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Friday 16 November 2018
Third Liberty Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that Karen Tompkins (Age: 58) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Milwaukee and pleaded guilty to two felony counts. Specifically, Tompkins admitted to knowingly taking part in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by preparing and filing with the IRS false tax returns that fraudulently claimed tax refunds to which the individuals were not entitled. Tompkins also admitted to willfully aiding in the preparation and filing of false income tax returns while employed as a tax return preparer.
Co-conspirators Shalonda Burns (Age: 41) and Latoya Bush (Age: 38), both of Milwaukee previously plead guilty to the same charges on September 13, 2018 and November 5, 2018. A fourth defendant, Lori Ann Stringfellow was indicted on February 13, 2018.
Tompkins was employed as a manager at a branch of Liberty Tax Services that was located at 3929 N. Humboldt Boulevard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tompkins admitted to conspiring to inflate filers’ tax refunds by including false information in the filers’ tax returns. This included inventing false Schedule C business income for non-existent businesses and claiming false W-2 income and Additional Child Tax Credits to which the filers were not entitled. Additionally, Tompkins admitted to receiving kickbacks from the inflated tax refunds and creating fake documentation that was meant to support the filers’ business income.
Tompkins faces up to eight years in prison and fines of up to $350,000 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Taibleson.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Texas Return Preparers Indicted in False Tax Return SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in Waco, Texas, has returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging two Texas tax return preparers with conspiracy to defraud the United States, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and filing false personal income tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to the indictment, Stacey Anderson, with the assistance of Janell Lightner, operated a tax preparation business, Anderson Professional Tax Services, in Texas. The business did not have a storefront and typically prepared and filed tax returns from Anderson’s personal residence. The indictment alleges that Anderson and Lightner conspired to defraud the United States and prepared clients’ tax returns, for years 2013 through 2017, that falsely claimed business losses, deductions and/or education tax credits, in order to fraudulently increase their tax refunds. Anderson’s and Lightner’s clients were from Texas, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The indictment further charges Anderson alone with filing false 2013 and 2014 tax returns for herself, on which she sought the same education credit that she falsely claimed on her clients’ returns, and that omitted income earned from her return preparation business.
If convicted, Anderson and Lightner face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and three years in prison for each count of preparing false tax returns. Anderson also faces a sentence of up to three years in prison for the counts related to her own tax returns. In addition, Anderson and Lightner are subject to a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and David Zisserson, who are prosecuting the case. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas (Waco Division) for their substantial assistance.
Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Texas Man Sentenced for Heroin and Firearms Offenses and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced Wednesday, November 14, 2018 that United States District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced KALIQUE HARDIN, age 21, of Dallas, Texas, to a sixty-month and one-day term of imprisonment.
HARDIN pleaded guilty to three counts of an indictment charging him with, respectively, conspiracy to distribute heroin; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. HARDIN was arrested by Louisiana State Police troopers on February 8, 2016, Lundi Gras, in a vehicle parked in a lot in the 1000 block of Bienville Street, along with Lilbear George, Sidney LeBanks, and Basin Wells. HARDIN was sitting on a Ruger 9mm pistol with an extended magazine containing 24 live rounds. Troopers also discovered other guns, heroin, and about $11,000 in cash in the car. George and LeBanks are awaiting trial in this case, presently scheduled for February 2019.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. McMahon was in charge of the prosecution.
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing 654 Firearms from UPS Trailers in SpringfieldRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Ponder, Texas, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his stealing 654 firearms from United Parcel Service trailers in Springfield, Mo., en route to Bass Pro Shops.
Frank McChriston, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charges contained in a Feb. 21, 2018, federal indictment. McChriston has remained in federal custody since his arrest in January 2018.
Co-defendant Quinton Haywood, 27, of Glenn Heights, Texas, has pleaded guilty to the same charges.
By pleading guilty today, McChriston admitted that he aided and abetted Haywood and others to steal cargo that was being shipped across state lines, from Beretta USA in Maryland to the state of Missouri. McChriston also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Haywood and others to possess stolen firearms.
According to court documents, McChriston, Haywood, and others stole 600 Beretta .380-caliber handguns and 54 Beretta 12-gauge shotguns from United Parcel Service (UPS) trailers in Springfield in October 2017.
The firearms were in the process of being shipped from Beretta Firearms in Maryland to Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. The trailers in which the firearms were shipped had been parked in the UPS freight lot in a configuration to prevent access to the trailer doors, by being parked back-to-back, with the roll-up doors facing each other. The trailers were then blocked by longer trailers, which should have acted as a preventative measure from someone backing a truck-tractor to the trailer and pulling it forward.
Sometime between noon on Oct. 28, 2017, and 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, 2017, thieves hot-wired two truck-tractors and used them to push and pull various trailers around the lot, allowing the thieves access to the trailer doors. UPS employees discovered the theft on Oct. 29, 2017, and notified law enforcement.
Under federal statutes, McChriston is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Dallas, Texas, Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Assaulting a Child in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting a child in the Philippines.
DONALD SCOTT COLEMAN, 64, of Elgin, repeatedly sexually assaulted the child while visiting the child’s mother in the Philippines in the fall of 2012. Coleman met the mother online and had visited and stayed with her and the child in the Philippines on several occasions.
A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted Coleman on a charge of traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and he pleaded guilty to the offense last year. U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber imposed the sentence Thursday in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Substantial assistance was provided by the Elgin Police Department and the Philippine National Police.
“Other U.S. citizens considering traveling to foreign countries to engage in sexual activity with minors need to understand that if they engage in such conduct, it will not go unnoticed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Erika L. Csicsila argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “It will not be tolerated. Rather, it will be met with swift and significant punishment by our criminal justice system.”
The investigation revealed that Coleman knew and, at times, cared for the child during visits to the Philippines from 2009 to 2012 to see the child’s mother. Coleman repeatedly assaulted the victim during a multiple-month visit in the fall of 2012. The victim suffered severe emotional and physical harm as a result of Coleman’s conduct.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
St. Louis County Doctor Sentenced for Obstructing FBI InvestigationRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Dr. Vidal Sheen, 58, St. Louis County, Missouri, was sentenced today to two years’ probation, after previously pleading guilty to obstructing an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) regarding whether he billed the Medicare program and private insurers for “face to face” office visits performed on dates when he was actually traveling outside of Missouri, and sometimes traveling outside of the United States. The Court further imposed a fine of $45,000 and restitution in favor of Medicare and several private insurance companies in the total amount of $142,053, which he has paid in full.
According to his plea agreement, Dr. Sheen operated a medical office in St. Louis County, Missouri. At the medical office, Dr. Sheen created medical records using a template which falsely recited patients’ symptoms and histories, and sometimes recorded vital signs (e.g. pulse rates) that did not change between patients’ visits.
Moreover, from time to time, defendant traveled to various destinations, including Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Florida. For these timeframes when Dr. Sheen was out of town, he created office notes with false entries reflecting that he had seen patients in his office, using his electronic signature. Dr. Sheen's medical records did not discuss the role of the other employees in his office during the out-of-town visits, or his absence from the office on the dates of service.
The United States served Dr. Sheen’s office with a subpoena requesting medical records regarding his office visits in late 2016. In response to the subpoena, on December 1, 2016, Dr. Sheen produced medical records to the FBI in which he had made false entries about face-to-face office visits, in an effort to impede, obstruct, and influence the FBI’s billing investigation.
