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Wednesday 12 December 2018
Mexican Man Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed Alien Previously Convicted of a FelonyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Luis Fernando Carrera-Tolentino, age 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., for the crime of unlawful reentry by a removed alien previously convicted of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Gregory A. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
Carrera-Tolentino was sentenced to serve 11 months in federal prison, which will be followed by Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings. Additionally, Carrera-Tolentino was sentenced to three years of supervised release during which time he could face additional penalties if he were to unlawfully return to the United States.
As a result of his felony conviction, if he were to unlawfully return again to the United States, he could face up to ten years in federal prison. Carrera-Tolentino was convicted after pleading guilty on October 16, 2018, in Gulfport.
On July 12, 2018, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was observing Interstate 10 as part of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, an interagency task force in Jackson County. The agent executed a vehicle stop on a Toyota Corolla that had been identified through Border Patrol intelligence. The driver was arrested for transporting illegal aliens, and both passengers, including Carrera-Tolentino, were arrested for being in the United States illegally. At the Border Patrol Station, Carrera-Tolentino was positively identified through his own statement and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) computerized record checks.
Using Homeland Security electronic database queries, agents determined that Carrera-Tolentino was born in Mexico, and is a citizen of Mexico. He had been lawfully ordered removed and was physically removed from the United States in December 2017. It also was documented that Carrera-Tolentino has a felony criminal history including conviction in 2016, for two felony counts of Burglary-First Degree in the State of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the United States Border Patrol and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team Interagency Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.
Mexican Man Sentenced for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced thatJOSE LUIS MEZA-LOPEZ, age 52, a native of Mexico, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information for illegal reentry of a removed alien.
United States District Court Judge Sarah Vance sentenced MEZA-LOPEZ to time served followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee. The defendant will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
According to court documents, on May 30, 2018, MEZA-LOPEZ was found in the United States after having been previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2012.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Supervisor of the General Crimes Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
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Mexican Citizen Admits Transportation of Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Laura Olguin Mercado, age 30, and a Mexican citizen living in Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty today to transporting illegal aliens within the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
As part of her plea, Olguin Mercado admitted that on June 22, 2018 she drove to a remote spot along the Canadian border in northern Vermont and picked up three illegal aliens from Mexico who were waiting there. After picking them up, Olguin Mercado drove west and south away from the border until she reached Interstate 87 and proceeded south. As she drove south on Interstate 87 with her passengers, Olguin Mercado was required to stop at the Border Patrol checkpoint near North Hudson, New York. Border Patrol determined that three passengers in Olguin Mercado’s car were illegal aliens who had just illegally crossed the border into the United States from Canada. Olguin Mercado admitted that she knew the people she picked up and transported had illegally entered the United States from Canada. Olguin Mercado admitted that she intended to drive the three people to Indiana.
As a result of her conviction, Olguin Mercado faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd on April 11, 2019. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Members of International Movie Piracy Ring Indicted in Scheme to Steal and Sell Pre-Release Hollywood Films and TV ShowsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today indicted five men in four countries on federal charges alleging they distributed or offered for sale stolen digital versions of hundreds of motion pictures and television shows – including “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “The Expendables 3” and “The Walking Dead” – prior to their official release.
According to the indictment filed this afternoon in United States District Court, members of the hacking conspiracy broke into computer systems used by Hollywood film production companies and stole digital files, including feature films, trailers, television series episodes and audio tracks. The ring allegedly put the stolen files on a server in France, which contained more than 25,000 motion picture-related files, including the feature films “Godzilla,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “Horrible Bosses 2.”
The defendants also illicitly acquired copies of films by other means, including recording cinema screenings and obtaining copies of motion pictures distributed to movie industry professionals, according to the indictment, which outlines criminal conduct beginning in early 2013 and continuing into the spring of 2015.
Once they obtained the movies and other content, the defendants allegedly altered the properties of the computer files to make them easier to distribute online. According to the indictment, they offered the stolen motion picture files for sale via private electronic communications, but they also uploaded stolen movies onto pirate movie websites. The defendants used a shared PayPal account to receive and distribute money from the sale of the pirated motion pictures, the indictment states.
In February 2015, one of the defendants allegedly told a prospective buyer that the ring would be offering copies of the films “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Fifty Shades of Grey” for sale on the same day as their U.S. theatrical release.
The defendants charged in the indictment are:
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Malik Luqman Farooq, 30, a resident of the United Kingdom, who allegedly sold more than a dozen stolen pre-release or contemporaneous-release films over a period of two years. Farooq was previously arrested by the City of London Police on related charges and is awaiting trial in the United Kingdom.
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Aditya Raj, believed to reside in India, who allegedly released pirated movies on the internet and helped arrange for the camcording of various films in India.
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Sam Nhance, believed to reside in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who allegedly procured and maintained the computer server on which the co-conspirators stored and manipulated digital files for further distribution.
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Ghobhirajah Selvarajah, believed to reside in Malaysia, who was the registered owner of a PayPal account that the co-conspirators allegedly used to receive payment for sales of films and to pay for the storage server for the group.
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Jitesh Jadhav, also believed to reside in India, is alleged to have camcorded films in India that were sold by other members of the conspiracy, including screenings of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”
The co-conspirators are also alleged to have previously operated a website used to distribute pirated “Bollywood” films, known as “BollyTNT.”
The defendants, who are not in U.S. custody, are named in a seven-count indictment that charges them with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, unauthorized access to a computer, aggravated identity theft, and copyright infringement.
The conspiracy, computer hacking, and copyright violation charges each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The charges of aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, which received substantial assistance from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit of the City of London Police. U.S. authorities received cooperation from French and Canadian authorities in obtaining evidence stored abroad.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cameron Schroeder of the Cyber & Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
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Massachusetts State Trooper Pleads Guilty in Overtime Abuse InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A suspended Massachusetts State Police Trooper pleaded guilty today in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).
Eric Chin, 46, of Hanover, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for March, 20, 2018. In October 2018, Chin was charged by Information and agreed to plead guilty pursuant to a plea agreement.
Chin was an MSP Trooper assigned to Troop E, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. In 2016, Chin earned $302,400, which included approximately $131,653 in overtime pay.
Chin was paid for overtime shifts that he did not work at all or from which he left early. Chin concealed his fraud by submitting fraudulent citations designed to create the appearance that he had worked overtime hours that he had not, and falsely claimed in MSP paperwork and payroll entries that he had worked the entirety of his overtime shifts.
Chin admitted collecting $7,125 for overtime hours that he did not work.
The overtime in question involved the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE), which was intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers who were to target vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.
In 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
Chin is the fifth Trooper to plead guilty as a result of the ongoing investigation. On July 2, 2018, former Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood pleaded guilty; on Sep. 14, 2018, suspended Trooper Kevin Sweeney, 40, of Braintree pleaded guilty; on Oct. 11, 2018, suspended Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester, pleaded guilty; and, on Nov. 28, 2019, former Trooper Paul Cesan pleaded guilty.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced earlier today that David Wilson and Daren DeJong, who were each previously charged on June 27, 2018, and July 25, 2018, respectively, have agreed to plead guilty. Dates for those plea hearings have not yet been set.
Pursuant to Chin’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of between six and 12 months of incarceration. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man and District Woman Plead Guilty to Charges in Fatal Shooting and Resulting Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antonio Brown, 30, of Suitland, Md., and Amanda Turner, 41, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to their conduct in the fatal shooting of a man outside an apartment building in Northwest Washington in September 2015, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brown pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of second-degree murder and carrying a pistol without a license. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon 19 ½-year prison term. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck set a hearing for Jan. 2, 2019 to determine whether to accept the plea and agreed-upon sentence.
Turner pled guilty to one count of felony threats and two counts of attempted obstruction of justice. Her sentencing is set before Judge Beck on March 8, 2019.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, the shooting took place at approximately 7:44 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2015 in the rear of an apartment building in the 1800 block of Harvard Street NW. Brown was sitting in a Dodge Charger in the parking lot. He left that vehicle and went over to the victim, Charles Welch, who was also present in the parking lot.
Brown shot Mr. Welch once in the chest before returning to his vehicle and driving away. Mr. Welch managed to get in his vehicle and drive approximately one block before he lost consciousness, crashing into a wall on Irving Street NW. Mr. Welch, 25, was taken to Washington Hospital Center, where all life-saving efforts failed.
In the weeks after the murder, Turner sent a series of threatening text messages to one witness, and made a threatening telephone call to another witness, all for the purpose of preventing them from truthfully cooperating with the investigation.
Brown was arrested on September 29, 2015 and has been in custody ever since. Turner was arrested on Dec. 16, 2015.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the District of Columbia Housing Authority Police and District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Silvia Gonzalez Roman, Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Security Specialist Lesley Slade, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, and Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Christine Macey, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Man sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and bomb-making materialsRead the Press Release
Terre Haute, Indiana - United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, announced today that Justin A. Vangilder, 29, of West Terre Haute, was recently sentenced in United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. On November 29, 2018, United States District Court Judge William T. Lawrence sentenced Vangilder to forty-two (42) months imprisonment following his pleas of guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device.
“The Office of the United States Attorney has devoted significant resources to combat the scourge of illegal firearms trafficking,” said Josh J. Minkler. “This prosecution is an example of judicious partnerships between federal and local law enforcement officers to stop criminal activity at its inception.”
