, did take United States currency.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for August 7, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Erie Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Plaza.
Former DuPont Employee Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Stealing Trade Secrets and Lying to the FBIRead the Press Release
Josh Harry Isler, age 55, from St. Ansgar, Iowa, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids to serve 42 months’ imprisonment as a result of his July 11, 2018, pleas of guilty to one count of trade secret theft and one count of making a false statement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As part of his guilty plea, Isler admitted that, during August 2013, while employed with DuPont, and after having accepted an offer of employment with a smaller competitor, he stole and misappropriated, without authorization, trade secrets of DuPont. According to admissions contained in a plea agreement and evidence presented at a prior hearing in the case, Isler was recruited by a competitor of DuPont in the ethanol fuel business to take a job with the competitor. The competitor offered Isler a new car and a significantly higher salary than Isler had been paid during his short tenure at DuPont, despite the fact that Isler had been underperforming and struggling to understand basic concepts while employed by DuPont.
On the same day Isler accepted a position with the competitor, the competitor’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) informed Isler that Isler would be servicing two particular ethanol plant customers, who had also been customers of DuPont, and asked Isler if he had seen “any baseline data” for those plants. Isler responded by stating, “let me see what I can before I can’t.” In a later message that day, the COO told Isler, “I think you made the right choice.”
Isler submitted his resignation letter to DuPont the following day. However, Isler did not leave DuPont until two weeks later. During the intervening two weeks, Isler downloaded and sent to the competitor numerous electronic files that contained proprietary and trade secret information of DuPont. This included test, yield, and pricing information for products and customers of DuPont.
A few days before leaving DuPont, Isler notified the competitor’s COO that he would be turning in his company phone to DuPont. The COO instructed Isler to “erase all texts with me before giving the phone back.”
During an exit interview with DuPont, Isler acknowledged that he understood a confidentiality agreement he signed before he started work with DuPont required that Isler keep DuPont’s intellectual property private even after he left the company.
A few months after Isler left DuPont, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at his residence and seized computers and other electronic storage devices that contained proprietary and trade secret information of DuPont. At that time, Isler falsely denied to the FBI that he had downloaded, to his DuPont or personal electronic storage devices, files containing proprietary information of DuPont.
At the sentencing hearing today, United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade emphasized that, although Isler had signed a confidentiality agreement and had been trained and counseled by DuPont concerning his obligation to protect trade secrets, he nonetheless committed several criminal violations of these obligations within about six months of being hired by DuPont. The court also expressed concern about the ethics of the competitor in receiving the stolen information.
Isler was sentenced to serve 42 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment and a $5000 fine. The court also ordered Isler to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following completion of the term of imprisonment.
“The theft of intellectual property is not only unfair, it is a serious crime with serious consequences,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “Those who steal trade secrets seek to gain an unfair advantage over their victims and, in the process, their greedy acts damage our economy and stifle technological development. My office will continue to prosecute those who steal secrets from companies in the Northern District of Iowa.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha Division Randall Thysse said, "The theft of trade secrets and other intellectual property harms individual companies and our economy, and the FBI will continue to aggressively investigate these activities."
Isler was allowed the privilege of self-surrender to the United States Bureau of Prisons.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Murphy and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-2032-LRR.
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Former Delaware Public Officer Pleads Guilty in $3M Federal Bribery CaseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Crystal Martin, former Associate Registrar at a Delaware public university, pled guilty in federal court today to a charge of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Martin’s sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2019 before the Honorable Richard G. Andrews, United States District Judge for the District of Delaware. Martin faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, between 2013 and 2017, Martin accepted bribes from a co-conspirator in exchange for her agreement to change the registration status of hundreds of out-of-state students, thereby allowing students from outside of Delaware to qualify for in-state tuition. In furtherance of this scheme, Martin used forged residency documents prepared by her co-conspirator to enable these students to pay reduced tuition, when in fact, she knew they should be paying the higher tuition rate for out-of-state residents. Tuition for out-of-state students is over two times the rate for in-state students. The out-of-state students paid either Martin or her co-conspirator, for this fraudulent service, and Martin personally collected over $70,000 in bribe payments during the course of the scheme. The estimated cost to the university of reduced tuition payments during this four-year-period exceeded $3 million.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The defendant abused her position at a public university to personally profit and to defraud her employer. Individuals who accept bribes while serving in a public capacity risk undermining trust in those institutions. State universities have the right to offer benefits to in-state students in the form of reduced tuition; they also have the right to expect their employees to uphold and support their mission. And Delaware taxpayers have the right to expect honest services from our public employees – when those employees fall short of these expectations my office will hold them accountable.”
