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Tuesday 5 March 2019
Puyallup Tribal Member Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Strangulation Assault on Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
A 20-year-old enrolled member of the Puyallup Tribe was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for assault by strangulation, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SHAWN MICHAEL SAM of Tacoma was indicted in November 2017 for an assault that occurred on the Swinomish Reservation on October 15, 2017. SAM punched and strangled his then-girlfriend to the point that she lost consciousness. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed the sentence.
According to records filed in the case, the victim suffered significant injuries including black eyes, tenderness, and swelling. After SAM strangled his victim, he continued to punch and hit her after she regained consciousness. Following his arrest for this assault, SAM was released with electronic monitoring. However, he cut the monitoring bracelet on May 2, 2018, and was ultimately located nearly four weeks later at his sister’s home in Tacoma. When law enforcement arrived, SAM ran from police but was taken into custody following a foot chase.
Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby wrote to the court, “We take these matters very seriously and we will not tolerate this behavior in our community. The Violence Against Women Act is important for our State and Nation and protects the most vulnerable in our communities. We support Judge Coughenour to uphold justice for the victims and support his decision.”
SAM pleaded guilty August 29, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Swinomish Police Department and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Cohen and J. Tate London. Ms. Cohen and Mr. London serve as Tribal Liaisons for the U.S. Attorney’s Office specially designated to prosecute cases involving Tribal communities.
Pleasants County man sentenced for firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Willard Lee Moss, Jr., of Saint Marys, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 27 months incarceration for a firearms violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Moss, age 38, was found guilty of one count of “Domestic Violence Offender in Possession of a Firearm” after a two-day trial in October 2018. Moss, having previously been convicted of two separate domestic violence offenses in Pleasants County, possessed one handgun, three rifles, and two shotguns in his home in February 2018.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, and the Pleasants County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Penn Hills Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Veryl Long, 29, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between October 2016 and March 2017, Long participated in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2019 at 11 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life, a fine of $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Long.
Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Tax CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Parkersburg, West Virginia man entered a guilty plea to Willful Failure to Pay a Tax Return, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Jeffrey Scott Dowler, 54, faces up to a year of incarceration, a $100,000 fine and an order of restitution to the United States Treasury for at least $20,818 when he is sentenced on June 5, 2019. Dowler further agrees to work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assist in the recovery of assets. Stuart praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Department of Justice Tax Division.
Dowler owned an insurance appraisal business from 2009 to 2014. During those years, he made sufficient income where he had the ability to pay taxes. In 2013, Dowler willfully did not pay at least $20,818 in personal income tax that he knew was due and owing to the United States Treasury. Dowler had the financial ability to pay this tax at that time and chose not to do so. He also failed to pay business and payroll taxes associated with his insurance appraisal business. Dowler agrees he owes at least $20,818 in taxes and possibly more. His total tax liability will be determined by the Court at sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. The hearing was conducted before United States Magistrate Judge Dwane L. Tinsley.
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Oxycodone Distributor Sentenced to 48 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that on March 1, 2019, Lance Bruette, (age 36) of Minocqua was sentenced in federal court to 48 months in prison for conspiring to distribute oxycodone. Bruette had previously pleaded guilty to this charge.
The investigation revealed that from 2013 through 2016, Bruette and his co-conspirators traveled from Oneida and Vilas Counties to Milwaukee to pick up at least 289,140 mg tablets of oxycodone and then sell them in northern Wisconsin. The investigation showed that Bruette was a leader in this conspiracy and directed co-conspirators when to pick up oxycodone and how much oxycodone to pick up. He also recruited accomplices to sell in particular geographic areas.
While sentencing Bruette, United States District Court Judge Lynn Adelman emphasized that the offense was particularly serious because the opioid epidemic has had such a dramatic impact in small, rural communities in Wisconsin, such as those in Oneida County and Vilas County. Bruette was the seventh and final defendant to be sentenced for conspiring to distribute oxycodone in this case. See United States v. Orvin Kay, Case No. 17-CR-16.
“The defendant’s greed led him to exploit countless individuals’ addictions to opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “This case shows that trafficking in pills is no less serious than trafficking in illicit opioids like heroin. We commend the outstanding collaboration by federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to shut down this illegal flow of opioids.”
The following agencies participated in the investigation: the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office; the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office; the Wisconsin Department of Justice—Division of Criminal Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration – Milwaukee (Tactical Diversion Squad); the Minocqua Police Department; the Rhinelander Police Department; and the Northcentral Drug Enforcement Group (“NORDEG”). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary J. Corey.
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Oregon U.S. Attorney's Office Collects Nearly $7 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2018Read the Press Release
PORTLAND—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that the District of Oregon collected $6,996,187 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2018. Of this amount, $5,085,876 was collected in criminal actions and $1,910,310 in civil actions.
As a whole, the Justice Department collected nearly $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2018. The FY 2018 collections are nearly seven times the appropriated $2.13 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices.
An example of the district’s collection efforts was U.S. v. Jumroon et al. On December 18, 2018, Paul Jumroon was sentenced to 37 months in prison for forced labor, visa fraud and filing false tax returns. Between 2011 and 2014, defendant Paul Jumroon and co-defendant Tanya Jumroon fraudulently obtained E-2 "investor" visas to bring Thai nationals into the United States to provide cheap labor at their restaurants in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and in Ridgefield, Washington. At sentencing, Paul Jumroon was ordered to pay more than $131,000 in restitution to his victims and more than $120,000 to the IRS. As part of his plea agreement, Jumroon also agreed to forfeit more than $80,000 in seized currency and gold bars and to a garnishment of more than $170,000 in retirement savings.
A second example is U.S. v. Hankins. In 2001, Anne Hankins pleaded guilty to bank fraud after submitting a false loan application for $350,000 to U.S. Bank Special Assets Group. Hankins was sentenced to 30 days in jail and, under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act, ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution to U.S. Bank. Between 2002 and 2013, Hankins made sporadic payments ranging from $50 to $400 monthly. By July 2013, Hankins had paid $13,044. In September 2013, Hankins and Horton & Associates LLC, a firm U.S. Bank had previously assigned its restitution interest to, agreed to settle the outstanding restitution for a mere $5,000. In April 2015, the Treasury Offset Program garnished $21,765 from Hankins, who had stopped making restitution payments after her purported agreement with Horton & Associates LLC. Displeased with the garnishment, Hankins filed a motion in the district court for full satisfaction of the restitution judgment. The district court denied the motion and Hankins appealed.
The government successfully argued on appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that restitution cannot be settled for less than the full amount ordered and that if a victim declines
receipt of restitution, the balance should be paid to the national Crime Victims Fund. The ruling resulted in a full restitution judgment of $331,995 from Hankins going directly to the Crime Victims Fund.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Education.
Oregon Man Sentenced for Depredation of Government Property in the Umatilla National ForestRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—John M. Wasson, 74, of Irrigon, Oregon, was sentenced today to five years’ probation including 60 days in a community corrections facility for misusing a mining claim on the North Fork of the John Day River in the Umatilla National Forest resulting in the depredation of government property. Wasson was also ordered to pay $28,817 in restitution.
"Like all Americans, Oregonians expect public lands to be protected from degradation and misuse. This defendant, over a series of years, treated Forest Service land as if it were his own, causing significant environmental damage," said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. "We take these crimes seriously and will continue to pursue those who violate our shared resources."
"Our wild and scenic rivers are special places that hold many values for our public, while providing habitat and resources for a variety of species and ecosystems," said Eric Watrud, Umatilla Forest Supervisor. "I’m thankful for the professional support from DOJ to hold people accountable that ignore the rules on our public lands. Our National Forests provide a wide array of resources and benefits, which our multiple use mission sustains through wise use and permitted activities."
According to court documents, Wasson was the claimant on the Slippery Rocks Mining Claim, an unpatented claim giving him possessory interest in the site for prospecting, mining or processing operations. Beginning in 2012, Wasson developed a personal interpretation of mining laws that permitted him to take any action on the claim that he believed to be reasonably incident to his mining. Over a period of years, despite court orders, misdemeanor convictions and the U.S. Forest Service officials’ repeated attempts to work with Wasson to bring his conduct into compliance, Wasson’s misuse of the claim grew more expansive and egregious.
By 2017, Forest Service officials observed that Wasson established a semi-permanent encampment on the claim, violating Forest Service regulations prohibiting occupancy for more than 14 days in a 30 day period without Forest Service authorization. Wasson’s camp included three tents, one with a foundation Wasson constructed of treated lumber, sand and gravel; a camper; a truck and a pop-up outhouse. Wasson had constructed a new road to the claim by driving through a riparian area, compacting soil and native vegetation. Additionally, Wasson created a walking path across the John Day River and used plastic sheeting to line a wing dam he made to hold water. The plastic lining was catching and holding juvenile steelhead, preventing them from accessing the flowing portion of the river.
The Forest Service paid a hazardous waste disposal company more than $19,000 to remove three quarters of a ton of contaminated soil, 90 gallons of vegetable oil, and quantities of pesticides, insecticides and rodenticides from the campsite.
Wasson was previously found guilty of one count of depredation of government property in a four-day jury trial ending on November 8, 2018.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service and prosecuted by Jennifer Martin and John Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Operation "Press Your Luck" Leads to Dozens of Arrests in Helena-West HelenaRead the Press Release
HELENA-WEST HELENA—The United States Marshals Service announced today an arrest operation targeting violence in the Delta. Operation “Press Your Luck” began this morning in Helena-West Helena, resulting in multiple cooperating law enforcement agencies arresting 44 suspects thus far in an ongoing investigation.
