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Friday 1 February 2019
Defendants in major Statesboro drug trafficking investigation enter guilty pleasRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Mexican national and 17 other Statesboro-area residents indicted in a sweeping two-year, multi-agency investigation have pled guilty to a multitude of charges, and now face sentences of up to life in prison.
The joint federal, state and local investigation began in 2015 after citizens complained about drug-trafficking and violent crime in Screven County, Ga., and soon uncovered a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana in Screven, Effingham, Jenkins, Bulloch and Evans counties, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Of the original 20 defendants indicted in September 2018, 18 have signed guilty pleas, one is pending an evaluation, and charges against another have been dismissed.
The lead defendant in the case, Natividad Dias, 38, also known as “Nat,” “Nate,” “Amigo” or “Huevos,” pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He faces up to life in federal prison.
Others signing guilty pleas to similar charges in the case include:
John Timothy Collins, 48
John Kenneth Joyner, 47
Palmer Alton Bazemore II, 51
Cassie Jo Barbee, 36
Jaime Elton Newsome, 39
Megan Nicole Bazemore, 30
Christina Elizabeth Davis, 32
Derrick Riggs, 42
Gary Paul Joyner, 51
Monica Isabell Jimenez, 22
Zackary Allen Durrence, 26
John Dillon Joyner, 25
Jonathan Travis Oliver, 36
Michael Shane Bishop, 44
Jonathon Evan Oglesby, 27
Alfred Anthony Woods, 28
Noah Quinn Pope, 25
Agreements from Oliver and Bishop also include admitting illegal possession of firearms that were seized during the investigation. The defendants face sentences of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing hearings have not yet been scheduled.
“Securing admissions of guilt from all of the defendants in this operation represents an incredible, exhaustive level of investigative work from all of the partner agencies,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The obvious payoff is that a significant number of criminals are off the streets and no longer peddling poison in our communities.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented on the pleas, “These guilty pleas are a direct result of the dedicated efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The distribution of methamphetamine continues to ravage many communities. The Statesboro-area communities are much safer because these drug traffickers have been removed from the streets.”
“Homeland Security Investigations works diligently with our federal, state and local partners to prevent dangerous drugs and drug violence from plaguing our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan. “This joint investigation is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies pool their resources and expertise to attack and dismantle criminal organizations engaged in illicit activities that pose a significant threat to public safety.”
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, the premier law enforcement unit whose task is to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations.
The investigation was a joint operation of federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Participating state agencies included the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Local law enforcement included the Screven County Sheriff’s Office, Sylvania Police Department, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, Evans County Sheriff’s Office; and the Claxton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Marcela C. Mateo is prosecuting the case for the United States.
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
Defendants in Methamphetamine Conspiracy SentencedRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A Saltville, Va., man, convicted of trafficking a large quantity of methamphetamine in Smyth County, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 72 months in prison, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced today.
Zachary Blue Carter, 38, was sentenced yesterday to serve 72 months in federal prison. Carter previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin, and one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of distributing or using a controlled substance.
“Crystal methamphetamine and heroin are highly addictive drugs that have destroyed countless lives in Southwest Virginia,” United States Attorney Cullen stated today. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners, including the Virginia Attorney General’s office, to target individuals and organizations responsible for bringing these deadly substances into our communities and holding them accountable.”
“Overdose deaths from dangerous drugs now surpass fatalities from car crashes each year. This sad statistic underscores our continued dedication to collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and federal, state, and local law enforcement to crack down on those who transport dangerous drugs into Southwest Virginia for distribution,” Virginia Attorney General Herring said today. “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners and will continue to aggressively prosecute those who endanger the lives of our citizens.”
According to court records and evidence presented at previous hearings by Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, Carter engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy from April 1, 2016, through April 11, 2017. Court documents demonstrate that the conspiracy involved over 50 grams of crystal ice methamphetamine, with over 953 grams of methamphetamine and over 125 grams of heroin seized from Carter’s apartment on April 11, 2017. Carter distributed methamphetamine from his Saltville apartment. Six undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Carter were also conducted by the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office and Saltville Police Department at Carter’s residence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Saltville Police Department investigated the case. The Virginia State Police assisted with Carter’s arrest and consent search of his apartment. Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, prosecuted the case for the United States.
Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison in Operation Dirty Bird Targeting Heroin Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that two additional individuals have been sentenced to federal prison following their convictions in Operation Dirty Bird, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation aimed at dismantling a large scale heroin trafficking network based in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas. The indictment charged individuals with significant drug trafficking, racketeering, firearm, and conspiracy charges. To date, investigative efforts have resulted in the seizure of over one and a half kilograms of heroin, substantial amounts of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and oxycodone. As a result of this operation, authorities have also seized seven firearms, over $314,000 in drug proceeds, and three vehicles allegedly used in the drug trafficking venture: a 2013 Porsche 911, a Mercedes CLS550, and a GMC Hummer. To date, 11 defendants have been sentenced, two defendants are pending sentencing, and two defendants are awaiting trial.
U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced JABLONSKI HANKTON a/k/a “Blossy,” “Blasky,” and “Blosky,” age 37, of Gonzales, Louisiana, to 95 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and unlawful use of a communications facility. The Court also sentenced HANKTON to 4 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, HANKTON bought heroin from Jason Muse to sell to others in and around Ascension Parish. Furthermore, HANKTON used a telephone on numerous occasions to discuss the distribution of heroin with Jason Muse.
DENMOND SMITH, age 39, of St. James, Louisiana was charged by indictment in the Middle District of Louisiana for conspiracy to distribute heroin, and unlawful use of communication facilities. SMITH was also charged by indictment in the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division for conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. SMITH was sentenced in both matters by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to 120 months in federal prison in each case, to run concurrently. The Court also sentenced SMITH to 5 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty pleas, SMITH admitted to buying heroin from Jason Muse to sell to others in and around Ascension Parish and traveling to McComb, Mississippi, from Louisiana with an accomplice for the purpose of purchasing methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “The success of this operation demonstrates what federal authorities, working across state boundaries and alongside our state and local partners can accomplish. We will continue to use all available resources to stop the flow of these deadly drugs to our streets. The people of this District, and in this case the people of Ascension Parish, deserve nothing less. I want to thank our prosecutors and our federal, state, and local partners for their efforts.”
“Federal and local law enforcement has successfully collaborated in order to put these drug dealers in jail as a result of their desire to supply the citizens in the greater Baton Rouge area with heroin and methamphetamine, said DEA Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Arnett. “DEA will remain relentless in our efforts to cripple these dealers and remove them from our neighborhoods, keeping our communities safe.”
This operation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Baton Rouge City Police Department, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, and the Gonzales Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kleinpeter, who also serves as a deputy criminal chief.
The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program that was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
Columbus Home Health Care Provider Sentenced for FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The co-owner of Alpha Star Health Care Inc. was sentenced today in federal court to 18 months in prison for running home health care fraud and tax fraud schemes.
Ali Jama, 50, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in September 2018 to one count of making false health care statements and one count of making false statements to the IRS.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, United States Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and Todd Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.
According to court documents, Alpha, which was located on Westerville Road in Columbus, was a Medicare and Ohio Medicaid health care provider. In 2015 and 2016, Jama improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid by allowing unqualified health care aides to provide care.
Jama billed for services by disqualified individuals, whose criminal backgrounds prohibited them from providing direct care; and billed for services by untrained home health aides.
Further, Jama provided false documents to his tax preparer, claiming $0 in taxable income for 2013 and 2014. In fact, his taxable income for those years was approximately $167,000 and $301,000 respectively. As a result, the IRS sustained a loss of approximately $126,000 in tax liability.
Jama also provided false records to his tax preparer in terms of business expenses. Jama inflated business expenses, thereby reducing the company’s tax liability from nearly $680,000 to $81,000, resulting in addition loss of nearly $185,000 to the IRS.
As part of his sentence, Jama is ordered to forfeit $300,000. He was also ordered to pay $392,000 in restitution to Medicaid and approximately $311,000 in restitution to the IRS.
“The public rightfully expects and trusts that those who provide health care services are competent and qualified”, said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The utilization of unqualified personnel coupled with the billing of federally funded health care programs for their services puts a patient’s health and safety at risk, and wastes taxpayer dollars. The OIG along with our federal and state partners will continue to identify and hold accountable those who choose to engage in this type of criminal activity.”
“Health care fraud affects every American and this case illustrates that the IRS and our law enforcement partners are steadfast in our commitment to detecting and dismantling health care fraud schemes and holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Waste, fraud and abuse take critical resources out of our health care system, contribute to the rising cost of health care and degrade the integrity of our health care system and legitimate patient care.”
“This is a deliberate, coldhearted violation of the public trust,” Ohio Attorney General Yost said. “This joint investigation and prosecution was equally deliberate, and the sentence is just.”
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation of this case by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Health Care Fraud Section, HHS Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas W. Squires, Kenneth F. Affeldt and Maritsa A. Flaherty, who are representing the United States in this case.
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Clairton Woman Sentenced in Counterfeit Cash ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to two years of probation and ordered to pay $9,570.00 in restitution on her conviction of conspiracy and passing and uttering counterfeit money, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Seleste M. Foster, 25, of Clairton, PA.
According to information presented to the court, Foster conspired and passed counterfeit $100, $50, and $20 Federal Reserve Notes throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania..
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the United States Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Foster.
Citizen of Honduras Pleads Guilty to Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that GREGORIO ANDERSON ROMERO, 36, a citizen of Honduras last residing in New Britain, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to one count of reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Romero, who has never held legal status in the U.S., was deported from the U.S. to Honduras in April 2009 following a conviction for attempted arson, and 366-day sentence, in Florida.
Romero subsequently reentered the U.S. illegally.
On August 12, 2018, Romero was arrested by the New Britain Police Department and charged with assault and disorderly conduct offenses. He has been detained since his arrest.
Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2019, at which time Romero faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the assistance of the New Britain Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.
Caddo County Man Who Shot Woman in Indian Country Sentenced to Nine Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MARTIN ROCHA, 56, a resident of Caddo County, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Robert J. Troester of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The sentence took into account Rocha’s having used the firearm to shoot a woman in Indian Country.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed in federal court on May 19, 2018, officers with the Binger Police Department and the Caddo County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement after a 911 call reported Rocha’s shooting of a woman with a Winchester 30-30 rifle. According to the affidavit, Rocha was estranged from his wife and was not allowed to live with her. The investigation determined that Rocha drove up to the residence, got out of his car, and fired a single shot that caused life-threatening injuries to the victim, a neighbor. The woman survived but suffered permanent injuries. Rocha has been in custody since May 18, 2018, the day of the shooting.
On June 20, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Rocha. He was charged with assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The assault charges were federal crimes because the indictment alleges the victim is an Indian and the shooting took place in Indian Country. More specifically, the affidavit identified the victim as an Indian and also stated that Rocha is not an Indian.