"Public corruption is a top criminal investigative priority for the FBI," said FBI Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore. "In public service, you have to uphold public trust. The FBI in Delaware will vigorously investigate any public servant who attempts to use their position to enrich themselves."
“I am proud of the work of the Office of Inspector General and our law enforcement partners in holding Ms. Martin accountable for her criminal actions,” said Geoffrey Wood, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “The OIG will continue to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds for their own selfish purposes. America’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Education, and Delaware State Police, with assistance from the Delaware Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura D. Hatcher and Whitney Cloud.
Former City of Miami Police Officer Sentenced to 15 ½ Years After She Pled Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga sentenced former City of Miami Police officer, Schonton Harris, of Miami, to 15 ½ years in prison for her involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Former officer Schonton Harris previously pled guilty to conspiring with other officers to possess cocaine from August through October 2018. According to court filings, on September 13, 2018, during an undercover operation, Schonton Harris, who was in full uniform and carrying her service firearm, provided police protection for what she believed was a multiple-kilogram shipment of cocaine by escorting the transportation of such cocaine from a bus station to a Miami-area hotel. Later, on September 28, 2018, Schonton Harris provided police protection for a 40-kilogram shipment of what she again believed to be cocaine. The sham cocaine, divided into two 20-kilogram containers, was transported by undercover FBI employees in two separate vehicles to two different Miami-area hotels. Finally, on October 11, 2018, Schonton Harris personally took possession of two large coolers from a Miami-area marina, which coolers she believed to each contain 15 kilograms of cocaine, and transported such coolers to two hotels in Miami. After the described incidents, Schonton Harris received a cash payment in the amount of $17,000.
“The sentence announced today is a victory for all law enforcement officers who protect and serve our community with pride, honor, and dignity,” said U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan. “We will not allow those who abuse their positions of trust to tarnish the reputation of the City of Miami Police Department and those dedicated officers who, every day, serve the City of Miami residents. Those who use their badge to break the law and enrich themselves will be brought to justice.”
"Individuals who use the badge for their own personal gain have no place in law enforcement, " said George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. "We commend the City of Miami Police Department for their close cooperation and commitment throughout this investigation."
This case was investigated by the FBI, including the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry C. Wallace, Jr. and Jessica Obenauf.
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 Business Manager of Assisted Living Facility Admits Stealing Almost A Quarter Million Dollars from Elderly VictimRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The business manager of a Morris County, New Jersey, assisted living facility today admitted that she exploited her position to steal approximately $237,000 from an elderly victim under her care, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Marcella Drakeford, 46, of Jensen Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to Count One of an indictment charging her with mail fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Beginning in December 2016, Drakeford allegedly agreed to help manage her victim’s financial affairs and pay for her care. She was granted limited access to the victim’s checking account. Unbeknownst to victim or the victim’s guardian, Drakeford already had fraudulently gained access to the victim’s credit card account and had several cards issued in her name. Drakeford then used the credit cards for personal expenditures, including luxury clothing, jewelry, and automobiles, dental work, rent, and utilities. Drakeford paid off the credit card bills with checks drawn on the victim’s checking account, all without permission.
The charge of mail fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the scheme. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services under the direction of Inspector in Charge James V. Buthorn, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, and the Morristown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Demnitz, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Feder of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Cyber Unit.