Operation “Press Your Luck, led by the United States Marshals Service (USMS), is designed to target fugitive gang members and other violent criminals wanted on arrest warrants for egregious violent criminal offenses. The goal of the operation is to provide communities in the Delta region with immediate relief from violent gang-related crime.
Fugitive task forces began Operation “Press Your Luck” early this morning by searching for more than 60 suspects, all of whom had outstanding arrest warrants for crimes including rape, murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, sex offenses, and other crimes. Authorities began a sweep of the area, concentrating their efforts in Phillips County and nearby locations including several targets in Arkansas County and Saint Francis County, as well as neighboring communities in Mississippi. The operation is ongoing and law enforcement will continue to seek additional wanted suspects, beyond those arrested today.
“Today’s arrests signify the presence of federal law enforcement in Helena-West Helena and the surrounding communities,” said Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “When local communities in our district reach out for help from federal authorities to stem the tide of violence, we will swiftly and forcefully respond. Criminals in the Delta now know that we will not tolerate their violence and disregard of the law.”
“We are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to address those wanted for crimes of violence and fleeing justice,” said Jay L. Tuck, Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “The Marshals’ collaborative efforts, through our fugitive task forces, place us in a unique position to arrest violent offenders and help make cities like Helena-West Helena safer.
“The citizens of this community and the entire Delta region should not be worried to sit on their porch, allow children to play in a park, or take a family walk. We will continue to assist these communities and take back the streets from gang members and violent offenders, paving a successful path for future generations.”
The USMS was assisted by several participating agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Agency; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Arkansas Department of Community Correction; Arkansas State Police; National Guard Counterdrug Aviation; and MEMS STAR Team.
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at
http://www.justice.gov/edarTwitter:
@EDARNEWSNurse Anesthetist Sentenced for Stealing Fentanyl at VA HospitalRead the Press Release
Madison, Wis. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Todd Mehrhoff, 49, Waunakee, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James Peterson to three years of probation for obtaining fentanyl by use of misrepresentation and fraud.
During the timeframe of the government’s investigation, Mehrhoff was employed at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and primarily participated in surgeries in the operating room. The hospital utilized a Med-Select system, which automated and monitored the distribution, management, and control of prescription medications, including fentanyl. As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Mehrhoff had access to the Med-Select system. Each individual user of the Med-Select system logged in by either entering their unique user ID number along with a PIN number or entering their unique ID number along with a fingerprint scan.
On December 19, 2017, Veteran Affairs police officers responded to a complaint of suspected drug diversion by Mehrhoff. Earlier that day, employees in an operating room found a fentanyl syringe that was left unattended on a medical cart. Staff within the operating room queried usage within the automatic dispensing cabinet and determined Mehrhoff had removed fentanyl earlier in the day and did not report its administration or destruction.
The subsequent investigation into Mehrhoff’s records revealed over 100 suspected diversions of fentanyl between August and December of 2017. Mehrhoff admitted obtaining fentanyl for personal use from the Med-Select system in the following situations: 1) when he was not on duty; 2) for patients he was not assigned to; 3) on days when no surgeries were scheduled; and 4) in amounts greater than would be typical for any operating room procedure.
The charges against Mehrhoff are the result of an investigation by the Veteran’s Affairs Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron D. Wegner.
Norwalk Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Federal Annuity BenefitsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SYBIL F. BUTLER, 56, of Norwalk, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to one count of theft of government funds.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Butler’s mother received monthly annuity payments following her retirement from the U.S. Postal Service. Butler’s mother died in June 2014. Between June 2014 and October 2016, Butler impersonated her mother in phone calls to the Office of Personnel Management, and also forged her mother’s signature on numerous documents indicating that her mother was alive. As a result, $71,701.13 in federal annuity benefits were deposited into Butler’s and her mother’s joint bank account after her mother’s death.
Butler was arrested on a criminal complaint on October 3, 2018. She is released on a $10,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not yet scheduled.
The charge of theft of government funds carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
This matter is being investigated by the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
Nigerian National Involved in Phishing Scheme that Targeted Connecticut Schools is SentencedRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that OLUKAYODE IBRAHIM LAWAL, 36, a citizen of Nigeria last residing in Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to approximately 10 months of imprisonment, time already served, for his role in a scheme to obtain the personal identifying information of school employees in Connecticut and elsewhere.
According to court documents and statements made in court, special agents from the FBI’s cybercrime squad in New Haven and the IRS have been investigating “phishing” emails that were sent to various school districts in Connecticut in 2017.
In March 2017, an employee of the Groton Public Schools received an email that appeared to be sent by another Groton school system employee. The email contained a request to send W-2 tax information for all employees of the school system. The recipient of the email responded by sending copies of the W-2 information for approximately 1,300 Groton Public Schools employees. After the W-2 information was emailed, approximately 100 suspicious Forms 1040 were filed electronically with the IRS in the names of victims of the Groton phishing scheme. The 100 tax returns claimed refunds totaling $491,737. Approximately three of the returns were processed, and $23,543 in fraudulently-obtained funds were electronically deposited into various bank accounts. The other returns were not processed because they were suspected of being fraudulent.
Lawal controlled or used certain email accounts involved in this phishing scheme. A co-conspirator of Lawal sent personal identifying information, including names and Social Security Numbers, of at least 10 employees to an email account that Lawal used. Lawal then sent the victims’ personal identifying information to another co-conspirator.
The investigation further revealed that in February 2017, in a related scheme, Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden was victimized by a phishing e-mail that requested W-2 forms for its employees. Approximately 103 employee W-2 forms were compromised as a result of the phishing e-mail. The IRS confirmed that 33 victims had fraudulent tax returns filed electronically with the IRS, claiming refunds in the amount of $314,184. The returns were not processed because they were suspected of being fraudulent.
Lawal entered the U.S. on a visitor’s visa on November 24, 2016, and failed to depart on his scheduled departure date of December 1, 2016. He has been detained since his arrest on May 9, 2018. On December 20, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Lawal, who is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be removed to Nigeria.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.
U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the FBI and IRS in Atlanta, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, for their valuable assistance in this matter.
Nigerian Man, extradited from Canada, Sentenced to 10 years for Obstruction of Justice in addition to an Existing 17 ½ Year Sentence for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on March 4, 2019, United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade, Northern District of Iowa, sentenced Michael Adefemi Adeyemo, a/k/a/ Adekunle Olufemi Adetiloye, age 47, a citizen of Nigeria and living in Canada when extradited to the United States, to serve 10 years in prison, which is the statutory maximum for obstruction of justice under 18 U.S.C. 1503(b)(3).
Previously, in 2012, Adeyemo, received a sentence of 17 ½ years in the District of North Dakota for a multi-million dollar fraud scheme that was conducted from Canada involving more than 20 banks in the United States. At that time, it was the largest credit card fraud suffered by US Bank and the Discover Card Bank in the history of those institutions.
Years after that sentencing, it was discovered that Adeyemo had taken many steps to conceal from law enforcement and the court his prior residency in the United States as a legal permanent resident, that he was licensed as an attorney in Nigeria, and that he was a fugitive with an outstanding federal warrant in California from 2001 for a similar fraud scheme. Following trial, the trial jury found Adeyemo guilty of concealing this evidence to reduce his earlier sentence.
In sentencing Adeyemo to 10 years’ imprisonment, District Judge Linda R. Reade stated that Adeyemo showed a “callous disregard of the laws of the United States.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been and will always be relentless in the pursuit of facts throughout a criminal investigation,” said Bill Hedrick, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes North Dakota. “Postal Inspectors know this and take great pride in their search to find the truth. Through the diligence of our Inspector and others in this case, we were able to bring the defendant to face justice for the full scope of his crimes,” said Hedrick. “We appreciate the dedicated effort of all those involved in this case, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Forensic Lab, and agents from Homeland Security Investigations.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nick Chase prosecuted the case.
New York Tax Return Preparer Found Guilty of Tax Crimes in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Springfield Gardens, New York, resident was convicted yesterday by a federal jury for conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and for two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Afolabi Ajelero, the owner of Mo-Betta Ventures Inc., a tax preparation business located in Springfield Gardens, New York, conspired with others to possess and use without lawful authority one or more means of identification of another person. He also filed false corporate income tax returns for the 2014 and 2015 tax years for his business.
Ajelero was acquitted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft counts.
Ajelero faces a maximum sentence of five years for the conspiracy conviction and a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false returns. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and monetary penalties.
On Feb. 15, 2019, co-defendant Hakeem Bamgbala pleaded guilty to 18 counts of wire fraud, 22 counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft, and one count of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. On July 31, 2018, co-defendant Michael Campbell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. A sentencing date has not been set for Bamgbala and Campbell.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Mark McDonald and Eric Powers of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A New Jersey man who was caught selling drugs near a school in West Huntington last September last year pled guilty today to a federal drug and gun charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Eric Moore Bellamy, 51, entered guilty pleas to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin within one-thousand feet of a school and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in federal court in Huntington. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Police Department.
“Bellamy’s den of drugs and guns was close to an elementary school and our precious children,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “I appreciate the great effort by law enforcement to get him off the streets. We will protect our children at all cost from the drug traffickers that cause so much pain in our communities. You can bet that if you are selling drugs near a school, we will charge you accordingly. Drug thugs that put our most vulnerable in harm’s way will be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.”
On September 12, 2018, after officers with the Huntington Police Department developed information that Bellamy was selling drugs in West Huntington, a search warrant was executed at his residence located at 1037 Madison Avenue. During the search, officers seized crack cocaine and heroin from a dresser in the residence. In a separate drawer of the same dresser containing the drugs, officers seized a loaded Springfield .45 caliber pistol, a loaded Ruger Model P85, 9mm pistol, and a loaded Imperial Metal, Model 9, .22 caliber revolver. Bellamy was arrested and admitted to officers that he possessed the drugs and firearms and that he had been selling both crack and heroin in the West Huntington area.