Dr. Sheen pled guilty to one felony count of obstructing an investigation before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on July 13, 2018.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement for Illegal Sexual Activity with a MinorRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert announced today that Carlyle Ham, 63, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr. to attempted coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity involving a minor.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, in June of 2017, law enforcement officers, posing as a 14-year-old male named "Joey," posted ads online captioned as "Hmu in stx." Following the posting of the ad, the defendant and law enforcement officers posing as "Joey" began exchanging text messages. The defendant proceeded to send a photo of himself to "Joey," followed by an invitation to meet. The defendant texted suggestions for illicit sexual activity to "Joey", who he believed was a 14-year-old male. The defendant arranged to meet "Joey" at the movie theater in St. Croix and provided a description of his vehicle. The defendant was subsequently taken into custody by law enforcement officers.
Ham faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for March 20, 2019.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
St Louis Man Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jace Faugno, 23, of St. Louis, Missouri, has been charged with knowingly distributing videos depicting child pornography, Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. The two-count indictment alleges that the offenses occurred in St. Clair County, Illinois, on or about September 30, and October 5, 2018.
Earlier today, Faugno made his initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released on bond with house arrest, electronic location monitoring and other special conditions. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2018.
The distribution of child pornography offense carries a prison sentence of 5-20 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, and a possible lifetime term of supervised release.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The case was investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Heroin Conspiracy, FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy that distributed at least a kilogram of heroin in the Springfield area.
Roosevelt Simpson, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Romele E. Freeman, 53, of Springfield, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison without parole.
On June 19, 2018, Simpson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram of heroin and to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Simpson admitted that he was a leader in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Sept. 1, 2012, to April 3, 2017. Simpson purchased heroin from Chicago, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo., which was transported to Springfield by vehicle. Simpson supplied heroin to other mid-level dealers, including co-defendants Romele E. Freeman, 53, and Kenneth M. Smith, 60, both of Springfield. Freeman and Smith, in turn, supplied other heroin dealers. Co-defendant Najee Boston, 38, of Springfield, personally transported heroin from St. Louis and also supplied Smith. Freeman, Smith and Boston also have pleaded guilty.
Simpson admitted that, beginning in April 2014, he purchased two to three ounces of heroin every two to three weeks. Simpson was “fronted” the heroin for $3,000 per ounce and profited approximately $4,000 per ounce. Simpson also admitted that he utilized a Rossi .38-caliber revolver for protection and aggression in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
During the course of the investigation, agents were able to infiltrate the drug-trafficking organization and buy heroin directly from Simpson and others. Undercover officers purchased heroin from Simpson on several occasions.
On April 12, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Simpson’s residence. They seized a total of 4.1 grams of heroin, $6,062 (some of which was hidden in a pair of shoes in a bedroom closet and above the cabinets in the kitchen), and the loaded Rossi revolver in a metal pot under the kitchen counter.
On April 3, 2017, law enforcement officers observed Simpson selling heroin to another person at a nearby convenience store. Officers searched his residence again and seized 4.5 grams of heroin.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
South Florida Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Illegally Distribute Hydromorphone and Oxycodone in North FloridaRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Joseph Owusu, 63, of Tampa, was sentenced November 14 to 135 months in prison after pleading guilty on August 17. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Co-conspirators Abbisina Hepburn, 39, and Damian Hepburn, 41, both of Miami Gardens, pleaded guilty on August 10. Co-conspirator Angela Denise Clark, 48, of Sebring, Florida, was charged in the Hepburn superseding indictment and pleaded guilty on October 22, 2018. All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and oxycodone. Additionally, the Hepburns pleaded guilty to substantive counts of illegal distribution of hydromorphone. As a part of his guilty plea, Owusu agreed to voluntarily surrender his Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) registration (license) to the DEA, and his pharmacist license and the Jares Pharmacy license to the State of Florida.
The Hepburns are scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2018, beginning at 10:30 a.m., and Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. All sentencing hearings will take place at the U.S. Courthouse in Pensacola.
Beginning in or about October 2015, Abbisina Hepburn and Damian Hepburn began presenting fraudulent prescriptions for hydromorphone and oxycodone to Owusu at Jares Pharmacy, which was located in Sebring, Florida. Later, in December 2016, Clark, a licensed pharmacy technician at Jares Pharmacy, became involved in the drug conspiracy.
The prescriptions presented were allegedly issued by a Hialeah doctor of osteopathy, to individuals other than Abbisina and Damian Hepburn. Owusu owned Jares Pharmacy, and was also the licensed pharmacist at Jares Pharmacy. Owusu and Clark charged the Hepburns $9.00 per tablet. After receiving the hydromorphone and oxycodone pills, the Hepburns traveled to the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere to sell the pills to third parties for a profit. During the course of his guilty plea, Owusu acknowledged that he dispensed the drugs in violation of federal law.
U.S. Attorney Canova said: “Misused prescriptions are dangerous and can contribute to the heroin and opioid epidemic our nation is currently experiencing. One of the ways we are fighting this health crisis is by prosecuting medical professionals who illegally divert controlled substances from the intended use. Corrupt pharmacists and their co-conspirators must be removed from positions allowing illegal distribution of prescription pills.”
“In 2017, over 4,000 opioid-caused deaths were reported, which is a nine percent increase over the previous year. The climbing number underscores the gravity of this problem,” said Rick Swearingen, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across Florida are already working to combat the increase in opioid drug use, and FDLE will continue to work with our partners focusing on multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations.”
“The opioid epidemic that we are facing today is one of the worst crises in American history, and our pharmacists play a vital role in preventing the illegal diversion of prescription opioid medications,” said Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division. “As demonstrated by this case, DEA remains committed to investigating unscrupulous licensed medical professionals, to include pharmacists and pharmacy owners who willingly turn a blind eye and contribute to this devastating public health emergency.”
The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office with assistance of the DEA Diversion Division, and the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin F. Knight represented the government at the Owusu sentencing hearing.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Somerville Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Two Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Somerville man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to assaulting two federal officers.
Jessi Tombari, 34, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with assaulting two federal officers. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2019. Tombari has been in custody since his arrest in April 2018.
On the afternoon of April 23, 2018, an individual, later identified as Tombari, approached a uniformed member of the Federal Protective Service, who was on routine patrol outside of the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston. Tombari asked the officer if he had a weapon, and then attempted to take the weapon from the officer. An altercation ensued, and a Deputy United States Marshal, who was also on routine patrol, interceded and eventually the two officers were able to place Tombari into custody.
Tombari faces a sentence of up to eight years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Timothy Bane, Regional Director, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service; and John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine is prosecuting the case.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on November 13, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Miles Dean Feather Earring, age 34, was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Feather Earring was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2018. He pled guilty on August 2, 2018.
The conviction stems from Feather Earring failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between November 30, 2017, and March 5, 2018. Feather Earring had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court, which requires him to register for the rest of his life.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Feather Earring was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on November 13, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Brandon Gustav McGuire, age 31, was sentenced to 147 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
McGuire was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2018. He pled guilty on August 23, 2018.
Beginning on an unknown date, and continuing until on or about March 20, 2018, McGuire, along with at least one other person, distributed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota.
During his involvement, McGuire dealt over 500 grams of methamphetamine to co-conspirators in South Dakota. He was aware that the methamphetamine he distributed would be sold to drug customers in the District of South Dakota, and elsewhere. On March 20, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Sioux Falls, and located approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine, approximately five grams of heroin, and a Sturm, Ruger & Company Incorporated, model Security-Six, .357 Magnum caliber, double-action revolver bearing serial number 154-81297, and approximately 99 rounds of various ammunition.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.