Defense counsel: David Holman Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Port St. Lucie, Florida, man was sentenced to 84 months in prison today for filing false tax returns on behalf of his clients and for failing to report his true income on his own income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2012 through 2015, Richard Maurival prepared income tax returns for clients that claimed false education credits, business expenses, and other deductions in order to inflate by thousands of dollars tax refunds issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition to filing fraudulent income tax returns for his clients, Maurival falsified his own returns, underreporting the fees he earned in his tax preparation business for tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge James Ivan Cohn for the Southern District of Florida ordered Maurival to serve one year of supervised release and pay $267,995 in restitution to the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan Principal and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Southern District of Florida Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Acosta and Tax Division Trial Attorney Grace Albinson who prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Port St. Lucie, Florida, man was sentenced to 84 months in prison today for filing false tax returns on behalf of his clients and for failing to report his true income on his own income tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2012 through 2015, Richard Maurival prepared income tax returns for clients that claimed false education credits, business expenses, and other deductions in order to inflate by thousands of dollars tax refunds issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition to filing fraudulent income tax returns for his clients, Maurival falsified his own returns, underreporting the fees he earned in his tax preparation business for tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge James Ivan Cohn for the Southern District of Florida ordered Maurival to serve one year of supervised release and pay $267,995 in restitution to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Grace Albinson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Acosta, who prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Southern California Man of Participating in Insider Trading ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a Southern California man of participating in an insider trading conspiracy that used inside information about an impending corporate acquisition to earn trading profits.
ERIC WELLER, 54, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., was found guilty Tuesday of one count of conspiracy to engage in insider trading. The jury acquitted Weller on three counts of securities fraud.
The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly set sentencing for July 10, 2019.
The conviction was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Mitchell and Jason Yonan.
Weller was among nine defendants charged as part of the federal investigation. Five defendants pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge prior to trial and are awaiting sentencing. Three other defendants entered into deferred prosecution agreements after admitting their roles in the conspiracy and cooperating with the government’s investigation.
Evidence at trial revealed that a vice president of corporate sales at Minnesota-based Life Time Fitness Inc. obtained material, non-public information about the potential sale of the company in 2015. The executive knew that a sale would likely cause an increase in the company’s stock price, and the executive shared the inside information with a longtime friend so that the friend could trade and profit. The friend shared the information with three co-conspirators, one of whom then shared it with Weller and three others.
After receiving the material, non-public information, Weller purchased Life Time Fitness securities before news of the potential sale became public via a media report. The report caused the stock price to increase substantially. During a three-week period, the defendants earned more than $860,000 in illegal profits from the trades, including more than $550,000 earned by Weller.
Federal Authorities Arrest Two St. Thomas Men in possession of Marijuana, Cash and FirearmsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Thomas A. Olive, II, and his brother, Thorne A. Olive appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, for a preliminary detention hearing after their arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigations for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Offenses.
According to court records, on December 11, 2018, the two brothers were observed by law enforcement driving in a grey Toyota Camry with excessively tinted windows, a violation of Virgin Islands traffic laws. Subsequent to the traffic stop, VIPD officers recovered in excess of 4 pounds of marijuana; a Glock, model 17, 9mm firearm; a Glock, model 23, .40 caliber firearm, with an extended magazine; several digital scales; boxes of plastic baggies; and approximately $6,225.00 in U.S. Currency.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Eupora Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing and Discharging a Weapon at Eupora High SchoolRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Eupora man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his illegal possession and discharge of a weapon on the campus of Eupora High School in March of 2018. Nathaniel Cole Breazeale, 20, was sentenced Monday afternoon by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to serve 71 months in prison stemming from his discharge of a pistol at Eupora High School during school hours on March 28, 2018. An announcement regarding Breazeale’s sentence was made by Dana Nichols, ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge and U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar.
Information presented as part of the case showed that shortly before school dismissal on March 28, 2018, Breazeale drove a motor bike onto the Eupora High School grounds where he drove erratically around the band practice field before pulling out a 9mm pistol, firing multiple shots at the school building, and driving away in the direction of the elementary school. Testimony revealed that at least one of the rounds fired by Breazeale struck a van, in which a parent sat waiting for her children. Students and parents who were outside the band hall waiting for dismissal ran for cover and the high school was placed on lockdown as a result of the incident. Meanwhile, as anxious parents waited, elementary school students who had already boarded school buses bound for the high school were required to remain on board the buses in the high school parking lot until the scene was secured and cleared by law enforcement. Local, state and federal officers and agents responded to the chaotic scene and collected a total of six 9mm shell casings from the scene.