Bellamy’s residence is located within one-thousand feet of Grace Christian School, a private elementary and secondary school. Bellamy admitted at his plea hearing that he possessed the firearms to serve as protection based on his distribution of drugs. Bellamy was also prohibited from possessing firearms based on multiple prior felony convictions he received in the State of New Jersey.
Bellamy faces a mandatory minimum of 1 year up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charge, and a consecutive mandatory minimum of 5 years up to life in federal prison for the gun charge, when he is sentenced on June 17, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
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.
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New Jersey Man Convicted in Manhattan Federal Court of Three Counts in Connection with Theft of over $2 Million in Stock Certificates from Deceased Manhattan WomanRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the conviction yesterday of ROBERT MERLO, a New Jersey-based insurance agent who participated in a scheme to steal more than $2 million in stock certificates from the apartment of a deceased Manhattan woman, open a brokerage account in her name in order to liquidate the stocks, and then use those stolen assets to attempt to purchase over $2 million worth of gold coins, following a four-day trial before the Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “We are gratified that the jury reached a swift and just verdict in this case. The conduct of the defendant was the financial equivalent of grave-robbing.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “There are few things more disturbing than stealing from the deceased. The conviction of Robert Merlo is a welcome conclusion – one that highlights our resolve to defend the truly defenseless.”
As reflected in the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and evidence introduced at trial:
From approximately March 2016 to February 2017, MERLO engaged in a scheme with others known and unknown designed to steal over $2 million from a deceased Manhattan woman (the “Victim”). As part of the scheme, MERLO’s co-conspirators stole stock certificates valued at over $2 million from the Victim’s Manhattan apartment after the Victim’s death. In August 2016, MERLO agreed with others to make false representations to a financial institution (“Company-1”) in order to open a brokerage account (the “Account”) in the Victim’s name, deposit the stolen stock certificates into the Account, and sell the shares in the brokerage account, resulting in a cash balance of over $2 million. MERLO agreed to help launder the cash balance in the brokerage account, approaching several individuals to carry out his plan. MERLO and his co-conspirators then attempted to purchase $2 million in gold coins using the assets in the Account. MERLO and his co-conspirators met several times over the course of months and communicated using prepaid or “burner” phones regarding the fraudulent scheme.
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MERLO, 55, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was convicted of one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Sentencing before Judge Kaplan is scheduled for June 10, 2019.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia Vogel, Sarah Mortazavi, Dina McLeod, and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
Monongalia County residents indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brendan Regan Boddie and Amie Kristine Pritt, both of Morgantown, West Virginia, were indicted by a federal grand today firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Boddie, age 28, was indicted on one count of “Unlawful Transfer of Firearm to Prohibited Person” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearms by Person Convicted of Domestic Violence Crime.” Boddie, having previously been convicted of domestic violence, is accused of having two pistols, two rifles, and one shotgun between February and April 2018 in Monongalia County.
Pritt, age 34, was indicted on one count of “False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm” and one count of “Unlawful Transfer of Firearm to Prohibited Person.” Pritt is accused of purchasing a 9mm caliber pistol for Boddie, who is prohibited from having a firearm.
Boddie and Pritt each face up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Monmouth County, New Jersey, Pharmacist Admits Cashing Millions in Checks to Avoid Paying Income TaxesRead the Press Release
NEWARK – A licensed pharmacist from Monmouth County, New Jersey, today admitted cashing millions of dollars’ worth of his pharmacy’s checks to evade the payment of income taxes, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Ajay Barthwal, 43, of Morganville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit tax evasion in connection with income he received from Old Bridge Drugs & Surgicals (OBDS), a retail pharmacy in Old Bridge, New Jersey, during calendar years 2009 through 2011, that he failed to report on the income tax returns he filed for those years.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Barthwal and his wife claimed to be each 50 percent owners of OBDS. However, Barthwal was actually a one-third owner in OBDS, and two other individuals, Dilip Naik and Bhavesh Mistry, both of whom have previously pleaded guilty to related tax crimes, were each one-third owners and “silent partners.”
As a partnership, OBDS was required to file an IRS Form 1065 U.S. Partnership Income Tax Return. Income received by the business would flow through to the individual partners’ Individual Income Tax Return, IRS Forms 1040. As owners of OBDS, Barthwal, Naik and Mistry each were responsible for accurately reporting to the IRS their business income and respective personal incomes.
Barthwal admitted that from at least Jan. 1, 2009, through Nov. 5, 2012, he, Naik and Mistry all agreed to evade paying income taxes. He admitted that he, Naik and Mistry agreed to hide taxable revenue of $9,343,234, which OBDS had received, by submitting to the IRS tax returns that substantially under-reported the gross receipts of OBDS for calendar years 2009 through 2011.
Beginning in January 2009, Barthwal and Naik caused business receipts from OBDS to be cashed at a check cashier located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Barthwal then deposited only a portion of the OBDS business receipts into the OBDS operating account, and Barthwal, Naik and Mistry each received approximately one-third of the proceeds of the OBDS business receipts that were not deposited into the operating account.
In early 2009, Barthwal, Naik and Mistry agreed to hide the undeposited gross cash receipts from OBDS from the IRS. Barthwal admitted that he, Naik and Mistry failed to pay $4,114,102 in taxes that would have been due and owing to the IRS.
The count of conspiracy to commit tax evasion is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2019.U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah J. Gannett of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Frank Agostino Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
McAlester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gary Don Hicks, Sr., age 51, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Felon In Possession Of Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.
The Indictment alleges that in on or about January 8, 2019, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, a firearm which had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
Maryland Heights Woman Convicted of Embezzling from EmployerRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Wende Terrill, 48, of Maryland Heights, MO, was convicted by a jury today in U.S. District Court in St. Louis for one count of wire fraud. Terrill’s trial took place before U.S. District Court Judge Rodney Sippel and set a sentencing hearing for June 20, 2019.
According to testimony at trial, in 2017, Terrill was serving as Controller for Midwest Petroleum where she embezzled approximately $210,000. Terrill’s scheme involved a wire transfer and numerous checks fraudulently issued by her from company funds. The checks were then converted by her to cashier’s checks and written to “vendors” that had not actually performed any services for the company. Terrill concealed her scheme through manipulation of internal company records and false representations to co-workers. Some of the funds were traced overseas, but the ultimate end recipients were unable to be determined.
"Not all criminals wear a mask and point a gun," said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. "In this case, Wende Terrill was a beloved long-time employee who abused that trust to embezzle more than $200,000 from a family-owned business."
Terrill faces a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 or both. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Gwen Carroll and Lindsay McClure-Hartman.
Marcus Danner Sentenced to 352 Months Imprisonment as Leader of an Armed Robbery Crew and Member of a Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Marcus Danner a/k/a "Poncho", 39, was sentenced to 352 months imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, the possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and aiding and abetting an attempted robbery. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Danner was the leader of an armed robbery crew located in Memphis. On January 9, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count third superseding indictment against Danner and four others. This indictment followed a four-month investigation involving agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well as other federal and local agencies, in which Danner and his co-defendants were alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to rob drug dealers in Memphis. During the investigation, agents seized multiple firearms; approximately $2,000 in U.S. currency; and approximately 28 grams of crack cocaine.
Following his guilty plea to the above charges, the proof presented at sentencing showed that Danner, organized three indicted co-defendants to participate in an attempted armed robbery of a drug trafficker in January, 2018, where the mother of the drug trafficker was beaten and shot in the chest for his role in the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute between 5 and 15 kilograms of cocaine. Danner has an extensive history of multiple prior violent and drug felony convictions, including Solicitation of Aggravated Robbery, Robbery, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, and Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
On March 1, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Danner to 352 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Armed Robbery crews made up of violent felons will NOT continue to terrorize and endanger our communities in West Tennessee with impunity. We use all available law enforcement and prosecutorial resources to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle groups and conspiracies that are most responsible for violence and drug dealing, and to remove dangerous offenders with firearms from our streets. I commend the great investigative work of ATF and our local partners in neutralizing this violent recidivist and his crew of trigger-pullers and traffickers."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson stated, "ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement and community partners every day in our ongoing priority to reduce violent crime. ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence leverages technology that ultimately disrupts the shooting cycle that negatively impacts our neighborhoods."
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Memphis Police Department, Multi Agency Gang Unit (MGU), and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry Kitchen and Gregory Allen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Malden Man Sentenced for Defrauding EmployerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud his employer, a large facilities services company with offices in the Greater Boston area.
Lou Amaral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release, and restitution to be determined at a later date. In July 2018, Amaral pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion. Co-defendant Vence Pires, 58, also of Malden, was sentenced on Feb. 28, 2019, to one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Amaral and Pires worked for the same facilities services company in the Greater Boston area. Amaral was the supervisor of the Special Services Department, and as such, he had the ability to hire employees and to contract with third-parties to provide temporary labor. Pires was an account manager who worked for Amaral in Special Services. Amaral first began taking bribes from a temporary labor company in order to steer contracts to that company. In 2014, Amaral opened up his own temporary labor company and, with the help of Pires, awarded himself the temporary labor contracts. Through this scheme, Amaral made approximately $10 million in revenue over a three-year period, resulting in a net gain to him of approximately $2 million.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Lewiston Man Sentenced to over Five Years for Furanyl Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nera James, also known as “King,” 39, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 67 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute furanyl fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. James pled guilty on May 30, 2018.
