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13 May 2019
Former Jackson County Judicial Commissioner Charged in 48-Count IndictmentRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – May 13, 2019 – a 48-count indictment handed down last week, charged Patrick Martin, 48, of Gainesboro, Tennessee, with two counts of federal program theft, 30 counts of wire fraud, one count of possession of a forged security of an organization, 12 counts of failure to collect or pay employment taxes, two counts of filing false tax returns, and one count of destruction of records in a federal investigation. Jeff Hynes, 51, of Gainesboro, Tennessee, was also charged in the destruction of records count.
Martin and Hynes were arrested on Friday by federal agents and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alistair Newbern. Hynes was held in custody pending further proceedings and Martin was released with conditions, pending trial.
According to the indictment, Martin embezzled funds belonging to the Community Prevention Coalition of Jackson County, an organization that had the stated mission of preventing and reducing underage alcohol abuse and illegal substance abuse among youth in Jackson County. Martin served as Executive Director of the Coalition while also serving as a Judicial Commissioner in Jackson County. Martin’s scheme resulted in fraudulent wire transfers totaling $375,000.
The indictment alleges that Martin embezzled funds the Coalition received from federal, state, and local sources by causing Coalition checks to be issued to him, which he used to pay personal expenses, including his electric bill, furniture and fixtures for his home and for the purchase of a Ford Mustang for another individual, among others. The indictment also alleges that Martin reimbursed himself for more than the amount of certain expenses, including on three occasions where he reimbursed himself more than $3,000 for the same expense. Then, in the midst of an audit by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Martin and Hynes intentionally destroyed a large number of the Coalition’s records, including invoices and other financial records, by setting them on fire.
The indictment also alleges that Martin withheld quarterly taxes from Coalition employees’ wages, but never submitted the funds to the IRS as required, causing a tax loss of more than $82,000.
Finally, the indictment alleges that Martin under reported his income when he filed tax returns for 2014 and 2015.
If convicted, Martin faces up to 10 years on each count of federal program theft, 20 years on each count of wire fraud, 10 years for possession of a forged security, five years on each count of failure to collect or pay employment tax, and three years on each count of filing false tax returns. Martin and Hynes each face up to 20 years on the count for destruction of records in a federal investigation.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the IRS - Criminal Investigation; and the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Levine is prosecuting the case.
The charges are merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Former Autonomy CFO Sentenced to 60 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Sushovan Hussain, the former Chief Financial Officer of Autonomy Corporation plc, was sentenced to sixty (60) months in prison today following his convictions after trial for one count of conspiracy, fourteen counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud by a federal jury, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Judge.
In addition to the prison term, the Court ordered a fine in the amount of $4 million, the forfeiture of assets in the amount of $6.1 million, a three year term of supervised release and a special assessment of $1,600. Hussain was ordered to surrender to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons on June 15, 2019.
In 2011, Hewlett-Packard Company acquired Autonomy, the former software technology company dual headquartered in the United Kingdom and San Francisco, for about $11.7 billion. The evidence at trial demonstrated that for more than two years prior to the sale, Hussain, 55, a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, used sophisticated accounting methods to falsely inflate Autonomy’s revenues to make it appear Autonomy was growing when it really was not. Specifically, Hussain used backdated contracts, roundtrips, channel stuffing, and other forms of accounting fraud to fraudulently inflate Autonomy’s publicly-reported revenues by as much as 14.6% in 2009, 17.9% in 2010, 21.5% in the first quarter of 2011, and 12.4% in the second quarter of 2011. In addition, Hussain, and his co-conspirators, fraudulently concealed from investors and market analysts the scale of Autonomy’s hardware sales, which were used to boost the company’s reported revenue. The evidence demonstrated Automony’s sales were inflated by $53.3 million in 2009, $99.08 million in 2010, $20.09 million in the first quarter of 2011 and $20.85 million in the second quarter of 2011.
On November 10, 2016, a federal grand jury indicted Hussain charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and 14 counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. On May 4, 2017, the grand jury superseded the indictment adding one count of securities fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1348.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Leach, Adam A. Reeves, and William Frentzen prosecuted the case with the assistance of Elizabeth Margen, Phillip Villanueva, and Bridget Kilkenny. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Florida Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Drug Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Hallandale Beach, Florida, has been sentenced in federal court to 3 years and 2 months (38 months) in prison on his conviction of violating federal drugs laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Julio Forai Peguero Forne, 53.
According to information presented to the court, from in and around July 2014 to in and around January 2015, Forne conspired with two co-defendants to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, and transported approximately $150,000 in drug proceeds on behalf of the drug distribution organization.
Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE)/Homeland Security Investigations(HSI) and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Forne.
Felon in Possession of Firearm Sentenced to Ten Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – BOBBY VON ROGERS, 38, of Moore, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On September 5, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Rogers on one count of possessing a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol on April 10, 2018, after having been convicted of a felony. Rogers pleaded guilty on November 29, 2018.
On May 10, 2019, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Rogers to the statutory maximum: 120 months, or ten years, in federal prison. This was a variance upward from the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which recommended a sentence between 70 and 87 months. The court heard evidence at sentencing that Rogers has had a number of victim protective orders filed against him. According to evidence before the court, the victim had given birth to Rogers’s child a few weeks before April 10, 2018, when Rogers became abusive. The court heard testimony that when the victim’s mother arrived at his residence to intervene, Rogers slammed the mother’s head against a car, put a gun to her head, and asked: "Are you ready to die?" The court imposed the maximum sentence after remarking that Rogers is a danger to any woman he encounters.
"Serious penalties await those who possess a firearm after a felony conviction," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Troester. "When domestic violence is involved, we will seek an appropriate sentence to prevent further violence and protect victims from future abuse."
This case is the result of an investigation by the Moore Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Brown, the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001. To enhance local effectiveness, the Western District of Oklahoma has emphasized prosecution of federal gun crimes connected to domestic violence.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Eureka Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Role in Trafficking 55 Stolen HandgunsRead the Press Release
Jesse James Marquez was sentenced on Friday to 33 months in prison for his role in the theft and subsequent sale of 55 firearms from a sporting goods store in Eureka, California, in August 2015. The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. Senior District Judge.
In a plea agreement, Marquez admitted he cut the power lines to disable the alarm at Pacific Outfitters, located at 1600 Fifth Street, Eureka, California 95501, in the early morning hours of August 8, 2015. He then climbed on the roof and broke through a skylight to gain access to the firearms. He broke into a cabinet containing firearms and then carried 55 handguns out of the store in a backpack, forcing open a roll up door to exit the store. After he stole the guns, Marquez stored them until he was able to sell them.
A number of the stolen firearms have been recovered by police officers in California, Oregon, Georgia and elsewhere, including at the scene of a homicide in Arcata, California in September 2017.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Breyer sentenced Marquez to a 3-year term of supervised release and ordered Marquez to pay restitution to Pacific Outfitters in the amount of $56,600. He has been remanded into custody since entering his guilty plea and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan U. Lee prosecuted this case with the assistance of Kimberley Richardson and Hector Lopez. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Eureka Police Department.
Escape from a Halfway House Leads to Additional Federal ConvictionRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who escaped from federal custody at the Gerald R. Hinzman Center in Cedar Rapids pled guilty on May 10, 2019, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Shaquandis Thurmond, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of escape from federal custody.
In a plea agreement, Thurmond admitted that he had previously been convicted of possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. On August 26, 2018, he was in federal custody at the Gerald R. Hinzman Center pursuant to federal court order as a condition of his supervised release sentence. Thurmond left the facility to attend religious services and never returned. Thurmond was arrested on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa on March 18, 2019.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thurmond remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Thurmond faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. In the plea agreement Thurmond agreed any term of imprisonment will be imposed to be served consecutively to his supervised release revocation sentence.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated by United States Marshals Service, the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the University of Northern Iowa Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR-19-00035. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
El Departamento de Justicia y la Corte Suprema de Luisiana Llegan a un Acuerdo Para el Ofrecimiento de Apoyo Lingüístico a Individuos que no Dominan el InglésRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Departamento de Justicia ha llegado a un acuerdo con la Corte Suprema de Luisiana (LSC, por sus siglas en inglés) que reconoce el compromiso de la LSC a colaborar con el Sistema Judicial de Luisiana para iniciar un programa de acceso lingüístico que proporcionará servicios gratuitos de apoyo lingüístico orales y escritos a individuos que no dominan el inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés) para todo proceso y operación judicial estatal.
«Le felicito a la Corte Suprema de Luisiana por su compromiso a trabajar con todos los tribunales estatales en Luisiana a garantizar un acceso significativo para los individuos LEP», declaró el Fiscal General Auxiliar, Eric Dreiband, de la División de Derechos Civiles. «Esta relación colaborativa entre el Departamento de Justicia y la Corte Suprema de Luisiana solo fortalecerá los esfuerzos continuos de la Corte Suprema de Luisiana para garantizar la igualdad de acceso a la justicia para todos».