On September 6, 2018, Rocha pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum punishment of ten years in prison. In a plea agreement, he acknowledged he used the firearm to commit another crime. He also stipulated to advisory sentencing guideline calculations that took the circumstances of the incident and the victim’s injuries into account.
Chief U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Rocha yesterday to 108 months, or nine years, in federal prison. He will be on supervised release for three years after his prison term. The court ordered him to pay $67,747.71 in restitution for medical expenses and announced that further restitution proceedings will take place on April 29, 2019.
These charges are the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with assistance from the Binger Police Department and the Caddo County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvo Mikkanen, the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on the most violent offenders and partners with local prevention and re-entry programs for lasting reductions in crime. To enhance local effectiveness, the Western District of Oklahoma has emphasized prosecution of federal gun crimes connected to domestic violence.
Reference is made to public filings for further information.
Buffalo Man Going to Prison for Selling CocaineRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Charles E. Woods, 41, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, was sentenced to 85 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Astorga, who handled the case, stated that between October 19, 2017, and January 17, 2018, the defendant distribute crack cocaine and cocaine to an individual working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On January 17, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Woods’ residence in Buffalo. Officers seized a quantity of cocaine, $9,860 in drug proceeds, and a digital scale.
The sentencing 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.
# # # #Box Elder man admits domestic assaultRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – Box Elder resident Larry Ray Denny, Jr., admitted a domestic assault charge on Tuesday in federal court, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said today.
Denny, 46, pleaded guilty to domestic assault by a habitual offender. Denny faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magisrate Judge John T. Johnston presided at the hearing and recommended Denny's plea be accepted by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris, who is hearing the case. Sentencing is set for June 6. Denny was released pending sentencing.
Prosecutors said evidence would show that law enforcement arrived at the victim’s residence on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation on Oct. 15, 2017 and that Denny had hit her. Denny has two prior domestic assault convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassady Adams and Ryan Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement.
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Attorney Convicted at Trial of Defrauding Elderly WomanRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that John Kelvin Conner, 62, was convicted today by a jury of 19 counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to federal agents. The defendant, an attorney, devised and participated in a scheme to defraud an elderly woman out of more than $95,000 so that he could gamble with her money at casinos.
In July 2016, the 85-years old victim signed a Power of Attorney (“POA”) agreement with the defendant that granted him authority to manage the victim’s finances and pay her bills. At the time, the victim lived at home, but required the assistance of multiple caregivers, and her only source of income was a monthly pension. The defendant used the POA agreement to liquidate a life annuity policy that the victim owned, deposit the proceeds into one of her bank accounts, and siphon nearly all of that money for his personal use at casinos.
From August 16, 2016 until April 22, 2017, the defendant used an ATM card to make at least 176 unauthorized withdrawals totaling at least $95,688 from the victim’s bank account at Pennsylvania and New Jersey casinos. During this time, the defendant neglected to pay the victim’s bills, which led to the victim temporarily losing basic utilities like heat, hot water, electricity, and telephone services. Additionally, many checks paid to the home caregivers were returned because of insufficient balances in the victim’s checking account. When questioned by FBI agents about the ATM withdrawals, the defendant falsely told the agents that the victim had authorized him to use her money to gamble at casinos.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case was egregious,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Stealing an elderly woman’s life-savings, gambling it away at casinos, and then lying about it to federal agents by pretending that he had permission to throw away the victim’s savings so that she couldn’t even afford her necessities – it is hard to fathom that an individual would choose to commit these crimes. We are grateful that the jury saw through the defendant’s lies and held him accountable.”
“For anyone with elderly loved ones, this is the nightmare scenario,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “John Conner’s victim was utterly vulnerable, and he took full advantage – robbing her blind to hit the casinos, frittering away her money as her own bills went unpaid. It’s unconscionable. The FBI will never stop working to protect the public from criminals like this, and we’re gratified to see him brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
Arvada, Colorado Businesswoman Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Corporate Income Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Marlene Seo was sentenced today in Denver to one year and one day in prison for making and subscribing a false corporate income tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney Richard E. Zuckerman, head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents, Seo owned and operated the National Martial Arts Academy (NMAA). From 2011 through 2013, she directed that income due to NMAA to be deposited into certain bank accounts, which she did not disclose to her bookkeeper and accountants. As a result, Seo caused the 2011, 2012 and 2013 federal corporate income tax returns for NMAA to underreport the business’s gross receipts by approximately $650,000.
Seo pleaded guilty on October 29, 2018, to signing and filing NMAA’s false 2012 income tax return. In addition to the prison term, Seo was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the amount of $238,350.70 and a special assessment of $100.
Principal Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Anahi Cortada and Lisa L. Bellamy of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Peter Jackson (31, St. Petersburg) to 12 years and 6 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jackson had pleaded guilty on October 29, 2018.
According to court documents, on May 9, 2018, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at a house in St. Petersburg. As the agents approached the home, they found Jackson sitting on the front porch with crack cocaine and a loaded pistol. He was waiting to sell the crack cocaine to a customer.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
After Five Days of Trial, Doctor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Dispense and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – After five days of jury trial, Dr. Guillermo Tirado-Menéndez entered a straight guilty plea to Count one - conspiracy to distribute and dispense at least 70,000 units of Oxycodone (Percocet) and at least 40,000 units of Alprazolam (Xanax) and Count three - possession with intent to dispense at least 70,000 units of Oxycodone (Percocet) and at least 40,000 units of Alprazolam (Xanax) outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the case.
Tirado would use his license to prescribe Percocet and Xanax to individuals who would come to his office seeking Percocet and Xanax without performing a medical examination. He commonly referred to his patients as “Los Cristianos” because they were methadone addicts seeking more drugs. He would typically charge $100 per script. With these convictions, this doctor will no longer be able to use his medical license and DEA controlled substances license to serve as a drug pusher. Both will be forfeited as a result of the conviction.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marc Chattah and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadia Y. Pineda. The defendant faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine not to exceed one million dollars and a term of supervised release of not less than three years. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 2, 2019.
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Thursday 31 January 2019
Worcester Restaurant Manager Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy and Attempted Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester restaurant manager pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to conspiring with the wife of a convicted drug dealer to use drug proceeds to renovate and operate a Shrewsbury Street restaurant.
Joseph Herman, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, making false statements to federal investigators and attempted witness tampering. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2019.
Between May 2017 and September 2017, Herman conspired with co-defendant Stacy Gala to launder the proceeds of illegal drug sales by Gala’s husband, Kevin A. Perry Jr. Herman worked as the manager of The Usual, a Worcester restaurant owned and operated by Perry and Gala. Herman admitted that, after Perry’s arrest in March 2017, he and Gala conspired to use Perry’s drug proceeds to renovate the restaurant and to reopen the business under a new name, “The Chameleon.” Herman also admitted that he lied to federal investigators about the source of the funds used to renovate the restaurant, and attempted to convince another witness to falsely testify about Herman’s involvement in the money laundering scheme.
In October 2017, Perry pleaded guilty to money laundering and drug distribution charges and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Stacy Gala is scheduled for trial on May 6, 2019.
Herman faces up to 20 years in prison for the charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and attempted witness tampering and up to five years in prison for making false statements to investigators. 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm, Chief of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Westchester Attorney Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud for Attempting to Embezzle from A Decedent’s Estate for Which He Was Court-Appointed AdministratorRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GUY PARISI, a Westchester attorney, pled guilty today to a mail fraud charge arising from his attempt to embezzle funds from a decedent’s estate for which he served as a court-appointed administrator. PARISI entered the plea in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As he admitted today, Guy Parisi, a Westchester attorney, flouted his fiduciary duty to the estate for which he was administrator. He attempted to direct fees from the estate to a company he himself formed with a relative. Now Parisi awaits sentencing for his crime.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:
PARISI was appointed administrator of the estate of a former resident of Mt. Vernon, in or about April 2017. His duties as administrator included collecting the assets of the estate. As an administrator, PARISI had a fiduciary duty to the estate and to the decedent’s son, the sole beneficiary of his father’s will. New York law provided for a fee for estate administrators like PARISI based on a percentage of the value of the estate’s assets.
A substantial part of the estate’s assets escheated to the State of New York as abandoned property between 2000 and 2008, when the estate was first presented to the Surrogate’s Court. These assets were held in the custody of the New York State Comptroller.
In or about June 2017, PARISI, on behalf of the estate, retained Stokes Asset Recovery Services (“Stokes”) as the estate’s abandoned property location service in exchange for a fee of 15 percent of the value of the estate’s assets held by the Comptroller, which is the maximum fee allowed by New York law. PARISI did not disclose, and actively concealed, that Stokes was owned by his relative, and that he and the relative had formed Stokes less than two weeks before he notified the Comptroller of his retention of Stokes, as he was required to do under New York law. PARISI and the relative named Stokes after a Southampton, New York, street on which PARISI owned a waterfront vacation home. At the time he retained Stokes, PARISI knew that the estate’s assets held by the Comptroller were worth several million dollars.
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PARISI, 71, of Rye, New York, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentence will be determined by the court.
PARISI is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas on May 29, 2019.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Postal Inspection Service and the New York State Comptroller.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney James McMahon is in charge of the prosecution.
UT Health Science Center Pays More than $2.3 Million to Resolve AllegationsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) at Houston has paid $2,396,769.76 to resolve allegations that its Human Genetics Center misappropriated grant funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided for research related to the impact of genomic variation on individual health and the health of families and populations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A component of UTHealth, UTHSCH is one of the largest research institutions in the United States.
“Misappropriating NIH grant funds intended to advance the health of individuals and families, as alleged here, will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge CJ Porter of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. “Patients can be assured the government will aggressively investigate and prosecute fraudulent use of these taxpayer funds.”
The United States began its investigation after receiving a tip that the Genetics Center had misappropriated funds under an NIH grant related to sequencing the human genome. According to the source, the center wanted to draw down a substantial portion of the money remaining on the grant before the end of the grant period so that it would not have to return unused funds to the NIH. To accomplish this, the source claimed the center placed an order for a large quantity of genetic sequencing material from Illumina Inc. just prior to the end of the subject grant. They then allegedly stopped shipment of that material and had Illumina establish a credit for the material, from which the Genetics Center then used to purchase goods and services after the close out of the grant.
A two-year investigation substantiated the information provided by the anonymous source. The evidence revealed that just prior to the end of the grant period in late September 2012, the Genetics Center placed an order for Human Omni 5 DNA Analysis Bead Chip Kits from Illumina in the amount of $1,198,384.88. The Genetics Center stopped delivery of the shipment after making payment to Illumina. This resulted in UTHSCH underreporting by that amount the unobligated federal funds remaining on the grant which were not returned to NIH.
This misappropriation of federal funds deprived NIH of grant funds to which it would have otherwise been entitled. These funds could have then been used for other grants.
Because Illumina had received payment for the shipment, it established a credit to the Genetics Center in the amount of $1,198,384.88. From October 2012 through to Dec. 31, 2017, the center used that credit to purchase goods and services from Illumina.
