Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
28 March 2019
Chicago Home Health Company Owner Convicted for Role in $3 Million Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury found the owner of a now-defunct Chicago, Illinois home health company guilty today for her role in a scheme involving over $3 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for home health services that were procured through the payment of kickbacks.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office made the announcement.
After a seven-day trial, Jacqueline Tuanqui, 56, of Bartlet, Illinois, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, seven counts of payment for specific kickbacks and one count of visa fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 1, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood of the Northern District of Illinois, who presided over the trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2008 to 2015, Tunaqui paid kickbacks in return for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries to Hexagram Home Health Care (Hexagram), a home health company that operated in the Chicago metropolitan area between 2008 and 2016. The evidence established that Tuanqui and her co-conspirators billed Medicare $12 million, at least $3 million of which was fraudulent. Trial evidence included the testimony of four individuals who were charged and pleaded guilty, including Hexagram’s former general manager, director of nursing and two patient recruiters. The government’s witnesses also included four other former employees who admitted to facilitating kickback payments and forging patient files to advance the conspiracies.
This case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG with the assistance of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illionis. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Leslie Garthwaite and Daniel Griffin of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Charges Filed in Bank Robberies in Which Shots Were FiredRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men were charged today with a pair of bank robberies in which shots were fired and robbers wore Black Panther and Venom masks, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.
Michael Shiferaw, 20, Olathe, Kan., and Kenya Breakfield, 21, Olathe, Kan., were charged with two counts of bank robbery. They were charged with an Oct. 31, 2018, robbery at Wells Fargo Bank in Leawood, Kan., and a March 27, 2019, robbery at Commerce Bank in Roeland Park, Kan.
Wells Fargo robbery
According to documents filed in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., two robbers entered the Wells Fargo Bank at 2000 West 103rd in Leawood carrying guns and wearing masks that looked like the comic book and movie character Venom. Both robbers were carrying guns and threatened bank employees. Before leaving with cash, one of the robbers fired a round from his handgun into the ceiling.
Commerce Bank Robbery
At Commerce Bank, a single robber entered the building wearing a Black Panther mask. During the robbery, he fired a total of four shots while giving orders to bank employees. When he left the bank, he got into a small, black, four-door car.
Investigation
On March 27, agents set up surveillance at a house in the 1700 block of Lindenwood in Olathe where they spotted the defendants. Agents followed the defendants as they drove to Shiferaw’s residence in the 12000 block of Meadow Lane in Olathe. Later that day, Olathe Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at the house. The defendants were arrested with a black backpack full of currency and a handgun.
It is alleged that Breakfield took part in the first robbery and drove the getaway car in the second robbery. The defendants purchased the masks at a Spencers gift store.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. Investigators included the FBI, Leawood Police Department, the Olathe Police Department, the Kansas City Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Canton Man Indicted for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Canton man was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with multiple armed robberies in Canton and Mattapan.
Jerron Perry, 27, was charged with three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Perry was arrested on Feb. 28, 2019, and charged by complaint; he has been in custody since.
According to the charging documents, on Sept. 22, 2018, Perry, wearing a mask, pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the store clerk of a Metro PCS store in Mattapan and demanded money from the register; he left the store with approximately $607. Perry is alleged to have robbed that same store again in the same manner on Oct. 25, 2018, stealing $359. It is further alleged that Perry committed a similar armed robbery at a 7-11 Convenience Store in Canton on Oct. 31, 2018, stealing an unknown amount of cash.
On Feb. 28, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perry’s residence, where they discovered clothing that matched the suspect’s clothes and two shell casings. Due to a 2013 conviction for assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, which carries a sentence of more than one year in prison, Perry is prohibited from possessing ammunition.
Each charge of interference with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $ 250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; and Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Merritt of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Byram Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement in Attempt to Acquire a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Christian Matthew Storey, 27, of Byram, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee to attempting to acquire a firearm by making fraudulent statements on a federal background check form, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 18, 2018, Storey attempted to purchase a firearm from a pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi. Storey had previously been judicially committed for mental treatment in 2016 by the Chancery Court of Hinds County. He was subsequently treated and discharged from a mental hospital in Mississippi.
Storey, in an attempt to purchase a 9mm pistol, completed and signed ATF Form 4473 while at the pawn shop as part of the federally required background check process. One question on that form asks a firearm purchaser whether or not they have ever been committed to a mental institution. Storey fraudulently checked “No” as to that question and then signed the form certifying that his false answer was correct.
The firearm purchase was denied after the National Instant Criminal Background Check System rejected the purchase due to Storey’s previous commitment for mental treatment. Under federal law, it is unlawful for a person who has been involuntarily judicially committed to either possess or purchase a firearm.
Storey was charged in a federal indictment on January 8, 2019 with one count of making a false statement in an attempt to acquire a firearm and one count of giving false information to a federal firearm licensee. He will be sentenced on July 11, 2019, by Judge Lee, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine on the first count and a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine on the second count.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham.
Brockton Man Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton resident was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston to more than four years in prison for fentanyl distribution.
Jorge Monteiro a/k/a “Jay,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2018, Monteiro pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl.
Monteiro was responsible for distributing 57 grams of fentanyl in June 2018. In addition, during his arrest on Aug. 23, 2018, law enforcement recovered a Glock 9 mm pistol and two metal cylindrical presses. The presses are typically used to press opiates such as heroin or fentanyl into “fingers” for distribution; a finger is typically 10 grams. The government also alleged that Monteiro was an associate of the Perkins Avenue gang in Brockton.
According to the court documents, this case was part of Operation Landshark, a federal investigation that targeted impact players and repeat offenders in Brockton and Boston, each who have prior convictions for acts of violence, firearm offenses and/or drug trafficking. It is alleged that many of the Operation Landshark targets are among the top 30 criminal offenders responsible for violent acts and firearms in Brockton.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins; Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross; and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force and Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Plymouth and Essex County Sheriff’s Offices; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; U.S. Parole Commission; U.S. Postal Inspection Services; and the U.S. Secret Service.
Operation Landshark is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution and Firearm Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ISMAEL MANGUAL, 43, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to heroin distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 31, 2017, Milford Police stopped a vehicle Mangual was driving. Mangual did not have a driver’s license, the car was not registered or insured, and there was a six-year-old boy in the back seat without a car seat or seatbelt. A subsequent search of the car revealed a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun, a Glock 30 .45 handgun that had been reported stolen, approximately 140 grams of heroin and a digital scale. The loaded firearm was found in the rear footwell of the car, close to where the child had been sitting. Mangual was arrested on state charges on that date.
Mangual pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and one count of possession a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking offense. Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for June 20, 2019, at which time Mangual faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
Mangual’s criminal history includes state convictions for robbery and narcotics offenses.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA, Connecticut State Police and Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, Bridgeport and Trumbull Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.
Bradenton Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Sex Abuse Video Series of One-Year-OldRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – James Lockhart (31, Bradenton) today pleaded guilty to an information charging him with producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. Lockhart, formerly a paramedic for a private ambulance company, faces up to 70 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to the plea agreement, between March 2016 and February 2018, Lockhart produced a four-video series of child sex abuse where he recorded himself having sex with a one-year-old child. In the videos, Lockhart displayed signs bearing the dark web forum’s name and his online moniker in order to gain notoriety in the forum and elsewhere. In addition to the dark web series, Lockhart created other sex abuse videos and images of the child.