In sentencing Breazeale to the seventy one month sentence along with three years of supervised release, Judge Sharion Aycock noted that the need to “protect the public” was a “major factor” in her decision to impose the six year sentence. Breazeale, who pled guilty to being a prohibited person, and specifically a habitual user of narcotics in possession of a firearm, faced a maximum of ten years in prison. Aycock ordered Breazeale to undergo drug treatment as a part of his supervised release and recommended that he receive treatment while incarcerated.
U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar emphasized the commitment of his office to hold accountable individuals who threaten the safety of the community and our schools through lawless and reckless acts. Lamar remarked, “We are committed to doing everything within our power to keep our schools and communities safe. The possession and discharge of a weapon on a school campus demonstrates an extreme and reckless disregard for the safety of students, teachers and parents. In the instant case, the individual discharging the gun was prohibited by law from even possessing a firearm or ammunition. We will continue to work diligently with our local, state and federal partners to enforce the federal firearms laws and to hold accountable those who use firearms to threaten the safety and well-being of our communities, and particularly our schools.”
“The outcome of this prosecution is sending a positive message to the community on ATF’s commitment to keep children, parents, and educators safe from firearms violence while at school,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols. “We will continue to investigate, identify, pursue and hold accountable those individuals who seek to violate the safety of our schools. These investigations are a priority for ATF.”
Multiple local, state and federal agencies participated in the investigation of this case, including the Eupora Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF Supervisory Agent Joseph Frank of the Oxford Resident Office served as the case agent and the case was prosecuted by AUSA Susan Bradley.
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Eastern District of Pennsylvania Participates in Two Nationwide Department of Justice Health Care Fraud TakedownsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that two individuals from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania have been charged in connection with two nationwide health care fraud takedowns. These two cases stem from the partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the recently formed Newark/Philadelphia Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is staffed with prosecutors from the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Federal prosecutors unsealed charges today against over 50 medical professionals in the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (“ARPO”) Surge Takedown. Those professionals were responsible for more than 30 million illegally prescribed opioids given to nearly 30,000 patients. United States Department of Justice officials announced these charges today. Additionally, on April 9, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced a national telemedicine takedown, with 24 defendants charged in a $1.2 billion dollar fraud scheme involving international call centers, telemedicine companies, licensed medical professionals, and durable medical equipment (“DME”) companies.
The two Eastern District of Pennsylvania cases involved in these takedowns are summarized below.
In United States v. Tayjha Brown, the defendant, 34, of Coastesville, Pennsylvania was a former licensed practical nurse who was charged by information in connection with the ARPO Surge Takedown with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The charges stem from Brown’s role in filling fraudulent prescriptions in her name and in the names of others at a local pharmacy in order to obtain oxycodone for herself and to distribute. Brown forged the prescriptions primarily from prescription pads and paper she stole from her employers. The defendant provided approximately 30 oxycodone pills from each fraudulent prescription not written in her name to her co-conspirators.
In United States v. Randy Lee Swackhammer, the defendant, 60, of Goldsboro, North Carolina was a medical doctor licensed in four states who was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The charges stem from Swackhammer’s role in the telemedicine fraud scheme in which he conspired with telemedicine companies to prescribe medically unnecessary orthotic braces to unsuspecting Medicare beneficiaries following brief phone calls. The referrals caused the submission of approximately $5 million in false and fraudulent claims to the Medicare program. Swackhammer neither conducted in-person examinations nor meaningful telephonic evaluations prior to prescribing at least one, and often multiple, orthotic braces.
“The Newark/Philadelphia Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force is producing results for the people and businesses who are hurt by this type of crime and for all taxpayers who support government programs like Medicare,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “These two cases exemplify the great work being done to root out fraud, waste and corruption.”
“Whether it’s the unlawful diversion of Medicare funds or prescription drugs, the FBI will continue to crack down on all manner of health care fraud,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Medical professionals who choose to engage in these crimes should know that the next knock at your door could very well be Special Agents with a search warrant.”