McGuire was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Siloam Springs Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Adam Flores, age 28, of Siloam Springs, was sentenced today to 120 months (the statutory maximum) in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, On February 17, 2018, during the early morning hours, a deputy with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on Flores, due to the tags on the vehicle not matching the vehicle. Once the deputy made contact with Flores, he requested insurance and registration for the vehicle, at which time Flores advised that he had recently purchased the vehicle from his uncle. The deputy then asked for a bill of sale, which Flores could not provide. While attempting to locate the VIN number for the vehicle the deputy observed a shotgun wedged between the driver's seat and driver's door. When the deputy inquired as to why Flores had not mentioned that he had a firearm in his possession, Flores displayed a pistol and then fled the scene. After a pursuit, Flores was taken into custody.
This case was investigated by Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Rosebud Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Tyrone Steven Andrews, age 26, was indicted on August 14, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 15, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Andrews was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in July 2016. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. It is alleged that between July 8, 2018, and August 14, 2018, Andrews, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender.
The charge is merely an accusation and Andrews is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore is prosecuting the case.
Andrews was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Resident of Brooklyn, New York Convicted at Trial of Enticing a Minor Produce Child Pornography While a Registered Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
A Brooklyn, New York resident was convicted at trial yesterday in South Florida of enticing a minor to produce child pornography while he was a registered sex offender.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Dondell Cyrus Davidson, 51, of Brooklyn, New York, was convicted at trial of producing material containing visual depictions of sexual exploitation of minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections2251(a) and (e), and while being required to register as a sex offender, he committed a felony offense involving a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A. Davidson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Mara. Davidson faces a total statutory minimum sentence of 35 years in prison.
According to court records, between on or about July 24, 2016, and August 1, 2016, Davidson, while living in Brooklyn, engaged in an online sexual relationship with an 11 year-old minor victim who resided in the Southern District of Florida. Davidson exchanged sexually explicit photographs, videos, and chat communications with the minor victim through the use of online social media applications. During his communications with the minor victim, the defendant used a fake online identity in which he represented himself to be someone much younger.
At the time of the criminal acts Davidson was required by federal or other law to register as a sex offender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigation efforts of ICE-HSI in Miami and New York in this matter. She also thanked the Port St. Lucie Police Department, New York City Police Department, and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Funk and Marton Gyires.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Remarks by U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain at University of Pennsylvania Law SchoolRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain was honored to speak at Penn Law’s 2018 Veterans Week keynote event on November 14, 2018, hosted by the Penn Law Veterans Club.
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Remarks as prepared for delivery
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United We Stand: Honoring the Core Values of Our Veterans in Our Everyday Civic Discourse
First, I want to thank the organizers of Penn Law’s Veterans Week and those members of the Penn Law Veterans Club who invited me here today. In particular, I’d like to thank Aaron McKenney, who interned at our Office this summer. Thank you, Aaron, for inviting me here today and for your service to my Office and to our nation.
I’d also like to acknowledge and thank the Dean of Penn Law, Ted Ruger, for hosting me today and for supporting this club and all of the great work that it does. I know a critical part of the club’s mission is to recruit students with military backgrounds to come to Penn Law and to encourage discourse in the Penn Law community about veterans’ issues. And as I look out into this audience, I can see firsthand that the club is succeeding in its mission.
In addition to the Veterans Week activities here, just in this week alone, we’ve celebrated notable markers in our nations’ military history. On Saturday, November 10, we celebrated the 243rd birthday of my beloved United States Marine Corps. And on Sunday, November 11, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day—the official end of World War I—the war known as the “War to End All Wars.” On the 11th day, at the 11th hour, of the 11th month, a bugle call signified the truce among all nations and a recommitment to world peace.
But the world did not remain a peaceful place for very long. After World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day – a day to honor veterans from all wars. And, unlike Memorial Day – the day set aside to remember America’s fallen heroes – Veterans Day is a day to honor all Americans who have served our country. That includes those living and dead, those who served in war and peace, those who served yesterday and today. On November 11th, we recognize all those who have worn the uniform.
Which brings me to the main point I want to address today. As Aaron mentioned in his opening remarks, the theme of Penn Law’s Veterans Week programming is “United We Stand.” It is a theme that has multiple layers of meaning. For one thing, it references the widely held sentiment that America’s military, as an institution, is one of the greatest unifying forces in our country today.
This theme also speaks to the remarkable reality that our military successfully brings together a mix of people from every corner of the country – a mix of different races, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. And it works. It is that mix of perspectives that contributes to the military’s continued vitality.
This observation undoubtedly raises questions about what lessons we can learn from the military ethos – that is, from the core values of those serving in our American armed forces. How is it that the military manages to bring out the best in people from different backgrounds and with different points of view, and how can we honor and apply those core values in our daily lives?
But first, on the broader point – let’s consider the fact that, in an era marked by political divisiveness, the public’s confidence in the military as an institution is stronger than ever. So is our respect for those who have bravely worn the uniform to protect our country.
In a survey recently published by the Pew Research Center, 80% of Americans respondents from both political parties said they have confidence that the military will act in the best interests of the public.[1] Not surprisingly, other institutions received far lower marks. For example, only 40% of Americans surveyed said they have confidence in the news media to act in the public’s best interest. And our elected officials fared even worse: only 25% of those surveyed said the same about our representatives in government.
America’s outpouring of support for veterans and our military over this past weekend tracks these survey results. We honored and celebrated the achievements in many ways – we attended parades and watched pre-game celebrations; we listened to speeches and read news stories about sacrifice, strength, and resilience. And what struck me on this last point was that the news stories I’m referencing came from sources across the political spectrum.
This level of support is a remarkable thing, and it is one we should not take for granted. Many here today might not remember a time when our American culture viewed the military and military service rather differently. I was born in 1969 – when America was in midst of the Vietnam War. Anti-war sentiment caused many in our country to doubt the wisdom of our government, which in turn led some to demonize the military and those who wore the uniform. Fortunately, that dark patch of our history is a thing of the past.
This brings me back to our question – what lessons can we draw from the military about how people with different viewpoints can work together towards a common goal? How can we honor veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country as we go about our daily lives?
Memorial events are important, but my vision for honoring veterans requires us to strive to improve our civic discourse. It requires an understanding that there’s more that unites us than divides us. It requires us all to put country and civility first and, where possible, to work towards compromise for the common good. It requires us to embrace several core values – those of honor, courage, and commitment – to do the right thing, even when our passions might pull us in a different direction. It also requires us to ask ourselves some hard questions as we work together to seek solutions to our nation’s most vexing issues.
For one, are we willing to enter into a real discussion about the problems that we face – especially the major national and international ones? Or are we just satisfied to be “entertained” by shouting talk shows and other vilifications featured in much of the mainstream media? Are we willing to really listen to views different from our own and try to give the holders of such views a real chance to speak? Do we consult news sources that do not necessarily share our political views, or do we choose not to test our understanding or conception of an issue?
Second, are we willing to share our views, even when others might disagree? Or do we sit back, remain silent, and allow others to speak for us?
Third, when we do speak, do we engage respectfully and with civility? Or do we choose words and phrases that only serve to increase division?
And, when we do go too far, are we willing to apologize, and to do so sincerely?
These are the lessons of decency and bravery, of honor, courage, and commitment that we can take and apply in our daily discourse on current events. Think of it as a baseline of respect that should be part of everyone’s core values.
Coincidentally, we saw a version of respectful, civic discourse play out this past weekend on – of all places – Saturday Night Live. Recently on SNL, Pete Davidson made the regrettable decision to belittle Dan Crenshaw, a Republican congressional candidate (now Congressman-elect) who lost his eye to a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL. According to Davidson, Crenshaw’s eyepatch made him look like “a hitman in a porno movie.” Davidson was widely criticized for going too far, and in a rare move on SNL, Davidson issued what appeared to be an earnest apology. It was a recognition that there are some lines that we should not cross and that we are all connected together as Americans who will never forget the sacrifices veterans have made for our freedom. For those of you who didn’t see the segment, here it is: [U.S. Attorney McSwain plays the clip.][2]
There are several teachable moments in this segment about civility in political discourse. For one thing, there’s more that unites us than divides us. We are united by a commitment to recognizing right from wrong, and Davidson had the good sense to realize that he had crossed a line. Second, this demonstrates bravery – another core military value. It took guts for Davidson to admit he had gone too far, it took guts for Crenshaw to accept SNL’s invitation, and it took guts for SNL to run the segment.