Lockhart also collected child pornography not involving the one-year-old victim. Following the execution of a search warrant on Lockhart’s residence, authorities seized devices containing 43 videos depicting child pornography and at least 4,000 images of child pornography. Lockhart’s child pornography collection included infants and sadomasochistic and violent conduct.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (Boston and Tampa), with assistance from the Queensland Police Service (Commonwealth of Australia). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Boston Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for surreptitiously filming boys in the restrooms at Boston Latin School (BLS).
Eric Tran Thai, 36, was indicted on four counts of sexual exploitation of children. His arraignment date will be scheduled by the Court. Thai was arrested on March 11 and charged by complaint. He was ordered detained by the Court on March 19 and has been in custody since.
According to court documents, on Feb. 6 and Feb. 27, 2018, two separate Boston College students reported to the police that they had been videotaped without their knowledge or consent while they were using the men’s restrooms on the Boston College campus. Following the Feb. 27, 2018, report, police located and spoke with Thai, who was then arrested on state charges in Middlesex County Superior Court.
It is alleged that while speaking with police, Thai admitted to “taking some pictures” of a man in the stall next to him without the man’s consent. He further admitted to engaging in such activity for about a year. Thai was placed under arrest on state charges and his bag was subsequently searched; in it, police found several covert camera devices, including faux smoke detectors, a water bottle containing a small cube recording device, and a pair of sunglasses outfitted with a built-in camera.
During a search of Thai’s home on March 1, 2018, law enforcement seized approximately 26 computer hard drives, 20 thumb drives, 27 covert and regular cameras, 14 computers, iPads, and cell phones, and multiple SD and Sim cards. During forensic analysis of the recovered items, investigators found several folders labeled: BU, MIT, Harvard, Northeastern, Bunker Hill, Boston Latin High School, and several different malls, airports, and foreign country locations. Given the amount of data seized by investigators, forensic analysis is ongoing.
It is alleged that the videos contained in folders labeled “Boston Latin High School” contained approximately 45 surreptitiously-recorded videos of male students in various states of dress using the urinals and stalls in a Boston Latin High School boys’ bathroom. The videos appear to have been created on approximately 10 separate dates between February and December 2017.
In general, the videos show Thai sitting in a bathroom stall at Boston Latin High School recording individuals in adjacent stalls or at the urinals through various secret recording methods. In some videos, Thai appears to hold a camera over the top of the partition between the bathroom stalls and videotaping from overhead. In other instances, he appears to hide a small camera inside of his backpack, place the backpack on the bathroom floor and videotape individuals in the adjacent bathroom stall from under the stall’s partition. While recording, it appears that Thai would simultaneously view what the camera was recording on a cellphone or a tablet device in his possession. Based on this evidence, Thai was charged with sexual exploitation of children in violation of federal law.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information about this case should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 617-748-3274.
Each charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a mandatory minimum 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross; and Boston College Police Chief William B. Evans made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of his Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boone County Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Boone County man who had been selling heroin from his home in Racine, West Virginia, entered a guilty plea in court yesterday. Trevor White, 29, who illegally sold heroin to individuals working with the U.S. 119 Task Force, admitted in court that he had been distributing heroin from his residence.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are part of a multi-state drug trafficking organization, dealing drugs out of your girlfriend’s house, or living in your mom and dad’s basement,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “If we catch you peddling poisons in my district, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
In November and December of 2017, White was living on Valle Vista Circle in Racine. While living with his girlfriend, White sold heroin, including to a cooperating individual with the U.S. 119 Task Force. White admitted that he had sold heroin on multiple occasions, and these instances were captured on video by the U.S. 119 Task Force.
White faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 13, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the plea hearing.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
###
Bogus Investor Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Client FundsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On March 26, 2019, Daniel Braden, 33, of Spring, Texas was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to five years in prison. Braden had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud for inducing clients to invest in fake opportunities he promoted. Braden was also ordered to pay $1,017,500 in restitution.
Braden portrayed himself as an experienced trader and falsely claimed to be working with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Braden provided investors fabricated account statements that he created purporting to show gains on their investments and assured investors that their funds were insured. In reality, Braden diverted the funds to high-risk trading, sports and casino gambling, or to support himself personally.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-00048-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-037_Braden
# # #
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.
VBerea man indicted after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit imagesRead the Press Release
A Berea man was indicted in federal court after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit images.
Cody Swinnerton, 24, of Berea, was indicted on three counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents:
The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip that Swinnerton appeared to be enticing and coercing minors to produce sexually explicit images. Swinnerton controlled multiple accounts and targeted minors between the ages of 12 and 15 on Instagram and Facebook.
Swinnerton contacted the victims’ friends and family to coerce the victims into producing more images. He also threatened the victims in an effort to get them to produce sexually explicit images. Further investigation revealed potential victims in Ohio, Tennessee, Iowa, Texas, Australia, Austria and France.
A search warrant was executed at the home where Swinnerton lives in Berea on January 25. Relatives said Swinnerton was on vacation in Australia at the time. A review of his computer revealed several images of child pornography.
These alleged crimes took place between 2013 and 2018, according to court documents.
“This case demonstrates how predators will target our children over social media,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are communicating with. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute these predators.”
“This case is a disturbing reminder that international borders are no longer a hindrance for online predators,” said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio. “However, this arrest should assure victims around the world that Homeland Security Investigations and our partners in the international law enforcement community are committed to aggressively targeting those engaged in these heinous acts.”
"Swinnerton groomed and gained the trust of these young boys, then turned against them for his own gratification," said David Frattare, Ohio ICAC commander. "Victims often get caught up in this vicious cycle and feel they have no option but to comply."
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation is ongoing
This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI-Canberra, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.
A charge is only an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Beckley Man Sentenced for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.VA. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Beckley man was sentenced in federal court on his conviction of felon in possession of a firearm. David Anthony Lacy, 45, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. The case was investigated by the Charleston Police Department, the Beckley Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Lacy pled guilty on January 2, 2019, admitting that on May 18, 2017, he was in possession of a firearm, and that he is prohibited from being in possession of a firearm due to his prior conviction of a felony offense.
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Arthur handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
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.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
###
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man pled guilty today to a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Turner Reid Williams, 27, entered his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force.
Williams admitted that on January 9, 2018, agents with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of a confidential informant, conducted a controlled purchase of firearms. During the controlled purchase, Williams admitted that he retrieved two guns from another location and returned to the site of the controlled purchase and delivered a Taurus, PT111, 9mm semi-automatic pistol to the confidential informant working with the ATF. He admitted that knew he was not supposed to possess any firearms because he was a convicted felon. Williams was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because he was previously convicted in 2013 in Raleigh County Circuit Court of the felony offense of Wanton Endangerment with a Firearm.
Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 24, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The United States Attorney General reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
###
Atlanta-Area Men Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that AARON SPRIGGS, age 42, TERBEN POUMIAN-RAMIREZ, age 31, RAFAEL MARTINEZ, age 28, and LUIS MARTINEZ-VEGA, age 28, all of the Atlanta, Georgia area, pled guilty Tuesday, March 26, 2019 to a Bill of Information charging drug trafficking and related offenses. SPRIGGS, POUMIAN-RAMIREZ, and MARTINEZ pled guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846. MARTINEZ-VEGA pled guilty to actively concealing that felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 4.
According to the Bill of Information and an earlier-filed complaint, the men traveled to New Orleans intending to purchase several kilograms of cocaine from a man whom they believed to be a Colombian source of supply importing narcotics via the Port of New Orleans. SPRIGGS, who arrived with a gun and more than $100,000 in cash, was to purchase the narcotics; POUMIAN-RAMIREZ and MARTINEZ acted as middlemen brokering the deal between SPRIGGS and the source of supply; and MARTINEZ-VEGA was the driver of one of the two vehicles that made the trip.