The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew A. Bobb represented the United States.
The claims resolved by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Two Men Indicted for Operating Large-Scale Heroin Mill in Penthouse of Fort Lee, New Jersey, Luxury High-RiseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two men were indicted today for operating a heroin mill out of a penthouse apartment unit in luxury, residential high-rise tower in Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Richard Fernandez, 36, and Carlos Mosquea-Diaz, 36, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and fentanyl. Fernandez is also charged with possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Oct. 3, 2018, Mosquea-Diaz was arrested in the parking lot of the apartment building by a vehicle that contained in its trunk a wine box containing approximately $130,000. In a trash room on the 42nd floor of the apartment building, agents recovered more than 10 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl. On the same floor, a penthouse apartment sublet by Fernandez contained a loaded firearm and several thousand dollars, as well as numerous ledgers, money counters, cutting agents, and other drug distribution and packaging paraphernalia.
The conspiracy count with which the defendants are charged carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. The weapons count with which Fernandez is charged carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a maximum of life in prison, that must be served upon completion of any sentence for the drug offense.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Men Convicted for Roles in Multimillion Dollar Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina found two men guilty yesterday for their roles in a five-year multi-million dollar high-yield investment fraud, the Justice Department announced today.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray of the Western District of North Carolina and Inspector in Charge David McGinnis of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Charlotte Division, made the announcement.
Robert Leslie Stencil, 61, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Michael Allen Duke, 50, of Richardson, Texas, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, following a three-week trial. In addition, Stencil was convicted of 13 counts of mail fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering. Duke was also convicted of three counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina, who presided over the trial, has not yet been scheduled.
“Robert Stencil and Michael Duke shamelessly stole millions of dollars from unwitting investors, including the elderly, to line their own pockets,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “These convictions hopefully provide some consolation to the many innocent victims of this criminal scheme.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2012 through 2016, Stencil, Duke and their co-conspirators sold millions of dollars of worthless stock in a sham company named Niyato Industries Inc. (“Niyato”). Stencil played the role of Niyato’s Chief Executive Officer. Duke was Stencil’s top salesperson. Together with their co-conspirators, Stencil and Duke portrayed Niyato as a leader in its field, manufacturing electric vehicles and converting gasoline vehicles to run on compressed natural gas. Stencil, Duke and their co-conspirators told victims that Niyato was run by a team of high-profile executives, and that Niyato had patented technology, state-of-the-art facilities, and valuable contracts. Further, they told victims that Niyato would use 97 percent of the money it raised selling stock to grow its business and expand operations. Stencil, Duke and their co-conspirators used high-pressure tactics when pitching Niyato stock to victims. Among other things, they sold victims on the opportunity to get in on the ground floor, offering them a portion of a supposedly limited supply of pre-IPO stock at $.50 per share and promising them a 10- to 16-fold return when Niyato went public. From 2012 to 2016, Stencil, Duke and their co-conspirators repeatedly told victims that an IPO was imminent.
In reality, the evidence showed that Niyato had no patents, facilities, products, or plans to commence an IPO. Niyato’s true business was the sale of worthless stock. Stencil, Duke and their co-conspirators used nearly all of the money raised by selling Niyato stock for their own personal benefit, with Stencil paying salespeople – like Duke – half or nearly half of the money they solicited from each investor on behalf of Niyato. Moreover, Stencil used Niyato’s bank account as his own personal piggybank. The evidence further established that Stencil, Duke and their co-conspirators sold approximately $2.8 million in stock to around 140 victims, many of whom were elderly. Duke was Stencil’s top salesperson, selling over $1.4 million of worthless Niyato stock to around 70 victims. For his role in the fraudulent scheme, Duke received over $700,000.
Four other defendants pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, including Nicholas Fleming, 63, of Northridge, California; Martin Delaine Lewis, 52, of Frisco, Texas; Paula Saccomanno, 61, of Boca Raton, Florida; and Dennis Swerdlen, 64, of Boca Raton, Florida. Kristian F. Sierp, 47, of Costa Rica, pleaded guilty on Feb. 2, 2017 and received a sentence of 102 months in prison in connection with his role in this case and in an unrelated Costa Rican sweepstakes fraud. Daniel Thomas Broyles, Sr., 61, of Beverly Hills, California, was also charged and remains a fugitive. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Fraud Section Trial Attorneys William Bowne and Christopher Fenton are prosecuting the case.
Three Butte County Residents Indicted for Trafficking in Fentanyl-Laced PillsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea announced that a federal grand jury returned a three-count superseding indictment today against Guillermo Jose Leon Ramirez, 41, of Oroville; Justin James Garcia, 44, of Oroville; and William Lee Vollendroff, 43, of Palermo, charging them with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and two counts of distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, during two separate drug deals, the defendants sold more than 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills that were made to look like Oxycodone pills to a confidential source. Fentanyl is a very potent synthetic opiate that is 100 times more potent than morphine and can be extremely dangerous due to the small amount of the substance needed for the user to overdose.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Spencer is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Three Additional Members and Associates of Violent New York City Gang Charged in Manhattan Federal Court with Racketeering and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), John B. Devito, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of a Superseding Indictment charging three additional individuals, ANTHONY ELLISON, a/k/a “Harv,” DENARD BUTLER, a/k/a “Drama,” and KINTEA MCKENZIE, a/k/a “Kooda B,” with racketeering and firearms offenses in connection with their membership in and association with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, also known as “Nine Trey.” A fourth defendant, KIFANO JORDAN, a/k/a “Shotti,” who was named in the original indictment, faces additional racketeering and firearms charges.
BUTLER was arrested yesterday. ELLISON was already in custody on federal charges. MCKENZIE is still at large. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged in the superseding indictment, the new defendants in this case, like those previously charged, engaged in brazen acts of gun violence. Thanks to our remarkable partners at HSI, ATF, and the NYPD, these defendants now face federal charges for their serious crimes.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said: “Nine Trey has engaged in a pattern of racketeering reinforced by a reputation of extreme violence, best known for shootings, assaults and robberies in our city. The new arrests in this case and the additional charges as part of this ongoing investigation should send a clear message to members of any gang that carry out acts of violence, that we are resolved in our joint efforts to promote a safe environment for our communities in New York City.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge John B. Devito said: “Today’s charges demonstrate ATF’s and our law enforcement partners’ commitment to identify and investigate individuals that drive violent crime within our communities. The members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, also known as ‘Nine Trey,’ allegedly terrorized the public via a variety of crimes including violent armed robberies, assaults and shootings. The ATF/ NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force will continue to work diligently with all of our partner agencies in order to best serve the community and protect the public. I would like to personally thank the United States Attorney’s Office for their leadership and guidance throughout this investigation.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “In working to reduce crime past already record-lows in New York City, the NYPD is relentless in our pursuit of the relatively small percentage of the population driving the violence and disorder. We are achieving this, with pinpoint accuracy, because of the full and willing partnership of New Yorkers in every neighborhood and the unrivaled assistance of our law-enforcement partners. I commend the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, and the members of Homeland Security Investigations and the ATF, for helping us dismantle groups responsible for shootings, robberies, drug-dealing, and more. Together, we are making the safest large city in America even safer.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
Nine Trey was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in and around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of Nine Trey, and to protect the gang’s narcotics business. Members and associates of Nine Trey enriched themselves by committing robberies and selling drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, MDMA, dibutylone, and marijuana.
The Superseding Indictment charges JAMEL JONES, a/k/a “Mel Murda,” ROLAND MARTIN, a/k/a “Ro Murda,” KIFANO JORDAN, a/k/a “Shotti,” ANTHONY ELLISON, a/k/a “Harv,” DENARD BUTLER, a/k/a “Drama,” JESNEL BUTLER, a/k/a “Ish,” FUGUAN LOVICK, a/k/a “Fu Banga,” KINTEA MCKENZIE, a/k/a “Kooda B,” FAHEEM WALTER, a/k/a “Crippy,” and AARON YOUNG, a/k/a “Bat,” with racketeering and firearms offenses.
Count One of the Superseding Indictment charges JONES, MARTIN, JORDAN, ELLISON, DENARD BUTLER, JESNEL BUTLER, WALTER, and YOUNG with participating in a racketeering conspiracy for their criminal involvement in Nine Trey. Count Two charges JONES, MARTIN, JORDAN, ELLISON, DENARD BUTLER, JESNEL BUTLER, WALTER, and YOUNG with using and carrying firearms, which were brandished and discharged, in connection with the racketeering conspiracy. Counts Three through Five charge MARTIN, JORDAN, DENARD BUTLER, JESNEL BUTLER, and WALTER in connection with a gunpoint robbery in the vicinity of West 40th Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan on April 3, 2018. Counts Six and Seven charge LOVICK in connection with his shooting at rivals of Nine Trey in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on April 21, 2018. Counts Eight through Ten charge JORDAN and MCKENZIE in connection with a shooting at a rival of Nine Trey at a hotel in Times Square in Manhattan on June 2, 2018. Counts Eleven and Twelve charge MARTIN, JORDAN, JESNEL BUTLER, and WALTER with agreeing to shoot an individual who had shown disrespect to Nine Trey, resulting in an innocent bystander being shot, in the vicinity of Fulton Street and Utica Avenue in Brooklyn on July 16, 2018. Counts Thirteen through Fifteen charge ELLISON in connection with his kidnapping and assaulting another member of Nine Trey near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn on July 22, 2018. Count Sixteen charges JONES and YOUNG with conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, MDMA, and marijuana from 2015 to 2018. Count Seventeen charges YOUNG with using and carrying firearm in connection with the narcotics conspiracy. Count Eighteen charges JONES with possessing with intent to distribute one kilogram and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin on November 15, 2018.