These questions I posed earlier, namely: are we willing to listen; are we willing to engage; are we willing to be respectful? These are the questions we must ask ourselves, not just today and not just this week, but every day. This is how we honor the sacrifice of our veterans – by living their core values every day.
Like other Americans, when Veterans Day arrives, I’m filled with a full spectrum of emotions – pride, nostalgia, sadness, but most of all – inspiration. I’m inspired to be a better person by every man and woman who served our country in uniform. I’m inspired because veterans are ordinary people who were called to serve our country in extraordinary ways.
Let us all learn from the over 20 million military veterans currently living in the United States.[3] Let us honor their sacrifices not just today, not just this week, but every day. Let us carry forward these lessons into our civic discourse. Let us listen to one another, let us choose our words carefully and let us rise above the temptation to do otherwise.
It has been said that how a nation remembers its defenders reflects its true character and conscience. Calvin Coolidge put it more directly when he said, “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
To echo the words of Dan Crenshaw, “We will never forget.”
Again, it is an honor to be with you today – during a week that has such profound meaning for all of us and our country. God bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.
[1] http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/09/04/trust-in-the-military-exceeds-trust-in-other-institutions-in-western-europe-and-u-s/ (last visited November 12, 2018).
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKaakjMVtyE.
[3] http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/10/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/ (citing most recent Veterans Administration study).
Red Lake Man Charged with Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging DARWIN LEE LUSSIER, SR., 52, with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. LUSSIER was previously charged on October 30, 2018, via federal complaint.[1] LUSSIER made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby in U.S. District Court on October 31, 2018.
According to documents filed with the court, including a law enforcement affidavit, on October 8, 2018, law enforcement responded to calls from a female who reported being the victim of multiple ongoing violent attacks, including being clubbed in the head. The female reported that she was at the LUSSIER’s home and that he had fled.
According to documents filed with the court, including a law enforcement affidavit, responding officers brought the female to the hospital. Upon execution of a search warrant at LUSSIER’s residence, officers found LUSSIER hiding in the basement. Officers also found the spiked club, previously described by the victim.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.
Defendant Information:
DARWIN LEE LUSSIER, SR., 52,
Red Lake, Minn.
Charges:
- Assault with a dangerous weapon, 1 count
- Assault resulting in serious bodily injury, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
William James Jackson, age 27, was sentenced on November 9, 2018, to 27 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jackson was charged on February 22, 2017. The charge related to Jackson knowingly being in possession of an RG Industries, model RG14S, .22 caliber revolver. Jackson is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction for domestic violence.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted and tried the case.
Jackson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Physician Sentenced to Federal Prison in Scheme to Falsify Medical Exams for Commercial DriversRead the Press Release
DUBLIN, GA: A doctor convicted of falsifying medical safety examinations for commercial drivers has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Dudley H. Bowen on Wednesday sentenced Dr. Mark Griffis, 61, of Eastman, Ga., to 30 months in prison for conspiring to falsify Department of Transportation-mandated medical exams for drivers who hold commercial licenses, announced Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Griffis was convicted after a three-day jury trial in June. Judge Bowen also fined Griffis $6,000, and ordered him to serve three years of federally supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Jo Carol White, a DOT-approved drug and alcohol screener, paid Griffis to falsely certify medical exam forms at $50 each without actually examining the driver. This scheme allowed 271 drivers to renew their commercial driver licenses without undergoing the appropriate medical exams to assure their fitness to drive. Earlier this year, White was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for her role in the conspiracy.
“Motorists expect and deserve the highest standards of safety from commercial drivers who make a living transporting goods on our taxpayer-funded roadways,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Griffis violated the duties of his profession and made our highways more dangerous for no reason other than pure greed.”
“The sentencing of Dr. Mark Griffis demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) to pursuing fraudulent activities by medical professionals in the motor carrier industry who are willing to compromise the safety of the traveling public for personal gain,” stated Todd Damiani, Regional Special Agent-In-Charge, DOT-OIG. “Working with our departmental, law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to prevent, detect and prosecute fraud schemes that compromise the integrity of DOT’s safety programs.”
DOT-OIG Special Agent Sara Oliver led the investigation of Griffis. She was assisted by investigators of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Georgia Department of Driver Services also provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Karl Knoche prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Owners of Northwest’s Largest Electronics Recycling Firm Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The owners and Chief Executive Officers of Total Reclaim, the Northwest’s largest recycler of electronic waste, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
CRAIG LORCH, 61, of Seattle, and JEFF ZIRKLE, 55, of Bonney Lake, Washington, admitted that they collected millions of dollars from public agencies and other organizations by falsely telling them that Total Reclaim would recycle used electronics products domestically in an environmentally-safe manner. In fact, the defendants secretly shipped millions of pounds of mercury-containing flat screen monitors to Hong Kong, where the monitors were dismantled in a manner that risked serious health consequences to workers, and damage to the environment. The two men face up to five years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on February 1, 2019. LORCH and ZIRKLE have also agreed to pay restitution of up to $1.1 million.
“These defendants held their company out as one of the good guys, signing agreements promising they would keep hazardous materials out of the environment. But even as they made that pledge, they secretly shipped millions of flat screen monitors to Hong Kong where disposal practices endangered workers and the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “Their actions were driven by greed and a total disregard for the promises they had made. As a result customers unknowingly ended up harming the environment rather than protecting it as they intended.”
“Total Reclaim is the largest e-waste recycler in the northwestern United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeanne M. Proctor of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. “During an eight-year period, the company exported to Hong Kong millions of pounds of electronic products containing mercury, while fraudulently reporting to customers and state agencies that they were being appropriately recycled.”
According to records filed in the case, Total Reclaim promoted itself as a responsible electronics recycler. Total Reclaim’s website stated that “our commitment to environmental responsibility is at the core of everything Total Reclaim does.” Total Reclaim signed a public pledge in which it promised not to “allow the export of hazardous E-waste we handle to be exported” to developing countries, where workers are known to disassemble electronics, which contain dangerous materials such as mercury, without safety precautions. Total Reclaim signed agreements with customers, such as the City of Seattle, in which the customers agreed to pay Total Reclaim to recycle electronics in accordance with these standards. Total Reclaim was also the biggest participant in the “E-Cycle Washington” program. E-Cycle Washington allows consumers to drop off used electronics at stations such as Goodwill Industries, and pays companies like Total Reclaim to recycle to those electronics according to Washington Department of Ecology standards.
In 2008, contrary to its promises to the public, Total Reclaim began secretly exporting flat screen monitors to Hong Kong to avoid the cost of safely recycling the monitors in the United States. Flat screen monitors are known to contain mercury, which can cause organ damage, mental impairment, and other serious health consequences to people exposed to the material. LORCH and ZIRKLE caused at least 8.3 million pounds of monitors to be shipped to Hong Kong between 2008 and 2015. To prevent customers and auditors from learning of the practice, LORCH and ZIRKLE falsified documents, made false statements to customers, and stored the monitors at an undisclosed facility while they awaited shipping.