For the narcotics offense, SPRIGGS, POUMIAN-RAMIREZ, and MARTINEZ face up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For the misprision of a felony offense, MARTINEZ-VEGA faces a term of imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to one year of supervised release.
Sentencing is set before Judge Eldon E. Fallon on July 11, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Sandman is in charge of the prosecution.
Antitrust Division Issues 2019 Annual NewsletterRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division today issued the 2019 edition of its annual Spring Newsletter on its website. The Newsletter highlights the Antitrust Division’s recent activities and successes on civil and criminal enforcement, international cooperation, and competition advocacy. The Newsletter also includes a message from Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim.
“In early March 2019, the Division announced this year’s Antitrust AAG Awards, and I encouraged those in attendance to take a moment to remember what they commemorate first and foremost: victories for the American consumer,” said Assistant Attorney General Delrahim in his ‘Message from Makan.’ “Those victories did not come easy. Each of the Division’s attorneys answered the call to public service. They worked long and often unpredictable hours in the office, on the road, and in the courtroom. Every time, though, they came back eager for the next opportunity to do what they do best: represent the United States of America in its mission to enforce the antitrust laws. As we embark on the next year of antitrust enforcement, that mission will carry on.”
The Newsletter highlights these milestones and accomplishments, and features profiles of Division leadership and staff. It can be found at https://www.justice.gov/atr/division-operations/division-update-spring-2019.
27 March 2019
Williamson County Woman Charged with Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Amy J. Brozowski, of Marion, Illinois, has been charged by two-count indictment with distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred on March 7 and March 14, 2019, in Williamson County. On March 21, 2019, the 25 year old Brozowski made her initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. At her detention hearing the following day, Brozowski was granted bond. Her jury trial is currently set for May 28, 2019.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Marion Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Williamson County Man Charged with Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
Raymond E. Wells, 47, of Herrin, Illinois, has been charged in a one-count superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offense occurred between February 2018 and January 2019 in Williamson and Jefferson Counties. On March 22, Wells made his initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held without bond pending a March 26 detention hearing.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of 5 to 40 years’ imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Herrin Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Johnston City Police Department also assisted in the investigation.
Whitman Man Arrested for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Whitman man was arrested and charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with sexual exploitation of children.
Matthew Murphy, 22, was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children. Murphy appeared in federal court yesterday afternoon and was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for today at 3:30 p.m.
According to charging documents, the investigation began when Murphy, posing as a teenage girl, used a Snapchat account to extort nude photographs from a Massachusetts middle school boy. Federal agents obtained portions of the Snapchat account Murphy had created in the fake identity and uncovered evidence of similar extortion of other minors in the area.
During the execution of the search warrant at Murphy’s home, Murphy admitted that the fake account was his, and investigators found forensic evidence of the account on some of his electronic devices. Murphy was subsequently arrested.
Law enforcement is actively working to identify additional victims. Members of the public with questions or information about this matter should call 617-748-3274.
The charges of sexual exploitation of children each provide for a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The Whitman Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of his Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
White House Announces the Presidential Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service SystemRead the Press Release
March 26, 2019
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the formation of a Presidential Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service System (Task Force). He charged the Task Force with investigating the institutional and systemic breakdown that failed to prevent a predatory pediatrician from sexually assaulting children while acting in his capacity as a doctor in the Indian Health Service. The pediatrician left the agency in 2016 and is now in Federal prison.
This Task Force’s focus is separate and distinguishable from other investigations into the Indian health system. Specifically, the work of the Task Force will not interfere with: (1) the criminal investigation of one particular pediatrician; (2) a review underway at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including a review by the Department’s Inspector General, which HHS Secretary Azar ordered earlier this year; or (3) a review conducted by an outside, independent contractor retained by the Indian health system.
The Task Force will examine any systemic problems that may have failed to prevent this doctor’s actions and led to any failures of the Indian Health Service to protect Native American children. The Task Force will develop recommended policies, protocols, and best practices to protect Native American children and prevent such abuse from ever happening again.
The Task Force will be comprised of subject-matter experts from several United States Government agencies, and co-chaired by Joseph Grogan, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, and the Honorable Trent Shores, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and citizen of the Choctaw Nation. The Task Force will also draw on the expertise of other Federal employees and resources and seek perspective and input from tribal leaders and Native American voices.
Members of the Presidential Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service System:
Joseph Grogan, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, Co-Chair
United States Attorney Trent Shores, Co-Chair
Bo Leach, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services
Stephanie Knapp, MSW, LCSW, Child/Adolescent Forensic Interviewer, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Office for Victims Assistance, Child Victim Services Unit
Shannon Bears Cozzoni, Tribal Liaison and Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Caitlin A. Hall, MD, FAAP, Clinical Director/Pediatrician, Dzilth-na-o-dith-hle Health Center, Indian Health Service
Farnoosh Faezi-Marian, Program Examiner, Office of Management and Budget
Westmoreland County Woman Charged with Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Westmoreland County, Pa., was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of tax evasion, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The two-count indictment named Tammy Keefer aka Tammy Coffman.
According to the indictment, Keefer engaged in a theft scheme from an entity known as CAP Glass with another individual known to the grand jury as LC. During the periods from January 1, 2012 through April 15, 2013, and from January 1, 2013 through April 15, 2014, Keefer evaded and defeated her income taxes for calendar years 2012 and 2013. Keefer’s income for calendar year 2012 was $235,859.09. Her income for calendar year 2013 was $80,022.29.
Keefer took check withdrawals from a CAP Glass bank account and transacted those checks at various financial institutions in a manner that did not readily identify those matters as income to Keefer. Keefer also negotiated CAP Glass checks in such a manner as to cause a "split deposit," where part of the amount of the check went into the bank account of a business known as Coffman Transport, and part of the amount of the check was returned to Keefer as cash with no record as to its disposition, thus concealing Keefer’s true income.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Volunteer and Former Employee of Minneapolis Charter School Charged with Sexually Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced a federal criminal complaint against JOSIAH RAUL MOSQUEDA, 27, charging him with coercion and enticement of two separate minors, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and receipt, distribution, and production of child pornography. MOSQUEDA made his initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. MOSQUEDA was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, April 1, 2019.
According to the allegations in the complaint, MOSQUEDA was a volunteer and former employee of a Minneapolis charter school and a volunteer at a different Minneapolis middle school. From July 6, 2017, through December 23, 2018, MOSQUEDA engaged in sexually explicit communications, including transferring graphic, sexually explicit images and videos, to minors via Facebook Messenger. MOSQUEDA sent hundreds of messages to at least one minor, repeatedly requesting images and videos of sexually explicit acts or suggesting sexual encounters. In one instance, a minor reached out to MOSQUEDA for financial help getting his cell phone fixed. MOSQUEDA paid for the repair with the condition that the minor repay him by “hook[ing] up.”
According to the allegations in the complaint, MOSQUEDA was aware that his conduct was illegal, sending a message to one minor that read, “I mean if I show you you literally cant show anyone. I would go to jail and never be able to teach or work in a school lol.” MOSQUEDA’s Facebook also contained posts regarding law enforcement officers, as well as the Government in general, stating that, “all pigs must die,” and “[expletive] the pigs, barbeque them all.”
Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the BCA Tip Line at 1-877-996-6222. Callers may remain anonymous.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (“BCA”).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Kayser and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Middlecamp.