The Brown case was investigated by the Office of Personnel Management-Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Marshals Service. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Koob and DOJ Trial Attorney Adam G. Yoffie, who is one of two prosecutors assigned to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from the Health Care Fraud Unit in the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
The Swackhammer case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and auditor Dawn Wiggins. The case is being handled by DOJ Trial Attorney Adam G. Yoffie.
East Bay Resident Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO –Phillip LeBlanc was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for committing three bank robberies, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentenced was handed down by the Hon. Maxine M. Chesney, Senior U.S. District Judge.
LeBlanc, 36, of San Leandro, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charges on November 28, 2018. In pleading guilty, LeBlanc admitted that on May 26, 2018, he robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco of more than $7,500. Similarly, on June 22, 2018, LeBlanc stole $1,949 from a Cathay Bank in San Francisco, and on June 23, 2018, he stole $1,517 from a Citibank in Oakland.
On July 19, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Leblanc charging him with three counts of bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). LeBlanc pleaded guilty to all three counts.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesney ordered LeBlanc to pay restitution in the amount of $11,118 and to serve three years of supervised release that will begin at the end of his prison term. The defendant currently is in federal custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sailaja M. Paidipaty is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk. The prosecution is the result of investigations by the FBI, the Oakland Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Department.
Drew H. Wrigley Sworn in as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
BISMARCK: At 1:00 pm today, Drew H. Wrigley took the oath of office as North Dakota’s 19th Presidentially appointed United States Attorney. President Donald J. Trump nominated Mr. Wrigley in 2018, and the United States Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination on April 11, 2019. The Honorable Chief Judge Daniel L. Hovland, United States District Court, swore in Mr. Wrigley in a private ceremony.
Wrigley’s appointment extends his previous 15 years of law enforcement experience, including over five years as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, and eight years as North Dakota’s 17th presidentially appointed United States Attorney (2001-2009). During his previous service, Wrigley served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of three successive Attorney Generals, the Hons. John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales, and Michael Mukasey.
Mr. Wrigley is approaching his new term with the very same energy and commitment with which he previously served as United States Attorney, during which time he led his office’s successful efforts to combat violent crime, large-scale narcotics trafficking, illegal immigration, financial fraud, Internet crimes against children, and all civil defense actions. In addition to prosecuting many hundreds of serious felony cases as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, Mr. Wrigley personally tried several noteworthy cases during his first tenure as United States Attorney, including: North Dakota’s first federal Internet luring case; a conspiracy and homicide on one of North Dakota’s Indian reservations; narcotics conspiracy and trafficking cases; and United States v. Alfonso Rodriguez, North Dakota’s first federal death penalty case. In the Rodriguez trial, Wrigley served as lead trial and appellate counsel, and for which the FBI Agents Association honored Wrigley with its 2007 National Award of Excellence.
In addition to his extensive law enforcement and other executive leadership experience, Wrigley served as North Dakota’s 37th Lieutenant Governor from 2010 until 2016 when he did not seek re-election. As Lieutenant Governor, Wrigley served as President of the North Dakota Senate, chaired the North Dakota State Investment Board and its oversight of $11 billion in pension assets, chaired the state’s International Trade Office Board, chaired the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force, and led the economic development efforts and oversight authority for North Dakota’s federally sanctioned autonomous aircraft testing facility. In 2017, Wrigley joined the regional healthcare, insurance and research enterprise, Sanford Health, as a senior enterprise management advisor.
Mr. Wrigley graduated with honors in economics and philosophy from the University of North Dakota in 1988. He graduated from the American University, Washington College of Law in May 1991, followed by a yearlong judicial clerkship in Delaware.
Wrigley and his wife, Kathleen, live in Bismarck, ND, with their three children, Quinn (18), Patrick (16), and Harper (11).
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Dexter Man Sentenced to Two Years on Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David O. Miles, Jr., 28, of Dexter, Maine, was sentenced today by Judge Nancy Torresen to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for providing false information during the purchase of firearms. Miles pleaded guilty on August 31, 2018.