Defendants’ fraud was discovered in 2014 by a non-governmental organization known as the Basel Action Network (“BAN”). BAN, which studies the export of electronic waste, placed electronic trackers on flat screen monitors and deposited them for recycling. The trackers showed that the monitors were collected by Total Reclaim and then exported to Hong Kong. When BAN representatives followed the tracking devices to Hong Kong, they discovered that the monitors were being dismantled by laborers who smashed the monitors apart without any precautions to protect the workers or the environment. After BAN notified LORCH and ZIRKLE of its findings, LORCH and ZIRKLE tried to cover up their fraud by altering hundreds of shipping records.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Making a False Statement to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today that on November 15, 2018, United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lafi Jafari, age 74, of Omaha, Nebraska, to a term of one year probation and a fine of $20,000 following his felony conviction for making a false statement to federal investigators.
During an investigation conducted by Special Agents with the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, it was determined that Jafari was a landlord who owned rental properties in Omaha, Nebraska. A number of these properties participated in an Omaha Housing Authority program, in conjunction with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, to provide low and moderate income individuals with safe and sanitary housing through rent subsidies.
Starting in 2012, Jafari provided cash in amounts ranging from $200 to $700 to a program integrity specialist employed by the Omaha Housing Authority. The program integrity specialist’s duties included investigating for the presence of non-compliance or fraud perpetrated by tenants, vendors, and landlords participating in the Omaha Housing Authority program. Over a three-year time span the program integrity specialist received at least $2,100 from Jafari and others associated with him.
When questioned by special agents whether Jafari knew the Omaha Housing Authority program integrity specialist who had received the payments, Jafari falsely stated that he had never provided anything of value to an employee of the Omaha Housing Authority and that he did not know the program integrity specialist.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.
North Carolina woman pleads guilty to stealing more than $140,000 in benefits from army health insurance planRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a North Carolina woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with her ex-husband to illegally obtain health care benefits from the Department of Defense Health Program, Tricare.
Amanda Elise Morphis, 26, of Sanford, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to the guilty plea, Morphis divorced U.S. Army Sergeant Nathan Chance Louvier, 30, of Deridder, Louisiana, on December 6, 2011. For more than two years after their divorce, Morphis and Louvier falsely represented to the Defense Department, the Army and Tricare that they were married so that Morphis could receive health care benefits from Tricare after her entitlement to benefits had ended. Between December 7, 2011 and February 2014, Tricare paid $143,387.56, in fraudulent claims for Morphis’ health care benefits.
United States Army regulations and federal statutes require military service members to update the Defense Enrollment Eligibility System within 30 days of events such as a death or divorce that change the status a service member’s dependents.
Louvier pleaded guilty to conspiracy on October 3, 2018. The defendants face a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and mandatory restitution to repay Tricare $143,387.56 for paid fraudulent claims. The court set Louvier’s sentencing for January 9, 2019 and Morphis’ sentencing for February 13, 2019.
The Fort Polk - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced in Heroin-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that ANTWINE SMITH, age 42, of New Orleans, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic one kilogram or more of heroin in the Eastern District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced SMITH to 78 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release.
On July 25, 2014, SMITH was one of 12 defendants charged in a 23-count indictment. According to court documents, this investigation targeted a heroin trafficking organization operating in New Orleans East. This organization was responsible for distributing at least 15 kilograms of heroin in New Orleans. Agents seized approximately $1,200,000 in assets (a combination of vehicles, currency, jewelry and real property) from members of this drug trafficking organization that were acquired with proceeds derived from the sale of heroin.
SMITH was the last of the twelve defendants to plead guilty and receive his sentence. Co-defendants include:
LARRY HARDY pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 90 months incarceration.
AMBROSE WILLIAMS pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 120 months incarceration.
ANTOINETTE KELLY pled guilty to distribution of heroin and was sentenced to 15 months incarceration.
CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 240 months incarceration.
RODNEY MACK pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 120 months incarceration.
THOMAS HARRISON pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 144 months incarceration.
VINCENT P. JONES pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 180 months incarceration.
BETH MARIE NGUYEN pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 36 months incarceration.
RICKY MARQUETTE BOZEMAN pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and was sentenced to 144 months incarceration.
MICHAEL SORINA pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 120 months incarceration.
TERRELL CARNEY pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced to 180 months.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Kenner Police Department, and Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Long is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Man Charged in Federal Court for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that a federal grand jury returned an indictment against defendant TROYNELL COOKS, age 39, of New Orleans, for bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).
The federal indictment alleges that TROYNELL COOKS entered the Hancock Bank at 2421 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, and demanded money.
If convicted of the violation, TROYNELL COOKS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This matter was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans is prosecuting the case.
New Castle Man Charged with Violating Federal Firearms and Drug LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearm and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The three-count indictment, returned on Nov. 13 and unsealed today, named Samuel A. Cheeks, 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on or about July 23, 2017, and September 27, 2017, Cheeks unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition after having previously been convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The indictment also alleges that, on September 27, 2017, Cheeks unlawfully possessed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Ellwood City Police Department, and the New Castle Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Motel Room Search Results in Federal Felony Drug Conviction and 81-Month Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today that on November 13, 2018, United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Deshawn Trent to a term of imprisonment of 81 months, to be served in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Trent pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, a felony offense.
On August 9, 2017, Omaha Police Department narcotics investigators executed a search warrant at a motel room where Trent was staying in Omaha, Nebraska. Trent was present and was arrested after officers recovered more than 300 grams of methamphetamine from the room.
This case was initially investigated by the Omaha Police Department, with assistance from the Omaha Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Minnesota couple admits possessing nearly 1,000 pounds marijuanaRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Minnesota couple admitted on Thursday in U.S. District Court to possessing for distribution nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana in their recreational vehicle after getting arrested in Miles City, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Steven Thomas Robinson, 59, and his wife, Vicki Lynn Robinson, 59, of Milaca, Minn., each pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The maximum penalty is a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided at the hearing.
On Aug. 30, 2017, the Montana Highway Patrol’s Eastern Montana Interdiction Task Force received information from a Minnesota drug task force that an RV was transporting a large quantity of marijuana from California to Minnesota. The Montana Highway Patrol located the RV in a Walmart parking lot in Miles City and began surveilling the vehicle. The RV left the parking lot and stopped at the Gold Dust Casino parking lot. Officers saw two occupants of the RV leave the casino and head to the RV. The officers approached and began talking to the couple, identified as the Robinsons.
When the officers asked for license and registration documents, Vicki Robinson said the registration was in the RV. When she opened the door, officers smelled a strong order of raw marijuana. A police K-9 then alerted to the vehicle.
Steven Robinson agreed to speak with officers and admitted there was about 800 pounds of marijuana in the RV and that he was transporting it. He told officers he had delivered before and was paid $20,000. He also consented to a search of the RV and his cell phone. Officers found about 960 pounds of marijuana.
Judge Watters set sentencing for March 14 in Billings. The couple was released.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana Interdiction Task Force.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today that JOSE LUIS MEZA-LOPEZ, age 52, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty on November 14, 2018 to a one-count bill of information charging him with illegal entry of a removed alien.
According to the court documents, MEZA-LOPEZ was found in the United States on or about May 30, 2018, after having been previously removed on July 20, 2012.
MESA-LOPEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years, a fine of $250,000, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance set sentencing for March 13, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer is in charge of the prosecution.
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Mexican Man Charged with Illegal Use of a Social Security Number and Submitting False Information in an Attempt to Secure a U.S. PassportRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – FRANCISCO JAVIER NUNEZ-ALEMAN, age 32, a citizen of Mexico was charged in a two-count indictment for illegal use of a Social Security number in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). He was further charged with using a false social security number in attempting to secure a U.S. Passport, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542.
NUNEZ-ALEMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, a fine of $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00 on both counts. Additionally, NUNEZ-ALEMAN is subject to a period of supervised release after imprisonment of up to three years.