Court records reveal that on December 20, 2016, and May 3, 2017, state and local law enforcement agencies seized distributable quantities of furanyl fentanyl from James and his Lewiston apartment, respectively. The latter search resulted in the seizure of about 601 “tickets” (dosage units) of furanyl fentanyl, $9,863, and three firearms.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Lewiston and Auburn Police Departments; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Central Maine Violent Crimes Task Force; and was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Assaulting A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who was convicted by a jury for using his car as a dangerous weapon as he attempted to flee from law enforcement officers was sentenced today to 92 months in prison and three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada.
Brian Keith Wright, aka “Calione,” 34, was found guilty following a two-day trial in August 2018, of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, assault on a federal officer with intent to commit another felony, and assault on a federal officer. In sentencing Wright, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey stated that the 92-month sentence was necessary because of the defendant’s “flagrant disrespect for the law” and the safety of the community.
In February 2016, Wright was placed on federal supervised release as part of his sentence arising from a separate felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In February 2017, members of the FBI’s Las Vegas Safe Streets Task Force attempted to execute an arrest warrant issued by a federal judge for alleged violations of Wright’s supervised release conditions along with a state search warrant for Wright’s residence. Upon arriving at the residence, law enforcement knocked and announced their presence. Wright failed to open the door causing law enforcement to force entry into the house. As they were doing so, Wright attempted to flee the residence in his BMW sedan by pulling out of the garage in an erratic manner. Seeing that his escape route was partially blocked by an officer’s vehicle, Wright continued to reverse his vehicle until he struck the officer’s car, causing the officer to quickly move out of the way to avoid being struck. Wright initially refused to comply with officers’ commands to stop and exit his vehicle after he was surrounded by task force members with their weapons drawn. After finally complying with the officers’ commands, Wright was arrested.
The case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadia Ahmed and Alexandra Michael prosecuted the case.
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Lake County Man Indicted for Tax Evasion and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Douglas V. Oakes (60, Bella Collina) with one count of tax evasion and six counts of making false and fraudulent statements on tax returns. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison on the tax evasion count and up to three years’ imprisonment on each of the false statement counts.
According to the
indictment , in 2015, in order to evade the payment of his income taxes for 2002 to 2005, Oakes falsely represented to the IRS that he was not employed or self-employed, earned no income, and that he did not have a financial interest in any business entities. In fact, Oakes was the CEO of Dealerindustry.com, LLC (“DI”) d/b/a Automotive Capital Corporation, a company in which he had a substantial financial interest. To conceal from the IRS his financial interest in DI, Oakes registered his daughters and others as DI’s managing members with the Florida Department of State, removed his name and title from DI’s website and from the website LinkedIn, and caused false DI ownership documents to be created, signed, and backdated. Between 2015 and 2018, Oakes further attempted to conceal his assets from the IRS by purchasing a beachfront home in Merritt Island in the name of a nominee, causing false DI ownership documents to be created, signed, and backdated, and having tax returns prepared for his deceased daughter in which DI’s income was falsely claimed to be his daughter’s income.The indictment further charges that in September 2015, Oakes submitted fraudulent tax returns to the IRS for the 2009 to 2014 tax years, each of which falsely claimed that he had no tax due and owing. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation estimates that Oakes’s actions resulted in approximately $1.1 million of tax losses.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted War Criminal Who Fraudulently Obtained Refugee Status and U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On March 1, Judge Marco A. Hernandez of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon entered an order revoking the naturalized U.S. citizenship of a convicted war criminal. The court held that defendant Sammy Rasema Yetisen aka Rasema Handanovic aka Zolja, a native of the former Yugoslavia, illegally procured her U.S. citizenship. The court’s order was based on its finding that Yetisen lacked the good moral character required to naturalize because she had executed six unarmed civilians and prisoners of war during the 1990s Balkans Conflicts because of their religion and ethnicity. She later concealed her crimes to procure refugee status and U.S. citizenship in the United States.
"War criminals will find no safe haven in the United States," said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. "The Justice Department will continue to prosecute those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship and willfully abuse our refugee program."
"Sammy Rasema Yetisen’s denaturalization is yet another example of the Justice Department’s enduring commitment to ensuring war criminals find no sanctuary in our country," said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. "The long passage of time will neither shelter nor immunize those who have defrauded the United States by concealing such heinous crimes."
Yetisen, 46, was part of an elite unit of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that attacked the village of Trusina in April 1993, in what is known as the Trusina massacre. The unit targeted Bosnian Croats who resided in the village because of their Christian religion and Croat ethnicity, killing 22 unarmed individuals including women and the elderly. Yetisen played a key role in the massacre, serving as part of a firing squad that lined up and executed six unarmed prisoners of war and civilians. Yetisen was admitted to the United States as a refugee before naturalizing in 2002. In her naturalization application, Yetisen indicated that she had never had any military service "in the United States or in any other place."
In April 2012, Yetisen was convicted in a Bosnian court pursuant to a guilty plea of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians based on the firing squad execution-style killings. In exchange for her plea and cooperation, Yetisen was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. Upon her release from prison, Yetisen returned to the United States and resides in Oregon. The Justice Department previously secured the denaturalization of Edin Dzeko, one of Yetisen’s fellow soldiers and another perpetrator of the Trusina massacre.
Before their war crimes had come to light, Dzeko and Yetisen each requested and received refugee status from the United States, claiming themselves to be victims of persecution. Dzeko and Yetisen concealed and affirmatively misrepresented their criminal history, military service, and persecutory acts throughout their immigration proceedings. Such benefits would have been denied had immigration authorities known about their roles in the Trusina massacre.
"This case exemplifies the work of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. We will use all available resources, collaborate with all possible partners and explore all mechanisms of the law to bring these cases of horrendous human rights violations to justice," said Mark Shaffer, Chief of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. "Our inter-disciplinary, inter-agency team continues to delve into the human rights abuses that occurred in the former Yugoslavia and around the world, and we will not rest until we are certain that the United States does not serve as a safe haven for those who would commit such abuses."
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Center and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS) National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit), with consultation and support from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Seattle Office of the Chief Counsel, and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
The case was jointly prosecuted by Chief Timothy Belsan and Senior Counsel for National Security Aram Gavoor of OIL-DCS’s NS/A Unit and Trial Attorney Steven Platt of OIL-DCS, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Schweiner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals or naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged to call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form; or the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section at 1-202-616-2492. Callers may remain anonymous.
Justice Department Secures Denaturalization of Convicted War Criminal Who Fraudulently Obtained Refugee Status and U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
On March 1, Judge Marco A. Hernandez of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon entered an order revoking the naturalized U.S. citizenship of a convicted war criminal. The court held that defendant Sammy Rasema Yetisen aka Rasema Handanovic aka Zolja, a native of the former Yugoslavia, illegally procured her U.S. citizenship. The court’s order was based on its finding that Yetisen lacked the good moral character required to naturalize because she had executed six unarmed civilians and prisoners of war during the 1990s Balkans Conflicts because of their religion and ethnicity. She later concealed her crimes to procure refugee status and U.S. citizenship in the United States.
“War criminals will find no safe haven in the United States,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship and willfully abuse our refugee program.”
“Sammy Rasema Yetisen’s denaturalization is yet another example of the Justice Department’s enduring commitment to ensuring war criminals find no sanctuary in our country,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “The long passage of time will neither shelter nor immunize those who have defrauded the United States by concealing such heinous crimes.”
Yetisen, 46, was part of an elite unit of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that attacked the village of Trusina in April 1993, in what is known as the Trusina massacre. The unit targeted Bosnian Croats who resided in the village because of their Christian religion and Croat ethnicity, killing 22 unarmed individuals including women and the elderly. Yetisen played a key role in the massacre, serving as part of a firing squad that lined up and executed six unarmed prisoners of war and civilians. Yetisen was admitted to the United States as a refugee before naturalizing in 2002. In her naturalization application, Yetisen indicated that she had never had any military service “in the United States or in any other place.”
In April 2012, Yetisen was convicted in a Bosnian court pursuant to a guilty plea of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians based on the firing squad execution-style killings. In exchange for her plea and cooperation, Yetisen was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. Upon her release from prison, Yetisen returned to the United States and resides in Oregon. The Justice Department previously secured the denaturalization of Edin Dzeko, one of Yetisen’s fellow soldiers and another perpetrator of the Trusina massacre.
Before their war crimes had come to light, Dzeko and Yetisen each requested and received refugee status from the United States, claiming themselves to be victims of persecution. Dzeko and Yetisen concealed and affirmatively misrepresented their criminal history, military service, and persecutory acts throughout their immigration proceedings. Such benefits would have been denied had immigration authorities known about their roles in the Trusina massacre.
“This case exemplifies the work of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. We will use all available resources, collaborate with all possible partners and explore all mechanisms of the law to bring these cases of horrendous human rights violations to justice,” said Mark Shaffer, Chief of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. “Our inter-disciplinary, inter-agency team continues to delve into the human rights abuses that occurred in the former Yugoslavia and around the world, and we will not rest until we are certain that the United States does not serve as a safe haven for those who would commit such abuses.”
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Center and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS) National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit), with consultation and support from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Seattle Office of the Chief Counsel, and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
The case was jointly prosecuted by Chief Timothy Belsan and Senior Counsel for National Security Aram Gavoor of OIL-DCS’s NS/A Unit and Trial Attorney Steven Platt of OIL-DCS, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Schweiner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals or naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged to call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form; or the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section at 1-202-616-2492. Callers may remain anonymous.
Jury Convicts Springfield Man of Assaulting Secret Service AgentRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A jury has convicted Ronald E. Skelton II, 23, of Springfield, of assaulting a federal agent and assaulting a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy assisting the federal agent.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Yvonne DiCristiforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, and Clark County Sheriff Deborah K. Burchett announced the verdict reached yesterday evening following a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.