* * *
Charts containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, ATF, and the NYPD. He also thanked the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, and the New York City Department of Correction’s Intelligence Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Longyear, Jacob Warren, Jonathan Rebold, and Sebastian Swett are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Racketeering conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
JAMEL JONES (age 38)
ROLAND MARTIN (age 37)
KIFANO JORDAN (age 36)
ANTHONY ELLISON (age 31)
DENARD BUTLER (age 26)
JESNEL BUTLER (age 36)
FAHEEM WALTER (age 29)
AARON YOUNG (age 28)
20 years in prison
2
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
JAMEL JONES
ROLAND MARTIN
KIFANO JORDAN
ANTHONY ELLISON
DENARD BUTLER
JESNEL BUTLER
FAHEEM WALTER
AARON YOUNG
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
3
Violent crime in aid of racketeering (April 3, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
ROLAND MARTIN
KIFANO JORDAN
DENARD BUTLER
JESNEL BUTLER
FAHEEM WALTER
20 years in prison
4
Violent crime in aid of racketeering (April 3, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
ROLAND MARTIN
KIFANO JORDAN
DENARD BUTLER
JESNEL BUTLER
FAHEEM WALTER
3 years in prison
5
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was brandished
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
ROLAND MARTIN
KIFANO JORDAN
DENARD BUTLER
JESNEL BUTLER
FAHEEM WALTER
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison
6
Violent crime in aid of racketeering (April 21, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
FUGUAN LOVICK (age 40)
20 years in prison
7
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
FUGUAN LOVICK
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
8
Violent crime in aid of racketeering (June 2, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
KIFANO JORDAN
KINTEA MCKENZIE (age 21)
20 years in prison
9
Violent crime in aid of racketeering (June 2, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
KIFANO JORDAN
KINTEA MCKENZIE
3 years in prison
10
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
KIFANO JORDAN
KINTEA MCKENZIE
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
11
Violent crime in aid of racketeering
(July 16, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
ROLAND MARTIN
KIFANO JORDAN
JESNEL BUTLER
FAHEEM WALTER
10 years in prison
12
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
ROLAND MARTIN
KIFANO JORDAN
JESNEL BUTLER
FAHEEM WALTER
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
13
Violent crime in aid of racketeering
(July 22, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
ANTHONY ELLISON
Life in prison
14
Violent crime in aid of racketeering
(July 22, 2018)
18 U.S.C. § 1959
ANTHONY ELLISON
20 years in prison
15
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was brandished
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
ANTHONY ELLISON
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison
16
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics
21 U.S.C. § 846
JAMEL JONES
AARON YOUNG
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
17
Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a narcotics trafficking offense
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
AARON YOUNG
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison
18
Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute
21 U.S.C. § 841
JAMEL JONES
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Target Store Break-in Defendants SentencedRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – The second of two New York men who admitted to cutting their way through a roof into a Target department store in Smithfield, R.I., in October 2017, prying open an ATM inside the store and stealing more than $14,000, then cutting through a wall into a CVS Pharmacy located inside the store and stealing a controlled substance was sentenced today in federal court to time served.
Liridon Gashi, 33, of Bronx, NY, had been held in federal custody since his arrest on March 7, 2018. He pleaded guilty on September 7, 2018, to one count each of conspiracy to commit larceny from a financial institution, bank larceny, conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances, and burglary involving controlled substances.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Gashi to serve 3 years supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,500 for damage to the ATM. Gashi remains detained on unrelated charges brought by law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
A co-defendant in this matter, Epirot Krasniqi, 27, of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested on November 7, 2017. Krasniqi pleaded guilty on May 11, 2018, to one count each of conspiracy to commit larceny from a financial institution, bank larceny, conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances, and burglary involving controlled substances. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on January 11, 2019, to time served, 3 years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,500 for damage to the ATM.
Krasniqi remains detained on unrelated charges brought by law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
The sentences are announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Smithfield Police Chief Richard P. St. Sauveur, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of October 10, 2017, Gashi and Krasniqi, equipped with hand tools and two-way radios, cut through the roof of the Target store and then forced open an ATM from which they stole $14,720. The two men then cut through the wall of a CVS Pharmacy inside the store, broke open a locked cabinet holding controlled substances and stole a prescription package of Oxycodone. The two men then fled to the roof of the store.
While the burglary and robbery were taking place, Smithfield police officers responded to a report of an electronic burglary alarm and began to search the premises. After discovering the hole in the roof, officers began searching approximately 30 air conditioning units located on the roof. The two men were found hiding inside separate air conditioning units. Also discovered inside the store and in various air conditioning units on the roof were the tools used in the break-in of the store and the ATM, the cash stolen from the ATM, and the drugs stolen from the pharmacy.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
The matter was investigated by the Smithfield Police Department, with the assistance of the FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force.
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Suspect Caught, Charged in Case Stretching from Tennessee to KentuckyRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A suspect is in custody and charged in a criminal complaint with threatening interstate communication after attempting to ransom the parents of a woman from Tennessee, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.
“Swift and safe resolution of this case is a reminder that Kentuckians and Tennesseans are protected by the finest law enforcement agencies in the nation,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.
According to a criminal complaint filed in District Court on Thursday, on January 29, 2019 the Brentwood Police Department, located in Brentwood, Tennessee received a phone call from M.W. indicating her daughter, R.W. had been kidnapped. Bryan Conley was using R.W.’s phone and texting M.W. ordering her to pay a ransom of $20,000 for her daughter’s release.
Conley told R.W.’s mother to begin driving to Toledo, OH, where she would receive another phone call. Conley threatened to sell, rape and kill R.W. if D.W. did not comply with his demands.
The Defendant sent D.W. a “proof of life” photograph of D.W. at approximately 10:00 PM CST, which depicted R.W. inside of a vehicle with binding around her mouth. The photo was reviewed and the vehicle was determined to be consistent with a 2013-2018 Ford Taurus SE. The ransom was eventually negotiated down to $400 and some jewelry, and it was agreed that the father of R.W. would begin travelling towards Toledo, Ohio to drop off the ransom.
The morning of the January 29, 2019 an unidentified user attempted to access R.W.’s bank account, the individual correctly provided R.W.’s social security number, but was unable to correctly answer the security questions. Later that morning there was a successful login to R.W.’s bank account via her telephone number. The bank provided the telephone number associated with the first attempt which was registered to Bryan Conley’s wife in Clarksville, Tennessee. Investigators learned through an NCIC query that Conley’s wife has a gray 2014 Ford Taurus registered in her name. Further investigation revealed the two telephones were in close proximity.
Conley texted the phone of R.W.’s daughter “one more lie she’s dead,” at approximately 2:25 PM CST on January 30, 2019, while FBI Special Agents were located with the father in Tennessee. Location information from the cellular carrier placed R.W.’s phone in the vicinity of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
At 3:30 PM CST the ransom payment was delivered behind a dumpster at the Flying J Travel Center in Oak Grove, Kentucky. At approximately 5:00 PM CST, Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Division observed Bryan Conley retrieve the ransom payment, then enter a Ford Taurus and leave the gas station. FBI agents followed Conley to a gas station in Leithchfield, Kentucky. Conley was arrested at the gas station by FBI Special Agents who removed R.W.’s phone from his possession. After the arrest R.W. was found in the Ford Taurus.
Conley is currently in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A preliminary detention hearing is scheduled for February 1, 2019 in Owensboro, Kentucky.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd, and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, Detroit and Cleveland Offices with the assistance of Brentwood Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabethtown Police Department, Shepherdsville Police Department, Leitchfield Police Department, Clarksville Police Department, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
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Superseding Indictment Adds Four Defendants to Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Oregon has returned a five-count superseding indictment charging six members and associates of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club (GJOMC) for racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping and murder.
The superseding indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams for the District of Oregon, Special Agent in Charge Darek Pleasants of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive’s (ATF) Seattle Field Division and Chief of Police Danielle Outlaw of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).
“According to the indictment, since at least 2003, the Gypsy Jokers have engaged in a wide range of crimes, including kidnapping, murder, drug dealing, robbery, extortion, and witness tampering,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Thanks to the efforts of ATF, the Portland Police Department, and federal prosecutors, we will work hard to hold accountable the leaders and members of this brutal and highly organized gang for their alleged crimes.”
“Kenneth Hause is the leader of a criminal organization that, through its many chapters and support clubs, has sowed violence and intimidation throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “This is an organization whose members and associates pride themselves on living outside the law and use kidnapping, assault, murder and other forms of violence to extend and maintain their power. Kenneth Hause and his co-defendants will soon have their day in court and will face the consequences of their crimes.”
“This is a continuation of ATF’s operations against the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club for racketeering, kidnapping and murder,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Pleasants. “As president of a criminal organization, Mr. Hause put the community at risk and showed contempt for law and order. It is among ATF’s core commitments to protect the public from violent criminals such as these Gypsy Jokers.”
“The Portland Police Bureau is proud to be a part of this cooperative effort,” said Chief Outlaw. “Violent crime deeply affects our community. By working with our partners, we can utilize a collective group of strategies and tactics to investigate and apprehend those responsible for committing violent acts or profiting from people’s fear through extortion and intimidation.”
GJOMC National President Kenneth Earl Hause, 61, of Aumsville, Oregon; Mark Leroy Dencklau, 58, of Woodburn, Oregon; Earl Deverle Fisher, 48, of Gresham, Oregon; Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, 36, of Gresham; Joseph Duane Folkerts, 61, of Battleground, Washington; and a sixth unnamed defendant are charged, as members and associates of the GJOMC, with conspiring to conduct and participate in the activities of a racketeering enterprise.
Additionally, Dencklau, Fisher, Negrinelli, Folkerts and the unnamed defendant are charged with murder in aid of racketeering; kidnapping in aid of racketeering, resulting in death; kidnapping resulting in death; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death for the June 30 to July 1, 2015 kidnapping and murder of Robert Huggins, a former GJOMC member and resident of southeast Portland, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the GJOMC criminal enterprise.
According to the superseding indictment, the GJOMC preserves, promotes and protects its power, territory and profits through violence and intimidation and enriches its members through extortion, robbery and the distribution of narcotics. The organization is known for using fear through its members and associates as a tactic for establishing and maintaining its power. The GJOMC oversees several “support clubs” in Oregon and Washington, including the Road Brothers Northwest Motorcycle Club, Solutions Motorcycle Club, Northwest Veterans Motorcycle Club, High-Side Riders, and the Freedom Fellowship Motorcycle Club.
Dencklau, Fisher and Tiler Evan Pribbernow, 37, of Portland were first charged in a four-count indictment unsealed in July 2018. Pribbernow pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the activities of a racketeering enterprise on Nov. 7, 2018. Dencklau and Fisher are detained pending trial.
In addition to the criminal charges brought against the named defendants, the government is seeking forfeiture of a property located in Salem, Oregon used as a GJOMC clubhouse.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the PPB and ATF, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service; IRS Criminal Investigation; Clark County, Washington Sheriff’s Office; Oregon State Police, and the Oregon and Washington State Crime Labs. Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah K. Bolstad and Steven T. Mygrant for the District of Oregon are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Superseding Indictment Adds Four Defendants to Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Downloadable file: PDF Press Release
Downloadable file: Superseding IndictmentPORTLAND. Ore.—A federal grand jury has returned a five-count superseding indictment charging six members and associates of the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club (GJOMC) for racketeering, kidnapping and murder.
The superseding indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon; Special Agent in Charge Darek Pleasants of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive’s (ATF) Seattle Field Division; and Chief of Police Danielle Outlaw of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).
GJOMC National President Kenneth Earl Hause, 61, of Aumsville, Oregon; Mark Leroy Dencklau, 58, of Woodburn, Oregon; Earl Deverle Fisher, 48, of Gresham, Oregon; Ryan Anthony Negrinelli, 36, of Gresham; Joseph Duane Folkerts, 61, of Battleground, Washington; and a sixth unnamed defendant are charged, as members and associates of the GJOMC, with conspiring to conduct and participate in the activities of a racketeering enterprise.
