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12 December 2018
Schenectady Felon Admits to Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Haskins, age 42, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute crack cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division.
Haskins, who has 6 prior felony convictions, admitted that on April 11, 2018, he possessed 152 grams of crack cocaine and a .380 caliber pistol and ammunition in Schenectady. He further admitted that he intended to distribute the crack cocaine to others in exchange for cash, and that he possessed the firearm, which he obtained illegally, to protect his crack and drug proceeds from potential robbers.
Haskins faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least 8 years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue on April 17, 2019. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by the ATF and Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Giglio Suarez.
Sarasota Felon Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of More Than 7,700 Pounds of Explosive MaterialsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Marc Jason Levene (57, Sarasota) to five years in federal prison for possessing explosive materials as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Levene to forfeit almost four tons of explosive fuses and flash powder.
Levene had pleaded guilty in September 2018.
According to the plea agreement, in 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Levene for selling explosives without a federal license or permit. Based on Levene’s multiple prior felony drug convictions, he is prohibited from possessing or selling any explosive materials. In January 2016, the ATF and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office seized various explosive fuses from a shed behind Levene’s Sarasota residence.
In late 2017, ATF learned that Levene was selling explosive fuses online, notwithstanding the prior seizure. The ATF initiated an undercover investigation that confirmed Levene was selling the fuses online through a website called ThePyroPro.com. Agents also learned that Levene was maintaining a storage unit at a self-storage facility in Sarasota. An explosives detection canine alerted to the presence of explosive material in the storage unit.
In February 2018, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at Levene’s residence and his storage unit. During the searches, officers seized more than 7,700 pounds of explosive fuses and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
“This was the largest seizure ever of explosives from a convicted felon in Florida,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “This sentencing represents ATF’s expertise in explosive investigations and is another example of how our enforcement of the federal explosives laws greatly enhances our nation’s public safety.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Gaugush.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Portsmouth man who previously lived in West Warwick was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for possessing more than 7,000 digital images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Joseph Seymour, 40, pleaded guilty in October 2017 to possession of child pornography. At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., also ordered Seymour to serve 5 years supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration, pay restitution totaling $15,000 to 15 identified victims who made restitution claims, and a $5,000 special assessment imposed as required by statute in child sexual exploitation cases where the Court makes a finding that the defendant is not indigent.
The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 78-98 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 30 months in prison.
Seymour’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.
At the time of his guilty plea, Seymour admitted to the Court that in July 2016, he was in possession of more than 7,000 digital images or videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in July 2016, a Tempe, Arizona computer repair service notified the Tempe Police Department that they discovered images on a digital hard drive that appeared to be child pornography. The hard drive, owned by Seymour, had been sent to the repair service via a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of electronic products.
After determining that some of the contents they reviewed depicted child pornography, the Tempe Police Department contacted that Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The hard drive was transferred to the ICAC Task Force and then to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) for further examination. A forensic examination of the hard drive revealed over 7,000 images and videos of child pornography stored in more than 160 subfolders.
USPIS agents and members of the ICAC Task Force arrested Seymour on December 21, 2016, while executing a court-authorized search of Seymour’s then West Warwick residence. Numerous computers and digital storage devices were seized by law enforcement.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
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Rhode Island Man Charged with Building, Selling "Ghost" Machine GunRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE - A Cranston man was arrested today on charges he allegedly manufactured and sold a “ghost” machinegun without a license to an out-of-state Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) undercover agent.
As the result of a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation initiated by the Cranston Police Department in November, David Ladwig, 63, was arrested today as ATF agents, ATF Task Force members, and Cranston Police executed a federal court-authorized search of his residence, a boat moored in Pawtuxet Cove. From the houseboat, law enforcement seized arched the Boat and inside found, among other things, an AR-15 receiver, ammunition, firearm parts, and silencer parts.
“Ghost-guns” are firearms manufactured without serial numbers, making them difficult for law enforcement to trace. It is alleged in court documents that on November 15, 2018, Ladwig sold a “ghost” machinegun he manufactured to an undercover ATF agent who is a resident of Connecticut.
Ladwig appeared today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession/transfer of a machine gun, possession of a firearm not registered to him, engaging in the business of selling firearms, and selling a firearm to an out-of-state resident. Ladwig was released on $10,000 unsecured bond.
Ladwig’s arrest and initial appearance in U.S. District Court are announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly D. Brady, and Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael J. Winquist.
According to Court documents, it is alleged that in November 2018, ATF acquired information that suggested that Ladwig was engaged in the manufacture of firearms, including machineguns, and was searching for buyers. On November 11, 2018, an ATF undercover agent contacted Ladwig by telephone. The agent identified himself as a resident of Connecticut.
It is alleged that during the call with the ATF agent, Ladwig said that he manufactured “ghost guns” from parts, and that he had a machinegun available for $4,000. Shortly after the call, at the agent’s request, Ladwig texted him photographs of other “ghost guns” he allegedly manufactured and that were available for sale. The photographs depicted a rifle described as having a “reticle sight and aimpoint laser and suppressor” for $1,600; a “full auto” rifle for $4,000; a sig p228 9mm pistol for $850; and a 9mm pistol for $750.
On November 15, 2018, the undercover agent met with Ladwig at a pre-determined location in the parking lot of the marina where Ladwig’s houseboat is moored. It is alleged that Ladwig transferred the receiver for a machinegun to the agent in return for $2,800 in cash. Ladwig pointed out the components that allowed for automatic fire, including the auto sear and auto hammer. Ladwig also manipulated the selector switch, explaining how to move from the semi-automatic position to the automatic fire position. Ladwig explained that the firearm was missing certain parts, such as the full auto bolt carrier group, and that he would be getting those parts by mail shortly. He was arrested as he delivered the missing parts to the agent today.
Prior to leaving the agent’s vehicle, it is alleged that Ladwig told the agent that he hoped that they could do more business together and that he would mail him the missing parts for the machinegun. The machinegun was sent to an ATF lab for further examination. It was determined that many of the parts used to construct the machinegun had been constructed using M16 machinegun parts.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Reno Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Large Amounts of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident was sentenced today to 160 months in prison in connection to a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Jose Efrain Larios Rivera, 37, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. He has a prior felony drug conviction in Reno. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben sentenced Rivera to five years of supervised release.
Rivera admitted that he conspired with others to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine throughout the Reno area. He offered to sell methamphetamine for $5,000 per pound or $500 per ounce. The investigation revealed that law enforcement intercepted 3,082 grams of pure methamphetamine during a traffic stop on July 27, 2017. That load of narcotics was being driven by co-defendant Jose Bautistia-Miranda, Rivera’s cousin, and two others, from Los Angeles into Nevada. The trio were pulled over for a traffic violation during which the vehicle was searched and the methamphetamine was recovered.
The July seizure did not stop Rivera’s drug distribution. Less than a month later, in August 2017, Rivera and his “cousins” had agreed to transport one kilogram of heroin from Southern California to Reno. Rivera agreed to sell the kilogram of heroin to a buyer in Reno for $32,500. The defendant was arrested after he was stopped driving his truck traveling down Highway 395. He was traveling in tandem with another co-defendant, Leon Valdez, who was driving a separate car with the heroin. Rivera and Valdez were stopped when traveling to the arranged location for the negotiated sale. During the traffic stop on Valdez’s car, a K-9 alerted the deputy to the presence of drugs. A search of the load car revealed 915 grams of heroin. In the defendant’s truck, stopped in close vicinity of the load car on Highway 395, Rivera had a Taurus .45 pistol under the driver’s seat and a small amount of heroin in his pocket.
The case was investigated by the DEA and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Keller prosecuted the case.
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Renewal Escapee Sentenced to 15 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 15 months’ imprisonment on his conviction of escape from custody, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Derek Webb, 54.
According to information presented to the court, on June 26, 2017, the defendant escaped from the Renewal, Inc. Residential Reentry Center, where he had been confined pursuant to a judgment and commitment order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Fischer stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to achieve the goals of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the United States Marshals Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Webb.
Randolph County man sentenced for making a destructive deviceRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert C. Ard, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 24 months incarceration for charge involving a homemade explosive device found in his home, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ard, age 54, pled guilty to one count of “Making an Unlawful Firearm” in August 2018. Ard admitted to making a firearm, that is a destructive device.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Portland Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Role in Interstate Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Gregory Rex Wilson, 52, of Portland, was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for distributing heroin and illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, Wilson was part of a drug trafficking organization that transported heroin from El Monte, California to the Portland metropolitan area. The investigation revealed that Wilson was being supplied with heroin by “Chino Antrax,” later identified as co-defendant Pablo Flores. Flores had actively been trafficking heroin to Portland for more than a year. At the time of his arrest on December 12, 2016 in Portland, Wilson had 880 grams of heroin, 100 Xanax pills and a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol in his vehicle. Four additional firearms were later found in a second vehicle owned by Wilson, including one with an obliterated serial number.