According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, agents with the United States Secret Service and a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy visited Skelton’s home in March 2015 to interview Skelton regarding posts he made on social media that were perceived as threatening physical harm toward the President of the United States.
Law enforcement had earlier received a call stating Skelton had posted threats on Twitter. A review of Skelton’s Twitter revealed messages saying, in part, “After @BarackObama and @HillaryClinton are cooked Heading over to @JebBush to kill him and daddy” and “After I chop up @BarackObama, remember, @HillaryClinton, My ginsu is coming for YOU!”
Skelton had also posted graphic threats on social media about killing police officers and their children.
Specifically, he tweeted, “I ain’t gonna cause a great big scene or anything #Police #Cops #LawEnforcement If you wish to die Please Step Foot on my land No probs” and “I’m tired of you #Terrorist rat bastards getting away #Police #Cops #LawEnforcement And I’m done You can get a #2ndAmendment to the skull”.
Law enforcement officials approached Skelton in front his home during the March 2015 visit and identified themselves, showing their credentials. As they attempted to speak to Skelton, he began yelling anti-government comments and became defiant and belligerent.
The Sheriff’s deputy approached Skelton so he could be checked for weapons. At that point, Skelton swung and struck the deputy in the head and stuck one the Secret Service agents in the face, breaking the agent’s nose and requiring surgery.
A grand jury indicted Skelton in March 2015. Skelton agreed to plead guilty to the charges in January 2016 but was later permitted to withdraw his guilty plea. At trial, the jury rejected Skelton’s claim that he was insane at the time of the offenses.
“Secret Service agents provide physical protection to our nation’s highest elected leaders,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “Working together with local law enforcement, they run down, assess, and defuse potential threats virtually every day. It’s a dangerous job, and we have their backs. Yesterday’s jury verdict vindicates the need to provide whatever protection we can to the men and women who protect us.”
Assaulting a federal agent and inflicting bodily injury is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Assaulting a law enforcement officer who is assisting a federal agent carries a potential maximum of eight years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the Secret Service and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Hunt and Dominick S. Gerace, who are representing the United States in this case.
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Juan Pablo Sanchez-Delgado Pleads Guilty to a Conspiracy to Harbor AliensRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Juan Pablo Sanchez-Delgado, 40, of Mexico, entered a plea of guilty today to conspiring to harbor aliens. The guilty plea was entered in Lincoln, Nebraska, before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl R. Zwart. Sentencing was scheduled before Chief Judge John M. Gerrard on May 31, 2019, at 11 a.m. in Lincoln. Conspiring to harbor aliens, when done for financial gain, is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Sanchez-Delgado agreed to forfeit four residences in Las Vegas, Nevada, with more than $1,000,000 in equity. He will further forfeit bank accounts and cash totaling more than $178,000. The real estate and cash were proceeds of the harboring conspiracy.
Sanchez-Delgado admitted that between January 2015 and July 2017, he conspired with supervisors at multiple agricultural corporations to supply those companies with alien workers who were not authorized to work or remain in the United States. The corporations contracted with Sanchez-Delgado in an attempt to avoid criminal responsibilities for labor violations. Sanchez-Delgado, an alien himself, provided hundreds of illegal workers.
Sanchez-Delgado was paid by the companies. He also took money from the alien workforce by purporting to withhold state and federal employment taxes and converted this money to his own use. The aliens were also required to cash their paychecks at one of Sanchez-Delgado’s businesses and pay a $50 to $75 check cashing fee. Sanchez-Delgado generated approximately $5,648,519 through this scheme.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Inmate indicted on assault chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Daivon Duren, an inmate at FCI Hazleton Federal Correctional Institution in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand today on an assault charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Duren, age 32, was indicted on one count of “Assault of a correctional Officer Involving Physical Contact.” Duren is accused of assaulting a corrections officer while on duty in November 2018 in Preston County.
Duren faces up to eight years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Injunction Sought to Prohibit Illegal Radio Station from Broadcasting in WorcesterRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States filed a civil action to prevent an unlicensed radio station from operating in Worcester.
According to the complaint, Vasco Oburoni and Christian Praise International Church have been operating a radio broadcast station in Worcester, on frequency 97.1 MHz, without a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The complaint alleges that Oburoni and the Church previously operated an unlicensed radio station on frequency 102.3 MHz.
The FCC issued multiple warnings to the illegal operators and issued a forfeiture order in the amount of $15,000 against Oburoni for repeated violation of the Communications Act of 1934. Oburoni agreed to a payment plan, but later began broadcasting again without a license on a different frequency. The FCC has received complaints, including from a licensed broadcaster, that the unlicensed station is interfering with radio signals.
“It is a potential hazard to public safety for pirate radio stations to broadcast illegally and interfere with critical radio communication,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Like any member of the community, the operators of these illegal stations could have applied for radio licenses and operated their stations in compliance with the law. When they choose to operate illegally, and continue those operations after being warned multiple times, action must be taken.”
“This groundbreaking step, for an injunction to stop a pirate radio operator’s illegal activities, is part of our continued efforts to combat illegal broadcasting,” said Rosemary Harold, Chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. “As we work with our law enforcement colleagues to use every tool in our toolbox to combat pirate radio, I welcome the Justice Department's renewed use of its Section 401(a) injunction authority. Along with fines, equipment seizures, and warnings, this action underlines our continued interest in combatting this serious problem. We sincerely thank the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office and commend the outstanding work of our hardworking FCC Field agents.”
The Communications Act of 1934 prohibits the operation of radio broadcasting equipment above certain low-intensity thresholds without a license issued by the FCC. The Act authorizes the Department of Justice, at the request of the FCC, to seek an injunction ordering compliance with the Communications Act against operators broadcasting without an FCC license. The number of available radio frequencies is limited, and unlicensed broadcasting can interfere with the broadcasting of legitimate licensed radio stations, potentially causing chaos in the radio spectrum.
U.S. Attorney Lelling and FCC Enforcement Chief Harold made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head of Lelling’s Asset Recovery Unit is handling the matter.
Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Loaded HandgunsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OSHANE ELLIS, 26, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing two loaded firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 5, 2018, at approximately 10:15 pm, Hartford Police officers responded to a report that a man named “Oshane” was waving a gun in the air and threatening to kick a woman’s apartment door down. Ellis was found in the vicinity sitting in a car. A search of the car revealed a loaded .357 caliber revolver and a loaded Glock 21, .45 caliber pistol. The .357 caliber revolver had been reported stolen from a Hartford residence in June 2018.
Ellis’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for burglary and larceny offenses, and was on special parole at the time he possessed the two firearms.
Ellis has been detained in state custody since his arrest on August 5, 2018, and he is currently serving a state sentence for violating his parole. Ellis’s state sentence is scheduled to expire in August 2022.
On November 26, 2018, Ellis pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Hartford Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.
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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Harrison County woman indicted on firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stormey Angel Lois-Hite, of Anmoore, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand today on firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Lois-Hite, age 25, was indicted on one count of “Unlawful Transfer of Firearm to Prohibited Person” and one count of “False Statement to Federal Agent.” Lois-Hite is accused of purchasing a .22 caliber pistol for a convicted felon and lying to federal agents about it. The crimes allegedly took place in January 2018 in Harrison County.
Lois-Hite faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the unlawful transfer count and faces up to 5 years incarceration and fine of up to $250,000 for the false statement count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Two Prior DeportationsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being twice deported was sentenced today to almost four months in federal prison.
Pedro Matom-Matom, age 31, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 2, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Matom-Matom admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in April 2006 and November 2014 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Matom-Matom was found by immigration agents in October 2018 after he was charged in Linn County, Iowa, with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. That case is still pending.
Matom-Matom was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C. J. Williams. Matom-Matom was sentenced to 113 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Matom-Matom is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-112. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fulton Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Fulton, Missouri man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in firing shots at law enforcement officers and other motorists during a high-speed pursuit by law enforcement.
Russell Dean Moore, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 30 years in federal prison without parole.
On December 13, 2018, Moore plead guilty to one count of the destruction of a motor vehicle (a USF Holland, Inc., semi-tractor trailer), a second count of the destruction of a motor vehicle (a DCE Transportation, Inc., semi-tractor trailer), one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of knowingly possessing a stolen firearm, all alleged in an April 21, 2016, federal indictment.
Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a Columbia, Mo., residence on the afternoon of April 6, 2016, for a stolen vehicle complaint. A woman told deputies that her 2007 Jeep, as well as firearms and other items, had been stolen from her residence. Among the items stolen was a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
At 2:44 a.m. the following morning, a sergeant with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department spotted the stolen Jeep in the parking lot of Midway Travel Center, 6401 E. Hwy. 40, Columbia. The sergeant drove over to the Jeep, which appear to be unoccupied, got out of his vehicle and walked towards the Jeep. As he did so, a woman appeared in the front passenger seat. She moved to the driver’s seat and drove away, stopping in the parking lot to allow Moore to get in the front passenger seat.
The sergeant pursued the Jeep with his emergency lights active. The Jeep turned onto Highway 40 and, as it was crossing Interstate 70, Moore shot at the sergeant multiple times. The Jeep turned onto Highway UU and stopped at the intersection of Sugar Creek Road. The sergeant saw Moore exit the Jeep and started shooting at him. Moore got back into the Jeep and the pursuit continued.
After the sergeant’s patrol vehicle was struck by at least one bullet, disabling it, other officers continued the pursuit of the stolen Jeep into the southern part of Columbia. The chase eventually moved onto Interstate 70 East, where officers continued to pursue the stolen Jeep into Callaway County. Throughout the pursuit, multiple shots were fired from the Jeep at various officers. Shots were also fired from the Jeep at four semi-trailer trucks traveling on Interstate 70, nearly striking one of the drivers.