«Este acuerdo representa una asociación cuyo fin es garantizar que todas las personas, independientemente de su origen nacional, puedan acceder plena y justamente a los tribunales estatales de Luisiana», afirmó el Fiscal Federal Peter Strasser. «Mi oficina se ha comprometido a prevenir la discriminación al amparo del Título VI en todas sus formas en el Sistema Judicial de Luisiana».
Este acuerdo resuelve la investigación por parte del Departamento de Justicia de una denuncia que alegó que los tribunales estatales de Luisiana no brindaron acceso lingüístico a individuos LEP, lo que incluye la falta de suministro a los individuos LEP de intérpretes cualificados en procesos civiles, lo que es una vulneración del Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 y sus reglamentos (el Título VI). El acuerdo representa un compromiso por parte de la LSC a trabajar con el Departamento de Justicia para asegurar que se ofrezcan los servicios de apoyo lingüístico de manera coherente en el Sistema Judicial de Luisiana.
A lo largo de la investigación, la LSC comenzó a tomar pasos a mejorar los servicios lingüísticos en los tribunales estatales al contratar a un Coordinador de Acceso Lingüístico que es responsable de seguir mejorando los esfuerzos e iniciativas de la LSC en lo que se refiere al cumplimiento con el Título VI. Asimismo, la LSC desarrolló herramientas de asistencia técnica y ofreció capacitaciones a los jueces de los tribunales estatales de Luisiana que le enseñaron cómo abordar los encuentros con individuos LEP. Entre otros compromisos en el acuerdo, la LSC realizará una evaluación del Sistema Judicial de Luisiana para poder aportar mayor información para el desarrollo de un programa de acceso lingüístico más robusto. La LSC también trabajará con el Departamento de Justicia para crear un plan de acceso lingüístico estatal que incluirá un esquema para que todos los tribunales estatales puedan desarrollar su propio plan.
Este asunto fue co-investigado por los abogados Dylan Nicole de Kervor y Michael Mulé de la Sección Federal de Coordinación y Cumplimiento de la División de Derechos Civiles y el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar David Howard Sinkman de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Este de Luisiana.
Esta denuncia fue resuelta como parte de los esfuerzos de la FCS para garantizar que los tribunales estatales cumplan con los requisitos de acceso lingüístico del Título VI. El equipo de la FCS que se dedica a asunto relacionados con los tribunales ofrece orientación normativa y asistencia técnica a los sistemas de tribunales estatales y se encarga, con las Fiscalías Federales por todo el país, de acciones de ejecución.
Eighteen charged in 20-count drug distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Eleven men and seven women have been charged as part of an undercover investigation targeting a multi-county drug distribution network.
The 20-count indictment charges the defendants with a wide-ranging conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and marijuana and with gun possession violations stemming from Operation Who’s Laughing Now, said Bobby L. Christine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“The scope of this operation and the number of defendants demonstrates why the Southern District of Georgia ranks No. 1 in the United States in the number of violent crime defendants charged per prosecutor,” Christine said. “Our office is committed to working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in targeting and eradicating these criminal drug and firearms operations.”
According to court documents, the defendants were arrested during the operation conducted by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with other local law enforcement agencies in a 20-county area of eastern Georgia. In addition to quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana, investigators also seized 14 firearms – including two unregistered sawed-off shotguns – and a large amount of ammunition and magazines.
All 18 defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana. Additional charges in the indictment are:
- Tina Hatterer, 39, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; four counts of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Deanna Parker, 35, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Robert Jennings, a/k/a “Tattoo,” 32, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and selling firearms without a license;
- Bayleigh Laughing, 22, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;
- Daniel Jeffers, a/k/a “Dirty,” 30, of Savannah, GA charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;
- Michael Cronk, 28, and his brother Steven Cronk, 34, both of Savannah, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Toni R. Lowery, 36, of Midway, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Cassandra Ellis, 28, of Savannah, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Jonathan Vollmer, a/k/a “Erik,” 43, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with selling firearms without a license; Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;
- Ashley Vollmer, 43, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;
- James Blue, a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 30, of Hinesville; Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.
- Houstin Schlernitzauer, 23, of Richmond Hill, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;
- Zachary Carter, 34, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon;
- Christina Moore, 33, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;
- Tyler Aceto, 27, of Hinesville, charged with charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;
- Steven Teft, 30, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and,
- Dejoun Thomas, a/k/a “Dae Dae,” 23 of Hinesville, charged with two counts of Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
The charges carry penalties upon conviction of up to life in prison.
“As prosecutors, we appreciate the hard, dangerous work of the law enforcement professionals who conduct these undercover operations,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will honor their heroism by doing our duty, and bring justice to those who would pollute our neighborhoods with drugs and illegal weapons.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “Today we have removed dangerous criminals from the streets of south Georgia. These poly-drug traffickers will no longer be able to deliver deadly doses of poison in the community. This investigation was a success because of the great working relationship that DEA has with its federal, state, local counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“This is another example of our law enforcement partners working together to rid our streets and communities of drugs and firearm-related violence,” said Lenwood S. Reeves, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes stated, “This operation is the result of many long hours of work by the men and women of several law enforcement agencies, but I want to especially recognize the members of the Narcotics Unit of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Because of their dedication to this operation, our citizens can rest assured that their neighborhoods are safer now. I also want to express my appreciation for the assistance of the ATF and DEA during this long investigation. This type of case would be very difficult to prosecute without the cooperation of our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn Semales and Marcela Mateo.
Eight Baltimore Defendants Indicted for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging eight defendants with participating in a heroin and fentanyl distribution conspiracy allegedly operating in the Baltimore area since at least February 2018, as well as related charges. The superseding indictment was returned on May 7, 2019, and unsealed May 9, 2019. The following defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin:
Raheem Benjamin, age 26, of Baltimore;
Tyrone Milton Gholston, age 39, of Baltimore;
Daryl Hart, age 38, of Edgewood, Maryland;
Joshua Johnson, age 28, of Baltimore;
Ellison Mccrea, age 28, of Baltimore;
Raynard Minter, age 21, of Baltimore; Morranda Phimpisane, age 32, of Baltimore; and
April Wilkes, age 36, of Baltimore.
The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“More and more people are dying from fentanyl overdoses in Baltimore City and throughout the state,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We are continuing to do everything possible to reduce overdose deaths from fentanyl and from all opioids, by investigating and prosecuting those who distribute this poison in our community.”
In addition to the drug conspiracy, the seven-count superseding indictment charges Benjamin with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Gholston is charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises. Hart, Minter, and Phimpisane are charged with possession with intent to distribute a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, and Johnson is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for the drug conspiracy. Benjamin also faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed and a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and a maximum of life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hart, Minter, Phimpisane, and Johnson each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.
All of the defendants except Gholston have been arrested and are in federal or state custody. Hart and Phimpisane had an initial appearance on May 9, 2019 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, and were ordered to be detained pending detention hearings. The six other defendants do not yet have an initial appearance scheduled.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Goldsticker, who is prosecuting the case.
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Drug Trafficker Who Possessed Pills Laced with Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Heroin Sentenced to 48 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Bernardo Olivas Leyva was sentenced today to 4 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Ray M. Roundtree. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, Senior U.S. District Judge.
Olivas Leyva pleaded guilty on December 19, 2018, to a single count indictment charging a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(viii), conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement Olivas Leyva admitted that he had agreed with an individual based in Mexico to bring methamphetamine into the United States. Olivas Leyva admitted that he and his co-defendant, Carlos Luna Rodriguez, obtained methamphetamine, heroin, and a quantity of pills in Fontana, California, in a truck that they intended to drive to Seattle, Washington. Olivas Leyva admitted that there were 126 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.5 pounds of suspected heroin, and 2,990 pills that contained fentanyl in the truck.
Olivas Leyva, 63, a citizen of Mexico, along with Luna Rodriguez, 23, also a citizen of Mexico, were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 5, 2018, with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Luna Rodriguez pled guilty on December 19, 2018, to a superseding information that charged him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). He was sentenced on March 15, 2019, to 15 months in prison.
Sheila Armbrust is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Linda Love. The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Doctor Described as ‘Candy Man’ and ‘El Chapo of Opioids’ Charged with Distributing Opioids to PatientsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County doctor has been charged with distributing opioids without a legitimate medical reason and falsifying medical records to cover it up, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Robert Delagente, 45, of Oakland, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of controlled dangerous substances and one count of obstruction of justice. Delagente is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Beginning in May 2014, Delagente was a doctor at a medical practice called North Jersey Family Medicine (NJFM) in Oakland, New Jersey. He allegedly described himself in conversations pertaining to his prescribing of painkillers as the “Candy Man” and the “El Chapo of Opioids.” Delagente knowingly prescribed controlled substances, such as oxycodone, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, and various benzodiazepines (alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, and temazepam), outside the ordinary course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. He ignored the inherent danger and medical risk of overdose, drug abuse, and death that can accompany prescriptions of highly addictive opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers, both on their own and in combination with one another.