On June 12, 2018, Wilson pleaded guilty in this case to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Three of Wilson’s co-defendants, Aaron Ray West, Ricardo Anguiano Cruz, Jr., and Jose Manuel Rodriguez, have also pleaded guilty to related charges. Flores awaits trial.
The case was investigated by the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF), FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Matthew J. Semritc, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Peruvian Man Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry into United StatesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Johny Elvis Vela Molina, age 39, and a citizen of Peru, was sentenced today to time served (44 days in jail), for illegal re-entry into the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas R. Decker, Director of the New York Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Vela Molina was removed from the United States to Peru on December 8, 2009. On October 29, 2018, he was encountered and arrested by an ICE Officer in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York. A fingerprint check of Vela Molina resulted in the discovery of the prior removal. Vela Molina admitted that he returned to the United States without permission following the 2009 removal. Vela Molina has never lawfully entered the United States.
Following sentencing, Vela Molina was remanded to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, for removal proceedings.
This case was investigated by ICE-ERO and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to International Email Impersonation and Fraud ScamRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scam in which he and co-conspirators defrauded victims by pretending to be employees of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Frank Gregory Cedeno, 27, of Mahanoy City, Penn., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Senior Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. scheduled sentencing for March 21, 2019. In January 2018, Cedeno was charged and arrested.
From at least November 2015 through November 2017, Cedeno conspired with others to defraud victims by pretending to be employees of the SEC, demanding money from victims and directing them to send it to members of the conspiracy, including Cedeno, who was then living in Ocoee, Fla. The conspirators who received the money generally withdrew it from bank accounts quickly, then forwarded much of it to individuals in the Dominican Republic. In one common version of the scam, victims received e-mails that used official-seeming documentation and the SEC seal to induce the victim to pay a fee in order to receive a portion of a legal settlement. In another version, victims received e-mails and official-seeming documents labeling the victim a defendant in a civil lawsuit, in which the victim owed tens of thousands of dollars in supposed disgorgement, penalties and fees. The documents gave the victim a choice of either appearing in court to contest the lawsuit or paying a smaller fee.
In August 2018, co-conspirator Leonel Alexis Valerio Santana, 28, of Boston, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $105,869 after pleading guilty to his role in the scheme.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss in the offense, and restitution. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the money laundering, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Carl W. Hoecker, Inspector General of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Inspector General; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Pérez-Daple of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Ohio Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today Curtis Riley, age 56, of Dayton, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin and fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Riley conspired with others beginning in 2017, to distribute the heroin and fentanyl. The indictment further alleges that Riley possessed with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and fentanyl on December 3, 2018, in Luzerne County. A kilogram of heroin is equivalent to approximately 40,000 retail bags of heroin.
The charges against Riley resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the cases.
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 also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is life imprisonment. The charge also carries a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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North Charleston Man Gets 5 Years for Federal Gun and Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Tyrus Cornell Goodwater, Jr., age 27, of North Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel, of Charleston, sentenced Goodwater to 60 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented to the court established that on February 20, 2017, officers of the Charleston Police Department stopped Goodwater for a traffic violation and observed marijuana in his vehicle. A search of Goodwater’s car uncovered distribution amounts of marijuana, plastic baggies, and digital scales. Officers also discovered three guns in the trunk of the car, including an AK-47 style weapon. Goodwater pled guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on August 20, 2018.
The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Schoen of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001 that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Turning the tide of rising violent crime in America is a top priority for the Department of Justice, which has reinstituted PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy.
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Nigerian National Sentenced to 45 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Business E-Mail Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADEYEMI ODUFUYE, also known as “Micky,” “Micky Bricks,” “Yemi,” “GMB,” “Bawz,” and “Jefe,” 32, a citizen of Nigeria, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 45 months of imprisonment for his supervisory role in a business e-mail compromise scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Odufuye and others, including Olumuyiwa Yahtrip Adejumo, operated a business compromise scheme that targeted hundreds, if not thousands, of CEOs, CFOs, controllers and others at businesses, nonprofit organizations, and schools in Connecticut and across the United States. As part of the scheme, Odufuye and others sent e-mails addressed to executives that were made to appear to be sent from the legitimate e-mail address of the CEO or other executive from the business. The emails were sent with the intent of having the recipients send or wire money to bank accounts used by members of the conspiracy.
The investigation revealed that scheme participants controlled multiple e-mail and social media accounts used in the scheme and, in certain instances, sent e-mails and attachments containing malware to the intended recipients.
In late 2015, Odufuye and others sent or caused to be sent dozens of e-mails to the controller of a company in Torrington, Connecticut. In the e-mails, Odufuye posed at the real CEO of the victim company and instructed the controller to send multiple wire transfers exceeding a total of $1 million from the company’s accounts to various individuals and purported entities. The company then sent five wire transfers totaling more than $500,000 to accounts in Virginia, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Hong Kong.
The investigation revealed that Odufuye and others also targeted a company headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut, as part of this scheme.
To date, the FBI has identified 36 wire confirmations in e-mail accounts utilized by Odufuye and others from September 2015 to May 2016, totaling more than $1.6 million. This figure does not include the more than $500,000 in wire transfers from the victim company in Connecticut.
Judge Hall ordered Odufuye to pay restitution in the amount of $921,497.87 to 15 victims of the scheme.
On January 3, 2018, Odufuye pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
On December 19, 2016, Odufuye was arrested in the United Kingdom where he was a student and was subsequently extradited to the U.S. to face these charges. He has been detained since his arrest.
Adejumo, also a citizen of Nigeria, was living in Toledo, Ohio, as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. at the time of his arrest on November 17, 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and, on August 17, 2018, was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment.
A third Nigerian citizen alleged to be involved in this scheme is awaiting trial.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Cyber Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police for their assistance in this case.
To contact the Connecticut Cyber Task Force, please call the FBI in New Haven at 203-777-6311.
New York Kingsmen Motorcyle Club Gang Members Sentenced to Prison for RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Two Kingsmen Motorcycle Club gang members, who were convicted of RICO conspiracy, were sentenced today in the Western District of New York to 15 years and more than four years in prison, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. for the Western District of New York announced.
Gregory Willson, aka “Flip,” 52, of Allegany, New York, and Glen Stacharczyck, aka “Turbo,” 53, of Amherst, New York, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to serve 180 months and 57 months in prison, respectively. Judge Willson also sentenced Willson and Stacharczyck to serve three years of supervised release following their prison sentence. Willson pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2017 to RICO conspiracy and was also sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Stacharczyck pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy on July 16.
According to the plea agreements of the two defendants, Willson was a member of the Springville Chapter of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club (KMC) and a KMC Nomad, while Stacharczyck was a member of the North Tonawanda and the South Buffalo Chapters of the KMC. The KMC operated in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The KMC Nomads did not belong to a particular chapter and were the enforcement and security arm of the KMC.
In September 2009, Willson admitted that he took a female victim from the state of New York to KMC clubhouses in the state of Pennsylvania. While visiting a KMC clubhouse in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Willson punched the victim in the face repeatedly, bloodying her face to the point where her eyes were swollen shut, after the two had a verbal altercation. Neither the defendant nor any other KMC members or associates called for medical attention. Willson then brought the woman back to New York where he and his mother cleaned up the female and kept her secluded against her will, for several days, in order to conceal her injuries.
On June 7, 2013, Willson and other KMC members forcibly shut down the Springville Chapter and stripped members of their colors because they were non-compliant members. Brandishing firearms, KMC members struck a victim in the head with a blunt object and stole items from the Springville clubhouse. They then used bleach to clean areas where the victim bled and cut and removed portions of the rug, which contained blood. As a result of the assault, Willson was elevated to the position of Nomad within the KMC. A KMC Nomad was a KMC member that was not required to regularly attend meetings but was expected to serve the interests of the KMC enterprise including fighting other clubs and committing violent crimes.
On Aug. 3, 2013, while at a KMC party, after learning that the former Springville KMC members were taking pictures wearing KMC patches and taunting the KMC, Willson and others decided to conduct a drive-by shooting. They drove to the former Springville KMC clubhouse where they located the former members. At that point, they opened the sliding door on the side of the van and one of the defendant’s accomplices fired twice with a shotgun towards the group of former Springville KMC members who were outside. One of the shots struck a vehicle, which was parked near where one of the targeted former KMC members was standing.
In addition, Willson stored cocaine for sale at his then-girlfriend’s house in Buffalo, New York. On Aug. 9, 2013, a firearm belonging to Willson, ammunition and a quantity of cocaine were recovered during the execution of a search at the residence.