Additionally, Dencklau, Fisher, Negrinelli, Folkerts and the unnamed defendant are charged with murder in aid of racketeering; kidnapping in aid of racketeering, resulting in death; kidnapping resulting in death; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death for the June 30 to July 1, 2015 kidnapping and murder of Robert Huggins, a former GJOMC member and resident of southeast Portland, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the GJOMC criminal enterprise.
“According to the indictment, since at least 2003, the Gypsy Jokers have engaged in a wide range of crimes, including kidnapping, murder, drug dealing, robbery, extortion, and witness tampering,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Thanks to the efforts of ATF, the Portland Police Department, and federal prosecutors, we will work hard to hold accountable the leaders and members of this brutal and highly organized gang for their alleged crimes.”
“Kenneth Hause is the leader of a criminal organization that, through its many chapters and support clubs, has sowed violence and intimidation throughout the Pacific Northwest. This is an organization whose members and associates pride themselves on living outside the law and use kidnapping, assault, murder and other forms of violence to extend and maintain their power. Kenneth Hause and his co-defendants will soon face the consequences of their crimes thanks to a seamless partnership of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Williams.
“This is a continuation of ATF’s operations against the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club for racketeering, kidnapping and murder,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Pleasants. “As president of a criminal organization, Mr. Hause put the community at risk and showed contempt for law and order. It is among ATF’s core commitments to protect the public from violent criminals such as these Gypsy Jokers.”
“The Portland Police Bureau is proud to be a part of this cooperative effort,” said Chief Outlaw. “Violent crime deeply affects our community. By working with our partners, we can utilize a collective group of strategies and tactics to investigate and apprehend those responsible for committing violent acts or profiting from people’s fear through extortion and intimidation.”
According to the superseding indictment, the GJOMC preserves, promotes and protects its power, territory and profits through violence and intimidation and enriches its members through extortion, robbery and the distribution of narcotics. The organization is known for using fear through its members and associates as a tactic for establishing and maintaining its power. The GJOMC oversees several “support clubs” in Oregon and Washington, including the Road Brothers Northwest Motorcycle Club, Solutions Motorcycle Club, Northwest Veterans Motorcycle Club, High-Side Riders, and the Freedom Fellowship Motorcycle Club.
Dencklau, Fisher and Tiler Evan Pribbernow, 37, of Portland were first charged in a four-count indictment unsealed in July 2018. Pribbernow pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the activities of a racketeering enterprise on November 7, 2018. Dencklau and Fisher are detained pending trial.
In addition to the criminal charges brought against the named defendants, the government is seeking forfeiture of a property located in Salem, Oregon used as a GJOMC clubhouse.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the PPB and ATF, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Clark County, Washington Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Police, and the Oregon and Washington State Crime Labs. Leah K. Bolstad and Steven T. Mygrant, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, are prosecuting the case with Rebecca A. Staton, Trial Attorney for the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Super Bowl LIII Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Event Held in AtlantaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA, GEORGIA– On January 31, 2019, United States Attorney William M. McSwain spoke at the National Football League’s anti-counterfeiting and piracy press conference held in connection with Super Bowl LIII. U.S. Attorney McSwain announced six separate indictments charging 13 individuals with a multitude of crimes, including conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, trafficking in counterfeit goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aiding and abetting.
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Each year, the Super Bowl unites Americans in a unique way. It is a celebration of the game, its players, and of the competitive spirit that helps to define our country.
Unfortunately, with all the good that comes along with events like the Super Bowl, there’s an opportunity for criminals to prey on unwitting fans. These events attract people looking to make a quick buck through counterfeiting.
Criminal counterfeiting and piracy are serious crimes. When fans spend their hard-earned money on NFL tickets and merchandise, they deserve the real deal. And today, I am here to announce criminal counterfeiting charges that my Office has brought to help ensure that NFL fans – and all of us – get what we pay for when we attend a big event.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has filed six criminal indictments against multiple defendants, alleging their involvement in a scheme to traffic in counterfeit ticket sales. This widespread conspiracy spanned multiple states, involved 13 defendants, and covered numerous sporting and concert events.
We know from our investigation that the defendants targeted events and their victims based on profitability – the bigger the event, the bigger the payoff. The scheme involved several steps and multiple players: after determining which events would draw the most profit, the schemers would use real tickets, or photographs of real tickets, to print counterfeit ones for the event, and then the sellers would travel to the host city to sell their phony tickets to unwitting fans. This scheme involved sophisticated printing that mimicked the authentic tickets’ markings and hologram.
Many of the individuals that we have charged allegedly defrauded NFL football fans by printing, distributing, and selling counterfeit tickets to Super Bowl LI (51) in Houston (between the Patriots and the Falcons) and Super Bowl LII (52) in Minneapolis (between the Eagles and the Patriots).
In addition to these games, the criminal indictments allege that the schemers targeted other high-profile sporting events, including the Army-Navy football game played in Philadelphia in December 2017; two College Football National Championship games (one played in Tampa, in January 2017, and another played here in Atlanta in January 2018); and various big-ticket basketball games. They also trafficked in counterfeit concert tickets in various venues.
The initial arrests in this case were of two individuals named Eugene Smith and Eric Ferguson, both from the Atlanta metropolitan area. Ferguson is alleged to have printed the counterfeit tickets for Smith, who then supplied the tickets to several additional individuals who solicited buyers and sold them. Both Smith and Ferguson have been charged with producing and distributing counterfeit Super Bowl tickets in 2017 and 2018. Ferguson has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial. Smith has pleaded guilty to four counts and awaits sentencing in custody in Philadelphia.
The second wave of indictments targeted additional printers, distributors, and street-level counterfeit ticket sellers. Multiple arrests occurred earlier this week through a coordinated federal, state, and local effort across multiple states. As fate would have it, one of these individuals, Damon Daniels, was apprehended en route to Atlanta, thanks to the great police work by the Duluth, Georgia police department. The arresting officer reported that Mr. Daniels’s car was filled with printing equipment and cardstock, presumably to resume counterfeit ticket sales at this year’s Super Bowl.
The individuals charged and arrested this week are the following: Rakee Russ, Mustafa Tucker, Malik Brown, Kevin Sadat, Edward Dunmore, Khiale Warren, and Rodney Higginbottom, all of Philadelphia; and Sean Williams, Damon Daniels, Rahiem Watts, and Jermaine Jones, all of New York. These indictments, which are now publicly available and filed with the court, outline the charges and identify which of these individuals are charged with conduct related to counterfeit Super Bowl tickets. We have also prepared a press release that provides additional details about the charges.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, determined primarily by the amount of the financial loss attributable to each. And by bringing these charges federally, we have assured that many of these individuals will serve serious prison time if convicted.
I want to extend my thanks to FBI Philadelphia for spearheading the investigation and to Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joe Bushner for their leadership, and to our local partners who served as boots on the ground – always willing to step in and stop the counterfeit sales, where possible. They acted swiftly when we learned about events unfolding in real time, often as the individuals were meeting their victims. Thank you to the Philadelphia Police Department and Commissioner Richard Ross; to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his First Deputy Chief, Bureau of Investigations, John Kitzinger, who is with us today; to the New York Police Department; to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office; to the FBI Field Office in Atlanta; and finally, to BJay Pak, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia and his Office.
This case serves as an important reminder to all of us who enjoy sporting and concert events with friends and family.
Most importantly, when you are buying tickets, consider the source. The safest route is always to purchase from an approved source. Many fans believe that if they are not purchasing tickets from scalpers on the street, they are safe, and that it’s OK to buy tickets on a third-party website because the sellers can be tracked and traced. That is not always the case. The majority of counterfeit sales happen not on the streets, but through the Internet.
The FBI and the Department of Justice take counterfeiting and piracy very seriously. Economic crimes like these will continue to be a focus of my Office and of the Department.
At this time, I would like to introduce my colleague from the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joe Bushner.
Statement from U.S. Attorney Tim GarrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Regarding an incident that occurred on June 26, 2018, Kansas City attorney Andrea Martinez filed a complaint alleging unlawful use of force by Everett Chase, a supervisory officer with the Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The incident occurred during routine operations to remove an unlawfully-present Honduran national who had been released pending asylum proceedings, but was ordered removed when she failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. The incident received widespread publicity at the time it occurred, in large part due to Ms. Martinez’s allegations and the presence of media—including a Netflix film crew—she invited to ICE’s office, and dozens of protestors, some of whom shouted obscenities at the officers, and at least one of whom threw trash at the officers as they escorted the Honduran national’s family into the office.
Although the U.S. Attorney’s Office typically does not comment upon investigations unless or until charges are publicly filed, I am making an exception to that policy in this instance. I recognize the legitimate public interest in the conduct of law enforcement officers engaged in their official duties, as well as the necessity of law enforcement officers to maintain public respect and credibility in order to accomplish their mission. The Department of Justice takes such allegations seriously, and this office will prosecute—and has prosecuted—such cases when the evidence establishes a violation of federal law.
In response to the allegation, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation. Having reviewed the investigation and considered the available evidence, and after consultation with career federal prosecutors, I have determined that the evidence does not support the allegations made against the ICE-ERO officer, and have formally declined to file charges for actions taken in the exercise of his official duties. In light of circumstances created by more than 30 people who came to a routine law enforcement operation at 3 a.m. for the purpose of making a spectacle, the officer’s actions were justified in order to secure and control access to the ICE office entrance from unauthorized persons.
Somersworth Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Damon Austin, 36, of Somersworth, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2018, Austin was involved in an altercation with another individual in Somersworth in which Austin threatened the individual with a firearm. Soon after the altercation, Somersworth Police arrested Austin while he was in possession of the firearm. Police subsequently obtained a warrant to search Austin’s residence. A search of Austin’s residence resulted in the seizure of six additional firearms, as well as cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Austin, as a previously convicted felon, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
Austin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2019.
“The law enforcement community is working together to combat violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This effort is advanced by depriving felons of guns that they can use to commit crimes. The quick actions of the Somersworth officers in this case took guns out of the hands of a convicted criminal. By working together to identify and prosecute criminals who use guns, participants in Project Safe Neighborhoods are protecting communities throughout the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Somersworth Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Solon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Cyberstalking ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA-- On January 9, 2019, Daniel Lee Stone, age 49, from Solon, Iowa, was sentenced by District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to cyberstalking, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Stone was ordered to serve one year of supervised release following his prison term, and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
Between October 31, 2016 and November 2, 2016, Stone, under a false name, utilized his cellular telephone to text over 170 messages to a minor female. These texts included statements that offered “cash and other goodies,” and statements such as, “I know where you live,” “Can I knock on your door,” and “Ok, but I will always be right there watching you.” The victim made repeated requests to Stone to stop texting and harassing her, making it clear she was uncomfortable with the text messages. Ultimately, the minor victim contacted police on November 1 and November 2, 2016, after the text messages failed to stop and Stone indicated he may be outside her residence. Stone admitted he sent these text messages with the intent to harass or intimidate the victim, using language and conduct he knew would place the minor and members of the minor’s immediate family in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury, and reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the victim and her immediate family.