Defendant Information:
JOSIAH RAUL MOSQUEDA, 27
Minneapolis, Minn.
Charges:
- Receipt of child pornography, 1 count
- Coercion and enticement of a minor, 4 counts
- Production of child pornography, 1 count
- Transfer of obscene material to a minor, 1 count
- Distribution of child pornography, 1 count
###
Additional news available on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors of $2 Million in Iraqi Dinar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM BURANK pled guilty today to defrauding investors in a scheme in which he solicited funds based on false and fraudulent pretenses to purportedly invest in dinar, the currency of Iraq. Upon obtaining the funds, BURBANK either lost or misappropriated them, and then lied to investors about the state of their investments. BURBANK pled guilty to wire fraud before U.S. Magistrate Katharine H. Parker.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “William Burbank’s fraud is one of the oldest frauds in the book – using his investors’ money to pay back other investors while lining his own pockets. Burbank has now copped to his crimes and faces time in prison for his misdeeds.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment filed against BURBANK, and statements made in related court filings and proceedings:
From February 2010 through June 2018, BURBANK engaged in a Ponzi-like scheme to defraud more than 150 individual investors, including many U.S. military veterans and their families, of $2 million by soliciting funds through false and fraudulent pretenses. Specifically, BURBANK falsely claimed to potential investors that their funds would be used to trade in off-exchange foreign currency, namely, to purchase quantities of the Iraqi dinar, through an Iraqi bank headquartered in Bagdad. In truth and in fact, upon receiving investor funds, BURBANK used those funds to trade in his own brokerage accounts, to make payments to earlier investors, and for his personal expenses, among other things. Additionally, during the course of his scheme, BURBANK hid from investors the fact that he had misappropriated and lost their funds. In order to conceal the truth from investors, BURBANK provided them false information regarding the status of their investment, and engaged in a Ponzi-like scheme in which he used money obtained from new investors to make redemption payments to previous investors.
* * *
WILLIAM BURBANK, 63, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
BURBANK will be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman on July 22, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Berman praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Christine I. Magdo is in charge of the prosecution.
United States Attorney's Office Marks Women's History Month by Honoring the First and the Most Recent Female Assistant United States Attorneys in the DistrictRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge’s office took the occasion of Women’s History Month to recognize a pioneer in the practice of law who his office can call its own: Ella Mae Backus. In 1923, Ms. Backus became the first female Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in Michigan. At the time, she was only the sixth such female attorney in the entire Department of Justice. Ms. Backus had actually been working in the Western District U.S. Attorney’s Office since 1903 as a Clerk, even though she had passed the bar in 1895 without the benefit of law school and had previously handled cases of her own in private practice. U.S. Attorney Edward Bowman, initially endeavoring to give Ms. Backus a mere raise, ultimately secured a second AUSA position for the office and appointed her to it when he learned it was the only way to increase her pay. As rare as it was at the time, the appointment was overdue. By 1911, Ms. Backus had been appearing in court on behalf of the United States as only a licensed lawyer can. During an era when AUSAs tended to serve no longer than the tenure of the U.S. Attorney who hired them and well before civil service protections, Ms. Backus worked for a total of 35 years under six different U.S. Attorneys. She cemented her legacy of dedication and service when she refused to go home ill the day before she passed away at the age of 76 in 1938.
AUSA Ella Me Backus
Ms. Backus at work in the office.
Ms. Backus at work with colleagues.In 2017, Ms. Backus was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. She has been featured on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for many years, at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/about/history. Her life and times are well documented in scholar Ruth Stevens’ "Assistant US Attorney Ella Mae Backus: ‘A most important figure in the legal profession in the Western District of Michigan’" (2016). Peer Reviewed Publications. 15. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/scjpeerpubs/15.
As of March 2019, there are fourteen female AUSAs in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. Many hold key positions, including the Chief of the Appellate Division and the coordinators of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program and the summer intern program. U.S. Attorney Birge proudly noted that in the last six months, three new and distinguished women lawyers joined his team of outstanding men and women. In September, Tonya Long transferred to Grand Rapids from the Miami U.S. Attorney’s Office. An alum of Harvard Law School, Ms. Long began her career clerking for federal judges, including Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge R. Guy Cole. In February, Kristin Pinkston, a graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, joined the office after ten years with the Chicago Law Department, including as a supervisory attorney. And earlier this month, Erin Lane, who graduated magna cum laude from the Michigan State University College of Law, joined the office after serving overseas with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs.
END
U.S. Attorney's Office Collects over $2.1 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2018Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that the District of South Dakota collected $2,163,413.25 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 from civil and criminal actions. Of this amount, $1,457,048.53 was collected in criminal actions, and $706,364.72 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 Sept. 30, 2018. The $14,839,821,650 in collections in FY 2018 represents nearly seven times the appropriated $2.13 billion ($2,136,750,000) budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices.
Also, working with partner agencies and divisions, the District collected $84,598 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2018. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
“The recovery of these funds is a critical component of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Thanks to the excellent work of our Civil Division and Financial Litigation Unit under the leadership of our Civil Chief Diana Ryan, these recovered dollars will play a vital role in helping crime victims and preventing losses to the American taxpayer.”
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.
Two Plead Guilty to Distributing Opioids that Caused Fatal OverdosesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Defendants in two separate indictments entered guilty pleas Monday, to distributing controlled substances that resulted in death. In Lexington, Daikuan Miller, 23, pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death, before Senior District Judge Joseph M. Hood. Miller admitted that, on August 19, 2018, he distributed the lethal drug to an individual identified as W.M. The Nashville Police Department, the Lexington Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) jointly investigated the case.
In a separate matter in Frankfort, Kari Yount, 31, pleaded guilty to distributing heroin that resulted in an overdose death, before District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove. Yount admitted that she distributed heroin to an individual identified as C.N.M.. The Frankfort Police Department and the DEA jointly investigated the death, which led to the federal charges.
Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Sentencing for Miller will occur in Lexington, on July 8, 2019; sentencing for Yount will occur in Frankfort, on July 24, 2019.
“The illegal distribution of opioids, particularly heroin and fentanyl, is a crisis,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “These drugs are killing Americans at a rate faster than car accidents, and one critical piece in our comprehensive approach to combatting this epidemic is to aggressively prosecute those who illegally sell this poison. Our Office remains committed to seeking justice for the families who have suffered so much from this illegal trade. The commitment of our law enforcement partners is also vital to the effort, and is what made these prosecutions possible.”
U.S. Attorney Duncan; Darrell Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville; Charles Adams, Interim Chief of Police, Frankfort Police Department; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington-Fayette County Division of Police, jointly announced the guilty pleas. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted both cases on behalf of the United States.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that two men pled guilty today to federal drug charges.
“If the fentanyl in these cases had hit the streets, over 25,000 people could have died. Enough fentanyl to kill over half the city of Charleston,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We are producing significant results in Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). It’s simple -- if you deal fentanyl, I will do everything in my power to lock you up as long as possible..”
Todd Stephens, 33, from Detroit, Michigan, entered his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely fentanyl. The investigation was conducted by MDENT. Stephens admitted that on August 28, 2017, he sold what he thought was heroin to a woman. Based on that sale, MDENT detectives were able to get a search warrant for the Charleston apartment. During the search of the residence, over 50 grams of fentanyl was seized along with other contraband. Stephens faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 6, 2019. United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner is handling the prosecution.