The indictment further alleged that NUNEZ-ALEMAN applied for a U.S. Passport at the Bourg, La. Post Office. The State Department determined that the Social Security number he used belonged to another individual. NUNEZ-ALEMAN further used the fraudulently obtained social security number in applying for a job at a Houma, La employer.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser pointed out that an indictment is merely allegation. Each element of the offense must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
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Mexican Citizen Charged in Federal Court with Illegal Reentry into the United States, Drug Distribution and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Matthew Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment charging Jose Facio-Santos (age 39), a Mexican citizen, with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, § 1326(a); three counts of the unlawful possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 922(g)(5); three counts of drug distribution in violation of Title 21, United States Code, §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and Title 18, United States Code, § 2; and two counts of aiding women traveling across state lines for the purposes of prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, §§ 2421 and 2.
If convicted on the illegal reentry charge, Facio-Santos faces a maximum of 2 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine. If convicted of the firearms charges, he faces 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count. He faces 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on each of the distribution counts. And if convicted of the prostitution charges, he faces 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count.
The case was investigated by Milwaukee Police Department, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at (414) 297-1700
Mexican Citizen Arraigned on Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Armando Medina, 32, a citizen of Mexico, made his initial appearance and arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced. According to the indictment, the criminal conspiracy operated from approximately May to September 2014 and involved at least 19 named defendants, including Medina. The controlled substances alleged are cocaine and methamphetamine.
If convicted,Medina faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was extradited from Mexico earlier this month to face prosecution in the Southern District of Illinois. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on November 27. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica A. Stump.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is simply a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
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Earlier today, Armando Medina, 32, a citizen of Mexico, made his initial appearance and arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced. According to the indictment, the criminal conspiracy operated from approximately May to September 2014 and involved at least 19 named defendants, including Medina. The controlled substances alleged are cocaine and methamphetamine.
If convicted,Medina faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was extradited from Mexico earlier this month to face prosecution in the Southern District of Illinois. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on November 27. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica A. Stump.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is simply a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Medical Doctor Sentenced for Illegally Dispensing Schedule II and Schedule III Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announces that DR. BARBARA A. BRUCE, M.D., age 45, was sentenced yesterday for her plea of guilty to a one count bill of information charging her with conspiring with others to dispense quantities of Schedule II and Schedule III drug controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purposes.
DR. BRUCE admitted in a factual basis that she operated the medical office of Barbara A. Bruce, M.D. at 9954 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite 10, in New Orleans, Louisiana, between August 2014 and April 2015. She acknowledged that during her medical practice she wrote prescriptions that were provided to patients without her conducting a medical examination of the patient, and at times, without even seeing the patient. DR. BRUCE admitted that she conspired with a member of her medical staff and with Kenneth Knight who split 50 percent of the profits received by DR. BRUCE through her medical practice. The owner of the medical clinic previously entered a plea of guilty to the same conspiracy and is pending sentencing.
DR. BRUCE was sentenced to 30 months incarceration. The Honorable Barry W. Ashe sentenced the defendant.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration New Orleans Office and the Internal Revenue Service, Gulfport, Mississippi for investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Murphy is in charge of the prosecution.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing 9-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 23-year-old man, of District Heights, Md., pled guilty today to sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced.
The man, who is not identified here to protect the privacy of the victim, pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon 13-year prison term. Following his prison term, the man will be required to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender and also complete a five-year term of supervised release. As part of the plea, the government agreed to dismiss a pending gun case. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for March 8, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 16, 2017, the victim was at her home in Northwest Washington with her 4-year-old brother. The defendant - the victim’s stepfather’s brother - came to the house. The defendant forced the victim into the bathroom. The victim asked her brother for help, but the defendant closed the door on her brother and sexually assaulted the girl. The victim began pushing the defendant off of her, and he got off of her and went back into the living room. The victim went back into the living room and the defendant kept apologizing to her. The defendant asked the victim if she was going to tell her mother, and said that if she told, the defendant would go to jail and she would never see him again. After initially informing the defendant she was going to call her parents, the victim told the defendant she wouldn’t so the defendant wouldn’t get mad at her. The defendant left the home, and the victim locked the door behind him. The victim then called her mother to report the assault.
The defendant was arrested in October 2017 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division. She also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, the Children’s Advocacy Center, and Children’s National Medical Center. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Juanita Harris and Tracy Owusu, Paralegal Specialists Brenda Williams, D’Yvonne Key, and T.J. McPhail, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elana Suttenberg and Stuart D. Allen, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Glen Eagle Thunder, age 44, was sentenced on November 8, 2018, to 2 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The charge related to Eagle Thunder, who is a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of conviction under Federal Law, knowingly failing to register and update his registration between January and April of 2018.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.
Eagle Thunder was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Thursday to 22 months in prison for evading to pay more than $3 million in taxes for his purported asset protection business and fraudulently concealing assets in a separate case, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of the IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Richard C. Neiswonger, 67, previously pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and two-counts of mail fraud. In a separate case, he pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Neiswonger to pay $3,212,078 in restitution to the IRS.
From 1999 to mid-2006, Neiswonger, who was imprisoned, and his business partner, formed Asset Protection Group, Inc. (APG) in Nevada in late 1998. Neiswonger, along with his business partner and a certified public accountant, conspired to promote false and misleading business information. Consumers would purchase the APG “asset protection” program for typically $9,800 and become APG “consultants,” who would sell “asset protection” services to clients who wished to conceal assets from potential litigants and creditors, as well as government agencies. The service allowed clients to place funds in bank accounts in the name of nominee entities that could never be traced back to the clients themselves. In turn, APG “consultants” received a portion of the client’s fees. These nominee entity accounts and other fraudulent conveyances, such as so called “friendly liens,” were used to divert and hide income from the IRS. Over 70 APG clients using the APG system had collective IRS liabilities totaling approximately $14 million.
Neiswonger used clients’ funds for personal expenses to include credit card payments and payments on a Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
In the separate case, Neiswonger, Neiswonger’s wife, and their attorney conspired to fraudulently convey approximately $1 million to the attorney so that it would be concealed from authorities.
The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns prosecuted this case.
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Kingsport Resident Sentenced to 188 Months on Marijuana Conspiracy, Firearms, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On November 15, 2018, Christopher Scott Burchett, 36, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable Pamela L. Reeves, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 188 months in federal prison. Burchett was convicted for his role in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and a conspiracy to commit money laundering in east Tennessee.
According to the plea agreement on file with the U.S. District Court, Burchett admitted to being responsible for at least 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. He obtained large quantities of marijuana from numerous sources of supply in Oregon and California, which were then re-distributed to customers in east Tennessee. In order to run this organization, Burchett recruited and employed numerous co-conspirators to make trips to Oregon with large sums of cash, obtain the marijuana, and transport it back to east Tennessee for resale. Burchett paid these individuals up to $10,000.00 per trip. The marijuana would often be contained in hidden locations in vehicles to avoid detection from law enforcement officers. Upon returning to the Kingsport area, Burchett had other co-conspirators ready to unload and store the marijuana until it could be divided up and sold by him and others working on his behalf. In addition to marijuana, Burchett also obtained Butane Honey Oil (BHO or hashish oil) from sources in Oregon that was transported back to east Tennessee and resold for profit. He further engaged in financial transactions involving the proceeds of the illegal distribution of marijuana, which included bulk currency shipments, the acquisition of vehicles and firearms and the transfer of real property.