This case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), West Terre Haute Police Department (WTHPD), and other state and local law enforcement agencies. On April 11, 2017, officers with the WTHPD received information that Vangilder, a convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm. When officers responded to Vangilder’s residence they met with his father who allowed WTHPD officers into the residence to recover the firearm, a Citadel 1911, .45-caliber handgun, with two loaded magazines. Upon further investigation, WTHPD officers discovered what appeared to be a bomb making lab in the defendant’s bedroom. WTHPD evacuated the home and called the bomb squad, who responded to the scene along with the FBI. Once the residence was declared safe, investigators found numerous components typically used to assemble destructive devices in Vangilder’s bedroom including a soldering iron, an assembled bomb-like device, timers, fireworks, unknown powders, PVC pipe, and three books detailing how to construct explosive devices.
During the course of the hearing on November 18, 2018, the Court heard testimony that the FBI searched Vangilder’s electronic devices and located several video files in which Vangilder can be seen testing electric and electronic detonation switches for destructive devices, including one switch linked to a key fob and another linked to an egg timer. In the videos, which were recorded in Vangilder’s bedroom, Vangilder can be seen igniting flash paper and various powders by operation of his homemade detonation switches.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Rinka, who prosecuted the case for the government, Vangilder was convicted in 2014 of possession of an unregistered destructive device in federal court in Illinois and was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest in this case. In addition to pleading guilty to the charges in this case, Vangilder also pled guilty to violating the terms of his federal supervised release and Judge Lawrence sentenced him to a consecutive 10 month term of imprisonment for that offense.
This arrest enforces the Department of Justice’s Strategic goals of targeting the District’s most violent geographic areas for the adoption of reactive federal drug and firearm prosecutions. Priority will be given to defendants who can be charged by criminal complaint, detained, indicted, convicted, and sentenced to significant periods of incarceration. This expeditious approach should result in more firearm and drug prosecutions in the District. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan, Section 2.2
Maine Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Robbing Credit UnionRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Marc Beaulieu, 31, of Caribou, Maine, was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for robbing a credit union in Somersworth, New Hampshire.
According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, Beaulieu entered the Service Credit Union in Somersworth on November 18, 2016, approached a teller, and handed the teller a note that stated “Give me all your money and no one will get hurt.” The teller gave Beaulieu a sum of money that included a packet of bait bills. Beaulieu was wearing a camouflage jacket, dark hat, khaki pants, and bright red or orange sneakers. Surveillance film captured Beaulieu fleeing the bank and entering a Subaru.
After law enforcement released an image of the bank robber to the media, numerous individuals contacted the police and identified the robber as Beaulieu. Police also obtained video from a convenience store near the credit union that captured Beaulieu in the Subaru and putting on the camouflage jacket. Beaulieu was arrested in Portsmouth on November 21, 2016, and the camouflage jacket, the sneakers, and other evidence connecting him to the robbery were recovered.
Beaulieu previously pleaded guilty on April 27, 2018.
“Robberies and other violent crimes present a substantial threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect our community, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate those who commit these dangerous crimes.”
The Somersworth Police Department led the investigation of the case with the assistance of the Portsmouth Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Strafford County Department of Corrections. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also provided assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald A. Feith.
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London Physician Sentenced to Four Years for Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — Dr. Werner Grentz, 69, of London, Kentucky, was sentenced on Wednesday by United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove to three years in federal prison, for falsely reporting his income as $0 on tax documents presented to the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2011-2015, and for corruptly interfering with the IRS’ attempts to administer the tax laws. Dr. Grentz was also sentenced to an additional year in prison, for violations of the terms of his supervised release on a 2013 tax fraud conviction. This one-year prison term will run consecutively to Dr. Grentz’s three-year sentence, for a total of four years in prison.
Dr. Grentz was convicted in February 2018, following a jury trial in London. According to the evidence at trial, Dr. Grentz submitted false Form 1040X and Form 1040NR documents to the IRS, claiming to have received $0 in income during the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, when in fact Dr. Grentz earned $726,148 during that time period. The IRS determined that Dr. Grentz owed taxes of $237,860 on that income which he failed to report or pay. Dr. Grentz also took steps to impede collection efforts by the IRS and county clerks.
This was not Dr. Grentz’s first conviction for tax crimes. In 2014, Dr. Grentz was convicted of tax evasion, for willfully failing to pay more than $900,000 in taxes to the IRS. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison for that tax offense, and while he was on supervised release for the 2014 offense, committed the new tax crimes that resulted in his 2018 conviction. It was a violation of the terms of his supervised release to commit new federal crimes, and that violation resulted in the additional year of prison time.
In addition to his prison sentence, Dr. Grentz was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS of $237,860. He owes more than a million dollars in unpaid taxes to the IRS.
Under federal law, Grentz must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a term of one year.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Ryan Lerner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul McCaffrey and Neeraj Gupta.
Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement will join U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon at a press conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Conway, South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri Lydon announced today that a press conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the M.L. Brown Public Safety Building, 2560 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526.
Represented at the press conference will be members of the Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, Conway Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
NOTE: Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Lance Crick, 864-282-2105. All media must present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). Members of the media wishing to attend should gather at the media staging area at 10:30 a.m., 30 minutes in advance.
Media Staging Area: the M.L. Brown Public Safety Building, 2560 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526.
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Lewistown woman sentenced in methamphetamine caseRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Lewistown woman convicted of possessing methamphetamine for distribution was sentenced on Tuesday to 54 months in prison and five years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt G. Alme said.
Jahmel Halabi, 43, pleaded guilty to the charge in August.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided at sentencing.
On April 14, 2018 near Lewistown, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped a car in which Halabi was a passenger. The trooper arrested Halabi on an outstanding warrant and took her to jail. Additional information that Halabi and the driver were involved in drug activity led to officers getting a search warrant for the car. A search turned up about 99 grams, or 3.5 ounces, of actual meth and baggies that were hidden in the dome light.
That same day, the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office reviewed jail calls and identified Halabi as having called a person and requesting he “get the stuff out of the car” and “the stuff out of the house.” Halabi also indicated that drugs were located in a safe in the residence and provided the safe’s combination in the jail call.
Lewistown police officers got a search warrant for Halabi’s residence and seized about 14 ounces of actual meth, $4,000 cash and drug paraphernalia.
During an interview with law enforcement, Halabi admitted to dealing meth and said officers had missed meth and firearms during the search of her home. Officers returned to the residence and seized about 31 ounces, or 1.95 pounds of actual meth, which is the equivalent of about 7,072 individual doses. Also seized were various rounds of ammunition and bank receipts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Robbing Bank with A Fake BombRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who told his apartment manager that he was going to rob a bank so he could pay his rent, and then robbed a bank with a fake bomb, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and five years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Robert Lynn Dufloth, 65, pleaded guilty in January to robbing the Wells Fargo Bank located at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway. United States District Judge Kent Dawson presided over the sentencing hearing.
On January 10, Dufloth handed a bank teller a note that said he was robbing the bank and to give him the money “and no one will get hurt.” He then showed the teller a device with a red button in his hand and threatened to press the button, implying by gestures that the button was a trigger for an explosive device. The teller put approximately $536 in an envelope. Dufloth left the bank with the stolen money.
Officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reviewed video surveillance of the robbery and canvased the area. Officers quickly identified Dufloth and learned he was a long-time resident at a nearby weekly rental complex. The manager of the property reported that when she confronted Dufloth earlier about late rent, he told her not to worry, that he would rob a bank. Between the time of the robbery and when the officers arrived at the weekly rental complex, Dufloth had paid his rent in cash. On January 11, after Dufloth was identified as the robber in a photo line-up, officers executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search, the officers found and seized the device used during the bank robbery.
Dufloth has a total of 10 previous felony convictions dating back to 1972, including a prior robbery conviction in 1980.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
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KC Man Charged After Shooting Female Z-Trip Driver at Least 20 Times During RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today for the armed robbery of a female Z-Trip driver who was shot at least 20 times.
Derron D. Nevels, also known as “Ronnie,” 18, was charged in a two-count complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s criminal complaint charges Nevels with one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm in a crime of violence.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Nevels was picked up by a Z-Trip driver at 3715 Wabash Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2018. The Z-Trip taxi in which the crime was committed is equipped with interior and exterior cameras. The cameras show Nevels getting into the rear passenger seat at approximately 8:03 p.m., the affidavit says. The Z-Trip driver took him to 914 Benton Ave., Kansas City, Mo., arriving at the destination at approximately 8:15 p.m.
When they arrived at the destination, they waited in the vehicle for somebody to bring out the fare. When a second (unidentified) suspect approached the vehicle, the affidavit says, Nevels held a Smith and Wesson Military & Police .22-caliber rifle up to the victim’s head and demanded she give him everything. The victim attempted to explain that he was being recorded, to which Nevels allegedly responded, “I don’t care; give me everything.” Nevels also appeared to be taking a photo or video with his cell phone, the affidavit says.
The victim turned toward the back seat and grabbed onto the rifle, and a struggle ensued. The second suspect hit the victim in the face, then reached around the driver’s seat to strike her in the back and the back of her head. The victim released her grip from the gun, the affidavit says, at which time Nevels leaned back in his seat, chambered a live round, and opened fire on the victim within close range, approximately 21 times. Both suspects then fled from the scene, running in a northbound direction.