According to court records, on March 2, 2015, Miles purchased two SCCY 9 millimeter pistols from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In connection with the purchase, Miles completed a Firearms Transaction Record form in which he falsely reported that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. In fact, Miles was buying the firearms for another individual who was prohibited from purchasing them.
The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Department of Justice releases reports focused on improving safety and wellness of the nation’s 800,000 law enforcement officersRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/MONROE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
“Law enforcement work is more than just a job,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “Police officers have taken an oath to protect us anytime our safety is at risk. The constant stress from the heavy burden they bear can have an effect on their wellbeing and that of their families. I am thankful for the resources provided by the Department of Justice to support the mental health and safety of our federal, state and local law enforcement officers, and for the bravery and courage shown by our law enforcement officers here in Louisiana.”
“Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve.”
“A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
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Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
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Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
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Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
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Department of Justice Releases Reports Focused on Improving Safety and Wellness of the Nation’s 800,000 Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."
"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us. "
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Department of Justice Releases Reports Focused on Improving Safety and Wellness of the Nation's 800,000 Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
“Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve.”
“A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
“In the normal course of their work, police officers are regularly put in situations that cause emotional trauma and take an undeniable toll on mental health,” said U.S. Attorney John H. Durham. “For too long, far too many officers have suffered silently, and far too many have taken their own lives. In the past several years, our office has worked closely with the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association to promote officer wellness and help change the way mental health issues are perceived and managed in law enforcement agencies. We will continue to do all that we can to prioritize the well-being of all law enforcement officers. I am encouraged by the release of these reports and case studies, and the momentum behind this critically important issue.”
“The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association's Wellness Committee has spearheaded the ‘Serve Well – Be Well’ program, which encompasses officer emotional and physical wellness from hire to retire and beyond,” said Newtown Police Chief James Viadero. “Serve Well – Be Well encourages peer support and employee assistance programs, and promotes a culture within departments of recognizing and treating mental health issues. Through the concerted efforts of all involved and some generous donations, which have enabled departments to implement programs and strategies to assist our officers, the culture of addressing wellness and mental health concerns of officers in Connecticut has realized dramatic results. These efforts will have a positive effect on our law enforcement community, which will benefit all concerned. We thank the U.S. Attorney's Office and its commitment to these programs.”
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Department of Justice Releases Reports Focused on Improving Safety and Wellness of the Nation's 800,000 Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."
"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us."
“The reports address current issues facing law enforcement nationwide,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Law enforcement put their lives on the line to combat violent crime to make our neighborhoods safer. At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the safety, health, and wellness of our law enforcement officers is a top priority.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
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Department of Justice Releases Reports Focused on Improving Safety and Wellness of the Nation’s 800,000 Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank joined the Department of Justice in announcing today’s release of two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.
The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."
"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us. "
“Law enforcement is a stressful business,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “We respect and admire our law enforcement partners. We encourage them to remember to keep in mind their own well-being, and we support officer wellness programs, in particular.”
Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:
(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.
The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.
The case studies report, Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.
The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.
The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Columbia Felon Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Theft of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Cedrick K. Reddick, age 26, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to a total of 7 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee (“FFL”) and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the court showed on August 5, 2016, a FFL in Sumter, South Carolina, was burglarized and approximately 75 handguns were stolen. The investigation revealed similarities between that burglary and other burglaries of liquor stores in several counties. Through the investigation, law enforcement was able to identify Reddick as one of the suspects after a DNA match linked him to a burglary of one of the liquor stores. Additionally, a search warrant at Reddick’s apartment revealed a 9mm handgun stolen during the burglary of the FFL. Both Reddick and his co-defendant Jonathan Thompson were charged federally with the gun store theft. Thompson is awaiting sentencing in federal court after previously pleading guilty.