The Jeep ran out of gas on County Road 172 in Callaway County and the occupants of the Jeep were arrested.
Moore told investigators that his intent when shooting at semi-trailer trucks on Interstate 70 East was to cause a serious accident, which would terminate the officers’ pursuit and aid in their escape. Two tractor trailers were shot during the pursuit. One of the drivers stopped his vehicle and discovered that his cab was damaged, and there was a 9mm bullet lodged behind the driver’s seat. Another driver told investigators he heard a pop and his truck engine began smoking and overheated. He pulled into a rest stop and called his employer. There was a hole in his tractor grill and the radiator, air cooler and condenser were damaged.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Fresno Resident Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Ricardo Rios-Angulo, aka Ricardo Perez-Lopez, was sentenced today to 220 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, United States District Judge.
Rios-Angulo, 33, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to the charges on June 19, 2018. At his change of plea hearing, Rios-Angulo admitted that on three occasions between May 2016 and April 2017, he conspired with others to sell over 21 pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential informant working for the DEA. The purchased substances later were tested and contained approximately 8,842.3 grams of 100% pure “crystal meth” (d-methamphetamine hydrochloride). During searches of Rios-Angulo’s two residences in Fresno, DEA agents found cocaine, heroin, and additional methamphetamine. In total, Rios-Angulo possessed over 12,875 grams of 100% pure “crystal meth,” over 107 grams of cocaine, and over 1 gram of heroin. Agents also found a Cobra .380 caliber handgun, a loaded Springfield Armory 1911 .38 caliber handgun, an AR-style assault rifle without a serial number with two high-capacity magazines, and various ammunition, including .380 caliber, .38 caliber, and .32 caliber bullets.
On May 4, 2017, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Rios-Angulo with three counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. Rios-Angulo pleaded guilty to all six counts.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release. Rios-Angulo has been in custody since his arrest and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Rios-Angulo’s co-defendant Sergio Antonio Padilla-Lopez also pleaded guilty today. Judge Freeman scheduled Padilla-Lopez’s sentencing hearing for June 18, 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Simeon prosecuted the case with the assistance of Tong Zhang. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA.
Four Charged in Connection with Drug Activity at 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4, Brattleboro, VermontRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 28, 2019, Francis Macie, Linda Wainwright, Desiree Wells-Cooper, and Juan A. Sanchez, Jr., all of Brattleboro, were arrested and charged with violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act in connection with drug activity at 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4, in Brattleboro, Vermont.
According to Court records, from in or about December 2018 through in or about February 2019, Francis Macie rented, used, and maintained 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4, in Brattleboro, Vermont for the purpose of distributing and using controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. On December 28, 2018, law enforcement officers searched the residence at 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4 and seized over 200 grams of cocaine base, approximately 70 Oxycodone/Morphine pills, and firearms and ammunition, among other things. On February 15 and 25, 2019, the Vermont State Police Vermont Drug Task Force, assisted by a confidential informant, purchased fentanyl from Desiree Wells-Cooper. Both purchases took place at 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4. On February 20 and 22, 2019, the Vermont State Police Vermont Drug Task Force, assisted by a confidential informant, purchased heroin from Denise Wainwright. Both purchases took place at 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4. On February 28, 2019, law enforcement officers executed another search warrant at 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4, leading to the arrests of Macie, Wells-Cooper, and Wainwright. Also inside the residence was Juan A. Sanchez, Jr., who was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Macie is charged with renting, using, and maintaining 33 Oak Street, Apt. #4 for the purpose of using and distributing controlled substances. Wells-Cooper and Wainwright are charged with distributing controlled substances.
The case is being investigated by the Vermont State Police Vermont Drug Task Force, the Brattleboro Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The defendants made their initial appearances on February 28 and March 1, 2019 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy. Macie, Wells-Cooper, and Sanchez, Jr. were ordered detained. Wainwright is scheduled for a detention hearing on March 6, 2019.
If convicted, Macie, Wainwright, Wells-Cooper, and Sanchez, Jr. each face up to twenty years of imprisonment on each charge. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges contained in the complaints are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and John J. Boscia. Francis Macie is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau. Linda Wainwright is represented by Ernest Allen. Desiree Wells-Cooper is represented by Mark Oettinger. Juan A. Sanchez, Jr. is represented by Karen Shingler.
Former Oregon State University Student Sentenced for Threatening Campus ShootingRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—Christopher Adam Strahan, 33, of Corvallis, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to threatening a campus shooting and was sentenced to time served in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on February 27, 2018, the Director of Public Safety for Oregon State University (OSU) was notified of Twitter posts threatening a campus shooting at OSU. A request to Twitter revealed the account in question, "Hard Belly Dorm," was owned by Strahan. A detective from Oregon State Police (OSP) positively identified Strahan from the account’s profile photo. The detective was familiar with Strahan from an investigation in February 2017 for similar threats to OSU.
Later on February 27, a 911 tip produced a possible residential address for Strahan. OSP and FBI responded to the address in an attempt to locate him. While at the address, Strahan arrived in his own vehicle, was arrested and transported to the Benton County Jail.
Strahan was held in the Benton County Jail from February 27 until he was ordered detained pending trial in federal court and transferred to FCI Sheridan on March 27, 2018.
As a condition of Strahan’s supervised release, he is prohibited from contacting or entering the property of Oregon State University or the Linn Benton Community College.
Strahan was previously convicted in Benton County Circuit Court of second degree disorderly conduct for Twitter threats made in February 2017. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail, civilly committed to the state mental hospital for six months and ordered to pay $438.
This case was investigated by OSP, the Corvallis Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Amy Potter, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Former Bank Tellers Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay Back $1.6 Million to the Peoples Bank in EatontonRead the Press Release
MACON – Two former bank tellers were sentenced today to prison and ordered to pay more than $1.6 million dollars to the institution they defrauded, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Vicky Martin, 60, of Buckhead (Morgan County), and Brandy Mize, 42, of Eatonton, pled guilty in December to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud a Financial Institution. The Honorable Tillman E. “Tripp” Self sentenced Ms. Martin to 21 months imprisonment and Ms. Mize to 41 months imprisonment, five years supervised release and were ordered to pay restitution jointly and severally to The Peoples Bank in Eatonton, Georgia the entire amount stolen, $1,663,205.25. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
According to the plea agreement, Ms. Mize was the Head Teller and Ms. Martin was employed as the Assistant Head Teller at The People’s Bank. The defendants used their positions of trust starting sometime during 2012 or 2013 to embezzle and misapply bank money by transferring bank funds into their personal bank accounts or into the accounts of family members and associates. The defendants took cash from their teller drawers and, in Ms. Mize’s case, directly from the vault. The defendants also issued cashier’s checks for their benefit, all without valid checks or cash being deposited to the bank to support these transactions. The bank began their internal investigation in March 2016, following reports from colleagues regarding suspicious activity on the bank’s general ledger. The defendants were suspended on March 14, 2016. In all, $1,663,205.25 was stolen from The Peoples Bank.
“Scheming to make money by lying and defrauding others will land you in prison,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “It’s a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect law abiding citizens and businesses from fraud. The money these defendants stole should have been used to benefit the bank and its employees, shareholders and account holders, not to enrich Ms. Mize and Ms. Martin. With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, we will continue to uncover these conspiracies and prosecute people who abuse their positions of trust.”
“Greed got the best of these two bank employees and this sentencing should make it clear that it wasn’t worth it,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “People in positions of trust must realize if they violate that trust the FBI and federal prosecutors will use every resource possible to make sure they are held accountable.”
"Today's sentence demonstrates the importance of holding people accountable for their crimes, especially those in positions of trust that financial institutions and customers rely on daily to ensure the safety and soundness of banks," said FDIC OIG Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles. "We thank our law enforcement partners for their cooperation in bringing this case to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Atlanta and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Atlanta. Assistant United States Attorney Paul McCommon is prosecuting the case for the Government.
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.
Former Baltimore Police Sergeant Facing Federal Indictment for Allegedly Assisting A Member of the Baltimore Police GTTF by Planting A Gun at the Scene of an Arrest and for Allegedly Telling A Witness to Lie During the Federal InvestigationRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted former Baltimore Police Sergeant Keith Allen Gladstone, age 51, of New Park, Pennsylvania, on federal charges of conspiracy to deprive civil rights, conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, and witness tampering. The indictment was returned on February 27, 2019, and unsealed today at the defendant’s initial appearance and arraignment.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“Prosecuting criminals who work in police agencies is essential both to protect our communities and to support the many honorable officers whose reputations they unfairly tarnish,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This is not about policing, it is about a criminal conspiracy.”
Keith Allen Gladstone joined the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) as an officer on November 20, 1992, and was promoted to Sergeant on December 16, 2011. Gladstone retired from the BPD on December 25, 2012, but was subsequently reinstated as a Sergeant on December 9, 2013. In March 2014, Gladstone was the officer-in-charge of a Special Enforcement Section (SES) unit assigned to BPD’s Western District. Gladstone retired from the BPD for a second time on May 1, 2017.