On July 31, 2015, a search warrant was executed at Willson’s Allegany residence and law enforcement officers recovered KMC paraphernalia, a quantity of marijuana, a quantity of psilocybin (“mushrooms”), a firearm and ammunition. The defendant was previously convicted of felonies in both Federal and Cattaraugus County, New York Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Also, according to the plea agreements, KMC members and associates used and distributed marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances at the North Tonawanda and South Buffalo KMC Chapter Clubhouses. KMC members were also involved in firearm sales. Stacharczyck also possessed firearms.
Willson and Stacharczyck are two of 21 KMC members and associates charged in this case. To date, all of the defendants have been convicted or pleaded guilty, including National President David Pirk, who was convicted following a four-month jury trial and will be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2019.
Today’s sentencings are the culmination of an investigation led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gary Loeffert. Assisting in the investigation were the FBI Knoxville, Tennessee, and Jacksonville, Florida field offices; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office; the Buffalo Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the New York State Police; the Olean Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; the Amherst Police Department; the City of North Tonawanda Police Department; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police; the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department and the Hamburg Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi and Brendan T. Cullinane of the Western District of New York.
New Carlisle Man Charged with Mail FraudRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND –Kevin Clinton, 61 years old, of New Carlisle, Indiana, has been charged with four counts of mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Schemes, like those allegedly engaged in by Mr. Clinton, to steal large sums of money from unsuspecting victims will be aggressively prosecuted in this district, particularly when an individual abuses his position of trust or authority to engage in fraud.”
According to documents in the case, Clinton was employed as the Chief Information Officer at a South Bend business. From about March 2012 through about October 2017, Clinton caused his employer to pay invoices to a sham company that he controlled for services that were never performed. Over the life of the scheme, payments to the sham company totaled about $2,286,359.25. Clinton took these funds for his own personal use and benefit.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke Reilander.
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Naugatuck Tax Preparer Indicted for Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging ANA NUNEZ, also known as Ana Pagoaga, 47, of Naugatuck, with 12 counts of filing false tax returns.
The indictment was returned on December 6, 2018. Nunez appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.
As alleged in the indictment, Nunez owned and operated Nunez MultiServices, LLC, a tax return preparation service located in Naugatuck. From 2011 and continuing at least through 2016, Nunez falsified information on tax returns she prepared for clients and caused the returns to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service. On the returns, Nunez routinely inflated income or created fictitious income; falsified expenses, including education and child care expenses, and falsified deductions, such as business mileage. At times, without her clients’ knowledge, Nunez also falsely inflated information on her clients’ returns in order to increase their refunds and then directed the excess funds to an account she controlled.
If convicted, Nunez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count.
Nunez is released on a $150,000 bond. As part of the conditions of her release, she is prohibited from preparing or assisting in the preparation of tax returns except for herself or immediate family members.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan L. Wines.
Milford Woman Sentenced for Stealing $2.6 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Milford woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing approximately $2.6 million from her employer and using the money to purchase luxury items at Boston-area boutiques.
Debra Mulloy, a/k/a Debra Depaul, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 69 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,654,346. In July 2018, Mulloy pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
From 2004 through 2016, Mulloy was responsible for most of the financial and organizational duties at the company for which she was employed. On multiple occasions from April 2012 to December 2016, Mulloy used the company’s credit card account in the name of another employee to make hundreds of unauthorized charges totaling nearly $2.4 million. Most of those unauthorized purchases were for clothing, furs, and jewelry at boutique stores in the Boston area. Mulloy then sold many of the luxury items at consignment shops. As part of her scheme, Mulloy also caused company checks to be issued for her personal benefit, primarily to pay her personal credit card bills. In total, Mulloy defrauded her employer of approximately $2.6 million.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Balthazard of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Michael Cohen Sentenced to 3 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Robert Khuzami, Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced that MICHAEL COHEN was sentenced today to three years in prison for tax evasion, making false statements to a federally insured bank, and campaign finance violations. COHEN pled guilty on August 21, 2018, to an eight-count information before U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III, who imposed today’s sentence. In a separate prosecution brought by the Special Counsel’s Office (“SCO”), COHEN pled guilty on November 29, 2018 to one count of making false statements to the U.S. Congress and was also sentenced on that case today, receiving a two-month concurrent sentence.
According to the allegations in Information 18 Cr. 602 (WHP), filed by the United States States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (the “Office”), as well as previous court filings and statements in public court proceedings:
Between 2012 and 2016, COHEN concealed more than $4 million in personal income from the Internal Revenue Service, avoiding more than $1.3 million in income tax. COHEN also made false statements to a federally insured financial institution to obtain a $500,000 home equity loan. Finally, in 2016, COHEN made or caused two separate payments to women to ensure that they did not publicly disclose their alleged affairs with a presidential candidate in advance of the election. In one instance, COHEN caused American Media, Inc. (“AMI”), which was identified in previous court filings as “Corporation-1,” to make a $150,000 payment to one woman; in the other, COHEN made a $130,000 payment to another woman through an LLC he incorporated for the purpose of making the payment. COHEN was reimbursed for the latter payment in monthly installments disguised as payments for legal services performed pursuant to a retainer, when in fact no such retainer existed. COHEN made or caused both of these payments in order to influence the 2016 election and did so in coordination with one or more members of the campaign.
In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Pauley also ordered COHEN, 52, of New York, New York, to pay a fine of $50,000, to forfeit $500,000, to pay $1,393,858 in restitution to the IRS, and to pay a mandatory $800 special assessment. Separately, COHEN was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and to pay a $100 special assessment in the case brought by the SCO. COHEN was also sentenced to concurrent three-year terms of supervised release in both cases, to follow his term of imprisonment.
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The Office also announced today that it has previously reached a non-prosecution agreement with AMI, in connection with AMI’s role in making the above-described $150,000 payment before the 2016 presidential election. As a part of the agreement, AMI admitted that it made the $150,000 payment in concert with a candidate’s presidential campaign, and in order to ensure that the woman did not publicize damaging allegations about the candidate before the 2016 presidential election. AMI further admitted that its principal purpose in making the payment was to suppress the woman’s story so as to prevent it from influencing the election.
Assuming AMI’s continued compliance with the agreement, the Office has agreed not to prosecute AMI for its role in that payment. The agreement also acknowledges, among other things, AMI’s acceptance of responsibility, its substantial and important assistance in this investigation, and its agreement to provide cooperation in the future and implement specific improvements to its internal compliance to prevent future violations of the federal campaign finance laws. These improvements include distributing written standards regarding federal election laws to its employees and conducting annual training concerning these standards.
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Mr. Khuzami praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea M. Griswold, Rachel Maimin, Thomas McKay, and Nicolas Roos are in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican Man Sentenced for Unlawful Reentry by a Removed Alien Previously Convicted of a FelonyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Luis Fernando Carrera-Tolentino, age 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., for the crime of unlawful reentry by a removed alien previously convicted of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Gregory A. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.
Carrera-Tolentino was sentenced to serve 11 months in federal prison, which will be followed by Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings. Additionally, Carrera-Tolentino was sentenced to three years of supervised release during which time he could face additional penalties if he were to unlawfully return to the United States.
As a result of his felony conviction, if he were to unlawfully return again to the United States, he could face up to ten years in federal prison. Carrera-Tolentino was convicted after pleading guilty on October 16, 2018, in Gulfport.
On July 12, 2018, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was observing Interstate 10 as part of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, an interagency task force in Jackson County. The agent executed a vehicle stop on a Toyota Corolla that had been identified through Border Patrol intelligence. The driver was arrested for transporting illegal aliens, and both passengers, including Carrera-Tolentino, were arrested for being in the United States illegally. At the Border Patrol Station, Carrera-Tolentino was positively identified through his own statement and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) computerized record checks.
Using Homeland Security electronic database queries, agents determined that Carrera-Tolentino was born in Mexico, and is a citizen of Mexico. He had been lawfully ordered removed and was physically removed from the United States in December 2017. It also was documented that Carrera-Tolentino has a felony criminal history including conviction in 2016, for two felony counts of Burglary-First Degree in the State of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Hurst commended the work of the United States Border Patrol and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team Interagency Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.
Mexican Man Sentenced for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced thatJOSE LUIS MEZA-LOPEZ, age 52, a native of Mexico, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count bill of information for illegal reentry of a removed alien.
United States District Court Judge Sarah Vance sentenced MEZA-LOPEZ to time served followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee. The defendant will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.