About 10 minutes later, at approximately 8:25 p.m., the affidavit says, one of the suspects returned to the victim’s vehicle to retrieve Nevel’s cell phone, which he had left behind when he fled from the scene of the crime. He can be heard on the video asking the victim if she is okay, and she informs him that she has been shot and has called the police. He reached into the rear driver’s side of the vehicle to pick up the cell phone then left the scene.
When police officers arrived, the victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. It was determined the victim sustained approximately 20 gunshot wounds to her upper body. To date her condition continues to be critical with substantial and serious bodily injuries.
Investigators used cell phone and Facebook data to identify Nevels, the affidavit says. On Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, Nevels and two other men were seen getting onto a bus in the area of Prospect and Swope Parkway. Nevels was arrested when they got off the bus at 11th Street and Grand Avenue. Nevels was carrying the loaded rifle hidden in his waistband with the barrel going down his right pant leg. Two other individuals were taken into custody but are not charged in the federal complaint.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Customer Service Provider in ArizonaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with Afni Inc. (Afni), a customer service provider headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. The settlement resolves a complaint that an Afni location in Tucson, Arizona, discriminated against a lawful permanent resident in violation of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
The Department’s investigation, initiated based on a lawful permanent resident’s complaint, concluded that on more than one occasion Afni improperly rejected the worker’s valid documents establishing her work authority, and requested that the worker present more or different documents than necessary based on the worker’s citizenship status. These actions constitute unfair documentary practices in violation of the INA. Under the INA, workers are allowed to choose from lists of acceptable documents to prove that they are authorized to work and employers cannot reject valid documents or specify which documents the workers should present because of their citizenship.
Under the settlement agreement, Afni will provide back pay to the injured worker and pay a civil penalty to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Among other requirements, the company will be subject to staff training and monitoring requirements.
“Employers should familiarize themselves with the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements to avoid unnecessary and unlawful document requests that create obstacles for workers based on their citizenship status or national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We commend Afni for working to ensure that, in the future, employees do not face discriminatory barriers when going through the employment eligibility verification process.”
The Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation and intimidation.
For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar; email [email protected]; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to retaliation; different documentary requirements based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin; or discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, should contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.
Judge Sentences Johnstown Woman to 7½ Years in Prison for Dealing Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 90 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on her conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Sabrina L. Rogers, 35.
According to information presented to the court, on July 6, July 10, and July 11, 2017, Rogers distributed a quantity of cocaine base, also known as "crack," and on July 12, 2017, Rogers possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of "crack."
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Rogers.
Johnstown Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 6½ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to six year and six months in prison and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Joseph L. Prave, III, 52.
According to information presented to the court, on Jan. 26, 2016, Prave distributed a quantity of heroin.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Prave.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than Three Additional Years in Prison for Escape from Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced John Eric Williams (49, Jacksonville) to three years and four months in federal prison for escaping from custody at a Jacksonville halfway house. This sentence will run consecutive to the remaining portion of the 70-month federal prison sentence he was serving when he absconded.
Williams had pleaded guilty on August 21, 2018.
According to court documents, Williams was serving a 70-month sentence in federal prison for stealing a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The Bureau of Prisons placed Williams in a halfway house to complete his sentence, with an estimated release date of February 2, 2018. Williams signed a written acknowledgement of the rules of the halfway facility that included the consequences for failing to remain at the facility, including potential prosecution for any escape.
On July 14, 2017, Williams walked away from the halfway house and was listed as an escapee. On that same day, the house officials called Williams’s friends and relatives, local hospitals, and local jails in an effort to locate him, but were unsuccessful. Williams never returned to the halfway house and, on August 10, 2017, he was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
Investigation by Orange County Violent Gang Task Force Leads to Federal Narcotics and Firearms Charges Against 20 DefendantsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Authorities with the Orange County Violent Gang Task Force this morning arrested nine defendants on federal narcotics and firearms charges stemming from an investigation into gang activity in Santa Ana and surrounding communities.
The arrests are the result of 10 federal indictments issued by a federal grand jury that charge a total of 20 defendants. The indictments allege a series of methamphetamine and heroin transactions, as well as firearms offenses. Seven of the defendants are believed to members of Alley Boys street gang, and four others are believed to be members of other Orange County gangs.
One of the indictments details an illicit narcotics-trafficking operation based in a budget hotel in Santa Ana where the drugs were sold and distributed. A second indictment alleges a transaction at an Anaheim hotel where two defendants allegedly sold a half-pound of methamphetamine to a prospective buyer for $3,500 in cash.
In addition to those arrested this morning, nine defendants are currently in custody on other charges, including two who were taken into custody yesterday on state charges. Two defendants are currently being sought by federal authorities.
“As part of our violent crime initiative, we are taking the fight to local street gangs such as the Alley Boys who destroy our communities with drugs and guns,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “The federal criminal cases being announced today are the latest in a long string of investigations in which federal and state agencies have partnered to target the gang activity that takes a devastating toll on neighborhoods. Jurisdictional boundaries don’t matter to street gangs and drug traffickers, which is why my prosecutors and federal agents will continue to work with local authorities to improve public safety.”
“Street gangs and their members with extensive criminal histories continue to remain a menace to neighborhoods here in Orange County and throughout California,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “We will continue to work with our local and federal partners on the Orange County Violent Crimes Task Force to target the most notorious gangs who continue to wreak havoc on our communities.”
“Today’s announcement of ‘Operation King Midas’ is an example of our collective success in protecting our communities,” said Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin. “The outcomes displayed here today are a direct reflection of the successful collaboration between the Santa Ana Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and all our task force partners working toward a common goal – safety of all the good people of our communities. The residents of Santa Ana and Orange County have confidence in law enforcement and the results of this case provide evidence of why their trust and confidence exists. As the host agency of the FBI-sponsored Orange County Violent Gang Task Force, we are proud of this impactful collaboration.”
The 20 defendants named in the indictments unsealed this morning are:
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Sergio Soria, aka “Red,” 41, of Tustin, an alleged leader of the Highland gang, who is currently a fugitive;
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David Oscar Perez, aka “Jap,” 42, of Santa Ana;
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Hector Aburto Lopez, 27, of Santa Ana;
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Sammy Walter Gray, Junior, aka “Junior,” 35, of Santa Ana;
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Sylvia Gray, aka “Shiva,” 43, of Santa Ana;
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Deanna Lorraine Kirk, aka “Dee,” 48, of Bakersfield, who was already in custody;
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George Ramirez, aka “Lil’ One,” 39, of Santa Ana;
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Danny Castillo, aka “Taz,” 39, of Santa Ana;
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Melissa Ramirez, 35, of Santa Ana;
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Esteban Cervantes, aka “Hitman,” 43, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody and now faces federal firearms offenses that include selling a .45-caliber handgun to a person he thought was a convicted felon;
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Oscar Peralta Jimenez, aka “Toker,” 35, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Daniel Zaragoza, aka “Dough Boy,” 39, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Jennie Martinez, 27, of Santa Ana;
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Michael Herrera, aka “Oso,” 41, of Santa Ana, an Alley Boys “shotcaller” who is believed to be in Mexico at this time;
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Jaime Rojas, aka “Sneaky,” 41, of Garden Grove, who was already in custody;
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Cesar Reyes, aka “Spy,” 43, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Rene Cruz, aka “Grumpy,” 42, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Berenice Macias, aka “Bere,” 27, of Anaheim;
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Gregory Michael O’Brien, 50, of Santa Ana; and
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Frank Perez, 47, of Santa Ana, California.
(One additional defendant named in one of the indictments recently died and will be dismissed as a defendant in that case.)
The 11 defendants taken into custody this morning are expected to be arraigned on the indictments this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases were investigated by the Orange County Violent Gang Task Force, which is made up of agents and officers with the Anaheim Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the California Department of Corrections – Parole; the Correctional Intelligence Task Force; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Fullerton Police Department; IRS Criminal Investigation; the Orange County Probation Department; and the Santa Ana Police Department.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally, Ann Luotto Wolf and Jake Nare of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
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Inmate at Rivers Correctional Institution Indicted on Charges of Conspiring to Smuggle Heroin into PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Greenville has returned an indictment charging RONALD WYNN, 44, an inmate in Rivers Correctional Institution in Hertford, North Carolina, with two counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to provide and possess prohibited objects, including heroin, within Rivers Correctional Institution. The indictment alleges that on various dates, WYNN directed another person to provide heroin and other prohibited objects to WYNN while WYNN was an inmate at the Rivers facility.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, WYNN would face maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000 or both fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
If convicted of conspiracy to provide and possess prohibited objects, including heroin, within Rivers Correctional Institution, WYNN would face maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 or both fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office through partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon.