Delagente prescribed controlled substances without ever seeing the purported patient for a medical visit or even discussing with the patient the medical need for the prescription. He allowed patients to ask him for controlled substances via text message and would write a prescription for patients that he would leave at the front desk, without requiring an office visit or consultation of any kind. He allowed patients to dictate the strength and dosage of the controlled substances he prescribed for them. Delagente also prescribed the dangerous drug combination known as the “Holy Trinity,” comprised of opioids (usually oxycodone), benzodiazepines (usually alprazolam) and muscle relaxers (usually carisoprodol).
Delagente failed to monitor patients for addiction and ignored drug screening tests to determine whether certain patients were taking illicit drugs. In fact, Delagente prescribed controlled substances to patients he knew were addicted to opioids or other controlled substances. In one instance, an NJFM employee texted Delagente that a patient had gotten a babysitter and driven a long distance to get to the practice, but had been unable to see a doctor. Delagente responded: “Oh well … C’est la vie! Lol … He can wait for his oral heroin another day. Lol.”
One patient texted Delagente that the patient “probably can’t stop the pk’s,” referring to painkillers. The patient told Delagente that the patient “would need a plan to stop…not cold turkey.” A few days later, when the patient was having trouble obtaining pain medication, the patient wrote to Delagente that “If I go 4 days without [painkillers] I am in huge trouble.” In response, Delagente wrote “I will leave you a short supply RX [prescription] at the front to pick up.” Delagente then wrote the patient a prescription for 120 tablets of 30-milligram oxycodone for 30 days. Delagente at one point told this patient: “I’m literally sticking my neck out and can lose my medical license or [be] arrested for what I just did.”
Delagente also was charged with altering medical records of patients who received controlled substance prescriptions from him after law enforcement officials had subpoenaed the records from him in late April 2019.
Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the distribution of controlled dangerous substances charge. Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the obstruction charge.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Liu, Chief of the Opioids Unit, and Jason S. Gould of the Opioids Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Riza Dagli Esq., Roseland, New Jersey
Department of Justice's Antitrust Division Joins Framework on Competition Agency Procedures as Founding MemberRead the Press Release
On May 1, 2019, the Antitrust Division joined the Framework on Competition Agency Procedures as a founding member. This historic multilateral agreement recognizes fundamental principles of transparency and procedural fairness in antitrust enforcement and promotes review mechanisms to ensure that participating agencies abide by these norms. The framework adopted the principles outlined by the Multilateral Framework on Procedures, as described by Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations on June 1, 2018. It was adopted by the International Competition Network (ICN) on April 3, 2019, and it became open for all national, supranational, and customs territory-specific competition agencies, both ICN member and non-member agencies, to join as participants on May 1, 2019.
“I encourage our antitrust enforcement partners around the world to become founding members of this historic multilateral framework on procedures,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Antitrust Division. “Broad participation in the new framework will demonstrate our universal commitment to transparency and fairness, and it will strengthen cooperation among and confidence in antitrust enforcement agencies across the globe.”
The Framework on Competition Agency Procedures will come into effect on May 15, 2019, at an inauguration ceremony of the founding members during the ICN annual conference in Cartagena, Colombia.
The ICN, founded by 15 agencies including the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, was created in October 2001 to increase understanding of competition policy and promote convergence toward sound antitrust enforcement around the world. The ICN has grown to include 138 member agencies from 125 jurisdictions, supported by a wide network of non-governmental advisors from around the world.
The text of the Framework on Competition Agency Procedures can be found here.
Dallas County Man Sentenced to 27 Months for Possession of a Firearm After Conviction of a FelonyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Michael Watts, a 40 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 27 months of incarceration for possession of two firearms after previously being convicted of two felonies, namely, Assault 1st and Shooting into an Occupied Building.
On February 19, 2019, Watts entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on December 3, 2018, at approximately 10:50 pm, Dallas County, AL Sheriff’s Office deputies were working at a driver’s license checkpoint on County Road 81 in the Selma, Alabama area. Watts approached the check point driving a Grey Ford Crown Victoria and was asked to provide his driver’s license. When deputies asked for Watts’ driver’s license they could smell marijuana coming for inside the vehicle. Watts and the other occupant in the vehicle (the front seat passenger) were then asked to exit the vehicle. Both did so without incident. Before officers could conduct a safety check of Watts, he told them, “I have two guns on me.” The firearms were seized from his front pocket. They are described as a Smith & Wesson, Airweight, .38 caliber pistol, and an FIE, Titan, .25 caliber pistol.
Deputies of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office along with special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.Court Finds RM Broadcasting Must Register as a Foreign AgentRead the Press Release
U.S. District Court Judge Robin L. Rosenberg has ruled that a Florida-based company, RM Broadcasting LLC (RM Broadcasting), was acting as an agent of a foreign principal and must register as such under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA).
The Department of Justice contended in a civil counterclaim that RM Broadcasting has been acting as an agent of the the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency (Rossiya Segodnya), a Russian state-owned media enterprise created by Vladimir Putin to advance Russian interests abroad. The litigation marked the first FARA civil enforcement action since 1991. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
“The American people have a right to know if a foreign flag waves behind speech broadcast in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Our concern is not the content of the speech but providing transparency about the true identity of the speaker. This case shows that the Department can and will utilize all of its tools to bring transparency to efforts by foreign entities to influence the American public and our government, and demonstrates our renewed effort to enforce FARA rigorously.”
“While the right to free speech remains paramount to our democracy,” U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said. “FARA ensures that the American public is fully cognizant of the true source of the messages broadcast in the United States. Armed with full information, Americans may properly evaluate the value of the speech they hear. As such, FARA is a fundamental tool in our continuing efforts to defend our democracy.”
In November 2017, RM Broadcasting and Rossiya Segodnya entered into a services agreement pursuant to which RM Broadcasting would provide for the broadcast of Rossiya Segodnya’s “Sputnik” radio programs on AM radio channel 1390 WZHF in the Washington, D.C. region. Under this agreement, RM Broadcasting could not alter Rossiya Segodnya’s radio programs in any way. As the services agreement established Rossiya Segodnya’s direction and control over RM Broadcasting, the FARA Unit of the National Security Division informed RM Broadcasting that it was acting as a publicity agent and an information-service employee of Rossiya Segodnya and was required to register as an agent of a foreign principal.
RM Broadcasting initiated the proceeding in the Southern District of Florida seeking a declaratory judgment that it did not have to register as an agent of a foreign principal. The Department responded by filing a counterclaim seeking an injunction to require RM Broadcasting to register. Earlier this week, the court granted the Department’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. A final judgment directing RM Broadcasting to register under FARA is expected.
This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Feeley and Trial Attorney Nicholas Hunter of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
About FARA
The purpose of FARA is to protect the national defense, internal security, and foreign relations of the United States by requiring public disclosure by persons engaging in political activities and other activities for or on behalf of foreign governments, foreign political parties and other foreign principals so that the Government and the people of the United States may be informed of the identity of such persons and may apprise their statements and actions in the light of their associations and activities.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison After Living Under an Assumed Identity for Nearly 18 YearsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida– Chief U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday today sentenced Luilly Rafael Almonte Hiciano (48, St. Pete Beach) to four years and three months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and lying to the United States government. The court also ordered Hiciano to pay restitution to the victim of the offense.
Hiciano had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2019, to one count of aggravated identity theft and two counts of lying to the United States government. As part of the plea agreement, Hiciano agreed that he may be removed from the United States and denied immigration benefits in the future.
According to court documents, Hiciano attempted to move to the United States in 1999, but was denied a visa to enter. Nevertheless, he moved to the United States and assumed the identity of an unsuspecting U.S. citizen, which Hiciano used for approximately 18 years until his arrest in 2018. Hiciano used the victim’s identity to obtain two U.S. Passports, driver licenses, and three Social Security cards. In addition, between 2004 and 2010, Hiciano served approximately 3 ½ years in jail for crimes he had committed using the victim’s identity.
“The Diplomatic Security Service is firmly committed to making sure that those who commit passport fraud face consequences for their criminal actions,” said Frederick R. Stolper, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Miami Field Office. “The strong relationship we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies around the world is vital towards ensuring the integrity of U.S. travel documents and protecting greater U.S. interests.”
“Illegal aliens who commit identity theft and fraudulently acquire U.S. passports are a threat to our nation’s security,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “The U.S. passport is one of the most valuable travel documents in the world and HSI places a high priority on investigating document and benefit fraud.”
This case was investigated by the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel George.