According to court documents, on May 30, 2018, MEZA-LOPEZ was found in the United States after having been previously removed from the United States on July 20, 2012.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Supervisor of the General Crimes Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
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Mexican Citizen Admits Transportation of Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Laura Olguin Mercado, age 30, and a Mexican citizen living in Lafayette, Indiana, pled guilty today to transporting illegal aliens within the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
As part of her plea, Olguin Mercado admitted that on June 22, 2018 she drove to a remote spot along the Canadian border in northern Vermont and picked up three illegal aliens from Mexico who were waiting there. After picking them up, Olguin Mercado drove west and south away from the border until she reached Interstate 87 and proceeded south. As she drove south on Interstate 87 with her passengers, Olguin Mercado was required to stop at the Border Patrol checkpoint near North Hudson, New York. Border Patrol determined that three passengers in Olguin Mercado’s car were illegal aliens who had just illegally crossed the border into the United States from Canada. Olguin Mercado admitted that she knew the people she picked up and transported had illegally entered the United States from Canada. Olguin Mercado admitted that she intended to drive the three people to Indiana.
As a result of her conviction, Olguin Mercado faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd on April 11, 2019. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Members of International Movie Piracy Ring Indicted in Scheme to Steal and Sell Pre-Release Hollywood Films and TV ShowsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today indicted five men in four countries on federal charges alleging they distributed or offered for sale stolen digital versions of hundreds of motion pictures and television shows – including “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “The Expendables 3” and “The Walking Dead” – prior to their official release.
According to the indictment filed this afternoon in United States District Court, members of the hacking conspiracy broke into computer systems used by Hollywood film production companies and stole digital files, including feature films, trailers, television series episodes and audio tracks. The ring allegedly put the stolen files on a server in France, which contained more than 25,000 motion picture-related files, including the feature films “Godzilla,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “Horrible Bosses 2.”
The defendants also illicitly acquired copies of films by other means, including recording cinema screenings and obtaining copies of motion pictures distributed to movie industry professionals, according to the indictment, which outlines criminal conduct beginning in early 2013 and continuing into the spring of 2015.
Once they obtained the movies and other content, the defendants allegedly altered the properties of the computer files to make them easier to distribute online. According to the indictment, they offered the stolen motion picture files for sale via private electronic communications, but they also uploaded stolen movies onto pirate movie websites. The defendants used a shared PayPal account to receive and distribute money from the sale of the pirated motion pictures, the indictment states.
In February 2015, one of the defendants allegedly told a prospective buyer that the ring would be offering copies of the films “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Fifty Shades of Grey” for sale on the same day as their U.S. theatrical release.
The defendants charged in the indictment are:
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Malik Luqman Farooq, 30, a resident of the United Kingdom, who allegedly sold more than a dozen stolen pre-release or contemporaneous-release films over a period of two years. Farooq was previously arrested by the City of London Police on related charges and is awaiting trial in the United Kingdom.
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Aditya Raj, believed to reside in India, who allegedly released pirated movies on the internet and helped arrange for the camcording of various films in India.
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Sam Nhance, believed to reside in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who allegedly procured and maintained the computer server on which the co-conspirators stored and manipulated digital files for further distribution.
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Ghobhirajah Selvarajah, believed to reside in Malaysia, who was the registered owner of a PayPal account that the co-conspirators allegedly used to receive payment for sales of films and to pay for the storage server for the group.
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Jitesh Jadhav, also believed to reside in India, is alleged to have camcorded films in India that were sold by other members of the conspiracy, including screenings of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”
The co-conspirators are also alleged to have previously operated a website used to distribute pirated “Bollywood” films, known as “BollyTNT.”
The defendants, who are not in U.S. custody, are named in a seven-count indictment that charges them with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, unauthorized access to a computer, aggravated identity theft, and copyright infringement.
The conspiracy, computer hacking, and copyright violation charges each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The charges of aggravated identity theft carry a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, which received substantial assistance from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit of the City of London Police. U.S. authorities received cooperation from French and Canadian authorities in obtaining evidence stored abroad.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cameron Schroeder of the Cyber & Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
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Massachusetts State Trooper Pleads Guilty in Overtime Abuse InvestigationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A suspended Massachusetts State Police Trooper pleaded guilty today in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).
Eric Chin, 46, of Hanover, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for March, 20, 2018. In October 2018, Chin was charged by Information and agreed to plead guilty pursuant to a plea agreement.
Chin was an MSP Trooper assigned to Troop E, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. In 2016, Chin earned $302,400, which included approximately $131,653 in overtime pay.
Chin was paid for overtime shifts that he did not work at all or from which he left early. Chin concealed his fraud by submitting fraudulent citations designed to create the appearance that he had worked overtime hours that he had not, and falsely claimed in MSP paperwork and payroll entries that he had worked the entirety of his overtime shifts.
Chin admitted collecting $7,125 for overtime hours that he did not work.
The overtime in question involved the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE), which was intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers who were to target vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.
In 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.
Chin is the fifth Trooper to plead guilty as a result of the ongoing investigation. On July 2, 2018, former Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood pleaded guilty; on Sep. 14, 2018, suspended Trooper Kevin Sweeney, 40, of Braintree pleaded guilty; on Oct. 11, 2018, suspended Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester, pleaded guilty; and, on Nov. 28, 2019, former Trooper Paul Cesan pleaded guilty.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced earlier today that David Wilson and Daren DeJong, who were each previously charged on June 27, 2018, and July 25, 2018, respectively, have agreed to plead guilty. Dates for those plea hearings have not yet been set.
Pursuant to Chin’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of between six and 12 months of incarceration. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man and District Woman Plead Guilty to Charges in Fatal Shooting and Resulting Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antonio Brown, 30, of Suitland, Md., and Amanda Turner, 41, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to their conduct in the fatal shooting of a man outside an apartment building in Northwest Washington in September 2015, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brown pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of second-degree murder and carrying a pistol without a license. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon 19 ½-year prison term. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck set a hearing for Jan. 2, 2019 to determine whether to accept the plea and agreed-upon sentence.
Turner pled guilty to one count of felony threats and two counts of attempted obstruction of justice. Her sentencing is set before Judge Beck on March 8, 2019.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, the shooting took place at approximately 7:44 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2015 in the rear of an apartment building in the 1800 block of Harvard Street NW. Brown was sitting in a Dodge Charger in the parking lot. He left that vehicle and went over to the victim, Charles Welch, who was also present in the parking lot.
Brown shot Mr. Welch once in the chest before returning to his vehicle and driving away. Mr. Welch managed to get in his vehicle and drive approximately one block before he lost consciousness, crashing into a wall on Irving Street NW. Mr. Welch, 25, was taken to Washington Hospital Center, where all life-saving efforts failed.
In the weeks after the murder, Turner sent a series of threatening text messages to one witness, and made a threatening telephone call to another witness, all for the purpose of preventing them from truthfully cooperating with the investigation.
Brown was arrested on September 29, 2015 and has been in custody ever since. Turner was arrested on Dec. 16, 2015.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the District of Columbia Housing Authority Police and District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Silvia Gonzalez Roman, Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Security Specialist Lesley Slade, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, and Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Christine Macey, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Man sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and bomb-making materialsRead the Press Release
Terre Haute, Indiana - United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, announced today that Justin A. Vangilder, 29, of West Terre Haute, was recently sentenced in United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. On November 29, 2018, United States District Court Judge William T. Lawrence sentenced Vangilder to forty-two (42) months imprisonment following his pleas of guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device.
“The Office of the United States Attorney has devoted significant resources to combat the scourge of illegal firearms trafficking,” said Josh J. Minkler. “This prosecution is an example of judicious partnerships between federal and local law enforcement officers to stop criminal activity at its inception.”
This case stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), West Terre Haute Police Department (WTHPD), and other state and local law enforcement agencies. On April 11, 2017, officers with the WTHPD received information that Vangilder, a convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm. When officers responded to Vangilder’s residence they met with his father who allowed WTHPD officers into the residence to recover the firearm, a Citadel 1911, .45-caliber handgun, with two loaded magazines. Upon further investigation, WTHPD officers discovered what appeared to be a bomb making lab in the defendant’s bedroom. WTHPD evacuated the home and called the bomb squad, who responded to the scene along with the FBI. Once the residence was declared safe, investigators found numerous components typically used to assemble destructive devices in Vangilder’s bedroom including a soldering iron, an assembled bomb-like device, timers, fireworks, unknown powders, PVC pipe, and three books detailing how to construct explosive devices.
During the course of the hearing on November 18, 2018, the Court heard testimony that the FBI searched Vangilder’s electronic devices and located several video files in which Vangilder can be seen testing electric and electronic detonation switches for destructive devices, including one switch linked to a key fob and another linked to an egg timer. In the videos, which were recorded in Vangilder’s bedroom, Vangilder can be seen igniting flash paper and various powders by operation of his homemade detonation switches.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Rinka, who prosecuted the case for the government, Vangilder was convicted in 2014 of possession of an unregistered destructive device in federal court in Illinois and was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest in this case. In addition to pleading guilty to the charges in this case, Vangilder also pled guilty to violating the terms of his federal supervised release and Judge Lawrence sentenced him to a consecutive 10 month term of imprisonment for that offense.