Hudson County, New Jersey, Woman Charged with Enslaving Sri Lankan Woman for More Than Nine YearsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Secaucus, New Jersey, woman was arraigned today on charges of holding a Sri Lankan national against her will and for years forcing the victim to work without pay as a domestic servant, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, a/k/a “Alia Al Qaterneh,” 43, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was indicted Dec. 4, 2018, on charges of forced labor, alien harboring, and marriage fraud. She was arraigned today before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler in Camden federal court and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. She remains free on $150,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Hunaity brought the victim to the United States on a temporary visa in 2009 for the victim to perform domestic services. Hunaity caused the victim to overstay the victim’s visa, and the victim remained in the United States illegally, living exclusively with Hunaity for more than nine years. Hunaity forced the victim to work without pay, and limited the victim’s interactions with the outside world. In 2018, Hunaity forced the victim to marry Hunaity for the purpose of obtaining legal residence for the victim so that the victim could continue to work without pay for Hunaity.
Hunaity was arrested on Sept.19, 2018, and made her initial appearance that day before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Cathy L. Waldor.
The forced labor charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the alien harboring and marriage fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charges subject Hunaity to a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to others, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to the 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Robert Kovic Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
Henderson Man Sentenced on Felon in Possession of Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced JAMIL HASSAN LEWIS, 37, of Henderson to 63 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
LEWIS, was charged in a one count indictment filed on May 2, 2018. On July 25, 2018 LEWIS pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On September 12, 2017 officers with the Selective Enforcement Unit of the Raleigh Police Department were attempting to locate LEWIS due to outstanding warrants for multiple sex offenses. During their search, officers went to an address in which they believed LEWIS was located. Officers knocked on the door and LEWIS answered and was placed under arrest. A protective sweep of the home recovered a loaded .25 caliber handgun in plain view. During subsequent questioning, LEWIS confessed to having the firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Daniel William Smith prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Hazelton Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Edward Gonzalez, age 30, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was charged on November 30, 2018, with drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the complaint alleges that Gonzalez possessed with the intent to distribute over one kilogram of cocaine on November 30, 2018, in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. The complaint also alleges that Gonzalez possessed a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Criminal Complaints are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Hardin County Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing an Explosive DeviceRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment against Jonathan Edward White, 40, for manufacture, possession, and transfer of an explosive device in violation of the National Firearms Act. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.
On August 24, 2018, TBI Special Agents began investigating a series of threats posted on social media by Jonathan Edward White, of Hardin County. During the course of the investigation, agents determined that White may be in possession of an explosive device. That same evening, White met with agents working in an undercover capacity and provided them with a pipe bomb. Special Operations personnel from the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded and rendered the explosive device safe. Jonathan White was arrested without incident and charged with one count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon under state law. He was booked into the Hardin County Jail on a $500,000 bond. In the resulting federal investigation, the ATF Explosives Enforcement Branch examined the device and determined it to be an explosive bomb which qualifies as a prohibited destructive device, as defined by Title 26, USC, § 5845.
The federal indictment charges that White knowingly and unlawfully made, possessed, and transferred a prohibited destructive device, more commonly known as a pipe bomb, in violation of Title 26, USC, § 5861 and 5871.
If convicted, White faces up to 10 years imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This office, along with our law enforcement partners, takes all bomb threats seriously, and we are vigilant to protect and prevent property damage, bodily injury, and death from any explosive device in West Tennessee. We commend the quick, thorough, and coordinated response of all of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation."
This case was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office; Savannah Police Department; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Tennessee Highway Patrol; Tennessee Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations in this indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Guilty Plea in "Fishing" of U.S. Mail Collection Boxes, Theft of ChecksRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – One of two men charged in federal court in April with stealing mail from United States Postal Service collection boxes in and around Providence and Pawtucket by “fishing” out envelopes, today admitted his role in a conspiracy that resulted in the theft of mail and of more than $97,600 worth of checks from envelopes deposited in the collection boxes.
“Fishing” is a term which describes of obtaining items from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes by utilizing common items such as plastic water bottles, duct tape, glue, and string. A device covered in a sticky substance such as glue is lowered into the closed mail box, and mail that adheres to the sticky surface of the device is pulled out and retrieved.
It is alleged in court documents that Gerald Reinoso, 22, and Emmanuel Jose Torres, 18, and others working at their direction, deposited the stolen checks they obtained as the result of “fishing” the collection boxes in area banks. The funds were later withdrawn from ATMs and through the use of debit cards.
Reinoso appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Stephen Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service.
Reinoso is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2019. Torres is awaiting trial.
According to court documents, in May 2017, U.S. Postal Service Inspectors initiated an investigation into the theft of mail from a collection box outside of the Washington Park Post Office after multiple complaints of mail being stolen. Then, in September 2017, a local businessman reported that numerous pieces of mail deposited into collection boxes outside the Elmwood Station Post Office were never received by the intended recipients. Many of the pieces of mail contained checks.
As the investigation expanded, Postal Inspectors learned that numerous pieces of mail, some containing checks that were deposited into collection boxes at locations in and around Providence, did not reach their intended recipients. Agents determined that many of the missing checks were found to have been fraudulently endorsed, deposited into bank accounts, and the funds then withdrawn.
Postal Inspectors installed surveillance cameras outside of the Elmwood Station and Washington Park Post Offices, focused on collection boxes. Surveillance video showed several individuals “fishing” the mailboxes in the early morning hours. Among those identified by Postal Service Inspectors were Gerald Reinoso and Emmanuel Jose Torres.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service, with the assistance of the East Providence, Providence and Seekonk Police Departments.
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Georgia Precious Metals Broker Convicted of Willfully Failing to File Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Atlanta, Georgia, convicted Saleem Hakim, 49, of three counts of failing to file federal income tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Saleem Hakim was in the business of brokering the sale of precious metals to clients. As a precious metal broker, Hakim received funds from clients, converted a portion of the funds to precious metals, and kept the remainder for his personal use. For the years 2011 through 2013, the total amount Hakim retained was in excess of $1 million. Despite receiving income in excess of the filing thresholds and knowing his obligation to make and file tax returns, Hakim did not file any income tax returns. Hakim is a former resident of Smyrna, Georgia.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2019. Hakim faces a maximum of one year in prison on each count, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Jeffrey Bender and Kathryn Sparks of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 276 Months for Drug Trafficking and Armed KidnappingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Omar Davis, 38, of Moultrie, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday to 276 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and kidnapping.
From December 2014 through March 2016, Davis ran a drug-trafficking operation that distributed pound quantities of methamphetamine in and around the Laurel County area. On March 8, 2016, Davis held two people at gunpoint over a dispute about proceeds from drug sales. Davis pleaded guilty to the drug-trafficking, firearm, and kidnapping charges.
Under federal law, Davis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for five years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge D. Christopher Evans of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division; and Richard Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State police, jointly announced the sentence.
The DEA and the Kentucky State Police conducted the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Rosenberg.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Four Sentenced for Roles in Plattsburgh Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Touchstone, age 31, of Plattsburgh, New York; Melissa Kusalonis, age 37, of Plattsburgh; Anthony DeFilippo, age 37, of Schenectady, New York; and Luke Kiroy, age 34, of Saranac, New York, were sentenced yesterday and today for conspiring to distribute heroin.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Kruskall, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Clinton County Sheriff David Favro.
Touchstone was sentenced to 84 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release; Kusalonis to 41 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release; DeFilippo to 46 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release; and Kiroy to 3 years of probation and a $1,000 fine.
As part of their guilty pleas, Touchstone and Kusalonis admitted to obtaining nearly a kilogram of heroin from Jimolo Coates, a.k.a. “Brodie,” in Annapolis, Maryland, and DeFilippo in Schenectady between June 2016 and May 2017, and selling the heroin in Plattsburgh. DeFilippo admitted to regularly providing Touchstone and Kusalonis with heroin in Schenectady, and Kiroy admitted to transporting heroin from Annapolis to Plattsburgh with Kusalonis.
Touchstone, Kusalonis, DeFilippo, and Kiroy were charged with six other people in two related indictments pertaining to a heroin-distribution ring that transported heroin from Annapolis and Schenectady and sold it in the Plattsburgh area. In addition to Touchstone, Kusalonis, DeFilippo, and Kiroy, five other defendants pled guilty and were sentenced as follows:
Defendant
Sentence
Jimolo Coates, a.k.a. “Lo,” Marlo,” “Brodie,” age 25, of Annapolis, Maryland
188 months in prison, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release
Tynaejah Thompson, a.k.a. “Naee,” age 20, of Annapolis, Maryland
18 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
Kiara Scott, age 29, of Annapolis, Maryland
3 years of probation, including 6 months of home detention
Charles Adams, a.k.a. “Chuck,” age 33, of Peru, New York
37 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release
Travynn Ippolito, a.k.a “Trav,” age 30, of Plattsburgh, New York
30 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
The tenth defendant, Danielle Conners, age 33, of Plattsburgh, was convicted at trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2019.
The convictions are the result of a nearly yearlong investigation led by the DEA Task Force in Plattsburgh, which consists of law enforcement officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Border Patrol, New York State Police, Clinton County Sherriff’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plattsburgh Police Department. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, as well as the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, assisted in the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Katherine Kopita.
Four Postal Employees Indicted for Various Crimes in Connection with the Distribution of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that four employees of the United States Postal Service were indicted for various crimes in connection with the distribution of marijuana.
On November 27, 2018, Unterria J. Rogers, a 33 year old resident of Mobile was indicted in two cases for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of marijuana, use of a communication facility to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, distribution and possession with intent marijuana, use of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and embezzlement of packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to him for delivery.