This case was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Restaurant and Owner Charged with Harboring and Employing Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that THAI THAI, LLC. d/b/a Sticky Rice Thai Cuisine and SOMPHON CHIWABANDIT, age 46, a native of Thailand, were charged Monday, January 28, 2019 in a two-count bill of information with harboring and unlawfully employing illegal aliens, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) and Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324a(a)(1)(A).
According to the bill of information, in the past six months, THAI THAI, LLC. d/b/a Sticky Rice Thai Cuisine, through owner SOMPHON CHIWABANDIT, harbored and employed two illegal aliens at his restaurant.
If convicted of the felony, the company faces up to 5 years of probation, a fine of $500,000, and a $400 special assessment fee. CHIWABANDIT faces up to 6 months of imprisonment, and/or a fine of $5,000, and a special assessment fee of $10, as he is charged with a misdemeanour.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Covington Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.
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Pulaski County Woman Sentenced for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Jessica A. Browning, 44, of Ullin, Illinois (Pulaski County), has been sentenced to two years of federal probation for her convictions on two counts of bankruptcy fraud, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Browning was indicted in August 2018 as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s continuing effort to crack down on those who commit fraud in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
At her plea hearing, Browning admitted that during her federal bankruptcy proceedings, she intentionally failed to disclose a $12,765.47 award she had recently received in a workers’ compensation case. Browning also admitted that she testified falsely while under oath at a bankruptcy hearing regarding what she had done with those funds.
"I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft and our law enforcement partners for their strong commitment to combating fraud and abuse in bankruptcy cases as evidenced by yesterday’s proceedings," stated Nancy J. Gargula, U.S. Trustee for Southern and Central Illinois and Indiana (Region 10). The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois.
The charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Fairview Heights, Illinois, Office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William E. Coonan and Scott A. Verseman.
Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Member and Associate Charged with Making and Collecting Extortionate LoansRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today against an alleged member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (LCN) and his alleged associate. The indictment charges various crimes involving the making of extortionate loans, conspiracy, and collections of loans by extortionate means.
The charges were announced today by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Division.
The defendants charged in the 15-count indictment are Philadelphia LCN Family member Philip Narducci, 56, and his associate James Gallo, 44.
All of the defendants were arrested today and will make initial court appearances in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia at 1:30 pm. EST.
According to the indictment, Narducci allegedly made usurious and extortionate loans involving large amounts of money to a borrower. As set forth in the indictment, when the borrower failed to make weekly interest payments, Narducci allegedly used physical violence through assault and threats of violence to force the borrower to repay the loans. The indictment also alleges that, at Narducci’s direction, Gallo collected weekly interest payments on the usurious loans from the borrower and used threats of violence to facilitate the collections.
Each charge of making extortionate extortions of credit, conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means, and collections of extensions of credit by extortionate means making extortionate extensions of credit, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
An indictment is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Member and Associate Charged with Making and Collecting Extortionate LoansRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – An indictment was unsealed today against a member of the Philadelphia organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (LCN) and his alleged associate. The indictment charges various crimes involving the making of extortionate loans, conspiracy, and collections of loans by extortionate means.
The charges were announced today by United States Attorney William M. McSwain; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Michael Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Division.
The defendants charged in the 15-count indictment are Philadelphia LCN Family member Philip Narducci, 56, and his associate James Gallo, 44.
Both defendants were arrested today and will make initial court appearances in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia at 1:30 pm. EST.
According to the indictment, Narducci allegedly made usurious and extortionate loans involving large amounts of money to a borrower. As set forth in the indictment, when the borrower failed to make weekly interest payments, Narducci allegedly used physical violence through assault and threats of violence to force the borrower to repay the loans. The indictment also alleges that, at Narducci’s direction, Gallo collected weekly interest payments on the usurious loans from the borrower and used threats of violence to facilitate the collections.
“Our citizens deserve to be safe and live without the fear or threat of violence,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “My Office takes organized crime in this District very seriously and will prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.”
Each charge of making extortionate extortions of credit, conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means, and collections of extensions of credit by extortionate means making extortionate extensions of credit, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
An indictment is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless they are proven guilty.
North Carolina Mechanic Sentenced to 36 Months for Embezzling Approximately $1.4 Million from his Employer and Filing a False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A North Carolina mechanic was sentenced to prison today for wire fraud and filing a false income tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina.
Albert Strong, 59, a resident of Union, South Carolina, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina. On April 12, 2018, Strong pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return for tax year 2013.
According to the documents filed with the court, Strong worked as a machinist/mechanic for a company at its Charlotte, North Carolina location. From 2008 to 2015, Strong embezzled funds from the company using a fraudulent purchasing and billing scheme. Strong created a purported parts vendor, and then caused the company to order fictitious parts from the vendor. As part of the scheme, Strong created false invoices and submitted them to the company for payment. In all, Strong embezzled approximately $1,488,000 from the victim company. Strong also failed to report the embezzled funds on his 2009 through 2015 tax returns, resulting in an approximate $450,000 tax loss.
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Strong was order to serve two of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $1,941,377.32.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Murray commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Secret Service, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips and Trial Attorney Mara Strier of the Tax Division, who prosecuted this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
North Carolina Mechanic Sentenced to 36 Months for Embezzling Approximately $1.4 Million from His Employer and Filing A False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A North Carolina mechanic was sentenced to prison today for wire fraud and filing a false income tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina.
Albert Strong, 59, a resident of Union, South Carolina, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina. On April 12, 2018, Strong pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return for tax year 2013.
According to the documents filed with the court, Strong worked as a machinist/mechanic for a company at its Charlotte, North Carolina location. From 2008 to 2015, Strong embezzled funds from the company using a fraudulent purchasing and billing scheme. Strong created a purported parts vendor, and then caused the company to order fictitious parts from the vendor. As part of the scheme, Strong created false invoices and submitted them to the company for payment. In all, Strong embezzled approximately $1,488,000 from the victim company. Strong also failed to report the embezzled funds on his 2009 through 2015 tax returns, resulting in an approximate $450,000 tax loss.
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Strong was order to serve two of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $1,941,377.32.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Murray commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Secret Service, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips and Trial Attorney Mara Strier of the Tax Division, who prosecuted this case.
North Carolina Man Sentenced for Stock Manipulation SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a market manipulation scheme which was actually part of an undercover operation.
David Aubel, 60, of Matthews, N.C., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to 87 months in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $242,553. In November 2017, Aubel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and three counts of wire fraud.
In 2016, Aubel and co-conspirator Robert Raffa, of Penacook, N.H., were arrested and charged in a criminal complaint in connection with their involvement in a scheme to manipulate the market for the publicly traded securities of Green Energy Renewable Solutions, Inc., a penny stock company that claimed to be in the business of developing and operating waste processing and recycling facilities near Detroit, MI. Raffa previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January 2018 to two years in prison and two years of supervised release.
In early 2012, Raffa and Aubel used four foreign entities to covertly acquire nearly all of Green Energy’s unrestricted stock without reporting their controlling interest as required by law. They then hired a promoter to send blast e-mails touting Green Energy to potential investors, all while selling shares without disclosing that they had orchestrated the campaign encouraging investors to buy.
The initial promotion enabled Raffa and Aubel to sell more than 1.5 million shares of Green Energy stock for proceeds of about $900,000. However, Raffa and Aubel continued to control a substantial amount of Green Energy stock after the promotion ended, and they used manipulative trading techniques to stabilize Green Energy’s stock price while they searched for another promoter to run a second touting campaign. Their search led them to a stock promoter who was secretly cooperating with federal agents and an undercover agent who claimed to have access to a network of corrupt stockbrokers who would buy their shares in exchange for kickbacks. Raffa and Aubel executed a trade in which they sold 174,000 shares of their Green Energy stock to an account purportedly controlled by a corrupt broker, which was in fact controlled by federal authorities. Following the trade, the conspirators wired a $6,000 kickback payment to an account they believed to be controlled by the corrupt broker, but which was actually controlled by federal authorities.
In November 2018, Aubel was charged with bail jumping after repeatedly failing to appear for sentencing before Judge Saris. U.S. Marshals located and apprehended Aubel as he exited a hotel in Charlotte, NC.
In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) previously charged Aubel and Raffa with securities fraud in connection with the scheme.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Gregory Allyn Forest, U.S. Marshal of the Western District of North Carolina, and John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal of the District of Massachusetts provided assistance with the apprehension. The United States Attorney’s Office received valuable assistance from the SEC. SEC Attorney Andrew Palid, who was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Securities & Financial Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
Muldrow Man Sentenced to 120 Months, $8,500 Restitution for Possession of Material Involving Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ryan Edward Offineer, age 41, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, 15 years’ supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,500.00 for Possession Of Certain Material Involving The Sexual Exploitation Of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and 2252(b)(2). The charges arose from an investigation by the Muldrow Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The Indictment alleged that beginning in or about June 2013, to on or about March 7, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant knowingly possessed, attempted to possess and accessed with intent to view, matters which contained visual depictions, as that term is defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2256(5). Those visual depictions involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and had been transported in interstate commerce by computer.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “People who possess child pornography should never feel comfortable that their despicable acts will go undetected. Across the country there are law enforcement agencies working diligently to detect, investigate and prosecute those who exploit children. This defendant’s sentence is a result of that work.”
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 John David Luton 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.
Morgan County man admits to failing to update his sex offender registrationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Douglas Brett Bishop, of Great Capacon, West Virginia, has admitted to failing to register as a sex offender charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Bishop, age 51, pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Register.” Bishop admitted to failing to register as a sex offender in Morgan County, West Virginia from May to September 2018. Bishop was convicted of a crime in Union County, South Carolina that required him to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Bishop faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshal Service and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Monroe felon pleads guilty to possessing two handguns, ammunition and bullet drumRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Monroe felon pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing two handguns, multiple rounds of ammunition and a large capacity drum magazine.
Kendrick Darnell Williams, 21, of Monroe, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. When Monroe police officers stopped a car on October 17, 2017 for a traffic violation, Kendrick Williams jumped out of the passenger door and ran. Officers caught Williams and brought him back to the scene where they searched the car and found a loaded Ruger .357-caliber revolver and a loaded Smith & Wesson .9 mm-caliber pistol in a natural void behind the glove compartment. They also found a 60-round Magpul drum-style magazine in the back seat, and one round of .45-caliber ammunition, one round of .380 caliber ammunition and eight rounds of .40 caliber ammunition in the trunk. When officers checked the status of the firearms, the Smith & Wesson pistol came back stolen. Williams admitted to handling the Smith & Wesson pistol before police stopped the vehicle.
Williams is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated second-degree battery in Ouachita Parish on April 26, 2012. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Doughty set the sentencing date for May 1, 2019.
The ATF, Ouachita Parish Metro Narcotics Unit, and the Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.