This arrest enforces the Department of Justice’s Strategic goals of targeting the District’s most violent geographic areas for the adoption of reactive federal drug and firearm prosecutions. Priority will be given to defendants who can be charged by criminal complaint, detained, indicted, convicted, and sentenced to significant periods of incarceration. This expeditious approach should result in more firearm and drug prosecutions in the District. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan, Section 2.2
Maine Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Robbing Credit UnionRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Marc Beaulieu, 31, of Caribou, Maine, was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for robbing a credit union in Somersworth, New Hampshire.
According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, Beaulieu entered the Service Credit Union in Somersworth on November 18, 2016, approached a teller, and handed the teller a note that stated “Give me all your money and no one will get hurt.” The teller gave Beaulieu a sum of money that included a packet of bait bills. Beaulieu was wearing a camouflage jacket, dark hat, khaki pants, and bright red or orange sneakers. Surveillance film captured Beaulieu fleeing the bank and entering a Subaru.
After law enforcement released an image of the bank robber to the media, numerous individuals contacted the police and identified the robber as Beaulieu. Police also obtained video from a convenience store near the credit union that captured Beaulieu in the Subaru and putting on the camouflage jacket. Beaulieu was arrested in Portsmouth on November 21, 2016, and the camouflage jacket, the sneakers, and other evidence connecting him to the robbery were recovered.
Beaulieu previously pleaded guilty on April 27, 2018.
“Robberies and other violent crimes present a substantial threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect our community, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate those who commit these dangerous crimes.”
The Somersworth Police Department led the investigation of the case with the assistance of the Portsmouth Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Strafford County Department of Corrections. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also provided assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald A. Feith.
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London Physician Sentenced to Four Years for Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — Dr. Werner Grentz, 69, of London, Kentucky, was sentenced on Wednesday by United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove to three years in federal prison, for falsely reporting his income as $0 on tax documents presented to the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2011-2015, and for corruptly interfering with the IRS’ attempts to administer the tax laws. Dr. Grentz was also sentenced to an additional year in prison, for violations of the terms of his supervised release on a 2013 tax fraud conviction. This one-year prison term will run consecutively to Dr. Grentz’s three-year sentence, for a total of four years in prison.
Dr. Grentz was convicted in February 2018, following a jury trial in London. According to the evidence at trial, Dr. Grentz submitted false Form 1040X and Form 1040NR documents to the IRS, claiming to have received $0 in income during the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, when in fact Dr. Grentz earned $726,148 during that time period. The IRS determined that Dr. Grentz owed taxes of $237,860 on that income which he failed to report or pay. Dr. Grentz also took steps to impede collection efforts by the IRS and county clerks.
This was not Dr. Grentz’s first conviction for tax crimes. In 2014, Dr. Grentz was convicted of tax evasion, for willfully failing to pay more than $900,000 in taxes to the IRS. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison for that tax offense, and while he was on supervised release for the 2014 offense, committed the new tax crimes that resulted in his 2018 conviction. It was a violation of the terms of his supervised release to commit new federal crimes, and that violation resulted in the additional year of prison time.
In addition to his prison sentence, Dr. Grentz was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS of $237,860. He owes more than a million dollars in unpaid taxes to the IRS.
Under federal law, Grentz must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a term of one year.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Ryan Lerner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul McCaffrey and Neeraj Gupta.
Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement will join U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon at a press conference tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Conway, South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri Lydon announced today that a press conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the M.L. Brown Public Safety Building, 2560 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526.
Represented at the press conference will be members of the Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, Conway Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
NOTE: Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Lance Crick, 864-282-2105. All media must present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). Members of the media wishing to attend should gather at the media staging area at 10:30 a.m., 30 minutes in advance.
Media Staging Area: the M.L. Brown Public Safety Building, 2560 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526.
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Lewistown woman sentenced in methamphetamine caseRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Lewistown woman convicted of possessing methamphetamine for distribution was sentenced on Tuesday to 54 months in prison and five years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt G. Alme said.
Jahmel Halabi, 43, pleaded guilty to the charge in August.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided at sentencing.
On April 14, 2018 near Lewistown, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped a car in which Halabi was a passenger. The trooper arrested Halabi on an outstanding warrant and took her to jail. Additional information that Halabi and the driver were involved in drug activity led to officers getting a search warrant for the car. A search turned up about 99 grams, or 3.5 ounces, of actual meth and baggies that were hidden in the dome light.
That same day, the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office reviewed jail calls and identified Halabi as having called a person and requesting he “get the stuff out of the car” and “the stuff out of the house.” Halabi also indicated that drugs were located in a safe in the residence and provided the safe’s combination in the jail call.
Lewistown police officers got a search warrant for Halabi’s residence and seized about 14 ounces of actual meth, $4,000 cash and drug paraphernalia.
During an interview with law enforcement, Halabi admitted to dealing meth and said officers had missed meth and firearms during the search of her home. Officers returned to the residence and seized about 31 ounces, or 1.95 pounds of actual meth, which is the equivalent of about 7,072 individual doses. Also seized were various rounds of ammunition and bank receipts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Robbing Bank with A Fake BombRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who told his apartment manager that he was going to rob a bank so he could pay his rent, and then robbed a bank with a fake bomb, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and five years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Robert Lynn Dufloth, 65, pleaded guilty in January to robbing the Wells Fargo Bank located at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway. United States District Judge Kent Dawson presided over the sentencing hearing.
On January 10, Dufloth handed a bank teller a note that said he was robbing the bank and to give him the money “and no one will get hurt.” He then showed the teller a device with a red button in his hand and threatened to press the button, implying by gestures that the button was a trigger for an explosive device. The teller put approximately $536 in an envelope. Dufloth left the bank with the stolen money.
Officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reviewed video surveillance of the robbery and canvased the area. Officers quickly identified Dufloth and learned he was a long-time resident at a nearby weekly rental complex. The manager of the property reported that when she confronted Dufloth earlier about late rent, he told her not to worry, that he would rob a bank. Between the time of the robbery and when the officers arrived at the weekly rental complex, Dufloth had paid his rent in cash. On January 11, after Dufloth was identified as the robber in a photo line-up, officers executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search, the officers found and seized the device used during the bank robbery.
Dufloth has a total of 10 previous felony convictions dating back to 1972, including a prior robbery conviction in 1980.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.
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KC Man Charged After Shooting Female Z-Trip Driver at Least 20 Times During RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today for the armed robbery of a female Z-Trip driver who was shot at least 20 times.
Derron D. Nevels, also known as “Ronnie,” 18, was charged in a two-count complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s criminal complaint charges Nevels with one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm in a crime of violence.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Nevels was picked up by a Z-Trip driver at 3715 Wabash Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2018. The Z-Trip taxi in which the crime was committed is equipped with interior and exterior cameras. The cameras show Nevels getting into the rear passenger seat at approximately 8:03 p.m., the affidavit says. The Z-Trip driver took him to 914 Benton Ave., Kansas City, Mo., arriving at the destination at approximately 8:15 p.m.
When they arrived at the destination, they waited in the vehicle for somebody to bring out the fare. When a second (unidentified) suspect approached the vehicle, the affidavit says, Nevels held a Smith and Wesson Military & Police .22-caliber rifle up to the victim’s head and demanded she give him everything. The victim attempted to explain that he was being recorded, to which Nevels allegedly responded, “I don’t care; give me everything.” Nevels also appeared to be taking a photo or video with his cell phone, the affidavit says.
The victim turned toward the back seat and grabbed onto the rifle, and a struggle ensued. The second suspect hit the victim in the face, then reached around the driver’s seat to strike her in the back and the back of her head. The victim released her grip from the gun, the affidavit says, at which time Nevels leaned back in his seat, chambered a live round, and opened fire on the victim within close range, approximately 21 times. Both suspects then fled from the scene, running in a northbound direction.
About 10 minutes later, at approximately 8:25 p.m., the affidavit says, one of the suspects returned to the victim’s vehicle to retrieve Nevel’s cell phone, which he had left behind when he fled from the scene of the crime. He can be heard on the video asking the victim if she is okay, and she informs him that she has been shot and has called the police. He reached into the rear driver’s side of the vehicle to pick up the cell phone then left the scene.
When police officers arrived, the victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. It was determined the victim sustained approximately 20 gunshot wounds to her upper body. To date her condition continues to be critical with substantial and serious bodily injuries.