Peyton Young, 25, from South Point, Ohio, entered a guilty plea in United States District Court in Huntington to an indictment charging him with distribution of fentanyl. Young admitted that on February 12, 2018, he met a confidential informant in the 400 block of West 10th Street in Huntington and gave the informant fentanyl in exchange for $80. As part of his plea agreement, Young also admitted that he sold heroin to an informant in April 2018 in Huntington. Young faces up to twenty years in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 8, 2019. The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), an enforcement surge that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
###
Two Boulder Colorado Individuals Sentenced to 80, 46 Months for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jorge Barron, age 21, and Ana Duenas, age 19, both of Boulder, Colorado, were sentenced for Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Barron was sentenced to 80 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release, and Duenas 46 months’ imprisonment and 3 years’ supervised release.
The investigation was initiated when the Henryetta Police Department stopped a car for a traffic violation. During the stop, officers discovered a large quantity of methamphetamine inside the car. Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and DEA Task Force agencies Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and Broken Arrow Police Department assisted with additional investigation, which ultimately lead to Barron and Duenas being indicted.
The Indictment alleged that on or about April 24, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “The large quantity of methamphetamine that was intercepted was prevented from entering into local communities. That is a victory for us all. The defendants in this case were part of the supply chain for a drug trafficking organization. This investigation and prosecution resulted in punishment to the defendants for their roles in the distribution network, and also disrupted the organization’s business operations.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.
Twenty Defendants Charged in Drug Indictments; One Alleged Trafficker Charged in Death of Carfentanil UserRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney A. Dale Blankenship (619) 546-6705
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 27, 2019
SAN DIEGO – Three federal indictments unsealed in San Diego today charge 20 people, including documented gang members and associates, with trafficking in oxycodone, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and ultra-deadly carfentanil from homes in City Heights, College Grove and Imperial Beach.
One defendant, Dat Pham Tien Tran aka “Damian,” is charged with distribution of carfentanil resulting in the death of his brother’s longtime girlfriend. The brother, Darren Pham Tran aka “Denny,” is charged with conspiracy to distribute carfentanil and oxycodone. According to a search warrant affidavit, Darren Pham Tran, who overdosed on August 25, 2017 but survived, found his girlfriend dead in her car a few days later, on September 3, 2017.
Early this morning, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies made numerous arrests and searched 11 locations in San Diego. The brothers were arrested in College Grove and 12 others were taken into custody in locations throughout San Diego and Riverside counties. Another defendant was in state custody and five were still at large as of 2 p.m.
“As the opioid epidemic rages across the nation, we will do everything we can to save lives,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “That includes pursuing charges against dealers of these drugs that are killing people every single day in this country. In the last several months we’ve prosecuted about a dozen cases in which dealers were accused of providing the illegal drugs that resulted in death.” Brewer praised prosecutor Dale Blankenship and local and federal investigators for their tireless efforts to keep dangerous drugs off the streets.
“Gang members profited off the trafficking of various dangerous drugs to include carfentanil – a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers. “Purging this gang from our community exemplifies our commitment to fighting violent street gangs and their impact on the opioid epidemic.”
“The federal indictments in this case emphasize the commitment of the San Diego FBI to combat the distribution of dangerous drugs in our communities,” said Suzanne Turner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Diego. “This investigation, led by our DEA partners and supported by our federal, state and local task force members, demonstrates the combined effort and resources dedicated to keep San Diego a safer place for us to live.”
According to charging documents, the investigation targeted gang members from the Oriental Crips, Tiny Rascal Gang, Oriental Killer Boys, Viet Boys and Linda Vista 13 who set aside rivalries in order to maximize drug trafficking profits.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that several of the defendants were involved in the distribution of prescription opioids and counterfeit prescription opioids laced with carfentanil.
Additionally, several of the defendants distributed marijuana to locations along the eastern seaboard using United Parcel Service and the United States Postal Service, according to court documents. Investigators identified defendant Manoxay Insisienmay as the principle marijuana distributor who obtained marijuana from grow operations in the Central District of California and then distributed it locally or shipped it out of state. Court records said Insisienmay operated from local drinking establishment “City Pub” on El Cajon Boulevard. According to the court documents, investigators learned that defendants processed and packaged marijuana at the apartment attached to the rear of the “City Pub.” Investigators seized numerous parcels containing marijuana destined for Maryland where other individuals then distributed the marijuana.
During the investigation, authorities also seized parcels containing drug proceeds mailed from out-of-state locations to San Diego, and identified several individuals operating “funnel accounts” on behalf of Insiseinmay. Drug distributors on the east coast made cash deposits into the funnel accounts; the defendants then withdrew the cash in San Diego. Investigators identified in excess of $100,000 in cash transactions through the funnel accounts.
Investigators executed three marijuana-grow search warrants in the Central District of California and seized over 7,000 marijuana plants. In addition, investigators executed a search warrant at an Air BnB and seized over $50,000 from out of state marijuana buyers who traveled from Florida to San Diego to buy marijuana.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 19CR0899-H
Name
Age
Hometown
DAT PHAM TIEN TRAN (1),
aka “Damian,”
31
San Diego
DARREN PHAM TRAN (2),
aka “Denny,”
29
San Diego
ANTHONY VIBOUNPHONH (3),
aka “Ant,”
33
San Diego
ARMANDO ALAN ANGELES (4),
44
Imperial Beach
KRISTINE TUYET TRUONG (5),
aka “K,”
29
San Diego
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Carfentanil (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1), 846);
Distribution of Oxycodone and Carfentanil Resulting in Death (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C); Distribution of Oxycodone and Carfentanil Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C);
Maximum Penalties: For Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Carfentanil Charge: 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine;
Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Oxycodone and Carfentanil Resulting in Death and Serious Bodily Injury Charges: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a $1 million fine
Case Number 19CR0900-H
Name
Age
Hometown
ERIC JOJO ANGELES (1),
46
San Diego
JIMMY SENGPASEUTH (2),
27
San Diego
NAVA JEFF PHETHDARA (3),
32
San Diego
JAVIER PENALOZA (4),
24
San Diego
MINH PHAM (5),
24
San Diego
NALONG LAA KEOMANIVONG (6),
aka “Elmo,”
37
San Diego
ANTHONY VIBOUNPHONH (7),
aka “Ant,”
33
San Diego
DAT PHAM TIEN TRAN (8),
aka “Damian,”
31
San Diego
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1), 846);
Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1)); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1)).
Maximum Penalties: For cocaine and methamphetamine charges: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
Case Number 19CR0901-H
Name
Age
Hometown
MANOXAY INSISIENMAY (1),
aka “Mano,”
50
San Diego
MANOSANG ANOUNOY INSISIENMAY (2)
aka “Dustin,”
22
San Diego
AMPHONE VINSON (3),
58
Mountain Center, California
DAORINE DETHAMPHAIVAN (4),
aka “Tik,”
44
Anza, California
DAT PHAM TIEN TRAN (5),
aka “Damian,”
31
San Diego
EGZON HAXHIHJA (6),
aka “X,”
aka “Florida,”
28
Jacksonville, Florida
TROY MICHAEL COOLEY (7),
33
San Diego
LINDA PHAM INSISIENMAY (8),
36
San Diego
MALIVE PARKER (9),
26
San Diego
HEATHER ODOM (10),
23
San Diego
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum penalty: 40 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a
$5 million fine.
Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h);
Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and $500,000 fine.
AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Postal Inspection Service
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Police Department
San Diego Sheriff Department
If you have information regarding the fugitives in this case, please contact the San Diego DEA at 858-616-4100 or the San Diego FBI at 858-320-1800.