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.
Mineral County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Phillip Arnold Bennett, of Piedmont, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Bennett, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Bennett admitted to illegally possessing a .380 caliber pistol in September 2017 in Mineral County.
Bennett faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Miami Resident Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Robbing Miami Shores TD Bank Branch at Gunpoint and Discharging the Firearm During the RobberyRead the Press Release
A Miami resident was sentenced today to a total of thirteen years in federal prison for robbing a Miami Shores TD Bank Branch at gunpoint and discharging the firearm during the course of the robbery.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
Following a one-week jury trial, on September 21, 2018, Joudanorve Lafleur, 24, of Miami, Florida, was convicted of armed bank robbery, and brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of the armed robbery. U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Lafleur to a total of 161 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
According to the evidence presented at trial, at approximately 9:20 a.m. on April 20, 2018, Lafleur, wearing a black ski mask, black hoodie, and pants, robbed two bank tellers and one bank customer at gunpoint. After demanding “all of the hundreds” from his victims repeatedly, Lafleur fired a bullet into the ceiling of the bank. Then, he fled, with more than $2,000.
The FBI tracked Lafleur to his residence within an hour of the robbery, and after a search of Lafleur’s home, investigators recovered Lafleur’s disguise (mask and hoodie); the stolen money; and the firearm used in the robbery, among other items. Evidence at trial also showed that Lafleur robbed one of his elderly neighbors, stealing his clothes in the minutes before law enforcement arrived, in an attempt to distance himself from the crime and change his appearance. The evidence against Lafleur presented at trial included witness testimony, bank surveillance video, DNA expert testimony, cellular telephone analysis, and other evidence. The jury found Lafleur guilty of all counts of the Indictment.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa H. Miller and Jessica K. Obenauf.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Miami County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Recording Sexual Abuse of Two MinorsRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Shawn Bradley, 37 of Miami County, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 25 years in prison for creating child pornography.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the sentence handed down yesterday by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.
According to court documents, between 2015 and 2018, Bradley coerced minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.
Bradley recorded himself in multiple videos sexually abusing a child under the age of 15. Bradley admitted that the videos were created on different dates during a span of nearly three years.
At least one video depicts the sexual abuse of a second minor. The first victim is also present in video with the second victim.
Bradley pleaded guilty in September 2018 to producing child pornography.
“At sentencing the district judge called Bradley’s conduct depraved, and I agree,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “The sexual exploitation of children is among the most depraved conduct that we investigate and prosecute. We’ve seen that predators come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be in any community. Victims and witnesses should not be afraid to step forward to law enforcement when they experience or suspect wrongdoing. Thanks to law enforcement’s good work, this particular predator won’t come anywhere close to a child for the next quarter of a century.”
“While no amount of prison time can undo the devastating harm inflicted by the defendant, this significant sentencing assures that no additional children will be harmed by this defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Francis. “Working closely with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners, HSI will continue aggressively pursuing those who victimize the most vulnerable segment of our society, our children.”
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by HSI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney SaMee Harden, who is representing the United States in this case.
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Members of Counterfeit Ticket Rings Indicted for Trafficking Counterfeit Tickets for Marquee Events, Including the Super BowlRead the Press Release
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced six separate indictments charging 13 individuals with a multitude of crimes, including conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, trafficking in counterfeit goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aiding and abetting. U.S. Attorney McSwain announced the charges at the NFL’s annual anti-counterfeit merchandise press conference event held in connection with Super Bowl LIII.
The indictments filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and announced today all relate to the production, distribution, and sale of counterfeit tickets to sporting and concert events. This criminal behavior spanned several states and targeted multiple marquee sporting events, including Super Bowl LI, in Houston, Texas, and Super Bowl LII, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The details of each indictment, including the individuals charged and the sporting events that were targeted, are described more fully below. The individual defendants face a range of penalties, largely depending on the amount of financial loss attributable to each.
Case No. 2:18-cr-00306 (RBS) (Smith) and Case No. 2:18-cr-00596 (RBS) (Ferguson)
Eugene Smith, 45, of Lithonia, Georgia, and Eric Ferguson, 50, of Riverdale, Georgia, were both charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods; and trafficking in counterfeit goods. The indictments allege that Smith purchased real tickets to sporting events and concerts, provided them to his associate, Ferguson, who then printed counterfeit tickets for resale. The indictments further allege that the counterfeit tickets were distributed to a network of individuals who would advertise and sell the counterfeit tickets to unsuspecting fans. The indictments allege that from December 2016 to April 2018, the defendants conspired to traffic in counterfeit tickets for various sporting events, including Super Bowl LI; Super Bowl LII; a College Football Playoff game played in Tampa, Florida; and the Army-Navy Game played in Philadelphia.
Smith has pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment and awaits sentencing. Ferguson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial, currently scheduled for February 11, 2019.
Case No. 2:19-cr-00053 (RBS) (Williams et al.)
Sean Williams, 48, Damon Daniels, 48, Rahiem Watts, 30, Jermaine Jones, 41, all of New York, New York, and Rakee Russ, 40, of Philadelphia, are charged in a single indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods; and trafficking in counterfeit goods. The indictment alleges a similar pattern of behavior: defendants Daniels and Watts created counterfeit tickets to various sporting events and worked with others, including their indicted co-defendants, to advertise and sell the tickets to unsuspecting victims. It further alleges that that defendants conspired together to produce and sell counterfeit tickets to several sporting and concert events, including Super Bowl LI; an NCAA men’s college basketball game (Villanova University–University of Virginia) played in Philadelphia; an ACC men’s basketball tournament game played in New York City; and a FIFA World Cup qualifier soccer match between the United States and Costa Rica, played in Philadelphia.
Case No. 2:19-cr-0054 (RBS) (Warren and Higginbottom)
Khiale Warren, 52, and Rodney Higginbottom, 51, both of Philadelphia, are charged in a single indictment with trafficking in counterfeit tickets and wire fraud. The indictment alleges that these defendants advertised through a third-party website and sold counterfeit tickets to several events, including the 1916-2016 Copa America Centenario soccer game played in Philadelphia; a Philadelphia Eagles–Minnesota Vikings NFL football game played in Philadelphia; an NCAA Football National Championship game played in Atlanta, Georgia; and a Phish concert in Philadelphia, in June 2018.
Case No. 2:19-cr-0055 (RBS) (Tucker et al.)
Mustafa Tucker, 36, Malik Brown, 38, Kevin Sadat, 41, all of Philadelphia, are charged in a single indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods; and trafficking in counterfeit goods. This indictment alleges that the defendants obtained copies of Ferguson-printed counterfeit tickets from Smith, advertised counterfeit tickets online, and sold tickets to unsuspecting victims. The indictment alleges the defendants conspired with Smith, Ferguson, and others to traffic in counterfeit tickets to Super Bowl LI and the NBA All-Star Game played in New Orleans, Louisiana. It further alleges that Brown trafficked in counterfeit goods by selling tickets to the following events: a Phish concert held in Philadelphia in June 2018, the 1916-2016 Copa America Centenario soccer game played in Philadelphia, and a Philadelphia Eagles-Atlanta Falcons game in Philadelphia, on September 8, 2018.
Case No. 2:19-cr-0056 (RBS) (Dunmore)
Edward Dunmore, 61, of Philadelphia, was charged with two counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods. The indictment alleges that on two occasions, Dunmore sold tickets to a Phish concert in Philadelphia, in June 2018.
“Criminal counterfeiting and piracy are serious crimes,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “When fans spend their hard-earned money on tickets and merchandise, they deserve the real deal. These defendants repeatedly targeted events based on profitability and perpetrated a fraud on unsuspecting fans. These indictments send a clear message that phony ticket sales are a federal case – one that we will pursue to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This case grew out of the public safety partnership between FBI Philadelphia's special events program, the NFL, and the Philadelphia Eagles,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “But as the scope of the investigation expanded nationwide, it truly became a collaboration, and for that I'd like to thank all of our law enforcement partners. There were no less than 30 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and 23 FBI field offices that directly contributed on this case, allowing us to achieve our ultimate goal of protecting the ticket-buying public.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department, New York Police Department, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the New York District Attorney’s Office, and multiple local law enforcement authorities, including the Duluth, Georgia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joan Burnes and Anita Eve.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces New Agreement for Fundamental Reform at NYCHARead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”), Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), and Andrew Wheeler, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today the signing of an administrative agreement (“Agreement”) with the NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY (“NYCHA”) and the CITY OF NEW YORK (the “City”) requiring NYCHA, under the supervision of a federal monitor, to fundamentally reform its operations and remedy living conditions for its residents, including lead paint hazards, mold growth, pest infestations, lack of heat, and inadequate elevator service. The Agreement, which went into effect immediately and does not require court approval, resolves the United States’ claims against NYCHA detailed in the Complaint filed in United States District Court on June 11, 2018 (the “Complaint”), which will be dismissed without prejudice. The Complaint alleged that for years NYCHA had violated and was continuing to violate basic federal health and safety regulations, including regulations requiring NYCHA to protect children from lead paint and otherwise provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The Complaint further alleged that NYCHA repeatedly made false statements to HUD and the public regarding its lead paint compliance, and intentionally deceived HUD inspectors.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated: “NYCHA’s failure to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing is simply unacceptable, and illegal. Children must be protected from toxic lead paint, apartments must be free of mold and pest infestations, and developments must provide adequate heat in winter and elevator service. This Office has not wavered from its commitment to better living conditions for NYCHA residents. Today’s Agreement will improve the lives of the more than 400,000 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home. The Agreement goes beyond the prior proposed Consent Decree by providing strict, enforceable standards that NYCHA must meet by particular deadlines for the five critical living conditions, including requiring both the immediate remediation of lead paint in apartments with children under 6 years old and, over time, 100 percent abatement of all lead paint in all NYCHA developments, as well as a change in NYCHA leadership.”
HUD Secretary Ben Carson said: “This is a very positive outcome, one that I believe can bring meaningful change to living conditions of the many thousands of families who depend upon NYCHA for their housing. But there is still a lot of work to be carried out. We look forward to continuing what has been a productive working relationship with the Mayor and his team. HUD will continue to advocate for the hundreds of thousands of children, women, and men in New York City whose lives and livelihoods depend on having safe, fair, and affordable housing. They deserve nothing less.”
Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said: “Under today’s agreement, New York City commits to provide the resources and institutional reforms needed to end NYCHA’s pattern and practice of endangering the health of children living in New York’s public housing. EPA will be vigilant and is prepared to reinstate our litigation should they fail to meet those commitments and continue to harm children by violating lead paint safety regulations.”
Based on NYCHA’s misconduct as detailed in the Complaint, the Secretary of HUD declared today that NYCHA is in substantial default of its covenant to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The purpose of the Agreement is to remedy the deficient physical conditions in NYCHA properties, ensure that NYCHA complies with its obligations under federal law, reform the management structure of NYCHA, and facilitate cooperation and coordination between HUD, NYCHA, and the City.