Investigators used cell phone and Facebook data to identify Nevels, the affidavit says. On Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, Nevels and two other men were seen getting onto a bus in the area of Prospect and Swope Parkway. Nevels was arrested when they got off the bus at 11th Street and Grand Avenue. Nevels was carrying the loaded rifle hidden in his waistband with the barrel going down his right pant leg. Two other individuals were taken into custody but are not charged in the federal complaint.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Customer Service Provider in ArizonaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with Afni Inc. (Afni), a customer service provider headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. The settlement resolves a complaint that an Afni location in Tucson, Arizona, discriminated against a lawful permanent resident in violation of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
The Department’s investigation, initiated based on a lawful permanent resident’s complaint, concluded that on more than one occasion Afni improperly rejected the worker’s valid documents establishing her work authority, and requested that the worker present more or different documents than necessary based on the worker’s citizenship status. These actions constitute unfair documentary practices in violation of the INA. Under the INA, workers are allowed to choose from lists of acceptable documents to prove that they are authorized to work and employers cannot reject valid documents or specify which documents the workers should present because of their citizenship.
Under the settlement agreement, Afni will provide back pay to the injured worker and pay a civil penalty to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Among other requirements, the company will be subject to staff training and monitoring requirements.
“Employers should familiarize themselves with the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements to avoid unnecessary and unlawful document requests that create obstacles for workers based on their citizenship status or national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “We commend Afni for working to ensure that, in the future, employees do not face discriminatory barriers when going through the employment eligibility verification process.”
The Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation and intimidation.
For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar; email [email protected]; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to retaliation; different documentary requirements based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin; or discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, should contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.
Judge Sentences Johnstown Woman to 7½ Years in Prison for Dealing Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 90 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on her conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Sabrina L. Rogers, 35.
According to information presented to the court, on July 6, July 10, and July 11, 2017, Rogers distributed a quantity of cocaine base, also known as "crack," and on July 12, 2017, Rogers possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of "crack."
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Rogers.
Johnstown Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 6½ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to six year and six months in prison and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Joseph L. Prave, III, 52.
According to information presented to the court, on Jan. 26, 2016, Prave distributed a quantity of heroin.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Prave.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than Three Additional Years in Prison for Escape from Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced John Eric Williams (49, Jacksonville) to three years and four months in federal prison for escaping from custody at a Jacksonville halfway house. This sentence will run consecutive to the remaining portion of the 70-month federal prison sentence he was serving when he absconded.
Williams had pleaded guilty on August 21, 2018.
According to court documents, Williams was serving a 70-month sentence in federal prison for stealing a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The Bureau of Prisons placed Williams in a halfway house to complete his sentence, with an estimated release date of February 2, 2018. Williams signed a written acknowledgement of the rules of the halfway facility that included the consequences for failing to remain at the facility, including potential prosecution for any escape.
On July 14, 2017, Williams walked away from the halfway house and was listed as an escapee. On that same day, the house officials called Williams’s friends and relatives, local hospitals, and local jails in an effort to locate him, but were unsuccessful. Williams never returned to the halfway house and, on August 10, 2017, he was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
Investigation by Orange County Violent Gang Task Force Leads to Federal Narcotics and Firearms Charges Against 20 DefendantsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Authorities with the Orange County Violent Gang Task Force this morning arrested nine defendants on federal narcotics and firearms charges stemming from an investigation into gang activity in Santa Ana and surrounding communities.
The arrests are the result of 10 federal indictments issued by a federal grand jury that charge a total of 20 defendants. The indictments allege a series of methamphetamine and heroin transactions, as well as firearms offenses. Seven of the defendants are believed to members of Alley Boys street gang, and four others are believed to be members of other Orange County gangs.
One of the indictments details an illicit narcotics-trafficking operation based in a budget hotel in Santa Ana where the drugs were sold and distributed. A second indictment alleges a transaction at an Anaheim hotel where two defendants allegedly sold a half-pound of methamphetamine to a prospective buyer for $3,500 in cash.
In addition to those arrested this morning, nine defendants are currently in custody on other charges, including two who were taken into custody yesterday on state charges. Two defendants are currently being sought by federal authorities.
“As part of our violent crime initiative, we are taking the fight to local street gangs such as the Alley Boys who destroy our communities with drugs and guns,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “The federal criminal cases being announced today are the latest in a long string of investigations in which federal and state agencies have partnered to target the gang activity that takes a devastating toll on neighborhoods. Jurisdictional boundaries don’t matter to street gangs and drug traffickers, which is why my prosecutors and federal agents will continue to work with local authorities to improve public safety.”
“Street gangs and their members with extensive criminal histories continue to remain a menace to neighborhoods here in Orange County and throughout California,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “We will continue to work with our local and federal partners on the Orange County Violent Crimes Task Force to target the most notorious gangs who continue to wreak havoc on our communities.”
“Today’s announcement of ‘Operation King Midas’ is an example of our collective success in protecting our communities,” said Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin. “The outcomes displayed here today are a direct reflection of the successful collaboration between the Santa Ana Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and all our task force partners working toward a common goal – safety of all the good people of our communities. The residents of Santa Ana and Orange County have confidence in law enforcement and the results of this case provide evidence of why their trust and confidence exists. As the host agency of the FBI-sponsored Orange County Violent Gang Task Force, we are proud of this impactful collaboration.”
The 20 defendants named in the indictments unsealed this morning are:
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Sergio Soria, aka “Red,” 41, of Tustin, an alleged leader of the Highland gang, who is currently a fugitive;
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David Oscar Perez, aka “Jap,” 42, of Santa Ana;
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Hector Aburto Lopez, 27, of Santa Ana;
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Sammy Walter Gray, Junior, aka “Junior,” 35, of Santa Ana;
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Sylvia Gray, aka “Shiva,” 43, of Santa Ana;
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Deanna Lorraine Kirk, aka “Dee,” 48, of Bakersfield, who was already in custody;
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George Ramirez, aka “Lil’ One,” 39, of Santa Ana;
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Danny Castillo, aka “Taz,” 39, of Santa Ana;
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Melissa Ramirez, 35, of Santa Ana;
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Esteban Cervantes, aka “Hitman,” 43, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody and now faces federal firearms offenses that include selling a .45-caliber handgun to a person he thought was a convicted felon;
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Oscar Peralta Jimenez, aka “Toker,” 35, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Daniel Zaragoza, aka “Dough Boy,” 39, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Jennie Martinez, 27, of Santa Ana;
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Michael Herrera, aka “Oso,” 41, of Santa Ana, an Alley Boys “shotcaller” who is believed to be in Mexico at this time;
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Jaime Rojas, aka “Sneaky,” 41, of Garden Grove, who was already in custody;
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Cesar Reyes, aka “Spy,” 43, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Rene Cruz, aka “Grumpy,” 42, of Santa Ana, who was already in custody;
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Berenice Macias, aka “Bere,” 27, of Anaheim;
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Gregory Michael O’Brien, 50, of Santa Ana; and
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Frank Perez, 47, of Santa Ana, California.
(One additional defendant named in one of the indictments recently died and will be dismissed as a defendant in that case.)
The 11 defendants taken into custody this morning are expected to be arraigned on the indictments this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases were investigated by the Orange County Violent Gang Task Force, which is made up of agents and officers with the Anaheim Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the California Department of Corrections – Parole; the Correctional Intelligence Task Force; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Fullerton Police Department; IRS Criminal Investigation; the Orange County Probation Department; and the Santa Ana Police Department.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally, Ann Luotto Wolf and Jake Nare of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
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Inmate at Rivers Correctional Institution Indicted on Charges of Conspiring to Smuggle Heroin into PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Greenville has returned an indictment charging RONALD WYNN, 44, an inmate in Rivers Correctional Institution in Hertford, North Carolina, with two counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to provide and possess prohibited objects, including heroin, within Rivers Correctional Institution. The indictment alleges that on various dates, WYNN directed another person to provide heroin and other prohibited objects to WYNN while WYNN was an inmate at the Rivers facility.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, WYNN would face maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000 or both fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
If convicted of conspiracy to provide and possess prohibited objects, including heroin, within Rivers Correctional Institution, WYNN would face maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 or both fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office through partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon.