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
Three Charged with Filing $1.9 Million in False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A trio of Columbus tax-return preparers has been charged with filing false tax returns and defrauding the United States of nearly $2 million. Two of the three defendants pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, announced the case.
According to court documents, Quiana Mathews, 38, of Montgomery, Ala.; Virginia Earnest, 41, of Conway, Ark.; and Barbara Huffman, 56, of Montgomery, Ala. operated a seasonal tax business in Columbus under the name GQ’s Tax Pros LLC.
Mathews was arraigned on March 20, 2019, in federal court in Columbus and Earnest and Huffman today pleaded guilty.
According to court documents, from 2012 through 2016, the defendants filed more than 1,200 returns claiming more than $5.3 million in refunds.
Specifically, 100 percent of the returns they filed claimed a refund, approximately 93 percent claimed the Earned Income Credit and approximately 75 percent claimed Schedule C self-employment income or expenses.
The defendants filed returns with false Schedule C information in order to qualify taxpayers for the Earned Income Credit. The Earned Income Credit is a tax credit ranging from approximately $400 to $6,100, which is available to low-income taxpayers who have earned income within a certain limited range. Because the credit is refundable, taxpayers who qualify for the credit can receive a refund even if they have little or no tax withholdings.
Some returns also claimed fictitious dependents to generate tax benefits.
“Our tax system depends on the honesty of filers and preparers,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “As tax season continues, let’s keep in mind that willfully manipulating tax filings is fraud against the United States. That’s a federal crime that the IRS will investigate and we will prosecute.”
Mathews, Earnest and Huffman were each charged with conspiring to defraud the United States through false claims, which is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
According to Huffman’s plea, more than 80% of the refunds generated by returns she prepared were due to fraud, resulting in nearly $237,000 in tax loss.
Likewise, more than half of the refunds Earnest generated by returns she prepared were due to fraud, resulting in more than $94,000 in tax loss. The total tax loss caused by the trio was more than $1.9 million.
As part of their pleas, Huffman and Earnest have agreed to pay back the tax losses in restitution.
Mathews has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on July 16, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by IRS Criminal Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Peter Glenn-Applegate, who is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Third Person Sentenced in Pawtucket Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A third person indicted by a federal grand jury for their participation in a conspiracy to traffic heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, and Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kelly D. Brady.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Michael Querceto, 34, was sentenced to 72 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. Querceto pleaded guilty on December 7, 2018, to four counts of distribution of heroin, and one count each of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and felon in possession of a firearm.
On September 17, 2018, co-defendant Brandon Querceto, 31, was sentenced to 72 months in prison to be followed by 4 years supervised release. He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base.
On September 11, 2018, co-defendant Jacqueline Caraballo, 45, was sentenced to 48 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. On June 8, 2018, Caraballo pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, five counts of distribution of heroin, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In September 2017, Pawtucket Police received information that an individual in Pawtucket was arranging sales of heroin via a cell telephone. Pawtucket Police linked the phone to Michael Querceto. Over the next several weeks, a Pawtucket Police Department undercover officer called Querceto several times to arrange for purchases of heroin.
On four occasions, Caraballo delivered heroin to the officer. On one occasion both Caraballo and Michael Querceto together delivered heroin to the officer. On all but one occasion, the undercover officer contacted Michael Querceto to arrange the deliveries.
On October 11, 2017, a court-authorized search of the Pawtucket residence the three defendants shared resulted in the seizure of more than five grams of heroin and nearly 60 grams of crack cocaine packaged for delivery were seized from Brandon Querceto’s bedroom. Additionally, from other locations within the residence, law enforcement seized various amounts of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, steroids and fentanyl, $6,796 in cash, and a handgun.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by the Pawtucket Police Department, with the assistance of the ATF.
Texas Track Coach Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Minor during College Visit to TulsaRead the Press Release
A Killeen, Texas, private track coach and retired U.S. Army sergeant first class pleaded guilty Tuesday to transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity during a college visit in June 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
In his plea agreement, Kerry Sloan, 56, of Harker Heights, Texas, admitted that when he drove the victim from Killeen to Tulsa for meetings with college coaches, he intended to engage in sexual activity with the victim without her consent at a Tulsa hotel. He also admitted that he ultimately did sexually assault the victim. After a 911 call was made on the return trip, the vehicle the two were traveling in was stopped by Pittsburg County Sheriff’s deputies, who were able to rescue the victim. During the ensuing investigation, victims dating back to 1990 came forward to report similar incidents involving Sloan.
“Kerry Sloan was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He portrayed himself to parents and children as a trustworthy and caring mentor when in reality he was a danger to young girls,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “During the course of this prosecution, even more victims than we were originally aware of came forward, claiming to have been groomed and assaulted by Mr. Sloan. His days of preying on unsuspecting families and their daughters are over. Federal prison is his next stop.”
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan accepted the plea and scheduled Sloan’s sentencing for June 26, 2019. At that time, he faces a possible minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; he further faces a maximum fine of $250,000. Sloan was permitted to remain on bond pending the sentencing hearing. While on bond, he will be heavily monitored by the U.S. Probation Office.
The Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, Killeen and Tulsa Police Departments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
St. Croix Man Arrested for Conspiracy and Possession with the intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Jakwan Sweeney, 21, of St. Croix arrested yesterday on an indictment charging him with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, announced. Sweeney made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and was detained pending further proceedings on March 29, 2019.
According to the indictment, between August 1st and September 24, 2018, Sweeney conspired to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
If convicted of conspiracy or possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, Sweeney faces a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years and not more than life and a fine of $10,000,000.00.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this matter and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
St. Clair County Man Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a one count indictment charging Sean M. Hall, 22, of Cahokia, Illinois, with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. According to the indictment, Hall knowingly possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun on February 26 of this year after previously sustaining a 2013 felony conviction for cannabis possession.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The arraignment for Hall will be conducted on April 1, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East Saint Louis, Illinois. He is currently being held without bond.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address violent crime, the Justice Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN ("PSN 2.0") and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The investigation of this case was a collaborative effort between the O’Fallon Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria M. Burns.
St. Clair County Man Charged with Distributing and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a seven-count indictment charging James K. Young, 66, of Dupo, Illinois, with five counts of distributing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. According to the indictment, Young knowingly distributed child pornography on five separate dates from June 2017 to March 2018. On the first occasion, Young is specifically charged with distributing a digital video file depicting the anal penetration of a toddler by an adult male. The indictment further charges Young with knowingly receiving child pornography on November 7, 2017, and April 29, 2018.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Young’s arraignment will be held on April 11, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East Saint Louis, Illinois. Young has been summoned to appear at the arraignment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to distributing crack cocaine.
Alonzo Williams Jr., 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of crack cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni, who scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2019. Williams was arrested and charged in August 2018 and was released on conditions.
Williams admitted that he possessed and distributed crack cocaine to a government witness on Oct. 19, 2017, and Oct. 23, 2017, near his home in Springfield.
Williams faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Acting Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; and Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Hampden and Berkshire County Sheriff’s Departments, and the West Springfield and Chicopee Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
South Dakota Resident Who Visited South Beach Pleads Guilty to Federal Weapons ViolationRead the Press Release
A South Dakota resident pled guilty today to possession of an unregistered firearm.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), Miami Field Office, and Daniel J. Oates, Chief, Miami Beach Police Department (“MBPD”), made the announcement.