On November 28, 2018, Devon Donald, a 26 year old resident of Mobile was indicted for conspiring to embezzle packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to him for delivery and embezzlement of six packages from the U.S. mail entrusted to him for delivery.
On November 28, 2018, Shambria Hill, a 25 year old resident of Mobile was indicted for conspiring to embezzle packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to her for delivery and embezzlement of three packages from the U.S. mail entrusted to her for delivery.
On November 28, 2018, Sade Martin, a 26 year old resident of Mobile was indicted for conspiring to embezzle packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to her for delivery and embezzlement of five packages from the U.S. mail entrusted to her for delivery.
“Most postal workers are honest and conscientious about their work and they would never become involved in the kinds of crimes that these four defendants have been charged by the Grand Jury,” United States Attorney Moore said. “The citizens of this district should not have to worry about whether the U.S. mail is being compromised and particularly by employees of the U.S. Postal Service. We take this kind of alleged conduct by Postal Service employees very seriously and I appreciate our law enforcement partners who aggressively investigated these cases and brought them to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“The U. S. mail has a wall of protection around it. When postal inspectors discovered this scheme, they reached out to their law enforcement partners to start a multifaceted investigation that culminated in these indictments,” said Inspector in Charge, Adrian Gonzalez, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Inspector in Charge Gonzalez went on the say, “along with federal agents of the Postal Inspection Service and the U. S. Postal Service/ Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), personnel from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol Air and marine Operations, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, and Homeland Security Investigations converged to conduct a series of intensive investigations, complex surveillance, and make arrests to defend our communities and their USPS mail service.”
Christopher Cave, Special Agent in Charge, USPS-OIG also commented saying that, “the federal indictments obtained are indicative of the hard work of our special agents who vigorously investigated this narcotics scheme. Our office along with our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue these investigations. Our agency will remain vigilant and strive to maintain the sanctity of the mail.”Former U.S. Government Contractor Indicted for Allegedly Selling Falsified Resumes and Counterfeit Training Certificates to Individuals Seeking Employment on U.S. Government Contracts in AfghanistanRead the Press Release
A former U.S. government contractor was charged in an indictment filed today for his alleged role in selling falsified resumes and counterfeit U.S. government training certificates to individuals seeking employment on U.S. government contracts in Afghanistan between 2012 and 2015, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko.
Antonio Jones, 39, of Yorktown, Virginia, was charged in the District of South Carolina with one count of conspiracy to defraud government contractors and the United States, nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of false statements. Jones is scheduled to make his initial appearance in the District of South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2019.
The indictment alleges that Jones created an entity known as Wolverine Inc., through which he offered job placement services to clients seeking employment with U.S. government contractors in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Jones allegedly falsified his clients’ resumes and manufactured counterfeit U.S. government training certificates for his clients to make them appear more qualified than they actually were. Jones and his clients then used the falsified documents in job applications that were submitted to U.S. government contractors, the indictment alleges. At least two U.S. government contractors, one of which was based in the District of South Carolina, working on a multibillion-dollar Defense Department contract hired personnel allegedly based on false documents that Jones created and supplied or caused to be supplied to them.
This case was investigated by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Michael P. McCarthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Former South Bend Resident Charged with Mail Fraud for Scamming Elderly InvestorsRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Sven Eric Marshall, 61 years old, formerly of South Bend, Indiana, has been charged with five counts of mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Elder abuse scams, such as the scheme alleged in this case, will be aggressively prosecuted in this district. The elderly are among the most vulnerable of victims. When they place their trust, and in some case their life savings, into the hands of someone who abuses that trust to steal for personal gain, it is incumbent upon law enforcement to take action. Schemes targeting the elderly will never be tolerated.”
According to the indictment, Marshall owned and ran an investment company named Trust & Advisory Services of Indiana, Inc. Beginning about March 1998, Marshall recruited investors and promised returns of about four to eight percent per year with the option to receive interest payments or to reinvest gains in their account. As part of his scheme, Marshall provided monthly statements to investors that showed the purported balance of the investments. But, by January 2016, the Trust & Investment account was nearly empty. When investors requested information about their money, Marshall misrepresented the status and balance of the investments. Marshall did pay money to some investors who asked to withdraw a portion of their investments, even though the Trust & Investment account was almost empty, by transferring money from other unrelated accounts. In about December 2017, Marshall stopped communicating with investors and closed his office without notifying investors or providing a forwarding address. Since Marshall closed his office, investors have been unable to locate Marshall or recover their investments.
The investors were elderly. Several were in their seventies and eighties at the time of the alleged crimes, and two are now deceased.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke Reilander.
Marshall is currently wanted by authorities, anybody with information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
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Former President of Hartford Nonprofit Pleads Guilty to Stealing from HUD ProgramRead the Press Release
John H. Durham. United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN F. HARVIN, 53, of New Haven, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of theft from programs receiving federal funds.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (“HOPWA”) Program is a federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the HOPWA Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) makes grants to local communities, states and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. HUD is also responsible for administering the Section 8 housing program, which provides federally subsidized housing to low income tenants.
Harvin is a reverend and, from approximately August 2015 to September 2016, he served as President of Zezzo House, a non-profit organization in Hartford that provides housing for individuals and families with health challenges, including HIV/AIDS. HUD provides HOPWA funds to the City of Hartford, which in turn provides the HOPWA funds to organizations in the Hartford area, including Zezzo House. Between January and August 2016, Zezzo House received $70,722 in HOPWA funds. Harvin embezzled some of these funds through cash withdrawals, spent some of the funds on ineligible Zezzo House expenses, and he failed to account for the use of other funds. In total, Harvin misappropriated approximately $25,120.47 in HOPWA funds.
Zezzo House also receives Section 8 funding and, during this time period, Harvin diverted funds from rent checks from Section 8 tenants to his personal use.
Harvin is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Michael P. Shea on March 5, 2019, at which time Harvin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Harvin is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
Former Parker Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
DENVER – Dr. John Alan Littleford, DO, age 72, currently of Manhattan, Kansas and formerly of Parker, Colorado, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to felony charges related to the illegal distribution of controlled substances and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn, DEA Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Tim McDermott, and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven Osborne announced. Dr. Littleford is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Blackburn on April 23, 2019.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, Dr. Littleford owned and operated the Pain & Injury Clinic in Parker, Colorado. Dr. Littleford held himself out as a practitioner in the field of “pain management,” although he did not have any certification in that field and had not completed a medical residency, which would have been directly applicable to the field of pain management.
Littleford pled guilty to illegal distribution of controlled substances for distributing Oxycodone, Morphine, Clonazepam, and Carisoprodol to an individual outside the usual course of professional practice and for a purpose other than a legitimate medical purpose. Specifically, on April 30, 2012, Littleford wrote the individual prescriptions for 840 tablets of 30mg Oxycodone; 120 tablets of 80mg Oxycodone; 360 tablets of Percocet (10mg Oxycodone/325mg Acetaminophen); 240 tablets of 100mg Morphine; 240 tablets of 2mg Klonopin (Clonazepam); and 240 tablets of 350mg Soma (Carisoprodol). Dr. Littleford’s file for the individual did not include any documentation of an exam, a diagnosis, or a management or treatment plan. Those prescriptions, in those quantities, written together, were not justified by any medical condition the individual had.
The individual to whom Dr. Littleford distributed the controlled substances was formerly a Senior Police Officer for the City of Westminster, Colorado. Before the individual came to Dr. Littleford for treatment, he had been hospitalized on several occasions for opioid detoxification and he disclosed in his intake questionnaire at the Pain & Injury Clinic that he had “self detoxed” and “did inpatient detox.”
Littleford also pled guilty to money laundering in order to promote his illegal distribution of controlled substances at the Pain & Injury Clinic.
As part of his plea agreement, Dr. Littleford agrees the Court can consider his distribution of controlled substances to seven different individuals he saw at the Pain & Injury Clinic—involving more than 14,000 pills of various opioids, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants as well as fentanyl patches and hundreds of vials of injectable meperidine—as relevant for sentencing in his case.
This case was investigated by the DEA Denver Division and IRS Criminal Investigation.
The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter McNeilly and Jaime Peña.
Former Nurse at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Indicted on Charges of Fraudulently Obtaining Controlled Substances for His Own PurposesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Greenville has returned an indictment charging AARON WAYNE PICKRELL, a former registered nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with five counts of obtaining possession of hydromorphone, a Schedule II controlled substance, by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, and subterfuge.
The indictment alleges that on various dates, PICKRELL falsely reported through the Medical Center’s computer system that a physician had given an order for a controlled substance to be administered to a patient when no such order had been issued, thereby gaining access to the VA’s automated dispensing pharmacy system in order to fraudulently obtain controlled substances that he then diverted for his own purposes.
For each count, if convicted, PICKRELL would face maximum penalties of four years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 or both fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
This case is part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative, a strategy implemented by United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office through partnerships with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon.
Former DoD Employee Pleads Guilty to $1.4 Million FraudRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Matthews woman pleaded guilty today to defrauding the federal government of over $1.4 million in a long-running time and attendance fraud scheme.
“Federal service is a public trust that demands of employees the highest degree of integrity in the workplace,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “As stewards of that trust, we must ensure that those in such positions are held fully accountable for breaches that put personal enrichment in place of public service.”