Carbon County Man Sentenced to 30 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILKES-BARRE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on May 9, 2019, Jared Andrew Novy, age 39, of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo for the production of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Novy pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in July 2018, and admitted that he produced multiple videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Novy previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Carbon County to state related sexual abuse crimes involving minors.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – Philadelphia Division. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Caputo ordered that Novy by supervised by a probation officer for ten years following his release from prison. Novy will also be required to comply with the registration requirements of the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (Adam Walsh Act) upon release from prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking in Columbia CountyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Saul E. Pacheco, age 38, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring with another person to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin in Columbia County.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett.
In pleading guilty, Pacheco admitted to supplying heroin to Timothy J. Simpson Jr., a Columbia County drug dealer, from at least April 2017 through March 2018. Pacheco was arrested on April 4, 2018, while attempting to meet Simpson in the parking lot of a casino in Yonkers, Westchester County. In the parking lot, DEA Special Agents located a plastic bag containing approximately 68 grams of heroin, which Pacheco had discarded once he noticed agents approaching him.
Pacheco, who is in custody, faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, as well as a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, when he is sentenced on September 16, 2019 by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Simpson has pled guilty to drug conspiracy and possession charges, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge McAvoy on June 19, 2019.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Pacheco has also pled guilty to an unrelated charge of conspiring to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, in a case investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Pacheco faces at least 5 years in prison in that case as well.
British Womenswear Retailer Agrees to Pay $610,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Concerning Improper Avoidance of Customs DutiesRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that Selective Marketplace Ltd. (“Selective”), of Loughborough, England, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. under which it will pay a total of $610,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”). The FCA is the government’s primary civil remedy to redress false claims involving government funds.
The settlement resolves allegations that Selective improperly avoided U.S. customs duties owed on merchandise under its two brand names, Wrap London and Poetry, shipped from the United Kingdom to U.S. customers, including those in Maine. See United States ex rel. Vale v. Selective Marketplace Ltd. et al., Civil No. 2:17-cv-380-LEW (D. Me.). Generally, U.S. customers owed no customs duties on single shipments of merchandise into the U.S. worth less than $200. The complaint alleged that Selective improperly evaded customs duties that would have been paid by U.S. customers by breaking up single shipments worth more than those amounts into multiple shipments of lesser value in order to avoid the applicable duties.
The FCA action was originally filed by Kristin and Stephen Vale under the FCA’s whistleblower, or qui tam, provisions that allow private individuals who have knowledge of fraud committed against the government to file lawsuits on the government’s behalf. The FCA permits the government to recover up to three times the amount of damages incurred by the U.S., in addition to civil penalties for each violation. The government may also intervene and file its own lawsuit for damages and penalties, as it did in this case. If the government prevails in the action, the whistleblower, also known as the relator, may receive a share of the recovery. Here, the government will pay the relators, Kristin and Stephen Vale, a share of the settlement proceeds.
The government was represented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Selective cooperated throughout the investigation.
Another Morgan Management Employee Pleads Guilty for His Role in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead 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 Scott Cresswell, 52, Ionia, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5,994,639.86 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Fabian and Douglas A.C. Penrose, who are handling the case, stated that between March 2017 and April 2018, the defendant was the Chief Operating Officer for Morgan Management, LLC. During that time, Cresswell conspired with others, under the direction of Robert Morgan and others, fraudulently to obtain insurance policy proceeds for repairs on properties managed by Morgan Management, LLC.
On March 27, 2017, Cresswell received an executed copy of a $2,500,000 contract for the cost of repairs at the Summerwood Apartments in Merrillville, Indiana. However, in May 2017, the defendant or other members of the conspiracy caused a false and inflated contract totaling $3,236,519, a false invoice, and a false and inflated lien waiver for repairs at the Summerwood Apartments to be sent to an insurer.
Similarly, from March to May 2017, Cresswell conspired with others to present false and inflated contracts and invoices to insurers in connection with repairs at the Eden Square Apartments in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Despite being aware that repairs at the property were being completed for $174,999, the defendant or others sent inflated documents to insurers reflecting repair costs of $263,013.57.
In addition, from June 2017 to January 2018, Cresswell conspired with others to present false and inflated contracts and invoices to insurers in connection with repairs on 34 properties in and around Rochester after a windstorm that occurred in March 2017. On August 1, 2017, the defendant learned that, as of that date, the anticipated cost of the repairs was approximately $3,650,000. However, Cresswell and other members of the conspiracy planned to bill insurance companies at least $5,860,000. The profit to Morgan Management for this scheme to defraud was approximately $2,210,000. Cresswell admitted that, at Robert Morgan’s direction, he encouraged and instructed others to “grind the best you can” to get the profit for the repair work up to $2,500,000.
As a result of the false and inflated documents presented by the defendant and others, which included repairs at the Summerwood Apartments, Eden Square, and at the 34 properties impacted by the March 2017 windstorm, the total loss was $2,997,319.93.
“With the defendant’s plea today, this Office, with our partners at the FBI and FHA, have peeled back yet another layer in this extensive fraud scheme,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Our efforts will not cease until the entirety of the fraudulent scheme is exposed.”
Today’s 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 Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Manchak, Northeast Region.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date before Judge Wolford.
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Anchorage Man Charged with 32 Counts of Aiding and Assisting in Preparation of False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Jose Luis Arenas, 64, of Anchorage, was named in an indictment charging him with 32 counts of aiding and assisting in preparation of false federal individual income tax returns.
According to the indictment, beginning in 2013, Arenas prepared tax returns for Alaska clients who paid him for his services. The indictment alleges that for tax years 2013 through 2016, Arenas willfully reported false itemized expenses to the IRS on behalf of his clients. Arenas’ false submissions allegedly included false medical and dental expenses that fraudulently reduced the amount of income tax owed, and/or fraudulently inflated his clients’ income tax refunds.
If convicted, Arenas faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
18 Offenders Arrested in DCS-Led Operation MayhemRead the Press Release
MACON – Operation Mayhem, a multi-agency roundup targeting validated gang members and/or violent parolees/probationers in the Macon area, resulted in the arrest of 18 offenders, announced United States Attorney Charles “Charlie” E. Peeler. Operation Mayhem was conducted during the early hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019, and was a coordinated effort led by the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) in partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Task Force, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the Bibb County Sherriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Macon Judicial Circuit, along with support from additional local law enforcement agencies. Operation Mayhem’s goal was to locate and arrest the most wanted parole/probation fugitives in the Macon Judicial Circuit. The DCS Criminal Intelligence Unit and the DCS Macon office identified and located these fugitive offenders. As a result of this intelligence-driven effort, best known locations were identified for the targeted parolee/probationer absconders with outstanding warrants for Violation of Parole or Violation of Probation.
“This was a tremendously successful operation led by DCS and a great service to law-abiding Macon residents,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “In the course of just a few hours, 18 dangerous individuals wanted for violating the law were brought into custody, making our community safer. I want to thank the DCS, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and our other law enforcement partners for their total commitment to improving community safety for people living in Middle Georgia.”
“Stopping and dismantling gang activity is an important priority as we seek to protect our communities from violent offenders,” said James Bergman, the Special Operations Unit Director for DCS. “An operation of this breadth requires collaboration across many agencies--it is impossible to do alone. DCS is grateful for the agencies and departments who have partnered with us to make this operation successful.”
“I am proud that Operation Mayhem was a very effective mission, capturing 18 offenders. This collaborative effort sends a message to our citizens and to the criminals that law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting our community are united and committed to making a difference,” said Sheriff David Davis, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
The United States Attorney’s Office support of Operation Mayhem is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
12 May 2019
Statement of U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn on the Passing of Senior Judge Wiley Y. DanielRead the Press Release
While many of us work to make a difference in the legal profession, the Honorable Senior Judge Wiley Y. Daniel led the way. He was a trailblazer. Since arriving in Colorado in 1977, he pushed our state to become better - and thanks to him - it did. We celebrate his life of leadership, as a lawyer who was the first African American elected President of the Colorado Bar Association, appointed District Court Judge to the United States District Court and, later, the Chief Judge of that Court. Judge Daniel always worked to make things better and he succeeded, often with a warm smile that made you glad to be in his presence. We mourn his passing and will miss him dearly. But we are all grateful to have appeared before him, and to have been shaped by his vision and his leadership.
Arrest Made in Deadly Appalachian Trail StabbingRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and David W. Archey, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, announced today an arrest in a deadly stabbing incident that occurred along the Appalachian Trail in Wythe County, Virginia that left one person dead and another severely injured.
James L. Jordan 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, was arrested in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 11, 2019 on a federal criminal complaint. Jordan is charged with one count of murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States and one count of assault with the intent to murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
“I commend local law enforcement in Wythe and Smyth Counties for mobilizing successful rescue and tactical operations in this remote region,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “Thanks to their efforts, the suspect was safely apprehended and a seriously wounded victim received critical medical care. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to bring the perpetrator of this senseless and brutal attack to justice.”