David James Goldammer, 32, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pled guilty to the single count Indictment that charged him with possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d) (Case No. 18-20889-CR-Martinez). Goldammer is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez on June 4, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. Goldammer faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. Goldammer will also have to forfeit the unregistered firearm.
According to court documents, on or about October 25, 2018, MBPD officers found Goldammer asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle parked with the engine running in an alleyway at the 1400 block of Ocean Court. The MBPD officers observed in plain view several open beer bottles and two handguns. The officers asked Goldammer to exit the vehicle so that they could conduct a driving under the influence (“DUI”) and weapon violations investigation. Later, Goldammer was asked to perform standard field sobriety exercises in order to determine whether he was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Goldammer refused to perform the field sobriety exercises. The MBPD officers arrested Goldammer based upon their own observations.
After Goldammer was arrested, the MBPD officers determined that Goldammer’s vehicle needed to be towed in accordance with MBPD policy. Before Goldammer’s vehicle was towed, the officers were required to conduct an inventory search of the vehicle. During the inventory search, the MBPD officers located a green rifle bag underneath of the rear driver-side seat that contained a loaded rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length, commonly referred to as a “short-barrel rifle”, a separate upper receiver that was longer than 16 inches in length and an additional loaded magazine. In addition, the MBPD officers found five handguns, several thousand rounds of ammunition, body armor, empty and loaded magazines, and other firearms accessories.
An ATF expert later examined the short-barrel rifle and determined that the overall length of the barrel was 7-5/8 inches, which is smaller than the legal limit of 16 inches before a rifle is exempt from registration under the National Firearms Act (“NFA”). The ATF expert also determined that the short-barrel rifle bore no NFA manufacturer’s marks of identification, as required by law. ATF further conducted a records check and determined that the short-barrel rifle was not registered to Goldammer in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
Ms. Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of ATF and MBPD. Ms. Fajardo Orshan also thanked the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for their assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Gellis from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Christine Hernandez.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
San Carlos Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On March 25, 2019, Leon Arthur Dosela, 51, of San Carlos, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to prison for 20 years followed by five years of supervised release. Dosela had previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
On Sept. 15, 2016, Dosela, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, argued with the victim at the victim’s residence on the San Carlos Apache Community. As a result of the argument, Dosela threw a flammable liquid onto the victim and thereafter ignited the liquid. The victim died from the resulting burn injuries.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the San Carlos Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Simon, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01156-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-035_ Dosela
# # #
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.
Saginaw Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of nearly $1 million from Jewish FederationRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas – A 64-year-old Saginaw, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for bank fraud, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.
Laurie Ann Reese pleaded guilty on July 18, 2018, to bank fraud and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means on Mar. 26, 2019. Reese was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $992,854.02.
According to information presented in court, between Jan. 6, 2013, and April 19, 2018, Reese, while a controller for the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County (JFFWTC), devised and executed a scheme to make approximately 326 checks payable to herself from the JFFWTC bank accounts. Reese spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the Home Shopping Network and QVC.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason.
Sacaton Man Sentenced to over 8 Years for Robbery with a MacheteRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On March 26, 2019, Vince Rivera, 28, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to over eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rivera had previously pleaded guilty to robbery. During the robbery, Rivera attacked the victim with a machete, causing permanent injuries to the victim.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-917-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-036_Rivera
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Sacaton Man Sentenced to 137 Months’ Imprisonment for Burglary with FirearmRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Travis Lee Kisto, 40, of Sacaton, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 137 months in prison for crimes he committed on the Gila River Indian Community. Judge Humetewa sentenced Kisto to 120 months for felon in possession of a firearm and 105 months for burglary, and ordered that 17 months of the burglary sentence run consecutive to the sentence for the firearm. Judge Humetewa further sentenced Kisto to concurrent, three-year terms of supervised release. Kisto had previously pleaded guilty to both felonies.
On March 1, 2018, Kisto unlawfully entered the victim’s home on the Gila River Indian Community while carrying a modified and stolen shotgun. Kisto, a felon, demanded the victim’s purse and began going through her belongings before ultimately discharging the firearm in the home. Responding law enforcement had to utilize tear gas and a K-9 to get Kisto to exit the residence and submit to arrest. Kisto and the victim are enrolled members of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-1264-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-033_Kisto
# # #
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.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Possession and Being A Felon in Possession of A GunRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joseph Delisio, 47, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant sold heroin between September 29, 2017, and April 11, 2018 to individuals working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Delisio was arrested on April 11, 2018, following a vehicle stop. The defendant had approximately $34,650 in cash in his possession and officers found a bottle in the vehicle containing residue of suspected heroin, scales which are commonly used to process narcotics for distribution, and a .22 caliber Ruger handgun.
During a subsequent search of Delisio’s residence, officers recovered three more firearms and ammunition. The defendant was previously convicted in Wayne County Court in 2013 of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree; in 2009 of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree; and in 2002 of Burglary in the Third Degree. As a result, Delisio is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Barry Virts.Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
# # # #
Rigby Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
POCATELLO - Joseph Lavern Harris, 31, of Rigby, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to sexual exploitation of a minor child, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on March 27, 2018.
According to court records, on February 26, 2018, state investigators responded to allegations of child abuse at a residence in Jefferson County, Idaho, where Harris resided. A subsequent investigation discovered that Harris had produced child pornography using a minor child. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Harris’s electronic devices and discovered images of the sexual abuse taken on Harris’s phone. In court, Harris admitted that he used, persuaded, and coerced the minor child to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of 5 years to life.
Sentencing is set for June 18, 2019, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
# # #
Randolph County man sentenced for heroin distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Mark Jay Courtney, of Montrose, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 months incarceration for distributing heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Courtney, age 40, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin” in October 2018. Courtney admitted to selling heroin in Randolph County in January 2018.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Randolph County Man Charged with Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a three-count indictment charging Brandon W. Junge, 33, of Baldwin, Illinois, with transportation of child pornography, possession of prepubescent child pornography and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. According to the indictment, on April 17, 2018, Junge knowingly transported child pornography in interstate commerce and knowingly possessed child pornography depicting prepubescent children. Junge is further accused of sending a close-up picture of a nude penis to a person he believed to be a 14 year old girl.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The arraignment for Junge will be held on April 17, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East Saint Louis, Illinois. Junge is currently in Missouri state custody on related charges.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott.
Port Richey Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aiming A Laser at Police HelicopterRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Ryan J. Fluke (28, Port Richey) to 21 months in federal prison for aiming a laser at a police helicopter. Fluke pleaded guilty on November 20, 2018.
According to court documents, the offense occurred on December 5, 2017, around 10:50 p.m., when a Pasco Sheriff’s Office helicopter was dispatched to assist other deputies during an encounter with a barricaded individual at a residence in Port Richey. The helicopter flew over the house where the individual had barricaded himself. As the helicopter was providing assistance for the deputies who were preparing to enter the home, Fluke aimed a laser pointer at the helicopter. The laser pointer caused a high-intensity red laser beam to enter the interior cockpit and the pilot’s line of sight, initially blinding and disorientating the crewmembers for several seconds, and making it hard to operate the aircraft. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was flying low to the ground, over a heavily populated area. The aircraft was forced to abandon air support for the ground units.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Baggé-Hernández and Charlie Connally.
Plymouth Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Steven Moore, 36, of Plymouth, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Court filings and statements made in court established that Moore and Samantha Merrifield arranged to sell approximately 50 grams of fentanyl to an undercover police officer on October 10, 2018.
Moore previously pleaded guilty on December 18 2018.
Merrifield will be sentenced on June 26, 2019.