According to the indictment, on the evening of March 26, 2014, Gladstone, who was on duty, was having dinner with Officer 1 when he received a call on his cell phone from W.J., who was also a Sergeant in the BPD and the officer-in-charge of an SES unit assigned to BPD’s Western District. W.J. was in a panic because he had just deliberately run over an arrestee, D.S., in the front yard of a home in Northeast Baltimore. Gladstone allegedly retrieved a BB gun from the trunk of the BPD vehicle he was driving, and drove with Officer 1 to the site of D.S.’s arrest on Anntana Avenue and Belair Road in Northeast Baltimore City. The indictment alleges that Gladstone dropped the BB gun near a pickup truck where D.S. lay injured on the ground, unable to use his legs. Gladstone told W.J., in Officer 3’s presence, “it’s over by the truck,” or words to that effect, and told W.J. to have someone search by the truck. Gladstone left the scene and drove away with Officer 1. According to the indictment, W.J. told another officer to move the BB gun under the pickup, closer to the victim. The BB gun was ultimately recovered by the BPD’s crime lab unit. Based on a false statement of probable cause written by W.J. in another officer’s name, D.S. was subsequently charged with possession, use, and discharge of a gas or pellet gun, for the BB gun that Gladstone planted at the scene of D.S.’s arrest, and a number of drug offenses. D.S. was detained on those charges until at least April 2, 2014. On January 16, 2015, the charges were disposed of by nolle prosequi, which is a form of dismissal.
The indictment alleges that as a result of his actions, Gladstone conspired to deprive D.S. of his liberty without the due process of law, and conspired to commit offenses against the United States, specifically to impede, obstruct, and influence an investigation.
Finally, the indictment alleges that after W.J. and six other officers who had been members of the GTTF were arrested on federal racketeering charges, Gladstone told Officer 1 that if questioned by federal law enforcement about the events on March 26, 2014, Officer 1 should tell federal investigators that Gladstone and Officer 1 were at the crime scene for “scene security,” which Officer 1 knew was not true.
If convicted, Gladstone faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to violate civil rights, a maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for witness tampering. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered that Gladstone be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Derek E. Hines, who are prosecuting the case.
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Former Adidas Executive, Former Adidas Consultant, and Aspiring Manager All Sentenced to Prison Terms for Their Roles in Defrauding Adidas-Sponsored NCAA Division I UniversitiesRead the Press Release
Robert S. Khuzami, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced today that former Adidas director of global sports marketing for basketball, JAMES GATTO, a/k/a “Jim,” was sentenced to nine months in prison, former Adidas consultant MERL CODE was sentenced six months in prison, and sports business manager CHRISTIAN DAWKINS was sentenced to six months in prison, after having been found guilty in October 2018 by a federal jury of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy charges. The defendants were sentenced in Manhattan federal court by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who also presided over the jury trial.
Attorney for the United States Robert Khuzami said: “The sentences imposed today only begin to reflect the magnitude of the harm these defendants caused through a scheme that not only defrauded multiple public universities but upended the lives of young student-athletes and corrupted a game cherished by so many. Today’s sentences send a clear message to those who might be similarly tempted to corrupt collegiate athletics for their own personal gain that defrauding schools in connection with athletic scholarships is not just a rules violation but a crime, one that will result in a prison term.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, Indictment, Superseding Indictment, evidence presented during the trial, and statements made in Manhattan federal court:
Overview of the Scheme
GATTO, CODE, and DAWKINS, including with the assistance of Thomas Gassnola, a former Adidas consultant, and Munish Sood, a financial adviser, brokered and facilitated payments funded by Adidas to the families of high school and college-aged basketball players in connection with decisions by those players to commit to Adidas-sponsored schools and a promise that the players also would retain the services of DAWKINS and sign lucrative endorsement deals with Adidas upon turning professional. The payments, which the defendants took great lengths to conceal from the victim-universities, served to defraud the relevant universities in several ways.
First, because the illicit payments to the families of student-athletes rendered those student-athletes ineligible to participate in collegiate athletics, scheme participants conspired to conceal these payments from the universities, thereby causing them to provide or agree to provide athletic-based scholarships and financial aid under false and fraudulent pretenses. Indeed, the defendants and their co-conspirators, who included the families of the student-athletes and, in certain instances, one or more corrupt coaches at the universities, knew that, for the scheme to succeed and the athletic scholarships to be awarded, the illicit payments had to be concealed from the universities, and that certifications would be submitted to the universities falsely representing that the student-athletes were eligible to compete in Division I athletics.
Second, the scheme participants further defrauded the universities by depriving the universities of significant and necessary information regarding the non-compliance with NCAA rules by the relevant student-athletes and their families, and, in some cases, by certain corrupt coaches involved in the scheme. In doing so, the scheme participants interfered with the universities’ ability to control their assets and created a risk of tangible economic harm to the universities, including, among other things, decision-making about the distribution of their limited athletic scholarships; the possible disgorgement of certain profit-sharing by the NCAA; monetary fines; restrictions on athlete recruitment and the distribution of athletic scholarships; and the potential ineligibility of the universities’ basketball teams to compete in NCAA programs generally, and the ineligibility of certain student-athletes in particular.
The University of Louisville Scheme
Beginning in approximately May 2017, GATTO, CODE, DAWKINS, and others worked together to illicitly funnel approximately $100,000 from Adidas to the father of Brian Bowen, then a top-rated high school basketball player, in connection with Bowen’s commitment to play at the University of Louisville, a school whose athletic programs are sponsored by Adidas. Because the payments to the family of Bowen were both in violation of NCAA rules and illegal, the defendants took steps to conceal them from the University, including funneling the money indirectly through an amateur team affiliated with CODE and a corporation controlled by DAWKINS. The payments were all funded by Adidas pursuant to phony invoices approved by GATTO, and the first installment was delivered to Bowen’s father in cash in July 2017 in a parking lot in New Jersey.
The University of Kansas Scheme
Between 2016 and 2017, GATTO and Gassnola worked together to funnel approximately $90,000 from Adidas to the family of Billy Preston, then a high school basketball player, in connection with Preston’s commitment to play at the University of Kansas, a university whose athletic programs are sponsored by Adidas. To conceal the payments from the University, GATTO routed the money to Billy Preston’s family indirectly, through an Adidas-sponsored amateur team affiliated with Gassnola, and pursuant to sham invoices approved by GATTO.
In addition, in the summer of 2017, GATTO and Gassnola agreed to funnel money to the legal guardian of Silvio De Sousa, then a high school basketball player, in connection with De Sousa’s commitment to play at the University of Kansas. In one instance, GATTO and Gassnola were intercepted over a wiretap discussing a $20,000 payment to the legal guardian.
The North Carolina State University Scheme
In approximately November 2015, GATTO and Gassnola agreed to funnel approximately $40,000 from Adidas to the family of Dennis Smith Jr., then a high school basketball player, in order to stop Smith Jr. from de-committing from North Carolina State University, a university whose athletic programs are sponsored by Adidas. Gassnola flew to North Carolina to personally deliver the money in cash to a basketball coach at North Carolina State University, who then routed the money to Smith Jr.’s family. After Gassnola made the payment, GATTO reimbursed Gassnola via his Adidas-sponsored amateur team.
* * *
In addition to the prison sentences, Judge Kaplan ordered CODE, 45, of Greer, South Carolina, and DAWKINS, 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, to each pay restitution to the University of Louisville in the amount of $28,261. The court reserved the decision on the restitution for GATTO, 48, of Wilsonville, Oregon, and set a conference for April 9, 2019, at 10 a.m. Each of the three defendants was sentenced to two years of supervised release.
Gassnola and Sood have previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentence.
Mr. Khuzami thanked the FBI and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York for their tireless efforts during the investigation and prosecution of this case.
The case was prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Edward B. Diskant, Noah Solowiejczyk, Eli J. Mark, and Aline R. Flodr are in charge of the prosecution.
Final Defendant Sentenced for Membership in Plattsburgh Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Danielle Conners, age 33, of Plattsburgh, New York, was sentenced today to time served (7 days in jail), 3 years of supervised release, including 50 hours of community service, and a $1,000 fine, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge Raymond P. Donovan, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Clinton County Sheriff David Favro.
Conners was convicted following a trial in November 2018. She was charged along with nine other people in two related indictments related to a heroin-distribution ring that transported heroin from Schenectady and Annapolis, Maryland, and sold it in the Plattsburgh area. The nine other defendants, all of whom pled guilty, were sentenced as follows:
Defendant
Sentence
Jimolo Coates, a.k.a. “Lo,” Marlo,” “Brodie,” age 25, of Annapolis, Maryland
188 months in prison, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release
Kyle Touchstone, age 31, of Plattsburgh
84 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release
Melissa Kusalonis, age 37, of Plattsburgh
41 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
Anthony DeFilippo, a.k.a. “Flip,” age 37, of Schenectady
46 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
Tynaejah Thompson, a.k.a. “Naee,” age 20, of Annapolis
18 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
Charles Adams, a.k.a. “Chuck,” age 33, of Peru, New York
37 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release
Travynn Ippolito, a.k.a “Trav,” age 31, of Plattsburgh
30 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
Kiara Scott, age 29, of Annapolis
3 years of probation, including 6 months of home detention
Luke Kiroy, age 34, of Saranac, New York
3 years of probation and a $1,000 fine
The convictions are the result of a nearly yearlong investigation led by the DEA Task Force in Plattsburgh, which consists of law enforcement officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Border Patrol, New York State Police, Clinton County Sherriff’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plattsburgh Police Department. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, as well as the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, also assisted in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Katherine Kopita.
Federal Jury Finds Fentanyl Dealer Guilty of Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury has found Corey Damond Smith, Jr. (23, Tampa) guilty of distributing fentanyl resulting in death. Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 6, 2019.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on November 13, 2017, Smith sold what he said was “heroin” to T.M. who took the drugs to her boyfriend and, at his request, helped him to use them. Smith had actually sold T.M. fentanyl. The boyfriend died from the drugs.
This case was investigated by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with assistance by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.
East Hartford Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Shooting, Gun TraffickingRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANIEL VAZQUEZ, also known as “Chino,” 21, of East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a gun trafficking ring and a shooting in 2016.