Federal law prohibits Reddick from possessing firearms based upon a prior South Carolina conviction for burglary 2nd degree and a prior New Jersey federal conviction for transportation of stolen firearms. At the time of this incident, Reddick was on federal supervised release after serving time on the prior New Jersey federal conviction. Reddick’s prior federal supervision was revoked as a result of this new criminal conduct.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Reddick to a total of 84 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. That 84-month sentence is comprised of 70 months imprisonment on the new firearm convictions and a consecutive 14-month revocation of his prior federal supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Clinton Police Department, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Columbia City Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Conunterfeit Rifle Optics OnlineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, Mark Aaron Culp, 56, of Columbia City, Oregon, pleaded guilty to knowingly trafficking counterfeit, Chinese-made Leupold-branded rifle scopes online. Leupold & Stevens, Inc., an Oregon company, manufactures its rifle scopes in Beaverton, Oregon.
According to court documents, between May and July 2015, Culp sold rifle optics bearing various Leupold trademarks and design features online via at least two commercial websites: GunBroker.com and eBay. Culp sold 13 counterfeit rifle scopes that he had imported from China, generating approximately $3,700 in revenue.
Culp’s sales were discovered by Leupold & Stevens personnel. They purchased a scope from Culp online, confirmed that it was counterfeit, and referred the matter to the Beaverton Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Culp faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $2 million fine and 3 years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on July 18, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
College Street Music Hall in New Haven will Increase Accessibility to Comply with ADARead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with the New Haven Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., which owns and operates College Street Music Hall (“CSMH”) in New Haven, to resolve allegations that CSMH was not operating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened an investigation after receiving a complaint from an individual regarding lack of accessibility at CSMH. The settlement agreement requires that, over the next three years, CSMH will improve the accessibility of its entrances and access routes, increase the number of accessible seating, add accessible features to restrooms, reduce barriers for patrons to access ticket purchases, and ensure that all patrons have full and equal enjoyment of the facility.
Under federal law, entities that own or operate of places of “public accommodation” are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability. The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities. The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.
“The ADA ensures that individuals are able to access and enjoy all places of public accommodation,” said U.S. Attorney Durham. “We appreciate the willingness of College Street Music Hall to increase the accessibility and usability of the theater for individuals with disabilities.”
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.
Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY). More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ndidi N. Moses of the District of Connecticut in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Chester County Man Charged with Fleeing from Federal Park RangersRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jeffrey J. Steigelman III, age 26, of Chester County, Pennsyvlania, was charged on April 16, 2019, in a criminal information with fleeing from National Park Service Rangers.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Steigelman fled from Rangers in the Delaware Valley Water Gap Recreation Area on October 21, 2018, in an automobile. After a lengthy high-speed chase, he was ultimately apprehended in Port Jervis, New York.
The investigation was conducted by the National Park Service Rangers and other state and local law enforcement officials. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the charge is a two-year term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a 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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Bronx Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison for Firearms and Narcotics TraffickingRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ALEXIS VALDEZ, a/k/a “Lil Rico,” was sentenced today to 160 months in prison for firearms and narcotics trafficking. VALDEZ and his co-conspirators sold seven guns, including an AK-47 assault rifle and a SKS assault rifle, a silencer, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest to undercover officers. VALDEZ pled guilty in Manhattan federal court in April 2018 to one count of conspiring to distribute heroin and crack cocaine and one count of unlicensed firearms dealing. U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Alexis Valdez sought to put illegal guns and drugs on the streets of New York City. For his crimes, he will serve more than 13 years in prison. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who would put the people of our city in danger.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in related court filings and proceedings:
From 2016 to August 2017, VALDEZ and other members of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) sold narcotics near Hughes Avenue and East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx, New York (the “Hughes Avenue DTO”). VALDEZ personally sold crack cocaine to undercover officers on several occasions. Members of the Hughes Avenue DTO, including VALDEZ, are also members and associates of the “Rolling 30s” neighborhood set of the nationwide Crips street gang.
From October 2016 to May 2017, VALDEZ and two other men, who were both members of the Hughes Avenue DTO, sold firearms to undercover officers. Over the course of six sales, undercover officers purchased seven firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, a SKS assault rifle, a shotgun, and several handguns, including one firearm with a defaced serial number. VALDEZ and his co-conspirators also sold a silencer for a gun, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest to the undercover officers.
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In addition to the prison term, VALDEZ, 26, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to four years of supervised release. All nine members of the Hughes Avenue DTO charged in this case have pled guilty.