This investigation is ongoing. The federal charges against Jordan will be officially filed in U.S. District Court in Abingdon Monday morning. The defendant will have an initial court appearance in federal court in Abingdon on Monday, May 13, 2019.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
10 May 2019
Woman Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Murdering Six-Year-Old BoyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, Latoya Leonardine Johnson, 25, of Ajo, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 35 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for murdering a six-year-old boy on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On September 24, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Border Patrol, and members of the Tohono O’odham Police Department began to search for the missing six-year-old victim. They ultimately located foot sign indicating an adult and a child had walked from the remote village into the desert. While following the foot sign, law enforcement came across the victim’s t-shirt and found a long wooden object. From there, the adult footprints continued along with what appeared to be drag marks. Ultimately, the footprints led law enforcement to discover the victim’s body.
Johnson, a member of Tohono O’odham, admitted to walking the victim, who lived nearby, into the desert and beating him with the wooden object, resulting in his death. The victim was also a Tribal member of Tohono O’odham.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tohono O’odham Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller and Anthony W. Church, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Walterboro Man Sentenced to Thirty Years for Federal Narcotic and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Marion Katrell Campbell, age 38, of Walterboro, South Carolina, was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks of Charleston sentenced Campbell to 360 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release.
Evidence presented at trial established that on July 8, 2017, Campbell was the driver and sole occupant of a car stopped by officers with the Walterboro Police Department for a defective headlight. A K9 search was conducted on the vehicle after Campbell was placed under arrest for driving under suspension and failure to pay multiple traffic citations. After a positive alert from the K9, officers searched the vehicle and located a loaded .38 caliber Charter Arms revolver under the driver’s seat, extra ammunition on the driver’s side floorboard and in the driver’s door, plastic bags containing methamphetamine in the driver’s door and center console, as well as additional plastic baggies used for packaging drugs for distribution on the front passenger seat and in the passenger door. In total, there were 42 individual bags of methamphetamine measured out in various weights for distribution. The total net weight of the methamphetamine was a little less than 37 grams.
After Campbell was arrested, he placed numerous phone calls to his friends and family from jail trying to convince other people to claim the firearm located in the vehicle that night.
Campbell has a lengthy criminal history, which includes convictions for criminal domestic violence, forgery, failure to stop for a blue light, strong arm robbery, multiple drug possessions, and multiple possessions with intent to distribute crack and cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Walterboro Police Department and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted pursuant to 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone’s longstanding partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office to target career criminals in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Colleton, and Allendale Counties in federal court as well 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.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Carra Henderson of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and Assistant United States Jamie Schoen of the US Attorney’s Office in Charleston prosecuted the case.
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Vermont Man Who Exploited Opioid Addictions of Young Women Convicted of Multiple Counts of Sex and Drug Trafficking and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
After a three-week trial, a federal jury in Burlington, Vermont, found Brian Folks, 44, guilty of 13 federal felonies arising from his operation of a violent sex and drug trafficking enterprise that sold heroin and forced young, drug-addicted women to prostitute throughout the greater Burlington area. The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cristina E. Nolan for the District of Vermont, and DEA Special Agent in Charge-Boston Brian D. Boyle.
The jury deliberated for six hours yesterday before convicting Folks of all sex and drug trafficking counts. The convictions included five counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of operating an unlawful prostitution business enterprise; five counts of distributing heroin; one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; and one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base. The jury acquitted the defendant of one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
“Brian Folks used violent means to force young women suffering from opioid addictions to perform commercial sex acts, causing them immeasurable harm, and he contributed to the destruction of multiple lives by selling opioids to our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “Human traffickers are exploiting the opioid epidemic with increasing frequency. Their depraved conduct, like this defendant’s, will not be tolerated, and the Department of Justice will continue its vigorous efforts to hold them accountable, bring justice to their victims, and prevent them from harming others.”
“This conviction represents a total vindication for victims of human trafficking, who bravely told their stories of abuse and degradation at the hands of Folks,” said U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan for the District of Vermont. “Folks is a merciless predator, who targeted vulnerable young addicted women. We are grateful that a Vermont jury has served up justice. We hope that this conviction will help the countless other victims of human trafficking find their voices and come forward to seek help and services. We will never stop looking for them, connecting them with recovery services, and seeking convictions and stiff penalties for those who would commit this most heinous of crimes. I commend the collaboration of federal and local law enforcement officers who tirelessly pursued Folks, showing compassion and support for the victims and a recognition that combatting human trafficking is a crucial component of our anti-drug campaign.”
“DEA will aggressively pursue individuals like Mr. Folks who distribute heroin in order to profit and destroy people’s lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s verdict not only holds Mr. Folks accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
Evidence presented at trial, including the testimony of victims, established that, between June 2012 and March 2016, Brian Folks targeted young, vulnerable women in the Burlington area. Most had experienced past trauma related to physical and sexual abuse as children growing up in broken homes. By the time they encountered Folks, most were addicted to drugs and homeless. Folks identified their weaknesses, recruited them, and then forced them to perform commercial sex acts for his profit. If they refused or otherwise “violated” one of his many strict rules, he inflicted serious consequences. He beat them, often in front of other victims, creating a climate of fear, and he sexually assaulted them. He withheld heroin from them, causing them to suffer painful physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. He also videotaped them performing explicit and humiliating sex acts on him, with him, and for him and threatened to expose those videos to the public. Evidence showed that Folks maintained a digital library containing thousands of photographs and videos of the victims. Among the defendant’s victims was a 17-year-old, who suffered from heroin-addiction and who is now deceased. The defendant recruited her to prostitute, photographed her, and advertised her online for prostitution. He then created and published a video on Facebook in which he denounced her as a “promiscuous addict.”
The evidence further established that Folks conspired with two co-defendants to sell heroin and cocaine base throughout the greater Burlington area. Folks’ drug trafficking enterprise was an integral part of his sex trafficking enterprise, and vice versa. He used his access to drugs to identify and target susceptible victims. At first, he promised to split any prostitution proceeds with them, but then he took the remainder in exchange for drugs. As a result, Folks took all of the proceeds and kept the victims under control and dependent on him. He also used the victims to carry out parts of his drug operation. For example, he had them bag the drugs, including heroin and cocaine base, for individual sales and then sell the drugs to buyers through hand-to-hand exchanges. As part of his drug trafficking emperies, he resorted to physical and sexual violence to control the victims and ensure maximum drug profits.
The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as mandatory restitution to the sex trafficking victims. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Co-defendants Darren McFarlan and Mandy previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with the defendant to distribute heroin and cocaine base. They both face a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency’s New England Division, with assistance from the Burlington, Winooski, and Essex, Vermont, Police Departments and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Darrow for the District of Vermont and Trial Attorney Emily Savner and Special Litigation Counsel Matthew Grady for the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and its Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes the Sacrifice of Law Enforcement Officers during National Police WeekRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores recognizes the service, courage and sacrifice made by federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.
As part of the observance, U.S. Attorney Shores is honored to speak at the Law Enforcement Memorial Service, scheduled for May 14, at 11 am, in Chandler Park. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 188 and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office host the annual event to honor and remember the legacy of fallen officers.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
“During Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country. We recognize their sacrifice, loyalty, and commitment to fighting for that which is right. Police officers are the peacekeepers and protectors of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “Police officers, investigators, detectives, and agents put on their uniform and go out to face danger without question or expectation of thanks. For that and for all they do, law enforcement have my sincerest thanks and appreciation.”
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018. In Oklahoma, former Comanche County Drug Task Force investigator Timothy Dale Cole died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in 2007 when assisting the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics serve a warrant in Lawton. His resulting spinal cord injury rendered him paraplegic, and he passed away due to complications on Aug. 4, 2018. Timothy Cole is survived by his wife, three children, and eight grandchildren.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information, please call 202-737-3400.
The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed from Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
“During Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Frank. “I want to acknowledge the work performed by federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, who often face uncertain and dangerous situations without question and without expectation of thanks. We want them to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation.”
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018, including Somerset County Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene P. Cole in Maine.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide, including that of Corporal Cole, will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of Monday, May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information please call 202-737-3400.
The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
U.S. Attorney Duncan Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, signed by the President, declaring May 15th as “National Peace Officers Memorial Day,” to honor law enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week, as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
“During National Police Week, we celebrate the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “As the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, I want to salute the work of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, who often face uncertain and dangerous situations without question and without expectation of thanks. We need them to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation.”