This matter stems from an investigation headed by the ATF and East Hartford Police Department into drug trafficking and related acts of violence by a group of individuals operating out of the Mayberry Village housing complex in East Hartford.
According to court documents and statements made in court, sometime in or before 2014, Vazquez and others were robbed at gunpoint while they were attempting to purchase marijuana that they intended to redistribute. On July 6, 2016, Vazquez saw the person who had robbed him driving a car at the intersection of Tolland Street and Moore Avenue in East Hartford and shot at him. Vazquez was arrested on that date, and a search of his residence revealed a Ruger LC93 9mm handgun, which he had used in the shooting, and a Taurus 9mm handgun.
The investigation revealed that Courtney Johnson had moved from East Hartford to Minot, North Dakota. In late June 2016, Lawrence Christie, an East Hartford resident who was staying with Johnson in Minot, contacted Vazquez and asked him to drive from Connecticut to North Dakota to assist Christie in purchasing firearms. Vazquez and Justin Gay, also from East Hartford, then drove to North Dakota where they stayed with Johnson. In Minot, Vazquez, Christie, Johnson, Gay and others, sometimes using counterfeit currency, purchased firearms from sellers who had advertised the guns for sale on a website. Vazquez, Christie and Gay then transported five firearms from North Dakota to Connecticut. Two of the five guns purchased in North Dakota were found in Vazquez’s residence on July 6, 2016.
To date, investigators have traced a total of nine firearms that were obtained in North Dakota and transported to Connecticut. Some of the guns have been used in shootings in the Hartford area. Investigators also purchased and seized quantities of heroin, cocaine and marijuana during the investigation.
Vazquez has been detained since his arrest on July 6, 2016. He previously pleaded guilty in state court to possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration. On November 13, 2018, Vazquez pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Johnson, Christie and Gay have pleaded guilty to firearm and drug offenses related to this scheme and await sentencing.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the ATF and East Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Correction and the Minot (N.D.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.
Deported Illegal Alien Charged with Re-entering United States without PermissionRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A citizen of Mexico has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of re-entry of an illegal alien, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Francisco Covias-Lopez, 39.
According to the indictment presented to the court, on December 1, 2018, Covias-Lopez, an alien who had been deported from the United States on June 22, 2012, was found in Cambria County, Pa. He had unlawfully re-entered this Country without receiving permission to do so from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Monday 4 March 2019
“No More Deaths” Volunteers Plead Guilty to Civil Violations on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife RefugeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 4, 2019, Caitlin Persis Deighan, Zoe E. Anderson, Logan Thomas Hollarsmith, and Rebecca Kate Grossman-Richeimer entered into a plea agreement in which the defendants pled guilty to a civil infraction, and the United States agreed to dismiss the criminal charges against them. Each defendant was also ordered to pay a $280.00 fine.
On Aug. 19, 2017, United States Fish and Wildlife Service officers encountered the defendants on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in Ajo, Ariz. The defendants did not have a valid permit to enter the refuge. Deighan admitted to driving the group to an area known as Charlie Bell Well, which is located in a Congressionally-designated wilderness refuge.
“Our office is pleased that this matter was resolved through civil enforcement in which the defendants fully accepted responsibility for their illegal actions on a wilderness refuge specifically safeguarded by Congress,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “Our office will continue to review violations of federal law occurring within protected federal lands on a case-by-case basis.”
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the prosecution was handled by Anna Wright and Nathaniel Walters, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00340MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-023_ No More Deaths Vols Plea
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Woodinville, Washington, Winery and Concert Venue Agrees to Make Modifications to Increase AccessibilityRead the Press Release
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery has agreed to make numerous improvements to its public spaces following an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint from a patron who uses a wheelchair, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. The patron complained to the U.S. Attorney’s Office after encountering physical barriers during her attendance at a summer concert at the venue. She also alleged that she was told she had to purchase more expensive concert tickets in order to obtain wheelchair accessible seating. In response, investigators and an outside architectural firm reviewed plans for the facility in June 2017 and made a site visit in October 2017, confirming barriers to accessibility. Although Chateau Ste. Michelle disputed the complainant’s ticketing claims, it has agreed to make numerous structural changes to its facilities by June 2019 and to conduct training for its public-facing employees to better serve patrons with disabilities.
“I commend Chateau Ste. Michelle for recognizing the need to correct barriers to equal access in its facilities, so that all those who want to visit the winery or enjoy a concert can do so,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “Equal access is a bedrock of our society and seemingly simple things like heavy doors, loose carpets, or table heights can significantly limit access for people using mobility devices.”
Under the agreement, some of the improvements Chateau Ste. Michelle has agreed to make include: multiple changes to bathrooms at the winery to make them accessible; improvements to table and threshold heights in the tasting room; securing loose rugs which can impede assistive devices and pose a tripping hazard; increasing the width of aisles and of accessible seating areas in the amphitheater; increasing the number of accessible parking spaces, and improving the slope and paths from the parking spaces to the amphitheater. In addition, the winery has agreed to pay the original complainant $500 to settle the claims.
DOJ will monitor compliance for one year following the improvements. If no further issues arrive the matter will be closed.
The settlement was negotiated for the U.S. Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Christina Fogg.
Wetzel County man sentenced for his role in a drug distribution operation in Wetzel and Tyler CountiesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Wilson Longwell, of Littleton, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 78 months incarceration for his role in a methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin distribution operation that spanned multiple states, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Longwell, age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances” in July 2018. Longwell admitted to conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base from 2016 to April 2018 in Wetzel County and other locations in the southern district of West Virginia, Ohio, and Georgia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio, Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Victorville Correctional Officer Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging He Took Bribes and Smuggled Contraband into PrisonRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer who was a lieutenant assigned to investigate wrongdoing by inmates and officers at the Federal Correctional Complex, Victorville, has been arrested on federal charges alleging he took thousands of dollars in cash bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison.
Paul James Hayes II, 49, of Victorville, who voluntarily has been on leave from his job since October 2018, was arrested on Thursday and has been charged with two felonies: acceptance of a bribe by a public official, and conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison. Hayes was a lieutenant with the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigation Services (SIS), which investigates illegal activity by correctional officers and inmates. He made his initial court appearance on Friday in United States District Court and is expected to be released today on $170,000 bond.
According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint on Thursday, beginning in June 2018, SIS employees reviewed suspicious emails and telephone conversations between an inmate and his girlfriend, Angel Marie Wagner, 42, of Buena Park. The conversations referenced Wagner meeting a BOP staff member outside a Home Depot store in Victorville on July 15, 2018, the affidavit states. A review of other inmate communications revealed that money transfers were being made to Wagner, according to court documents. On July 15, agents covertly watched Hayes arrive at the Victorville Home Depot in his Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, the affidavit said. The agents allegedly also observed Wagner walk from her rental vehicle to Hayes’s SUV, then hand Hayes a brown-colored envelope, which Hayes took and placed inside his vehicle.
When federal agents interviewed Wagner on Thursday, she identified Hayes from a photographic lineup and said she had met him multiple times in 2018, the affidavit said. Wagner also said she believed she provided Hayes with a total of approximately $40,000 in cash across their various meetings in 2018, court documents state. Wagner allegedly also admitted to receiving wire transfers of money, which she later would withdraw in cash and place in an envelope and give to Hayes. On other occasions, Wagner said she received from third parties envelopes with cash as well as wrapped items that she suspected were controlled substances or cellular telephones, the affidavit said. Wagner allegedly admitted giving the cash and the wrapped items to Hayes.
A review of money transfer service records and emails showed that Wagner received money from people associated with the bribery conspiracy, the affidavit said. There allegedly also were cash deposits totaling $12,520 made into Hayes’s bank account on at least seven occasions between March 8 and August 7, 2018, including one deposit for $4,800 on May 29, 2018.
Wagner, who was arrested on Friday, has been charged with conspiracy to bribe a public official, bribery of a public official, and conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison. She was released on $50,000 bond.
If convicted of all charges, Hayes faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison while Wagner faces a statutory maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean D. Peterson of the Riverside Branch Office.
Utah Man Sentenced in Federal Court for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in IdahoRead the Press Release
POCATELLO - Michael Keith Pilgrim, 44, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Pilgrim was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Nye. Pilgrim pleaded guilty on November 30, 2018.
According to court records, Pilgrim was convicted in October 1999, of sexual abuse of a child in Utah. As a result of the conviction, he was required to register and update his registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA requires that sex offenders register and keep current their registration in each jurisdiction where they reside. In early March 2018, Pilgrim moved from Utah to Preston, Idaho. He lived in Preston for approximately two months. In July 2018, he returned to Preston and was apprehended on July 27, 2018. During the time he lived in Idaho, he failed to register with the Idaho Sex Offender Registry.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of local and state law enforcement agencies in eastern Idaho, including the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Preston Police Department.
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United States Attorney’s Office Collects over $10 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2018Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin collected $10,164,702.99 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2018. Of this amount, $5,209,589.92 was collected in criminal actions and $4,955,113.07 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Eastern District of Wisconsin worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $10,418,733.97 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $14,075.03 was collected in criminal actions and $10,404,658.94 was collected in civil actions.
As a whole, the Justice Department collected nearly $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018. The $14,839,821,650 in collections in FY 2018 represents is nearly seven times the appropriated $2.13 billion ($2,136,750,000) budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices.
“The men and women of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country work diligently, day in and day out, to see that the citizens of our nation receive justice. The money that we are able to recover for victims and this country as a whole is a direct result of their hard work,” Director James A. Crowell, IV, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.
“Protecting taxpayers’ funds and making crime victims whole are among our top priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “We are committed to recovering any funds owed to the United States and ensuring that wrongdoers do not keep their ill-gotten gains.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Education.
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