Hudson County, New Jersey, Woman Charged with Enslaving Sri Lankan Woman for More Than Nine YearsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Secaucus, New Jersey, woman was arraigned today on charges of holding a Sri Lankan national against her will and for years forcing the victim to work without pay as a domestic servant, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, a/k/a “Alia Al Qaterneh,” 43, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was indicted Dec. 4, 2018, on charges of forced labor, alien harboring, and marriage fraud. She was arraigned today before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler in Camden federal court and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. She remains free on $150,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Hunaity brought the victim to the United States on a temporary visa in 2009 for the victim to perform domestic services. Hunaity caused the victim to overstay the victim’s visa, and the victim remained in the United States illegally, living exclusively with Hunaity for more than nine years. Hunaity forced the victim to work without pay, and limited the victim’s interactions with the outside world. In 2018, Hunaity forced the victim to marry Hunaity for the purpose of obtaining legal residence for the victim so that the victim could continue to work without pay for Hunaity.
Hunaity was arrested on Sept.19, 2018, and made her initial appearance that day before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Cathy L. Waldor.
The forced labor charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the alien harboring and marriage fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charges subject Hunaity to a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to others, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Robert Kovic Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
Henderson Man Sentenced on Felon in Possession of Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH — The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced JAMIL HASSAN LEWIS, 37, of Henderson to 63 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
LEWIS, was charged in a one count indictment filed on May 2, 2018. On July 25, 2018 LEWIS pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On September 12, 2017 officers with the Selective Enforcement Unit of the Raleigh Police Department were attempting to locate LEWIS due to outstanding warrants for multiple sex offenses. During their search, officers went to an address in which they believed LEWIS was located. Officers knocked on the door and LEWIS answered and was placed under arrest. A protective sweep of the home recovered a loaded .25 caliber handgun in plain view. During subsequent questioning, LEWIS confessed to having the firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Daniel William Smith prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Hazelton Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Edward Gonzalez, age 30, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was charged on November 30, 2018, with drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the complaint alleges that Gonzalez possessed with the intent to distribute over one kilogram of cocaine on November 30, 2018, in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. The complaint also alleges that Gonzalez possessed a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Criminal Complaints are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Hardin County Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing an Explosive DeviceRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment against Jonathan Edward White, 40, for manufacture, possession, and transfer of an explosive device in violation of the National Firearms Act. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.
On August 24, 2018, TBI Special Agents began investigating a series of threats posted on social media by Jonathan Edward White, of Hardin County. During the course of the investigation, agents determined that White may be in possession of an explosive device. That same evening, White met with agents working in an undercover capacity and provided them with a pipe bomb. Special Operations personnel from the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded and rendered the explosive device safe. Jonathan White was arrested without incident and charged with one count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon under state law. He was booked into the Hardin County Jail on a $500,000 bond. In the resulting federal investigation, the ATF Explosives Enforcement Branch examined the device and determined it to be an explosive bomb which qualifies as a prohibited destructive device, as defined by Title 26, USC, § 5845.
The federal indictment charges that White knowingly and unlawfully made, possessed, and transferred a prohibited destructive device, more commonly known as a pipe bomb, in violation of Title 26, USC, § 5861 and 5871.
If convicted, White faces up to 10 years imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This office, along with our law enforcement partners, takes all bomb threats seriously, and we are vigilant to protect and prevent property damage, bodily injury, and death from any explosive device in West Tennessee. We commend the quick, thorough, and coordinated response of all of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation."
This case was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office; Savannah Police Department; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Tennessee Highway Patrol; Tennessee Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations in this indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Guilty Plea in "Fishing" of U.S. Mail Collection Boxes, Theft of ChecksRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – One of two men charged in federal court in April with stealing mail from United States Postal Service collection boxes in and around Providence and Pawtucket by “fishing” out envelopes, today admitted his role in a conspiracy that resulted in the theft of mail and of more than $97,600 worth of checks from envelopes deposited in the collection boxes.
“Fishing” is a term which describes of obtaining items from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes by utilizing common items such as plastic water bottles, duct tape, glue, and string. A device covered in a sticky substance such as glue is lowered into the closed mail box, and mail that adheres to the sticky surface of the device is pulled out and retrieved.
It is alleged in court documents that Gerald Reinoso, 22, and Emmanuel Jose Torres, 18, and others working at their direction, deposited the stolen checks they obtained as the result of “fishing” the collection boxes in area banks. The funds were later withdrawn from ATMs and through the use of debit cards.
Reinoso appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Stephen Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service.
Reinoso is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2019. Torres is awaiting trial.
According to court documents, in May 2017, U.S. Postal Service Inspectors initiated an investigation into the theft of mail from a collection box outside of the Washington Park Post Office after multiple complaints of mail being stolen. Then, in September 2017, a local businessman reported that numerous pieces of mail deposited into collection boxes outside the Elmwood Station Post Office were never received by the intended recipients. Many of the pieces of mail contained checks.
As the investigation expanded, Postal Inspectors learned that numerous pieces of mail, some containing checks that were deposited into collection boxes at locations in and around Providence, did not reach their intended recipients. Agents determined that many of the missing checks were found to have been fraudulently endorsed, deposited into bank accounts, and the funds then withdrawn.
Postal Inspectors installed surveillance cameras outside of the Elmwood Station and Washington Park Post Offices, focused on collection boxes. Surveillance video showed several individuals “fishing” the mailboxes in the early morning hours. Among those identified by Postal Service Inspectors were Gerald Reinoso and Emmanuel Jose Torres.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service, with the assistance of the East Providence, Providence and Seekonk Police Departments.
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Georgia Precious Metals Broker Convicted of Willfully Failing to File Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Atlanta, Georgia, convicted Saleem Hakim, 49, of three counts of failing to file federal income tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Saleem Hakim was in the business of brokering the sale of precious metals to clients. As a precious metal broker, Hakim received funds from clients, converted a portion of the funds to precious metals, and kept the remainder for his personal use. For the years 2011 through 2013, the total amount Hakim retained was in excess of $1 million. Despite receiving income in excess of the filing thresholds and knowing his obligation to make and file tax returns, Hakim did not file any income tax returns. Hakim is a former resident of Smyrna, Georgia.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2019. Hakim faces a maximum of one year in prison on each count, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Jeffrey Bender and Kathryn Sparks of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 276 Months for Drug Trafficking and Armed KidnappingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Omar Davis, 38, of Moultrie, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday to 276 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and kidnapping.
From December 2014 through March 2016, Davis ran a drug-trafficking operation that distributed pound quantities of methamphetamine in and around the Laurel County area. On March 8, 2016, Davis held two people at gunpoint over a dispute about proceeds from drug sales. Davis pleaded guilty to the drug-trafficking, firearm, and kidnapping charges.
Under federal law, Davis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for five years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge D. Christopher Evans of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division; and Richard Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State police, jointly announced the sentence.
The DEA and the Kentucky State Police conducted the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Rosenberg.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Four Sentenced for Roles in Plattsburgh Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Touchstone, age 31, of Plattsburgh, New York; Melissa Kusalonis, age 37, of Plattsburgh; Anthony DeFilippo, age 37, of Schenectady, New York; and Luke Kiroy, age 34, of Saranac, New York, were sentenced yesterday and today for conspiring to distribute heroin.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Kruskall, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Clinton County Sheriff David Favro.
Touchstone was sentenced to 84 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release; Kusalonis to 41 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release; DeFilippo to 46 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release; and Kiroy to 3 years of probation and a $1,000 fine.
As part of their guilty pleas, Touchstone and Kusalonis admitted to obtaining nearly a kilogram of heroin from Jimolo Coates, a.k.a. “Brodie,” in Annapolis, Maryland, and DeFilippo in Schenectady between June 2016 and May 2017, and selling the heroin in Plattsburgh. DeFilippo admitted to regularly providing Touchstone and Kusalonis with heroin in Schenectady, and Kiroy admitted to transporting heroin from Annapolis to Plattsburgh with Kusalonis.
Touchstone, Kusalonis, DeFilippo, and Kiroy were charged with six other people in two related indictments pertaining to a heroin-distribution ring that transported heroin from Annapolis and Schenectady and sold it in the Plattsburgh area. In addition to Touchstone, Kusalonis, DeFilippo, and Kiroy, five other defendants pled guilty and were sentenced as follows:
Defendant
Sentence
Jimolo Coates, a.k.a. “Lo,” Marlo,” “Brodie,” age 25, of Annapolis, Maryland
188 months in prison, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release
Tynaejah Thompson, a.k.a. “Naee,” age 20, of Annapolis, Maryland
18 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
Kiara Scott, age 29, of Annapolis, Maryland
3 years of probation, including 6 months of home detention
Charles Adams, a.k.a. “Chuck,” age 33, of Peru, New York
37 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release
Travynn Ippolito, a.k.a “Trav,” age 30, of Plattsburgh, New York
30 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release
The tenth defendant, Danielle Conners, age 33, of Plattsburgh, was convicted at trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2019.
The convictions are the result of a nearly yearlong investigation led by the DEA Task Force in Plattsburgh, which consists of law enforcement officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Border Patrol, New York State Police, Clinton County Sherriff’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plattsburgh Police Department. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, as well as the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, assisted in the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Katherine Kopita.