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents during 2018, including one officer in the Eastern District of Kentucky. On March 13, 2018, Pikeville Police Officer Scotty Hamilton was ambushed, shot, and killed during an investigation of a stolen vehicle. John R. Hall, 56, of Pikeville, pleaded guilty to murdering Officer Hamilton. Hall was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
“Officer Hamilton was committed to making Pikeville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky a better place,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “Officer Hamilton was a valued colleague, working with the FBI and United States Attorney’s Office, and he tirelessly endeavored to protect the public and to pursue justice. He gave his life in service to his community and we can never forget Officer Hamilton’s ultimate sacrifice.”
Comprehensive data tables about officers killed in line-of-duty incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/, which was released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated, on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil, on the evening of May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information, please call 202-737-3400.
The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019. For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
In the Eastern District of Kentucky, events are planned to honor law enforcement officers in conjunction with National Police Week. On May 15, 2019, the Northern Kentucky Police Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., at the Northern Kentucky Police Memorial, Foot of the Suspension Bridge, Covington, KY. The Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation’s Memorial Ceremony is scheduled for May 23, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Department of Criminal Justice Training, on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University, in Richmond.
Two Individuals Indicted on 12 Counts for Theft of Government Funds, Wire Fraud, BriberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Oklahoma returned a twelve-count indictment Wednesday afternoon charging two individuals in connection with the theft and embezzlement of funds from business entities wholly owned by the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town (AQTT) of Wetumka, OK.
The AQTT is a tribal town located in Oklahoma with an enrollment of around 280 members. As a component of the original Creek Confederacy, AQTT’s members have dual citizenship with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The AQTT-owned business entities focus primarily on federal contract procurement in Huntsville, AL.
Charged in the indictment are AARON DEWAYNE TERRY, age 66, of Wichita Falls, TX and CHRISTINA ROCHELLE ANGLIN, age 44, of Burnsville, NC.
The defendants are charged with the following counts in the indictment: Counts One through Eight – THEFT BY AN AGENT OF AN INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A); Count Nine – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFT OR BRIBERY OF PROGRAMS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; Count Ten – WIRE FRAUD, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; Count Eleven – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; and Count Twelve - BRIBERY CONCERNING PROGRAMS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(B).
During the time of the conspiracy, from 2012 to 2019, CHRISTINA ROCHELLE ANGLIN was the Controller, and later the Chief Financial Officer, for all the AQTT-owned business entities. AARON DEWAYNE TERRY, likewise, held various executive management and control positions within the AQTT-owned business entities during this period.
Counts One through Eight, and Count Twelve, each carry a statutory range of punishment of not more than ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. The statutory range of punishment for Count Nine is not more than 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. Counts Ten and Eleven each carry a statutory range of punishment of not more than 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
Agencies responsible for the multi-year investigation, which led to the indictment, include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Office of Inspector General – General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General – Small Business Administration, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Army Criminal Investigation Command.
Indictments are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.
Towson Woman Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander today sentenced Alice Gardner, age 44, of Towson, Maryland, to 37 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. On May 6, 2019, co-defendant Natasha Wyche, age 42, of Owings Mills, Maryland, was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on the same charges. Judge Hollander ordered both defendants to pay restitution in the amount of $170,837.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; Chief Lisa Myers of the Howard County Police Department; and Chief Michael Birmingham of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) Investigative Division.
According to their plea agreements, from February 2013, through December of 2014, Gardner and Wyche conspired with Chris Jordan, Cynquetta Martin, and others to commit bank and wire fraud. The conspirators would acquire the social security number (SSN) of a victim, often a minor child, then use that number on paperwork to purchase vehicles from car dealerships.
For example, on December 4, 2012, Wyche went to a car dealership in Owings Mills, and applied for a vehicle loan to purchase a 2010 Acura TL using a victim’s SSN. The approved loan was for $29,194. On August 30, 2014, Wyche went to three car dealerships in Maryland, and applied for three vehicle loans to purchase a 2008 Honda Odyssey, a 2014 Hyundai Sonata, and a 2013 Toyota Corolla, using the SSN of a victim. The approved loans were for $20,409, $29,368, and $21,247, respectively.
On November 24, 2014, Gardner went to two car dealerships and applied for two vehicle loans to purchase a 2009 Toyota Camry and a 2009 Lexus RX350, using the stolen SSN of a victim. The loans were approved for 12,631 and $22,704 respectively. In addition, on December 6, 2014, Gardner went to another car dealership, and applied for a loan to purchase a 2015 Hyundai Sonata, using the SSN of a victim. The loan was approved for $32,947.
The vehicles acquired would be sold by a co-defendant to unsuspecting buyers through an online marketplace. The proceeds of the scheme, which total approximately $300,000, were split between Gardener, Wyche, and other co-defendants.
Chris Jordan, and Cynquetta Martin have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme. No date has been set for their sentencing.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the SSA Office of Inspector General, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Howard County Police Department, and the MVA Investigative Division for their work in this investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson Mihok, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davio, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Three indicted for conspiracy to steal trade secrets from aircraft companiesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Three men have been charged with conspiring to steal trade secrets from aircraft companies as a shortcut to developing and selling their own aircraft product.
Gilbert Basaldua, Joseph Pascua, and Craig German have been indicted for Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets, while Basaldua also has been indicted for Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The indictment alleged that all three men agreed to work on developing a product for a competitor company in return for a share of profits. In order to obtain FAA certification for the product, however, an icing wind tunnel testing plan needed to be developed. To shortcut the process of developing this plan, the indictment alleged that all three men agreed to steal trade secrets, including aircraft wing schematics and anti-ice testing documents, from aircraft companies in and outside of the Southern District of Georgia.
“The theft of trade secrets is an emerging economic threat,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Together with our federal, state, local and private sector partners, we will lead the fight to protect technological innovation from criminal misappropriation.”
“The FBI is committed to identifying and prosecuting those who engage in illegal and deceptive practices to steal trade secrets and protected information from companies who spend millions of dollars to develop it,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “As the extent of these charges suggest, the FBI will not tolerate criminals that violate laws that protect companies and are in place to keep Americans safe.”
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each of the charges, upon conviction, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee.
Three Palm Beach County Men Charged with $3.6 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Three Palm Beach County residents have been charged with orchestrating a $3.6 million investment fraud scheme.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Ronald L. Rubin, Commissioner, Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR), made the announcement.
T. Jonathan Turner, a/k/a “Jon Barri Brothers,” 52, of Wellington, Florida, Norman M. Strell, 73, of Wellington, Florida and Scott P. Strochak, 57, of Boynton Beach, Florida were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 15 substantive wire fraud counts (Case No. 19-80073-CR-Rosenberg). Today, Turner was arraigned and Strell had his initial appearance.
According to allegations in the court record, including those contained in the indictment and previously filed criminal complaint, Turner was the Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operations Officer of Castleberry Financial Services Group. Castleberry falsely promoted itself to investors as “a leading Alternative Investments Manager” with a history of “deploying almost $800 million in capital across the balance sheets of leading local businesses.” In addition, contrary to its representation that it managed separate funds, Castleberry pooled investor funds in one bank account that was controlled by Turner and co-conspirator Strell. Turner, Strell and Strochak promoted the sale of Castleberry’s securities through materials and solicitations that falsely represented that the company’s investor proceeds were fully bonded and insured and would be invested in real estate and distressed businesses to generate profits from which investor returns would be paid. In addition, they lured individuals to invest money in Castleberry’s securities offerings by falsely touting Turner’s prior financial industry experience and educational achievements, while failing to disclose his prior felony convictions for fraud related offenses. In fact, Castleberry did not make any significant income generating investments. Instead, Turner and his co-conspirators misused and misappropriated investor funds to pay for their own personal expenses, transfer money into their own bank accounts, accounts of entities they controlled and those of family members.
The court record alleges that as a result of the fraudulent scheme, 15 investor victims lost more than $3.6 million.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a parallel civil enforcement action against Turner related to this scheme.
An indictment contains allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and OFR in this matter. She thanked the SEC Miami Regional Office for their assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Lothrop Morris.
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.
Three More Defendants Sentenced for Role in Drug Conspiracy Linked to Mexican Drug CartelRead 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 Max Paul Riestra, 42, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering, was sentenced to serve 216 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who handled the case, stated Riestra, a citizen of Mexico who was previously deported, utilized multiple names, including Carlos Alberto Riestra, Jesus Valdonado Castro, Jose Zamora, Jesus Ivan Riestra Delgado, in furtherance of the conspiracy. Between 2012 and March 2016, the defendant opened multiple bank accounts that were utilized by others to structure deposits from places around the United States, including Buffalo to California. Riestra and his co-conspirators, including co-defendants Jose Manuel Lua-Guizar, Gerardo Ballardo, Enrique Munoz, Pethrod Dunnigan, and Bryant Hudson, accounted for over $1,000,000 in structured deposits in Buffalo and over $10,000,000 in structured deposits nationwide during this timeframe. The defendant himself had over $1,500,000 in structured deposits made into accounts he controlled. The defendant also utilized multiple accounts to ship packages containing kilograms of cocaine from California to cities across the country including Buffalo, Denver, Chicago, and New York City
Riestra is one of seven defendants involved in an illegal narcotics operation stretching from Sinaloa, Mexico to Western New York. Law enforcement officers began investigating a sophisticated drug trafficking organization with ties to a Mexican drug cartel operating out of Los Angeles, California area in 2014. All seven defendants have been convicted in this case. Defendants Enrique Munoz and Jose Manuel Lua-Guizar were also recently sentenced to 63 months each. Co-defendants Gerardo Ballardo and Presiliano Garcia are the last defendants awaiting sentencing. Garcia was a Bank of America employee who opened multiple accounts for Riestra, and others.