One of Burchett’s co-defendants, Chad Allen Dorton, 35, of Kingsport, Tennessee, proceeded to trial in September 2017. Evidence and testimony introduced at trial showed the conspirators purchased, transported, and distributed 2500 to 3700 lbs. of marijuana during the conspiracy period, with a street value of $12 - $18 million. All of the drugs were distributed in Kingsport and surrounding areas. Following the trial, Dorton was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. He was sentenced on December 4, 2017, to serve 168 months in federal prison.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Second Judicial Drug Task Force, Sullivan County Sherriff’s Office, Kingsport Police Department, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement of Josephine County, Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne Taylor, David L. Gunn and T.J. Harker represented the United States.
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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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.
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Keshena Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Saswaen Waukechon (age: 38), of Keshena, was sentenced on November 8, 2018 to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release after a conviction for Involuntary Manslaughter on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence was the result of a June 28, 2018, guilty plea before Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
The investigation revealed that Waukechon operated his motor vehicle while intoxicated on January 13, 2018. Waukechon drove onto the ice at Legend Lake and struck a bridge in the area of Brave Island, causing extensive damage to the passenger compartment of the vehicle and killing a front seat passenger. Analysis of Waukechon’s blood alcohol content showed that it was well over twice the legal limit at the time of driving.
In sentencing Waukechon, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense. Chief Judge Griesbach also noted there was “no excuse for this,” and stated his desire was to “deter others who callously go out and drive after drinking.” Chief Judge Griesbach also observed the impact the offense had on the victims’ family and the Menominee Indian community as a whole.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Joplin Man Charged with Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with receiving and distributing child pornography over the internet after law enforcement officers searched his apartment and also found a firearm and items associated with Nazis, violence and racial hatred.
Daniel Rehman, 24, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., with receiving and distributing child pornography from May 5 to Nov. 7, 2018.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Rehman had uploaded multiple files of child pornography to his Tumblr account.
On Nov. 7, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rehman’s residence and seized his cell phone and a flash drive; officers also seized Rehman’s laptop computer from another residence. According to the affidavit, Rehman told officers he had been viewing child pornography for several years and had downloaded images of child pornography of children as young as infants.
Law enforcement officers also located a poster on the wall of Rehman’s apartment, the affidavit says, which depicted an adult male choking a female child. Officers located a green flag hung on one of the apartment walls, which Rehman said was a flag for Pakistani Nazis. In the kitchen, above the cabinets, officers located a German Nazi officer’s hat. A Ruger handgun was located inside a metal ammunition can with more than 300 rounds of ammunition. According to the affidavit, these items were not seized by officers as they were not evidence of child pornography that the search warrant authorized the seizure of.
Investigators found images of child pornography on Rehman’s cell phone and on the flash drive, the affidavit says, as well as a significant amount of child pornography anime. Investigators also found multiple images depicting violence and racial hatred. For example, Rehman allegedly created an image in which he is wearing a Nazi officer’s hat in front of a large pile of dead bodies. In another image, a cartoon character duck is depicted with a caption bubble stating, “When you trick the autistic kid into raping the girl with Down syndrome you record it, sell the video to a local pedophile and use the profit to buy guns to shoot up the school.”
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge 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 Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Information: Federal Court ArraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate judges and indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed. Indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate John T. Johnston in Great Falls on Nov. 14, 2018 and entering a Not Guilty plea was:
AARON JAMES PEPION, 38, of Browning, appeared on charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious charge in the indictment, Pepion faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. The case was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Tribal law enforcement. Pacer case reference. 18-92
Appearing on Nov. 15 and entering a Not Guilty plea was:
KRIS DALE HARDING, 47, of Sun Prairie, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute explosives without a license, possession of stolen explosives and prohibited person in possession of explosives. If convicted of the most serious charge, Harding faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Russell Country Drug Task Force. Pacer case reference. 18-90
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan in Billings on Nov. 13 and entering a Not Guilty plea was:
JENICA D. PASSES, 30, of Crow Agency, appeared on charges of theft of government property and misappropriation of postal funds. If convicted of the most serious charge in the indictment, Passes faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service. Pacer case reference. 18-127
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Individual Arrested for Posting Threatening Messages on Twitter to Bomb CNNRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– On November 14, 2018, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against Carlos Rodríguez-Vidal, charging him for threatening to injure people and damage property by means of explosives using an instrumentality of interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(e), announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
According to the information contained in a criminal complaint, between November 6 and November 8, 2018 Twitter user @SYROH10 posted various threatening messages directed toward CNN, a 24-hour cable news network that has physical premises in various places throughout the United States, including Miami, Florida. The following are among the threatening messages:
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“I hate CNN I wish to explode them.”
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“I hate you and I hope to see you when we explode CNN.”
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“I hate you CNN, people of the United States we must take CNN off the air, put a bomb in all CNN office.”
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“Bomb to CNN all over the country.”
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“Put bomb at CNN we are United States and CNN is enemy and need to remove them from the air.”
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“Soon CNN Miami office of CNN will get a gift.”
FBI agents first learned of these threats when a CNN employee reported them on November 7, 2018. Upon further investigation and a search warrant, on November 10 FBI agents arrested Rodríguez-Vidal at his residence in Cabo Rojo, PR.
“The defendant attempted to create fear within CNN, and was mimicking the individual who recently sent letter bombs to prominent current and former government officials,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We commend the CNN employee who reported the threats to the FBI, and the agents who promptly investigated this matter. Federal authorities will continue to prosecute those who use social media to threaten, promote violence, or incite violent acts.”
“Any member of the public has the right to criticize whomever or whatever they want, publicly or privately. However, making threats of violence or encouraging others to commit acts of violence, through social media or other communications systems, is a serious crime and we are required to enforce this law diligently,” stated Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, San Juan Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Alum is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, Rodríguez-Vidal faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a term of supervised release of up to three years, and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. Sentenced to $1.9 Million Criminal Fine for Violating the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. (Hyundai), then a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court in Atlanta, Georgia, to pay a $1.95 million dollar criminal fine for conspiring to defraud the United States government and to violate the Clean Air Act, the Justice Department announced today. The charges relate to construction equipment Hyundai imported for sale into the United States from the Republic of Korea that contained engines that did not comply with air emissions standards under the Clean Air Act.
Hyundai imports construction and other equipment into the United States, which it sells to its dealer network. During a phase-in period for new air emissions standards, Hyundai opted to participate in a transition program that allowed it to import limited numbers of engines not in compliance with the new standards. As part of the program, Hyundai had to report the number of imported noncompliant engines to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hyundai’s imports of noncompliant engines substantially exceeded its allowance. A consultant retained by Hyundai to provide advice about complying with the requirements warned the company that it was out of compliance and that it risked a substantial penalty. The consultant advised Hyundai to stop importing and notify the EPA. Nonetheless, Hyundai continued to import the noncompliant engines, and its employees conspired to lie to the EPA and to impede EPA’s ability to enforce emissions standards. Ultimately, Hyundai submitted a report that intentionally understated the number of noncompliant engines it had imported from Korea.
“This case underscores the necessity for foreign companies that opt to do business in the United States to comply with our Nation’s laws developed to protect human health and the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “A self-reporting regime, such as the one here, depends upon the honesty and integrity of the regulated parties. We hope that this case will chart a new course for Hyundai, and serve as a lesson for all companies that interact with our regulatory agencies.”
“Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas tried to increase its profits by illegally importing diesel engines that did not comply with U.S. Clean Air Act regulations,” said EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine. “This case shows that EPA and our law enforcement partners will not allow importers to gain a competitive advantage or risk the health and safety of our communities by evading U.S. environmental laws.”
Assistant Attorney General Clark thanked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division for its work in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Krishna Dighe of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Fraud Section, of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Houma Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – NICHOLAS GARCIA (“GARCIA”), age 33, of Houma, Louisiana, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser.