Specifically, the Agreement requires NYCHA to remediate living conditions at NYCHA properties by specific deadlines and meet strict, objective compliance standards regarding lead paint hazards, mold growth, pest infestations, and inadequate heating and elevator service. With respect to lead paint hazards, for example, the Agreement requires NYCHA to take action within 30 days to visually inspect all non-exempt units built before 1978 where NYCHA believes a child under 6 resides or routinely visits and remediate any deteriorated lead-based paint in the apartment, and, over time, to abate all lead paint in all NYCHA developments. The Agreement further obligates NYCHA to establish three new critical functions: a Compliance Department, an Environmental Health and Safety Department, and a Quality Assurance Unit. In addition, the Agreement requires the City to select a new chief executive officer for NYCHA from a list of qualified professionals jointly compiled by HUD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the City.
The Agreement also renews the City’s commitment, reflected in the June 2018 proposed Consent Decree, to provide an additional $1 billion in capital funds to NYCHA over the next four years and an additional $200 million in capital funds each subsequent year for the duration of the Agreement. Also, the agreement locks in an additional $4 billion in City funds budgeted through 2027.
Pursuant to the Agreement, a federal monitor, selected by HUD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in consultation with NYCHA and the City, will oversee NYCHA’s reform efforts. Beyond the specifically enumerated remedial actions required under the Agreement, NYCHA will develop action plans, subject to the monitor’s approval, to remediate living conditions at NYCHA and meet the compliance standards set forth in the Agreement. The monitor and NYCHA also will collaboratively develop a plan to overhaul NYCHA’s organizational, management, and workforce structure, informed by a new comprehensive study from an independent third-party consultant. Throughout the term of the Agreement, the monitor is required to engage with the community, including NYCHA residents, resident groups, and stakeholders, regarding matters covered by the Agreement, and provide public reports detailing NYCHA’s progress. The cost of the monitor shall be paid by the City.
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Mr. Berman thanked HUD, HUD Office of Inspector General, and EPA for their invaluable assistance in this matter.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Environmental Protection Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert William Yalen, Mónica P. Folch, Jacob Lillywhite, Talia Kraemer, and Sharanya Mohan are in charge of the case.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Hector Velez, 23, of Manchester, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2017, Manchester Police stopped a car driven by Velez. Upon seeing what appeared to be drugs in plain view inside the car, the officers impounded the car and applied for a search warrant. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of two firearms, as well as marijuana and cocaine. Velez, as a previously convicted felon, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
“Federal firearms laws are designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “By enforcing these laws, we seek to prevent felons from using guns to commit crimes. Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, law enforcement officers throughout the Granite State are working together to protect the public from armed criminals. This case is another example of the important progress that we are making to improve the safety of our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates the outstanding partnership between ATF and the Manchester Police Department as well as the commitment we share to work together to interdict illegal firearms and the criminals that compromise the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Brady of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Malaysian Nationals Charged with Conspiring to Illegally Export Firearms and Firearm Parts to Hong KongRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Malaysian nationals were arrested today and charged with conspiring to illegally export firearms and firearm parts from the United States to an individual located in Hong Kong, China.
Lionel Chan, 35, who resided in Brighton, Mass., and Muhammad Radzi, 26, who resided in Brooklyn, N.Y., were each charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act. Chan was also charged with one count of obstruction of justice. Chan will appear this afternoon in federal court in Boston and Radzi will appear in federal court in the Eastern District of New York.
According to the criminal complaint, beginning in or around March 2018, Chan began purchasing a variety of U.S.-origin firearm parts, including parts used to assemble AR-15 assault rifles and 9MM semi-automatic handguns, at the request of a buyer in Hong Kong. Chan purchased the parts online through a variety of websites, including eBay and gunbroker.com. These firearm parts are restricted items and cannot be exported from the United States without a license. Nevertheless, Chan allegedly shipped the firearm parts via Federal Express to the buyer in Hong Kong without first obtaining the necessary export licenses. Chan intentionally concealed the contents of the shipments by providing false descriptions of the items contained in each shipment and by concealing the parts inside the package. For example, in one text exchange, Chan and the Hong Kong buyer discussed how to illegally ship a Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun. The Hong Kong buyer wrote, “this is how we are shipping the Glock 19 and USP compact barrel. I usually stuff them into a pair of sneakers, and cover it with Doritos or chips.” Between March and May 2018, Chan shipped 12 packages from Brighton, Mass., to the buyer in Hong Kong.
In or around April 2018, Radzi allegedly joined the conspiracy and began illegally exporting firearm parts to Hong Kong as well. Between May and October 2018, Radzi allegedly shipped 21 packages from Brooklyn, N.Y., to the buyer in Hong Kong. In October 2018, two of those packages were interdicted by Hong Kong authorities and found to contain numerous firearms parts, including a firing pin and gun sight, which were export-controlled. Like Chan, Radzi failed to obtain an export license for any of these shipments.
Chan allegedly obstructed justice by deleting numerous text messages relating to illegally exporting firearms during a flight from Dublin, Ireland, to Boston, Mass.
The charge of conspiring to illegally export firearms provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of obstructing justice provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. The Massachusetts State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection also assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George P. Varghese and Jason A. Casey of Lelling’s National Security Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Los Angeles Dentist Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Charges Stemming from False and Fraudulent BillingsRead the Press Release
A Los Angeles, California-based dentist pleaded guilty on Thursday to a March 2018 indictment charging him with health care fraud arising from his false and fraudulent billings for crowns and fillings, which were never provided to patients.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna of the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI’s Washington, D.C. Field Office and Assistant Director in Charge Paul D. Delacourt of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement.
Benjamin Rosenberg, D.D.S., 58, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud before U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt of the Central District of California. Sentencing will take place on May 23 before Judge Kronstadt.
As part of his guilty plea, Rosenberg admitted that he submitted and caused to be submitted approximately $3,853,931 in false and fraudulent claims to various insurance companies for dental care that Rosenberg knew had not been rendered. Rosenberg further admitted that he submitted these false and fraudulent claims to Metlife, Anthem, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, LMCO-DHA, United Health, and United Concordia (the “carriers”), which caused the carriers to pay Rosenberg approximately $1,415,011.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Trial Attorney Emily Z. Culbertson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Local Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Federal FundsRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Cynthia A. Faulkner, 32, of Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to fraudulently obtaining food card benefits and submitting false income tax documents.
Specifically, she pleaded guilty to three counts of making a false document, two counts of aiding in the filing of a false income tax return and one count of misprision of a felony.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Anthony V. Mohatt, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General Investigations, Midwest Region, and Brad Geary, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General announced the plea entered into yesterday before U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.
According to court documents, Faulkner made false statements on her April 2013 application to receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. As part of her request to reapply for cash and food assistance, Faulkner misrepresented the cost of her rental residence in Mason, Ohio, for which she paid more than $2,000 per month.
On a similar application in 2014, Faulkner falsely reported her and her husband’s total gross income as approximately $36,000. In fact, their total gross income for the application period was nearly $91,000.
Faulkner also aided in the filing of materially false income tax returns by underreporting business receipts by nearly $125,000 over tax years 2011 and 2012.
Further, Faulkner had first-hand knowledge of a bank fraud scheme and failed to report it to authorities. The scheme involved Capital Group Properties and Consultants Corp of Mason and Cincinnati, Ohio, and National Appraisal Sources, LLC of Cincinnati, Ohio, which are both co-owned by Faulkner. The scheme included receiving payment for fraudulent real estate appraisal reports.
During her federal case, Faulkner submitted false documents to the Court asking for continuance on a court hearing. She told the Court she had received a hysterectomy and provided a false patient medical discharge summary from the Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla. In fact, Faulkner underwent no such surgery.
The parties in this case have agreed upon a recommended sentence of up to 21 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation, USDA OIG and HUD OIG, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Dwight Keller, who is prosecuting the case.
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Lantana Resident Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Lantana resident was sentenced yesterday to more twenty-one years in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sean Scheller, Chief, Lantana Police Department, and Dave Aronberg, State Attorney, Palm Beach County State Attorney made the announcement.
Kerry Maurice McCray, 41, of Palm Beach County, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg to a total of 262 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (Case No. 18-80159-CR).
Following a number of undercover purchases of heroin from McCray, law enforcement obtained search warrants for his vehicles, cell phones, and motel room. As officers approached McCray’s motel room he fled, tossing items from his person and refusing to obey their lawful orders to stop. He was eventually apprehended and taken into custody. Several pieces of crack cocaine were discovered around McCray’s person, along with three cell phones. Additionally, officers found a baggie containing heroin and fentanyl that had fallen from McCray, when he was fleeing the police. The search of McCray’s motel room revealed additional pre-packaged heroin, marijuana, a scale, a cutting agent, a Ruger 9mm handgun and two magazines containing ammunition.
Based upon an analysis of telephone records and two victim reports, McCray was connected to eight non-fatal overdoses of narcotics.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the DEA and Lantana Police Department. She thanked the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parnofiello.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Lake Charles couple admits to selling Oxycodone pills, financing construction of $600k houseRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – A Lake Charles couple admitted on Wednesday in U.S. District Court to selling hundreds of Oxycodone pills, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph.
John Homer Legros Jr. 39, and his wife, Veronica Gray Legros, 39, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. United States Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay presided at the hearing. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter.
During their plea hearings, each defendant admitted to selling Oxycodone pills. John Legros sold 100 Oxycodone pills on May 19, 2016, and 95 Oxycodone pills on June 16, 2016. On September 28, 2016, John Legros gave Veronica Legros 100 Oxycodone pills with instructions to deliver and sell them to a contact on his behalf. On October 25, 2016, John Legros asked co-defendant Billy Winbush, 41, also of Lake Charles, to sell 100 Oxycodone pills. During this investigation, law enforcement discovered that Legros was financing the construction of a house that appraised at $600,000 with the drug sale proceeds. As a result, the property is being forfeited to the United States.
The defendants face up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. Winbush pleaded guilty on January 14, 2019 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. All defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2019.
The FBI and the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.
Krebs Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jared Robert Faulkner, age 30, of Krebs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment and 3 years’ supervised release for Felon In Possession Of Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Mr. Faulkner was tried on August 16th and 17th, 2018. The jury returned a guilty verdict. Faulkner was sentenced on December 13, 2018.
Evidence presented at trial showed that police officers responded to a disturbance in Krebs. As officers investigated they discovered that Faulkner possessed a firearm and that he was a convicted felon. The verdict was the result of an investigation coordinated as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to reduce violent crime. Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) is an initiative led and coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office. The agencies involved in the investigation were the McAlester Police Department, the Krebs Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods has been a great success in Oklahoma and across the country. I believe one of the reasons it has been such a success is the emphasis it places on interagency cooperation to achieve the shared goal of combatting and reducing violent crime,” United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said. “This investigation and prosecution is a PSN success story.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.