“This case demonstrates that the activities of the Mexican cartel have a very real impact on the lives of individuals in our Western New York community,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “I think too often the thought is that their drug trafficking is simply the stuff of television and movies and is somehow removed from the ugliness that we too often see on the streets in our community. That is not the case, and this prosecution should serve as a reminder that this Office, with our law enforcement partners, will remain vigilant in doing all that we can to protect our community from the scourge that the cartel seeks to spread throughout our country.”
The sentencings are the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, New York Field Office. Additional assistance was provided by ICE-HSI in Los Angeles, California and Bank of America.
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Three Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging JOSE JESUS CAMACHO-JARAMILLO, age 29, of Mexico, AGUSTIN NUNEZ-LEONARDO, age 20, of Mexico, and Lorenzo OROCIO-Cruz, age 35, of Mexico, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.
If convicted of illegal reentry of a deported alien, CAMACHO-JARAMILLO, who was previously convicted of Unlawful Entry, deported twice, and then found in Johnston County; NUNEZ-LEONARDO, who was previously convicted of Unlawful Entry, deported three times, and then found in Wake County; and OROCIO-Cruz, who was previously convicted of Unlawful Entry, deported twice, and then found in Granville County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.
Texas Man Sentenced to 46 months for Threatening CommunicationsRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Diontre Lawayne Davis, 24, of Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced yesterday, to 46 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for threatening communications.
Davis previously admitted that, from August to October 2016, he posted death threats to a student at the University of Kentucky (UK), via Twitter. Law enforcement became aware of the threats; and in November 2017, Davis came to the UK campus armed with a concealed handgun. Due to the nature of the threats, UK evacuated the area until law enforcement confirmed the threat had been alleviated.
Under federal law, Davis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a term of three years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI; and Joe Monroe, University of Kentucky Chief of Police, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the University of Kentucky Police. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia T. Rieker.
Texas Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Orchestrating Chicago-to-Dayton Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Robert W. Stroud, 45, of Houston, Texas was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 years in prison for crimes related to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and violating supervised release from an earlier conviction.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the sentence handed down on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.
According to court documents, from between September 2016 and June 2017, Stroud conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute more than 15 kilograms of cocaine in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere. Among his acts, on June 15, 2017, Stroud coordinated with a supplier to obtain nearly five kilograms of cocaine near Chicago.
In furtherance of the scheme, co-defendant Jordan Smith drove from Dayton to Bolingbrook, Ill. on June 15, 2017, and thereafter met with the supplier at Stroud’s direction and with money provided by Stroud. Smith gave the money to the supplier, and in return Smith took possession of the roughly five kilograms of cocaine. Police seized the drugs a short time later when they conducted a traffic stop of Smith in Illinois.
Stroud committed this offense while serving a term of supervised release arising from a 2009 firearm conviction in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. His aggregate 12 year prison sentence is based upon an 11 year prison sentence for the new conspiracy offense, and one additional year for the supervised release violation. Judge Rice also imposed a $10,000 fine.
Co-defendants Jordan Smith and Kenneth Thompkins have also pleaded guilty in relation to this case and await sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation by the DEA, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Hunter and Andrew J. Hunt, who represent the United States in this case.
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Stilwell Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Dale Killer, age 35, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Felon In Possession Of Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The charges arose as a result from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Indictment alleged that on or about May 24, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a firearm which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal law enforcement partners are appreciative of the close working relationships we have with state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies serving in the Eastern District. As a result of those relationships we are given the opportunity to maximize our impact on the communities we serve by assisting those agencies with the shared mission to serve and protect.”The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
Somerset County Man Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Role in Medicare FraudRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for using the purported non-profit The Good Samaritans of America to defraud the Medicare Program of more than $430,000 by convincing hundreds of senior citizens to submit to genetic testing, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Seth Rehfuss, 44, of Somerset, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ann E. Thompson to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Judge Thompson imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Rehfuss admitted that he used The Good Samaritans of America to gain access to groups of senior citizens in various low-income senior citizen housing complexes and persuaded them to submit to genetic tests without any involvement of a health care professional. Contrary to what he told the senior citizens and staff at the housing complexes, Rehfuss was a sales representative for laboratories, a fact he concealed from his targets. In order to convince senior citizens to submit to genetic testing, Rehfuss used fear-based tactics during the presentations, including suggesting the senior citizens would be vulnerable to heart attacks, stroke, cancer and suicide if they did not have the genetic testing.
To get the tests authorized, Rehfuss used advertisements on Craigslist to recruit health care providers for the scheme. The health care providers were paid thousands of dollars per month by Rehfuss and others to sign their names to requisition forms authorizing testing for patients they never examined or had any interaction with. Rehfuss and his conspirators, Sheila Kahl and Kenneth Johnson, established email accounts, phone numbers, and made-up “office manager” names for the requisition forms that made it seem as though the health care providers were actually treating the patients being swabbed and would be evaluating the test results.
Rehfuss, Kahl, Johnson, and others caused the Medicare program to pay two clinical laboratories for the fraudulent test claims that the scheme generated. They obtained and divided more than $100,000 in commission payments from the laboratories.
Rehfuss and others were also actively working towards expanding the scheme outside of New Jersey into other states, including: Georgia, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Michigan, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Rehfuss to three years of supervised release, ordered him to pay restitution of $434,963 and forfeiture of $66,844.
Sheila Kahl, 47, of Ocean County, previously pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced May 13, 2019. Kenneth Johnson, 39, of Lorton, Virginia, pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced May 20, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey; and the Cape May County Department of Aging and Disability Services, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bernard J. Cooney, Sara F. Merin, and Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the Health Care & Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
Slidell Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Heroin Charges and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that KENNETH MARTIN, age 45, from Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday to (10) ten years in prison, followed by (6) six years of supervised release, for charges related to distribution of fentanyl and heroin, and firearms possession.
On October 18, 2018, MARTIN pled guilty to conspiring, from at least May 23, 2016, through August 2, 2017, to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl and 100 grams of heroin. MARTIN also pled guilty to seven counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl, to being a felon in possession of three firearms—a revolver, a semi-automatic pistol, and a shotgun—and to possessing those firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. The government charged MARTIN with a sentencing enhancement for his prior drug convictions.
According to court documents, the shotgun was found in a New Orleans East residence, which MARTIN used as a stash house, where agents also found over two ounces of heroin. The revolver was found at MARTIN’s home in Slidell, in a car that MARTIN had used to sell drugs. The semi-automatic pistol was found at a bar, where MARTIN also sold drugs, in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans.
For the drug charges and the felon-in-possession charge, Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown sentenced MARTIN was sentenced to five years in prison. For the charge of possessing of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, he was sentenced to another five years in prison, consecutive to his sentence for other counts.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.
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Sixth Defendant Sentenced in Holland-Area Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Jimmie "Peanut" Butler was sentenced on May 9, 2019, to 262 months’ incarceration followed by 10 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Five of his co-defendants had previously pled guilty to federal charges stemming from the distribution of heroin in the Holland, Michigan area. The conspiracy, which trafficked heroin from Chicago into the Holland area and the Upper Peninsula is linked to numerous overdoses and at least one death.
"In the face of the opioid epidemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office aggressively pursues those who poison our communities with heroin," said U.S. Attorney Birge. "This outcome is the result of the cooperation of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which have jointly worked to investigate, charge and incarcerate those who take advantage of addicts for profit and spread heroin addiction."
"The City of Holland has been significantly impacted with numerous overdoses and deaths as a result of the opioid epidemic," said Captain Rick Walters, Holland Department of Public Safety. "This case is an example of local, state, and federal agencies collaborating together to protect and serve our local community. The Holland community has been positively impacted by the joint effort of all those involved and is appreciative of the federal assistance received in this investigation and prosecution."
"The West Michigan Enforcement Team views the heroin and opioid epidemic as a high priority for our investigators," said D/F/Lt. Andy Fias, Michigan State Police – West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) Section Commander. "We utilize all tools available in fighting this epidemic. In the Butler case, we worked with our federal law enforcement partners to target this large drug trafficking organization that was plaguing the community with deadly drugs. Our collaboration again proved successful in holding those responsible accountable for their illegal trafficking."