“Fentanyl distribution is a serious problem throughout the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest, and incarcerate drug dealers who choose to engage in this illegal and dangerous trade in New Hampshire.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
###
Pittsburgh Man Admits Robbing PNC Bank in West Mifflin in September 2018Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA- A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Barry Daniels, 30, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about September 12, 2018, Daniels, wearing a Pirates hat and a black buttoned-up McDonald's shirt, entered the PNC Bank at 4917 Homeville Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122, handed the teller a deposit slip with a note on the back, which read: "Give me all of your 100s and 50s." The Court was further advised that Daniels took $505.00 from the bank teller. Additionally, the Court was informed that Daniels was captured on surveillance video driving a black vehicle into the bank parking lot and, after the robbery, he was observed entering the same vehicle, which he then drove out of the parking lot.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Daniels remains detained pending the sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Mifflin Police Department, and the Turtle Creek Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Daniels.
Pine Ridge Man Found Guilty of False StatementRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota man, Weldon Two Bulls, age 48, was found guilty of False Statement following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota. The jury did not reach a unanimous verdict on the charge of Accessory After the Fact.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stemmed from the defendant making a false statement to a federal agent regarding his recollection of a brutal assault on a woman in November of 2018. The jury convicted Two Bulls of knowingly and falsely telling a federal agent that he was too intoxicated to remember what happened to the victim.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassandra DeCoste and Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
A sentencing date has not been set. Two Bulls is out of custody pending sentencing.
Paterson Police Officer Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Assaulting Hospital Patient, Distributing NarcoticsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A City of Paterson police officer was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for violating an individual’s civil rights by assaulting him at a hospital and repeatedly distributing narcotics, including drugs he stole from a crime scene while on duty, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Ruben McAusland, 27, of Paterson, pleaded guilty on June 27, 2018, before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls to an information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute narcotics and deprivation of civil rights under color of law. Judge Walls imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
“Today’s sentencing of Ruben McAusland marks the important role that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey plays in identifying and holding accountable officers of the law who breach their sworn duty to serve the public,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Through prosecutions like this one, police officers like McAusland – who dealt drugs, stole from a crime scene, and viciously attacked a person who sought help from the Paterson Police Department – are removed from positions where they can violate the public trust and deprive others of their civil rights under color of law. We will continue to vigilantly pursue these cases, recognizing that the people of Paterson, and all of New Jersey, deserve better.”
“The facts of this case are especially troubling to those of us in law enforcement,” Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie of the Newark FBI Field Office said. “When an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve, it tarnishes the law enforcement community and puts the public at risk. The FBI prides itself on having a solid working relationship with our state and local law enforcement partners. But by no means will we look the other way if an officer or agent of the law is breaking the rules that he or she is sworn to uphold.”
According to documents filed in this and another case, and statements made in court:
Between October 2017 and April 2018, McAusland sold various types and quantities of narcotics to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement. In October 2017, McAusland sold the individual approximately 35 grams of marijuana, 48 grams of heroin, 31 grams of cocaine, and 31 grams of crack cocaine. McAusland admitted that he stole these narcotics from a crime scene while on duty and in uniform as a police officer.
McAusland also sold the individual two pounds of marijuana between November 2017 and January 2018. In addition, on multiple occasions between February 2018 and April 2018, McAusland sold pills that were made to resemble Percocet doses but were actually made of heroin.
On March 5, 2018, McAusland and his partner, Roger Then, 29, of Paterson, were on duty and responded to a call from an attempted suicide victim. McAusland and Then went to the victim’s house but were told the victim had been transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson.
McAusland first met the victim, who was in a wheelchair, in the hospital waiting room. McAusland admitted that during the encounter, he pushed the victim and punched him in the face. In addition, Then allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed him into the ground. Afterwards, the victim was taken to a patient room.
McAusland and Then had another encounter with the victim in the hospital room, which Then recorded on his cellphone. McAusland admitted that, while the victim was on his back in a hospital bed, he put on a pair of hospital gloves and violently struck the victim twice across the face.
McAusland and Then filed a false police report in connection with the foregoing events. McAusland admitted that they purposely omitted from the report the fact that McAusland violently struck the victim multiple times and that Then grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed him into the ground.
The victim suffered multiple injuries to his face, including an eye injury that required surgery, as a result of these assaults.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced McAusland to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $32,892.
Then pleaded guilty before Judge Walls on Dec. 6, 2018, to one count of misprision of felony for concealing civil rights violations. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 2, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Troy Oswald, and the Paterson Police Department Office of Internal Affairs, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.
Owners of South Carolina Company Plead Guilty to Conspiring with Employees of One of the Nation's Largest Private Companies Relating to Extensive Bribery and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The two owners of a South Carolina-based company and a manager at one of the country’s largest private companies (“Victim Company”) appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to conspiracy, in connection with an extensive bribery and kickback scheme involving more than $35,000,000 of fraudulent overcharges, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Brian C. Ewert, 53, of Charlotte, Jennifer Maier, 51, of Clover, South Carolina, and Choung “Shawn” Nguyen, 47, of Wichita, Kansas, entered their guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer.
John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Matthew D. Line, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI) join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
Ewert was co-owner and primary sales representative of WDS, Inc., also known as Women’s Distribution Services, Inc. (WDS), located in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. One of Ewert’s responsibilities at WDS was to set prices for the supplies WDS provided to Victim Company. Maier was co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of WDS, responsible for running the company’s day to day operations.
Nguyen was a procurement manager with Victim Company’s Strategic Sourcing Function group, responsible for implementing and monitoring Victim Company’s supplier agreements with WDS. Nguyen reported to M.K., an uncharged co-conspirator and senior employee within Victim Company’s Strategic Sourcing Function group. Both Nguyen and M.K. were terminated by Victim Company in May 2016.
According to the criminal information and plea documents, from 2009 through 2016, Ewert, Nguyen, and M.K. conspired with each other to defraud Victim Company by allowing WDS to overcharge Victim Company by more than $35,000,000. As part of the conspiracy, Ewert paid more than $1 million in bribes to Nguyen, M.K., and others. Court records show that in 2007, M.K. helped Ewert start a business relationship with Victim Company. Between 2008 and 2016, with the help of M.K. and Nguyen, WDS dramatically increased its sales volume to Victim Company. For example, between 2012 and 2016, Victim Company purchased nearly $544 million in products from WDS.
Over the course of the scheme, in exchange for allowing WDS to overinflate the prices it charged Victim Company, Nguyen, M.K. and others were paid more than a million dollars in kickbacks. As the defendants admitted in court today, Ewert made regular cash payments to Nguyen and M.K., paid for family vacations, flew them on private jets, and gave them expensive gifts, including electronics. In exchange for the illicit bribes, Nguyen and M.K. assisted WDS in concealing from Victim Company more than $35 million in overcharges.
In late 2015 and early 2016, after Victim Company began to question WDS’s contracts, Ewert, M.K. and Nguyen took a number of steps to conceal the scheme and to impede Victim Company’s audit by, among other things, providing misleading pricing information, falsely claiming that WDS was in compliance with its pricing obligations according to its agreement with Victim Company, and falsely denying receiving any improper benefits from WDS. When Victim Company continued to demand proof related to pricing, Maier joined the conspiracy by creating at least 100 bogus invoices that she provided to Victim Company, in an effort to conceal more than $500,000 in fraudulent overcharges.
Ewert, Nguyen and Maier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine. They are currently released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.
The FBI, USPIS, and IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.