According to court documents, Michelle M. Holt, 52, was previously employed as a federal employee for the Department of Defense. Holt worked as a secretary for U.S. Air Force at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. In that capacity, Holt was a salaried employee on the General Schedule (GS) grade for the federal civilian workforce and was entitled to overtime pay if authorized by her employer, and also to other forms of holiday and annual leave, as well as premium pay for any federal holidays worked.
A law enforcement investigation determined that from December 2001 to July 2018, Holt falsely claimed over 42,000 hours in unauthorized overtime that she did not work, as well as other amounts of unauthorized holiday leave, sick leave and annual leave, all amounting to losses to the United States of $1,460.262.43. In recent years, Holt’s overtime pay was over double that of her regular salary. She accomplished the fraud by making manual retroactive adjustments to protected computer time and attendance systems to add overtime, reverse leave taken and reverse holiday leave. In doing so, Holt used another employee’s log-in information without that employee’s knowledge or authorization.
Holt pleaded guilty to charges of computer fraud and theft of government property and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on March 13. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert Craig, Special Agent in Charge for Defense Criminal Investigative Service Mid-Atlantic Field Office, and Colonel Kirk B. Stabler, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:18-cr-93.
Former Congressional Staffer Sentenced to Prison for Extensive Fraud and Election Crimes SchemeRead the Press Release
A former congressional staffer was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $800,000 in restitution, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a multi-year scheme to defraud charitable donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars and secretly to funnel the proceeds to pay for personal expenses and to illegally finance campaigns for federal office.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of FBI’s Washington Field Office and Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office made the announcement.
Thomas Dodd, 40, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas by Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. Dodd was also ordered to forfeit $153,044.28 in illicit gains. Dodd pleaded guilty on March 20, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to make conduit contributions and false statements. As part of his plea, Dodd admitted that he participated in a scheme led by former U.S. Representative Stephen E. Stockman, 62, who was convicted by a federal jury in Houston on April 12 of 23 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make conduit contributions and false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, making excessive coordinated campaign contributions, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. Another of Stockman’s former congressional staffers, Jason T. Posey, 48, of Tupelo, Mississippi, pleaded guilty on Oct. 11, 2017, to one count of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
According to the evidence presented at Stockman’s trial, from May 2010 to February 2014, Stockman and his co-defendants solicited $1,250,571.65 in donations from charitable organizations and the individuals who ran those organizations based on false pretenses, then used a series of sham nonprofit organizations and dozens of bank accounts to launder the money before it was used for a variety of personal and campaign expenses.
Specifically, the evidence established that in 2010, Stockman and Dodd solicited an elderly donor in Baltimore, Maryland for $285,000 to be used for legitimate charitable and educational purposes. Stockman and Dodd used a sham charity named the Ross Center to funnel the money to be used for a variety of personal expenses. The evidence further established that, in 2011 and 2012, Stockman and Dodd received an additional $165,000 in charitable donations from the Baltimore donor, much of which Stockman used illegally to finance his 2012 congressional campaign.
The trial evidence also showed that shortly after Stockman took office as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, he and Dodd used the name of another sham nonprofit entity, Life Without Limits, to solicit and receive a $350,000 charitable donation, to be used to create an educational center called the Freedom House. Stockman, Dodd, and Posey instead used this donation for a variety of personal and campaign expenses, including illegal conduit campaign contributions, a covert surveillance project targeting a perceived political opponent, an in-patient alcoholism treatment for a female associate, and payments for hundreds of thousands of robocalls and mailings promoting Stockman’s candidacy for U.S. Senate in early 2014.
In addition, the evidence established that, in connection with Stockman’s Senate campaign, Stockman and Posey used another sham nonprofit entity to secure a $450,571.65 donation in order to fund a purportedly legitimate independent expenditure promoting Stockman’s candidacy. The evidence showed that the purportedly independent expenditure was in fact secretly controlled by Stockman, who directed his campaign and Posey to file false affidavits with the FEC covering up Stockman’s involvement.
Finally, the evidence at trial demonstrated that Stockman failed to pay taxes on any of the $1,250,571.65 in fraudulently acquired donations. In addition, during the early stages of the investigation, Stockman directed Posey to flee to Cairo, Egypt, for two and a half years so that Posey could not be questioned by law enforcement.
The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. Deputy Chief Robert J. Heberle and Trial Attorney Ryan J. Ellersick of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Annis of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Former Chairman of Boston-Based Biomedical Company Sentenced for Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former chairman of a Boston-based biomedical company, previously called Endeavor Power Corp., was sentenced today for making false statements to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the SEC’s investigation into a scheme to defraud the market for Endeavor’s publicly traded stock.
Edward Withrow III, 53, of Malibu, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to five months of home detention, five years of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000. In May 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements. In October 2015, Withrow and Marco Babini, 57, who is believed to reside in Vancouver, Canada, were charged in an indictment. Babini remains at large and is charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud.
By March 2013, the SEC had suspended trading in the securities of Endeavor, but they continued to investigate through at least August 2013. Withrow provided sworn testimony to the SEC relating to questions about who owned approximately 40 million unrestricted shares of Endeavor’s stock (i.e., shares that can be freely bought and sold in the securities market), and whether Withrow ever tried to determine who owned those shares. Withrow admitted that he misled the SEC about his knowledge of these Endeavor shares—most of which had been stashed in Switzerland—and Babini’s association with those shares.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. SEC Attorney Eric A. Forni, who was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, is prosecuting the case.
The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Buffalo Police Lieutenant Sentenced on Federal Civil Rights ConvictionRead 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 Gregory Kwiatkowski, 54, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of deprivation of rights under color of law, was sentenced to serve four months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The defendant was also sentenced to one year supervised release to include four months home detention.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that the conviction stems from a series on incidents which occurred while defendant Kwiatkowski was working the overnight shift as a Lieutenant with the City of Buffalo Police Department (BPD) on May 30-31, 2009. That night, Lt. Kwiatkowski arrived at 52 Treehaven Road in Buffalo to respond to a vehicle that had been stopped by the Cheektowaga Police Department (CPD) and that was believed to be involved in an ongoing series of BB gun shootings, including one which occurred earlier that night. Lt. Kwiatkowski was the first BPD officer to arrive at the scene. Other CPD officers were present at the scene when Lt. Kwiatkowski arrived and had already removed the vehicle’s four occupants, who were all between 16 and 18 years old. At the time of Lt. Kwiatkowski’s arrival, all of the occupants were compliant and completely under the control of the CPD officers.
Upon arriving at the scene, Lt. Kwiatkowski used unlawful and unreasonable force on each of the four occupants. Specifically, Lt. Kwiatkowski admitted to forcibly pushing each of the suspects heads and upper torsos into the vehicle around which they were being detained. As set forth in his plea agreement with the government, Lt. Kwiatkowski agreed that his use of force against the four suspects was unreasonable and excessive and that his use of such use of force deprived the suspects of their Constitutional rights to be free from unreasonable seizure and to due process of law, by one acting under color of law.
Following the defendant’s use of force on the four occupants, the defendant recovered a BB gun from the vehicle in which the suspects had been riding and handed the BB gun to one of the other two BPD Officers, Raymond Krug and Joseph Wendel, who had arrived on scene shortly after the defendant. Krug and Wendel, who were accused of shooting one of the individuals with the BB gun while that individual was handcuffed next to another arrested individual in the back seat of the police car, were acquitted following a trial.
Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Gary Loeffert, Special Agent-In-Charge, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
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Former Bergen County, New Jersey, Man Arrested in Kansas on Charges of Running $900,000 Foreign Currency Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested today in Park City, Kansas, on charges that he defrauded at least 20 people by soliciting investments in what he claimed were highly successful financial instruments, but which was actually a Ponzi scheme, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Thomas Lanzana, 51, formerly of Midland Park, New Jersey, and now residing in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, was charged by complaint with one count each of wire fraud and commodities fraud. He is scheduled to have his initial court appearance today in Wichita federal court.
According to the criminal complaint:
As early as 2013, Lanzana fraudulently solicited approximately $900,000 from at least 20 customers to invest in algorithm-based trading pools in foreign currency derivatives (forex) and other financial instruments. He falsely claimed to prospective customers that he was a successful forex trader. Lanzana allegedly took several steps to keep his customers’ trust: he sent them false account statements; he posted false monthly account statements to his companies’ websites showing balances, some in excess of $800,000, for forex trading accounts that did not exist; and he sent false tax documents to customers reporting earnings that did not exist.
Lanzana misappropriated at least $350,000 in customer funds, using some to repay earlier investors in the manner of a Ponzi scheme, and to pay for his personal expenses, including purchases on Amazon, payments to a luxury car dealer and a jewelry retailer, and golf expenses.