Other members of the conspiracy were charged in an August 15, 2017 superseding indictment. The conspiracy spanned from as early as 2011 until July 2017, when the group was initially indicted. Each of the defendants has now been sentenced: Charles Oakley (156 months), Corey Gross (46 months), Jimmy Moore (33 months), Michael McKinley (24 months), and Monique Molina (24 months).
This matter was investigated by WEMET, the Holland Department of Public Safety, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sally J. Berens and Timothy VerHey prosecuted the case.
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Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An El Salvadorian man, who has a previous conviction for sexually assaulting a child, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States.
According to court documents, Julio Jimenez Garcia, 42, was deported at taxpayer expense in October 2008. Just one month later, Jimenez Garcia reentered the United States. In 2017, Jimenez Garcia was arrested by state police for sexually assaulting a five-year-old child on over 40 separate occasions. In April 2018, Jimenez Garcia pleaded guilty to the crime of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 15, and was sentenced to prison. He pleaded guilty to illegal reentry in this case in January 2019.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys La’Nese Clarke and Brianna Edgar 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-124.
Savannah woman indicted for money laundering conspiracyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah woman was charged with cashing out funds from other people’s retirement accounts that were diverted to her bank.
Karen Dickerson has been indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Money Laundering, Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business and Structuring, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The charges, upon conviction, carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the indictment, members of the conspiracy obtained unauthorized access to retirement savings accounts to make unauthorized wire transfers. Dickerson then coordinated with members of the conspiracy to have funds wired from those accounts into bank accounts that she controlled, and Dickerson would then withdraw the cash from her accounts.
“Retirees rightfully expect their hard-earned money to be available in their twilight years, and shouldn’t have to worry about thieves draining their accounts,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Our office will vigorously prosecute those who would seek fraudulent financial gain from others’ labors.”
“Technology has forever changed the way we do business, making everyday financial transactions a prime target for fraud,” said Glen Kessler, Savannah Resident Office Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service. “The Secret Service has taken a lead role in mitigating the threat of account takeovers and Business Email Compromise (BEC) investigations and one of our top priorities continues to be combating computer-related crimes perpetrated by domestic and international criminals that target the U.S. financial infrastructure.”
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service in coordination with Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier Cunningham, Section Chief, and Gary Purvis, Litigation Financial Analyst, with the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Steven H. Lee.
Saint Paul Man Sentenced to Prison After Firing A Shotgun at the Federal Reserve BankRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS WOOD, 43, to eight months of confinement after firing three shotgun rounds at the Federal Reserve Bank building in downtown Minneapolis. WOOD, who pleaded guilty on December 17, 2018, was sentenced before Chief Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on the night of July 21, 2018, during the Aquatennial Fireworks display, WOOD fired three shotgun “slugs” at the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) that caused more than $40,000 in property damage to the windows and the façade of the FRB. One of the slugs penetrated the triple-pane security windows and was later located in the ceiling of a seventh floor office of the FRB.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, WOOD fired the shots from a United States Postal Service (“USPS”) facility located directly across from the FRB. At the time of the shooting, WOOD was an employee of the USPS and had access to the facility and the secure parking structure from which he fired the shots. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted a search of WOOD’s residence and recovered a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, a .22 semiautomatic handgun with a loaded magazine, a Snake Slayer pistol, ammunition, and documents critical of the FRB.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS WOOD, 43
St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted:
- Possession of a firearm in a federal facility, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 8 months confinement
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Rowan County Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - A Salisbury resident was sentenced on May 9, 2019, in federal court in Greensboro, announced United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina.
The Honorable N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., sentenced Donald Tiberio ARMSTRONG, 38, of Salisbury, North Carolina, to a 120 month term of imprisonment on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. At the time of the offense, ARMSTRONG was on supervised release, and was found to be in violation of the release conditions. In addition to 120 months imprisonment on the firearm charge, ARMSTRONG was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment for the supervised release violation, to be served consecutively, and ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence. ARMSTRONG pleaded guilty in March 2018.
On August 29, 2017, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s department arranged for an undercover officer (“UC”) to purchase an ounce of methamphetamine from ARMSTRONG. During the course of the transaction, officers monitoring the audio of the deal heard ARMSTRONG tell the UC to “put your hands up.” ARMSTRONG had taken the UC’s 9mm handgun from the holster on his hip, and pointed it at the UC’s face. Suspecting that the UC was being robbed, the officers moved in to apprehend the suspects. As officers surrounded the vehicle ARMSTRONG dropped the 9mm handgun in the back seat area of the vehicle and the UC was able to regain possession of the firearm. A search of the vehicle and surrounding area led to recovery of all of the departmental funds utilized to make the purchase of methamphetamine.
Prior to this arrest, ARMSTRONG had been convicted of trafficking cocaine by possession. ARMSTRONG also has a federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and the Lenoir Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry M. Meinecke.
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Rochester Man Arrested, Charged with Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Sean R. Sullivan, 48, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendant was identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a child pornography investigation over a peer to peer network. On April 23, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Sullivan’s Twilight Drive residence in Rochester. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices including a Lancool Tower Desktop Computer, which contained 4 hard drives. A forensic examination of those hard drives revealed dozens of images and videos of child pornography.
Several of the images and videos are of a known victim (Minor Victim 1), who resided with the defendant for several years. The images appear to have been created by Sullivan and constitute child pornography. The complaint further indicates that the defendant likely drugged Minor Victim 1 to produce the images.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman and was detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Raleigh Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced RAYMOND GRIFFIN, 37, of Raleigh, North Carolina to 240 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a $35,000.00 fine, and ordered GRIFFIN to pay $2,159.00 in restitution.
GRIFFIN was named in an Indictment filed on March 28, 2018 charging him with bank robbery. On January 8, 2019, GRIFFIN was found guilty by a jury of that charge.
On August 29, 2017, GRIFFIN entered the Wells Fargo Bank in Raleigh with his face covered with a bandana. He approached a teller and yelled, “Give me all your money! Give me all your money, now!” Shortly thereafter, GRIFFIN jumped over the counter and stole $2,159.00 in United States currency, placing it in a plastic bag before fleeing on foot. One of the employees activated the silent alarm at that time. Officers with the Raleigh Police Department responded to the area and obtained a description of the man who had robbed the bank. Officers received information from a citizen nearby who saw a man fitting the bank robbers’ description walking on foot towards a neighborhood under construction.
A short time later an officer located GRIFFIN walking out of a portable toilet. GRIFFIN saw the officer and began to engage men at the construction site in conversation although they seemed confused by his presence. Law enforcement approached GRIFFIN and detained him. GRIFFIN had $2,159.00 on his person and law enforcement found clothing matching the clothing worn during the robbery in the portable toilet.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob Pugh and Charity Wilson.
Poteau Man Sentenced to 24 Months Probation, $5,000 Fine, $75,000 Forfeiture for Receipt of Misbranded Drugs and DevicesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donald Edward Brooks, age 61, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 2 years probation, a $5,000.00 fine, and forfeiture of $75,720.73 for Receipt In Interstate Commerce Of Misbranded Drugs And Devices, a misdemeanor violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 331(c) and 333(a)(1). The charges arose as a result from an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation.
The Information alleged that on or about December 4, 2013, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant, Donald Edward Brooks, received, and caused the receipt of, misbranded drugs and devices in interstate commerce, to wit: Xeomin, Restylane, and Juvederm; and delivered and proffered for delivery those misbranded drugs and devices for pay or otherwise.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Plattsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Niles O’Neil, age 28, of Plattsburgh, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his plea, O’Neil admitted that he possessed approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine that he was intending to distribute on April 3, 2018.
O’Neil faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on September 18, 2019. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.
Pittsburgh Man Admits Robbing Downtown Bank at Random to Support his Drug AddictionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -A former resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Jonathan Owens-El, 56, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count before Senior United States District Court Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on March 19, 2018, Owens-El entered Key Bank, Downtown Pittsburgh, with a blue knit scarf around his face and wearing gloves. Owens-El passed the teller a note that said, "No Dye, No Alarm 50’s, 20’s, 10’s". The teller handed him $260 in U.S. Currency along with $40 wrapped around a GPS tracker. Owens-El fled and police used the GPS device to locate him on a Port Authority Transit bus.
After boarding the bus, the officer noticed the defendant seated in the back with a blue scarf tucked under his leg. When the officer asked Owens-El to stand up, the officer saw U.S. Currency protruding from his left front pants pocket.
Owens-El agreed to an interview and admitted that he handed the teller a note demanding money. He stated that once he received the cash, he placed the money into a bag then walked towards Smithfield Street and boarded a PAT bus. Owens said he picked Key Bank at random and decided to rob the bank to support his drug addiction.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2019. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 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.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Owens-El remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Owens-El.