Mr. Berman praised the work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration in this investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Drew Skinner and Anden Chow are in charge of the prosecution.
Bossier City woman sentenced to 58 months for distributing methamphetamine, possessing firearmRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that Erin W. O’Daniel, 36, of Bossier City, Louisiana, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. She was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the sentencing hearing.
During a traffic stop of O’Daniel’s car on October 27, 2017 on Interstate 20, a Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputy noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car and saw in plain view a large sum of cash in a bag on the center console. The deputy also found two bags containing 282.7 grams of methamphetamine, two bags of marijuana, 14 ecstasy pills, a set of digital scales, plastic baggies and a .40-caliber loaded pistol in the center console. O’Daniel admitted that she had more methamphetamine and another gun at home, prompting a search of her house where law enforcement agents recovered an additional 113.5 grams of methamphetamine in a box under her bed. She pleaded guilty to these charges on January 25, 2018.
The DEA, Louisiana State Police, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and Minden Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Boise Nurse Sentenced for Obtaining Controlled Substances by FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE - Jennifer L. Fanopoulos, 41, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 3 years of probation for obtaining controlled substances by fraud, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Fanopoulos was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Fanopoulos pleaded guilty on October 25, 2018.
According to court records, Fanopoulos was employed as a registered nurse at a hospital in Boise. As part of her employment, Fanopoulos had access to the Pyxis system at the hospital. The Pyxis system automated and monitored the distribution, management, and control of prescription medications, including Schedule II controlled substances. Fanopoulos’ ability to access the Pyxis system required the use of a unique username and her fingerprint. On at least twenty-eight occasions, Fanopoulos knowingly and intentionally accessed a Pyxis machine and removed fentanyl 100mcg/2mL vials by falsifying and manipulating information in the system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led Tactical Diversion Squad which is comprised of law enforcement from the DEA, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
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Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threats Made Against President TrumpRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced HENRY K. RAYBORN, age 63, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 46 months in federal prison following his conviction for threats against President Donald J. Trump. The Court also sentenced RAYBORN to 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
In March of 2018, RAYBORN made several statements indicating he had access to guns and that he was planning to kill the President of the United States. The investigation revealed RAYBORN knowingly and willfully made the above statements regarding his intent to kill the President and intended them to be taken seriously.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “The safety and well-being of our elected officials is an extraordinarily important component of a properly functioning democracy. This conviction and sentence should send a clear message to those who may make threats against the President that federal law enforcement takes such matters seriously and will investigate and prosecute those responsible for such behavior. I am very proud of the work of our dedicated staff and of the United States Secret Service who worked quickly and diligently on this important case.”
Tara McLeese, Resident Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service in Baton Rouge stated, “The highest priority is placed on ensuring that any individual who may pose a potential threat to persons, facilities, and events protected by the U.S. Secret Service is fully investigated. Any threat, inappropriate interest, or unusual behavior directed toward Secret Service protectees is taken seriously and today’s sentencing is a testament to that fact.”
This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Patricia Jones, who also serves as Appellate Chief and Senior Litigation Counsel.
Batavia Man Pleads Guilty to Viewing Child Pornography at Local LibraryRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Robert Roy Richmond, 55, of Batavia, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to access with intent to view child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on January 20, 2017, the defendant was observed by staff at a public library in Batavia, NY, utilizing a library computer to access the internet and view a child pornographic image. After Richmond left the library, the computer he used was seized by law enforcement. A forensic examination revealed that there were seven images on the computer which met the definition of child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Batavia Police Department, under the direction of Chief Shawn Heubusch.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 27, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
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Ardmore Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Don Urango, age 27, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Failure To Register As Sex Offender in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2250(a)(1), 2250(a)(2)(B) and 2250(a)(3), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, or both.
The Indictment alleges that from in or about June 2017, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, until on or about January 3, 2018, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, the defendant, an individual required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, after having received felony convictions from the State of Texas, in Grayson County, on or about February 18, 2010, for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, one count of Indecency with a Child Exposes and one count of Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, traveled in interstate and foreign commerce and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. Urango was deemed one of the Top 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders in Texas by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States.