The count of mail fraud with which Lanzana is charged carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the scheme. The count of commodities fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of John R. Tafur, with the investigation leading to the arrest. He also thanked the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Enforcement for its role in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Feder of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Cyber Crime Unit.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former 5LINX Owner Sentenced to 14 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jeb Tyler, 45, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and filing a false tax return for the year 2012, was sentenced to serve 14 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge David G. Larimer. The defendant was also ordered to pay $2,759,633 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, who handled the prosecution, stated that in 2001, the defendant, together with Craig Jerabeck and Jason Guck started 5LINX Enterprise, Inc. (5LINX), a multi-level marketing company headquartered in Rochester, which offered utility and telecommunications services, health insurance, nutritional supplements, and business services. 5LINX used independent representatives to sell products and services, and to recruit additional representatives. Jerabeck was President and Chief Executive Officer, Guck was Vice President and Secretary, and the defendant was Vice President.
In June 2006 and July 2006, the defendant, Jerabeck, and Guck sold 5LINX stock for $5,500,000 to three investment companies, Trillium Lakefront Partners III, L.P.; Trillium Lakefront Partners III, NY L.P.; and Shalam Investment Co., L.L.C. (collectively known as "the Investors"). Between May 2010 and April 2016, 5LINX sold and distributed products for a Florida vendor. The defendant, along with Jerabeck and Guck, and without the knowledge of the Investors, Board of Directors, or other stockholders, conspired and agreed to cause the Florida vendor to pay them personally or companies they owned approximately $2,310,510, which their Stockholders Agreements prohibited them from receiving. 5LINX, its investors, as owners between 2006 and January 2014, and as creditors thereafter, and stockholders were entitled to and should have received such funds instead of defendant, Guck, and Tyler.
The Judge at sentencing also referenced that the defendant, Jerabeck and Guck engaged in additional fraudulent conduct by representing themselves as “fictitious representatives” of 5Linx, resulting in them receiving approximately $12,000,000 in fraudulent proceeds.
In addition, the defendant provided material false information on his personal tax returns, Forms 1040, for the years 2011 through 2013, and 2015. Specifically, Tyler failed to report income he received from 5LINX, and took deductions to which he was not entitled, that is, commissions that were not paid. The false returns resulted in a tax loss of approximately $449,123.
The Judge ordered the forfeiture of the defendant’s interest in real property at 4385 County Road 16 in Canandaigua, NY.
Craig Jerabeck and Jason Guck were previously convicted. Jerabeck was sentenced to 14 months in prison, Guck is awaiting sentencing.
Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of James D. Robnett, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office.# # # #
Five Foreign Nationals Indicted on Murder-For-Hire, Money Laundering, and Immigration ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned a superseding indictment charging five foreign nationals with various federal crimes stemming from a bribery and kickback scheme, including money laundering, immigration fraud, and a subsequent murder for hire plot.
Leonid Teyf, 57, currently living in Raleigh, North Carolina, is charged with bribing a public official, planning a murder-for-hire, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and unlawful use of a visa procured through false claims.
Teyf is also charged with multiple counts of money laundering in conspiracy with his wife, Tatyana Teyf, 41, a Russian citizen, and Alexsy Timofeev, 37, also a Russian citizen currently residing in Darien, Illinois. Teyf, Tatyana Teyf, and Timofeev are additionally charged with Timofeev’s wife, Olesya Yuryevna Timofeeva, 41, for conspiring, and aiding and abetting one another to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law. Alexei Polyakov, 40, currently residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, is also charged in the indictment with attempting to obtain naturalization through false statements.
The superseding indictment alleges that between 2010 and 2012, Leonid Teyf was the Deputy Director of Voentorg, a company which contracted with Russia’s Ministry of Defense to provide the Russian military with goods and services. Leonid Teyf arranged for subcontractors in Russia to fill the various services required by Voentorg’s contract. Leonid Teyf and others devised a scheme requiring the subcontractor to agree that a certain percentage of the government funds it would receive for completion of the work would be paid back to Leonid Teyf and others involved in the scheme. These kickbacks of government funds were paid in cash and amounted to more than $150 million over an approximate two-year span. Some of the money was paid to others involved in the scheme, and some of the money was placed in accounts under Leonid Teyf’s control – accounts within Russia, and, ultimately accounts located in the United States.
The superseding indictment additionally alleges that since at least December 2010, Leonid and Tatyana Teyf and others have opened at least 70 financial accounts at four financial institutions in their own names and in the names of businesses under their control. Leonid Teyf and others received at least 294 wires totaling approximately $39.5 million into four accounts held in Leonid Teyf’s name and the names of the co-conspirators at an American banking institution. Foreign corporations and bank accounts in countries commonly known to be used for money laundering are the source of 293 of the wires. Timofeev assisted Leonid Teyf in the formation of companies in the United States, including the creation of CTK Transportation Incorporated in Illinois, a business used in the money laundering scheme. Timofeev was involved in multiple financial transactions involving the kickbacks from Russia.
The superseding indictment also alleges that in July of 2018, Teyf knowingly used and possessed a U.S. immigrant visa at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which he had procured through false claims made in his I-140 application. To obtain that visa Teyf falsely claimed that he was entering the U.S. for the purpose of being an executive employee of a multinational company, and for whom he would earn an annual salary of $110,000.
Similarly, in 2016, an associate of Teyf, Alexei Polyakov, also made false statements in an effort to obtain immigration benefits. Polyakov falsely completed the Form N-400, application for naturalization, by failing to assert under penalty of perjury 1) that he had previously use the name “Alex Norka,” 2) that he had been arrested on at least 12 occasions in addition to the five reported occasions, and 3) by falsely underreporting the time he had spent in jail prior to the application.
As alleged in publicly available documents filed in federal court by the Government, during the course of the investigation into the money laundering charges, a Confidential Source utilized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned that Leonid Teyf came to believe that his wife, Tatyana Teyf, was having an affair with another man. Leonid Teyf recruited the Confidential Source to assist in planning for the man’s murder. The murder was to take place here in the United States or in Russia after they conspired to have the man deported. Leonid Teyf paid an employee with the United States Department of Homeland Security, who was working undercover, $10,000 to have the man deported from the United States. When the deportation plan was taking a longer period of time than he expected, Leonid Teyf returned to his murder-for-hire plan and paid the Confidential Source $25,000 to kill the man before the end of 2018. Leonid Teyf also supplied the Confidential Source with a firearm to commit the murder with the serial number removed from the weapon.
If convicted, Leonid Teyf would face maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. Tatyana Teyf, Alexsy Timofeev, Olesya Timofeeva, and Alexei Polyakov would face maximum penalties of 10 years in prison. The government will also seek to seize over $39 million in assets from the defendants. Each defendant will likely face the prospect of removal from the United States after their terms of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment, and related documents filed by the Government, are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Immigration and Custom Enforcement and the Raleigh Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Kellhofer and Barbara Kocher.
Finance of America Mortgage to Pay $14.5 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Involving FHA Mortgage LendingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Finance of America Mortgage LLC has agreed to pay the United States $14,500,000 to resolve allegations that Gateway Funding Diversified Mortgage Services, L.P. (Gateway), which it acquired in 2015, violated the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting deficient mortgage loans insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA), announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith.
“Gateway misrepresented that its federally-insured loans met HUD’s quality standards, harming borrowers who were left underwater on their homes and taxpayers who backed the mortgages,” said United States Attorney Jaquith. “We are committed to holding mortgage lenders accountable when they abuse government programs for their own gain.”
During the time period covered by the settlement, Gateway participated as a direct endorsement lender (DEL) in the FHA insurance program. A DEL has the authority to originate, underwrite and endorse mortgages for FHA insurance. If a DEL approves a mortgage loan for FHA insurance and the loan later defaults, the holder of the loan may submit an insurance claim to HUD, FHA’s parent agency, for the losses resulting from the defaulted loan. Under the DEL program, the FHA does not review a loan for compliance with FHA requirements before it is endorsed for FHA insurance. DELs are therefore required to follow program rules designed to ensure that they are properly underwriting and certifying mortgages for FHA insurance, to maintain a quality control program that can prevent and correct deficiencies in their underwriting practices, and to self-report any deficient loans identified by their quality control program.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Gateway failed to comply with certain FHA origination, underwriting and quality control requirements. As part of the settlement, Gateway admitted that the company failed to audit all early-payment default loans (EPD) as required by HUD and, on those occasions when it did audit these loans, it “ignored calls from its compliance department regarding the company’s poor EPD rate for FHA loans.” Gateway also admitted that, in late 2011, some of its senior executives learned that the company’s one-year compare ratio (a figure HUD uses to compare lenders, with a higher ratio indicating that a lender has an unusually high default percentage compared to its peers) was increasing due, in part, to Gateway’s origination activities out of its Horsham, Pennsylvania headquarters and certain branch offices. Many of those same executives were then told in early 2014 that the same underwriters and offices identified in 2011 continued to “show a pattern of poor performance” on EPD loans. Gateway also admitted that it failed to adhere to HUD’s self-reporting requirements for loans containing material deficiencies. Notably, Gateway acknowledged that its conduct and omissions resulted in HUD insuring many loans approved by Gateway that were not eligible for FHA mortgage insurance under the DEL program.
“This investigation, along with others similar to it, represents our steadfast commitment toward protecting the integrity of federal housing programs,” said Michael Powell, Special Agent in Charge, Joint Civil Fraud Division, HUD’s Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). “It further reaffirms our intent to pursue those who exploit HUD programs for corporate gain.”
This investigation was triggered by a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private persons, known as “relators,” to file civil actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The relator in this case, a former Gateway employee, will receive $2,392,500 of the settlement proceeds. The case is docketed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York under number 1:16-cv-750.
The investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, HUD-OIG, and HUD. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam J. Katz and Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer and Harin Song.
Equine Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty in $1.3 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE - A Middletown insurance agent and agency owner who specializes in providing equine insurance coverage today admitted to operating schemes which defrauded customers, insurance companies, and finance companies of approximately $1.3 million dollars.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Randall N. Levesque, 57, of Middletown, owner of Equine Insurance Services, LLC and Randall Levesque Agency, pled guilty to an information charging him with wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service Stephen Marks, and Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Ann C. Assumpico.
According to court documents, Levesque overbilled and double-billed customers when billing their credit cards for premiums due on policies, some of which the client did not request or did not agree to finance, at times forging the customers’ signature; collected premiums on insurance policies issued by at least two insurance companies but, upon receipt from customers, did not forward the payments to the insurance companies; and, at times, financed premiums and received funds on behalf of customers without the customers’ consent or knowledge, and submitted financing agreements to finance companies for fictitious customers, for whom there were no policies.
According to Court documents, Levesque collected but did not remit to insurance companies over $800,000 in premiums; fraudulently obtained over $500,000 in financed premiums from at least two finance companies; and charged customers’ credit cards at total of approximately $80,000 for premiums that he failed to provide to insurance companies.
Levesque is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2019.
Wire fraud is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 or not more than twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss from the offense, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert. The matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and Rhode Island State Police.
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Eighth Massachusetts State Trooper ArrestedRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts State Police Trooper was arrested and charged today, and two previously charged retired State Troopers agreed to plead guilty in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).
Heath McAuliffe, 40, of Hopkinton, was arrested this morning and charged in a criminal complaint with embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. McAuliffe will appear in federal court in Boston later today.
As alleged in court documents, McAuliffe was an MSP Trooper assigned to Troop E, which is responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. McAuliffe allegedly received overtime pay for hours that he either did not actually work at all, or shifts in which he departed one to four hours early.
The alleged conduct involves overtime pay for selective enforcement initiatives, including the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE). That initiative was intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers and targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds. McAuliffe was required to work the entire duration of the four hour shift and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift. As alleged, McAuliffe concealed his fraud by submitting citations that were issued prior to the overtime shift, altered the citations to create the appearance that citations were issued during the overtime shift, and/or submitted citations that were never issued to drivers.
Trooper McAuliffe earned $164,680 in 2016, including approximately $60,908 in overtime, and earned $180,215 in 2015, including approximately $83,496 in overtime. According to court documents, between Aug. 1, 2015, and Aug. 31, 2016, McAuliffe was paid $9,825 for AIRE overtime hours that he did not work.
In addition, retired Troopers David Wilson, 58, of Charlton, and Daren DeJong, 57, of Uxbridge, both agreed to plead guilty pursuant to plea agreements filed today. Wilson and DeJong were arrested and charged on June 27, 2018, and July 25, 2018, respectively, with embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. A date for the plea hearings has not yet been scheduled.
In 2016, Wilson, a lieutenant, earned approximately $259,475, which included approximately $102,062 in overtime pay. Wilson has agreed to plead guilty to having been paid $12,450 for overtime hours that he did not work. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of between six months and 12 months of incarceration.
In 2016, DeJong earned $200,416, which included approximately $68,394 in overtime pay. DeJong has agreed to plead guilty to having been paid $14,062.50 for overtime hours that he did not work. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of between six months and 12 months of incarceration.
In 2015 and 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
McAuliffe is the eighth MSP trooper charged in the ongoing investigation. Seven troopers have pleaded guilty or have agreed to do so. On July 2, 2018, former Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood pleaded guilty; on Sept. 14, 2018, suspended Trooper Kevin Sweeney, 40, of Braintree pleaded guilty; on Oct.11, 2018, suspended Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester, pleaded guilty; on Nov. 28, 2019, former Trooper Paul Cesan pleaded guilty; and suspended Trooper Eric Chin, 46, of Hanover, is scheduled to plead guilty today.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
Eight Defendants Arrested in Major Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that eight defendants were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and one kilogram or more of heroin. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Named in the complaint are:
• Edwin Deleon, 27;
• Eugenio Torres, 44;
• Clarita Mendez, 31;
• Sergio Smith, 30;
• Manuel Lewis, 29;
• Bryan Deleon, 23;
• Juan Ortega-Baez, 18; and
• Angel Fernando, 28, all of Rochester, NY.Defendants Edwin Deleon, Eugenio Torres, Clarita Mendez, are also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendants were responsible for trafficking heroin and cocaine in and around the City of Rochester. The arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation that involved various sensitive investigative techniques.
During the execution of search warrants this morning, investigators recovered multiple firearms, quantities of suspected fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, as well as more than $20,000 in cash.
The defendants made initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and are being detained.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Simmons; U.S. Border Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Dominican National Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Carmito Martinez, 26, a Dominican national formerly residing in Roslindale, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole to 16 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Martinez will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In October 2018, Martinez pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien unlawfully present in the United States.
On Aug. 31, 2017, deportation officers went to Martinez’s last known address in Roslindale to take Martinez into custody for deportation purposes. When Martinez exited the house, law enforcement ordered him to stop and show his hands. Martinez removed a dark colored object from his waistband, threw the object behind a fence, and took off running. After Martinez was apprehended, the object he had thrown was located and determined to be a Smith and Wesson Model 422 .22 caliber long riffle. The weapon had one round in the chamber and seven rounds in the magazine, and the safety was not engaged. Further investigation revealed that the recovered weapon had been stolen. It is a violation of federal law for an alien in the country without legal authority to possess a firearm or ammunition.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Sentenced as Illegal Alien in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Lester Charles, 36, a national of Dominica, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Charles to 24 months imprisonment and three (3) years of supervised release.
According to court documents, a Virgin Islands Police Department officer went to an area in Lindberg Bay where Charles and another individual became involved in a heated dispute over a parking space. Charles left the scene and returned 15 minutes later with a firearm. He proceeded to chase and point the firearm at the victim. The firearm, a Beretta Pierto Model CAT-5802, was recovered by law enforcement at the scene, along with 10 rounds of ammunition, including one round in the chamber of the firearm. The defendant admitted to law enforcement officers that he had possessed the gun.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Doctor Pleads Guilty to Obstructing the IRSRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A medical doctor pleaded guilty to corruptly obstructing the due administration of the internal revenue laws yesterday, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina Matthew G.T. Martin.
According to court documents, Dr. Joseph Jacob Hummel purchased the home of an acquaintance, only to be repaid for the purchase a short time later. When Special Agents with Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS) interviewed Dr. Hummel about this real estate transaction, he falsely stated that he rented the property to the original owner and then sent the agents a sham lease, supporting this statement.
Hummel faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2019.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and United States Attorney Martin thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division and Assistant United States Attorney Frank Chut, who are prosecuting the case.
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Doctor Pleads Guilty to Obstructing the IRSRead the Press Release
A medical doctor pleaded guilty to corruptly obstructing the due administration of the internal revenue laws yesterday, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina Matthew G.T. Martin.
According to court documents, Dr. Joseph Jacob Hummel purchased the home of an acquaintance, only to be repaid for the purchase a short time later. When Special Agents with Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS) interviewed Dr. Hummel about this real estate transaction, he falsely stated that he rented the property to the original owner and then sent the agents a sham lease, supporting this statement.
Hummel faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2019.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and United States Attorney Martin thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division and Assistant United States Attorney Frank Chut, who are prosecuting the case.
Detroit man sentenced for oxycodone distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert Brown, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to time served for selling oxycodone, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Brown, also known as “Pooh,” age 24, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Oxycodone.” Brown admitted to selling oxycodone in October 2015 in Monongalia County.
Brown faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation. The Task Force consists of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, Morgantown Police Department, the Star City Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia University Police Department, the Granville Police Department, and the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The US Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Monongalia County Processing and Transport Personnel, the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force MHIT Group, the Mountain State Drug Task Force, the Three Rivers Drug Task Force-Fairmont, and the Fairmont Police Department assisted.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Visits Huntsville, ALRead the Press Release
Huntsville- Today Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein visited Huntsville, AL to tour facilities at Redstone Arsenal, to include FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), ATF’s National Center for Explosives, Training and Research (NCETR) and NASA, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town.
“It was an honor to receive Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein today and tour the many impressive facilities aboard the Redstone Arsenal campus”, Town said. “It comes as no surprise that the DAG was impressed by the growth and capabilities here. We began the day touring NASA, a remarkable ambassador to the 40,000+ employees that serve aboard the Redstone Arsenal each day. Touring NASA is always impressive. The FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center and ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research and National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) facilities truly reminds us of the impressive advancement that law enforcement has made in order to stay ahead of criminal threats to the public. We were fortunate to be joined by ATF Director Tom Brandon as well. Our federal law enforcement capacities are tremendous but are only successful due to the hard work, dedication, and bravery of the men and women of all of our federal law enforcement agencies.”
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein with U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town at NASA Marshall Flight Center
DAG Rosenstein and USA Town with FBI TDAC Officials DAG Rosenstein (centered) and USA Town with FBI and ATF officials who toured the facilities on Tuesday.