Four Postal Employees Indicted for Various Crimes in Connection with the Distribution of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that four employees of the United States Postal Service were indicted for various crimes in connection with the distribution of marijuana.
On November 27, 2018, Unterria J. Rogers, a 33 year old resident of Mobile was indicted in two cases for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of marijuana, use of a communication facility to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, distribution and possession with intent marijuana, use of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and embezzlement of packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to him for delivery.
On November 28, 2018, Devon Donald, a 26 year old resident of Mobile was indicted for conspiring to embezzle packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to him for delivery and embezzlement of six packages from the U.S. mail entrusted to him for delivery.
On November 28, 2018, Shambria Hill, a 25 year old resident of Mobile was indicted for conspiring to embezzle packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to her for delivery and embezzlement of three packages from the U.S. mail entrusted to her for delivery.
On November 28, 2018, Sade Martin, a 26 year old resident of Mobile was indicted for conspiring to embezzle packages from the U. S. mail entrusted to her for delivery and embezzlement of five packages from the U.S. mail entrusted to her for delivery.
“Most postal workers are honest and conscientious about their work and they would never become involved in the kinds of crimes that these four defendants have been charged by the Grand Jury,” United States Attorney Moore said. “The citizens of this district should not have to worry about whether the U.S. mail is being compromised and particularly by employees of the U.S. Postal Service. We take this kind of alleged conduct by Postal Service employees very seriously and I appreciate our law enforcement partners who aggressively investigated these cases and brought them to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“The U. S. mail has a wall of protection around it. When postal inspectors discovered this scheme, they reached out to their law enforcement partners to start a multifaceted investigation that culminated in these indictments,” said Inspector in Charge, Adrian Gonzalez, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Inspector in Charge Gonzalez went on the say, “along with federal agents of the Postal Inspection Service and the U. S. Postal Service/ Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), personnel from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol Air and marine Operations, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, and Homeland Security Investigations converged to conduct a series of intensive investigations, complex surveillance, and make arrests to defend our communities and their USPS mail service.”
Christopher Cave, Special Agent in Charge, USPS-OIG also commented saying that, “the federal indictments obtained are indicative of the hard work of our special agents who vigorously investigated this narcotics scheme. Our office along with our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue these investigations. Our agency will remain vigilant and strive to maintain the sanctity of the mail.”Former U.S. Government Contractor Indicted for Allegedly Selling Falsified Resumes and Counterfeit Training Certificates to Individuals Seeking Employment on U.S. Government Contracts in AfghanistanRead the Press Release
A former U.S. government contractor was charged in an indictment filed today for his alleged role in selling falsified resumes and counterfeit U.S. government training certificates to individuals seeking employment on U.S. government contracts in Afghanistan between 2012 and 2015, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko.
Antonio Jones, 39, of Yorktown, Virginia, was charged in the District of South Carolina with one count of conspiracy to defraud government contractors and the United States, nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of false statements. Jones is scheduled to make his initial appearance in the District of South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2019.
The indictment alleges that Jones created an entity known as Wolverine Inc., through which he offered job placement services to clients seeking employment with U.S. government contractors in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Jones allegedly falsified his clients’ resumes and manufactured counterfeit U.S. government training certificates for his clients to make them appear more qualified than they actually were. Jones and his clients then used the falsified documents in job applications that were submitted to U.S. government contractors, the indictment alleges. At least two U.S. government contractors, one of which was based in the District of South Carolina, working on a multibillion-dollar Defense Department contract hired personnel allegedly based on false documents that Jones created and supplied or caused to be supplied to them.
This case was investigated by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Michael P. McCarthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Former South Bend Resident Charged with Mail Fraud for Scamming Elderly InvestorsRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Sven Eric Marshall, 61 years old, formerly of South Bend, Indiana, has been charged with five counts of mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Elder abuse scams, such as the scheme alleged in this case, will be aggressively prosecuted in this district. The elderly are among the most vulnerable of victims. When they place their trust, and in some case their life savings, into the hands of someone who abuses that trust to steal for personal gain, it is incumbent upon law enforcement to take action. Schemes targeting the elderly will never be tolerated.”
According to the indictment, Marshall owned and ran an investment company named Trust & Advisory Services of Indiana, Inc. Beginning about March 1998, Marshall recruited investors and promised returns of about four to eight percent per year with the option to receive interest payments or to reinvest gains in their account. As part of his scheme, Marshall provided monthly statements to investors that showed the purported balance of the investments. But, by January 2016, the Trust & Investment account was nearly empty. When investors requested information about their money, Marshall misrepresented the status and balance of the investments. Marshall did pay money to some investors who asked to withdraw a portion of their investments, even though the Trust & Investment account was almost empty, by transferring money from other unrelated accounts. In about December 2017, Marshall stopped communicating with investors and closed his office without notifying investors or providing a forwarding address. Since Marshall closed his office, investors have been unable to locate Marshall or recover their investments.
The investors were elderly. Several were in their seventies and eighties at the time of the alleged crimes, and two are now deceased.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke Reilander.
Marshall is currently wanted by authorities, anybody with information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
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Former President of Hartford Nonprofit Pleads Guilty to Stealing from HUD ProgramRead the Press Release
John H. Durham. United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN F. HARVIN, 53, of New Haven, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of theft from programs receiving federal funds.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (“HOPWA”) Program is a federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the HOPWA Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) makes grants to local communities, states and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. HUD is also responsible for administering the Section 8 housing program, which provides federally subsidized housing to low income tenants.
Harvin is a reverend and, from approximately August 2015 to September 2016, he served as President of Zezzo House, a non-profit organization in Hartford that provides housing for individuals and families with health challenges, including HIV/AIDS. HUD provides HOPWA funds to the City of Hartford, which in turn provides the HOPWA funds to organizations in the Hartford area, including Zezzo House. Between January and August 2016, Zezzo House received $70,722 in HOPWA funds. Harvin embezzled some of these funds through cash withdrawals, spent some of the funds on ineligible Zezzo House expenses, and he failed to account for the use of other funds. In total, Harvin misappropriated approximately $25,120.47 in HOPWA funds.
Zezzo House also receives Section 8 funding and, during this time period, Harvin diverted funds from rent checks from Section 8 tenants to his personal use.
Harvin is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Michael P. Shea on March 5, 2019, at which time Harvin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Harvin is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
Former Parker Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
DENVER – Dr. John Alan Littleford, DO, age 72, currently of Manhattan, Kansas and formerly of Parker, Colorado, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to felony charges related to the illegal distribution of controlled substances and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn, DEA Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Tim McDermott, and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven Osborne announced. Dr. Littleford is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Blackburn on April 23, 2019.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, Dr. Littleford owned and operated the Pain & Injury Clinic in Parker, Colorado. Dr. Littleford held himself out as a practitioner in the field of “pain management,” although he did not have any certification in that field and had not completed a medical residency, which would have been directly applicable to the field of pain management.
Littleford pled guilty to illegal distribution of controlled substances for distributing Oxycodone, Morphine, Clonazepam, and Carisoprodol to an individual outside the usual course of professional practice and for a purpose other than a legitimate medical purpose. Specifically, on April 30, 2012, Littleford wrote the individual prescriptions for 840 tablets of 30mg Oxycodone; 120 tablets of 80mg Oxycodone; 360 tablets of Percocet (10mg Oxycodone/325mg Acetaminophen); 240 tablets of 100mg Morphine; 240 tablets of 2mg Klonopin (Clonazepam); and 240 tablets of 350mg Soma (Carisoprodol). Dr. Littleford’s file for the individual did not include any documentation of an exam, a diagnosis, or a management or treatment plan. Those prescriptions, in those quantities, written together, were not justified by any medical condition the individual had.
The individual to whom Dr. Littleford distributed the controlled substances was formerly a Senior Police Officer for the City of Westminster, Colorado. Before the individual came to Dr. Littleford for treatment, he had been hospitalized on several occasions for opioid detoxification and he disclosed in his intake questionnaire at the Pain & Injury Clinic that he had “self detoxed” and “did inpatient detox.”
Littleford also pled guilty to money laundering in order to promote his illegal distribution of controlled substances at the Pain & Injury Clinic.
As part of his plea agreement, Dr. Littleford agrees the Court can consider his distribution of controlled substances to seven different individuals he saw at the Pain & Injury Clinic—involving more than 14,000 pills of various opioids, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants as well as fentanyl patches and hundreds of vials of injectable meperidine—as relevant for sentencing in his case.
This case was investigated by the DEA Denver Division and IRS Criminal Investigation.
The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter McNeilly and Jaime Peña.