According to documents filed in federal court, special agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (“LBI”) obtained a search warrant for GARCIA’s residence in Houma, Louisiana. Law enforcement officers and agents with LBI, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) executed the search warrant. On February 21, 2018, law enforcement officers arrested GARCIA after finding that GARCIA was in possession of a Samsung Galaxy tablet that contained images and videos of child pornography. A subsequent computer forensic examination by HSI revealed over 350 images and 3 videos depicting the sexual victimization of pre-pubescent children on GARCIA’s Samsung device.
Sentencing will be held on February 21, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe. The maximum penalty GARCIA may receive is not more than twenty (20) years imprisonment and a supervised release term of up to life.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Financial Crimes Unit Supervisor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
Hopewell Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl that Caused an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Hopewell Township, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 7 years’ imprisonment on his conviction of distribution of fentanyl, which he acknowledged caused the death of a victim identified as L.K., United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Corey Bargerstock, 43.
According to information presented to the court, on July 6, 2016, Bargerstock sold stamp bags of fentanyl to L.K., which caused L.K. to fatally overdose.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Fischer stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to fulfill the goals of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Timothy Lanni prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office Detectives Bureau, and the Hopewell Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bargerstock.
Honduran Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man entered the United States illegally from Honduras was sentenced on November 13, 2018, to three months’ in prison.
Denis Orlando Orellana-Martinez, age 32, from Honduras, received the sentence after a September 18, 2018, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry.
At the guilty plea, Orellana-Martinez admitted he had illegally entered the United States from Honduras in 2012, after previously being deported. On August 23, 2018, Orellana-Martinez was arrested for public intoxication in Sioux County, Iowa.
Orellana-Martinez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Orellana-Martinez was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release after the prison term.
Orellana-Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-04077.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Heroin Trafficker Indicted for Transporting 4.5 Kilograms Hidden Inside Car BatteryRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Francisco Castaneda Rivera has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly transporting 4.5 kilograms of heroin - hidden inside a car battery - from Texas to the Atlanta area.
“Drug trafficking organizations go to great lengths to creatively conceal and transport their poisonous merchandise across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Thanks to our vigilant and perceptive law enforcement agents, this large quantity of heroin was discovered and seized before it could make its way into our community.”
“Drug distribution is about delivering misery to the consumer,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA’s mission is about removing the supply before it gets to the consumer. This case was successful because of the dedicated efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On October 20, 2018, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle from Texas traveling east along Interstate 20 in Douglas County, Georgia. Rivera, who was previously known to law enforcement, was the owner and an occupant of the vehicle. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and observed that the battery in the truck was significantly cleaner than the rest of the engine compartment. Upon closer inspection, agents realized that the battery had been altered. They opened it and found five packages wrapped in electrical tape along with a motorcycle battery wired to provide electrical current sufficient to operate the vehicle. The substance inside the packages tested positive for heroin. Rivera was arrested and denied bond.
Francisco Castaneda Rivera, 64, of Houston, Texas was charged with possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin. He was arraigned on November 16, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and David A. O’Neal are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Helena woman sentenced for wire fraud; aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
HELENA—U.S. Attorney Kurt G. Alme announced today that Katherine Marie Krieger, a Helena resident, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $236,924.17 restitution for stealing a person’s personal identity and using it to embezzle money from an investment account.
Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell presided at the sentencing.
Krieger, 30, also known as Katherine Marie Waayenberg, pleaded guilty on Sept. 11 to wire fraud and to aggravated identity theft as part of plea agreement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Racicot said the embezzlement scheme ran from February 2015 to August 2015. Krieger, and her then-husband, had moved from Michigan to Montana in 2010 so her husband could work for a company in Helena. Krieger befriended the owners of the company and then started embezzling from their Edward Jones investment account.
During the embezzlement, Krieger made 58 payments to her Capital One credit card account using money from the victims’ Edward Jones account. The total loss associated with the Edward Jones transactions was $109,138.49, but Krieger agreed to pay more for losses associated with her scheme.
When questioned about the theft in August 2015, Krieger claimed her mail had been stolen, including a check she had received for babysitting services from the victims. She also claimed she thought her identity had been stolen and that the perpetrator must have used the victims’ Edward Jones account number – obtained from the babysitting check – to make the Capital One credit card payments. And she claimed she thought the perpetrator who stole her identity must have obtained that credit card without her knowledge.
The investigation, however, found that Krieger had deposited the babysitting check into her personal bank account and that the Capital One credit card charges were for goods and services she received.
AUSA Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Office.
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Gun Thief Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Jesse Lane, 25, of Ellisville, Alabama, was sentenced today for his participation in stealing firearms and possessing stolen firearms. He pled guilty to the two charges in federal court during July of 2018.
United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed a sentence of 33 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. During his supervision, the judge ordered that Lane undergo testing and treatment for illegal drug use. Lane was ordered to pay $200 in special mandatory assessments, but no fine was imposed.
The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who entered the United States illegally from Guatemala was sentenced on November 13, 2018, to 10 months’ in prison.
Elmer Martinez-Niz, age 24, from Guatemala, received the sentence after a September 17, 2018, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry.
At the guilty plea, Martinez-Niz admitted he had illegally entered the United States from Guatemala in 2012, after previously being deported from the U.S. On February 15, 2017, Martinez-Niz was arrested in Osceola County for possession of controlled substance (meth), and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also has subsequent arrests in Osceola County for OWI 2nd and driving without a license.
Martinez-Niz was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Martinez-Niz was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with any terms of imprisonment he may receive from the State of Iowa, Osceola County offenses. He must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release after the prison term.
Martinez-Niz is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-04011.
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Fulton Man Sentenced for Manufacturing a Silencer, Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Fulton, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally manufacturing a firearm suppressor, or “silencer,” and illegally possessing firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition after making threats toward state workers involved in the case in which he lost custody of his children.
Nathaniel Craig Carroll, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 17, 2018, Carroll pleaded guilty to illegally making a firearm, possessing an illegally made firearm and being a drug user in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, Carroll had repeatedly communicated threats, directly and indirectly, to state children’s division employees involved in a case where Carroll’s children were taken from the home. Law enforcement officers had also received reports of explosions at Carroll’s residence; Carroll was believed to be igniting “tannerite” to create the explosions. On Oct. 24, 2017, a judge in Callaway County determined that the case was going to move toward the permanent removal of the children from Carroll’s custody, which upset him a great deal. Carroll’s statements and conduct in the aftermath of the hearing resulted in the evacuation and two-day closure of all Missouri Department of Social Services offices in Callaway County, including the Children’s Division.
Immediately after the Oct. 24, 2017, court hearing, Carroll was seen at the Westlake Ace Hardware store. A Calloway County sheriff’s deputy was concerned that Carroll was intent on hurting himself because of what had happened at the hearing earlier, and therefore followed up with employees at the hardware store to determine what Carroll was purchasing.
Carroll purchased several items that could be used to manufacture a suppressor. Carroll made a statement to the store clerk about needing items to build a suppressor. Carroll does not have a federal license to manufacture a suppressor.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Carroll’s residence on Oct. 25, 2017. Officers seized two homemade silencers, 13 firearms (including two assault rifles that had been spray-painted in black paint, a JC Higgins .22-caliber rifle bearing no serial number and retrofitted for a homemade suppressor, and several other weapons bearing no serial numbers), thousands of rounds of ammunition and substantial user quantities of marijuana.
Officers searched the Carroll family’s Honda Odyssey and found “Adolph Hitler Flyers” that stated the following: “Our Furher reminds US, National Socialism Depends on the loyalty of the people and the indoctrination of youth, All Citizens Report, Nonconforming Parents To Their, Children’s Division, From the National Socialist American Worker’s Party.”
This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the MUSTANG Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.