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15 November 2018
Lumberton Man Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced ANTHONY ANDREWS, 51, of Lumberton, North Carolina, to 132 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
ANDREWS was named in an Indictment filed on March 15, 2016, charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Endocet, Methadone, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Oxymorphone. On October 11, 2016, ANDREWS pled guilty.
According to the investigation, from June 2012 until April 2015, ANDREWS conspired with, among others, Dr. Donovan Dixon to distribute large volumes of prescription drugs in the Robeson County area unlawfully. ANDREWS would provide Dixon with names of individuals, and Dixon would then write prescriptions for those individuals in exchange for cash. ANDREWS would then sell those prescription drugs on the streets of Robeson County.
For information concerning the court’s sentence of Dr. Dixon please click on this link https://go.usa.gov/xPG7Z
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad. Assistance was also provided by the State Bureau of Investigation, Diversion and Environmental Crime Unit, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fayetteville Police Department.
London Man Sentenced to 248 Months for Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Firearms chargesRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky., — Bobby Green, 42 of London, was sentenced this week to 248 months in prison, by United States District Court Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, four counts of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Green had previously pled guilty to the drug offenses, but went to trial on the firearms charges. Following a 2-day trial, a federal jury sitting in London found Green guilty of the firearms offenses, in August of 2018.
Under federal law, Green must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, and, upon release, 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; Stuart Lowery, Special Agent in Charge, ATF;, and Richard Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney W. Samuel Dotson.
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 Attorney General reinvigorated PSN in 2017, as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, local strategies to reduce violent crime.
London Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and OxymorphoneRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — David Lee Davis, 47 of Williamsburg, Ky., was sentenced this week, to 210 months in federal prison, by United States District Court Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and oxymorphone.
Davis previously admitted that he had obtained controlled substances by purchasing other people’s prescriptions, and then selling the pills. A search warrant executed in Whitley County, Kentucky uncovered a digital video recorder. The recorder revealed that approximately 100 drug transactions had occurred from within the residence. Davis was a participant in several of those transactions and pled guilty to the charge in July of 2018. Davis has multiple prior drug trafficking convictions.
Under federal law, Davis 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 six years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Parman.
Laguna Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting an Intimate Partner by StrangulationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – William E. Valencia, 28, an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo who resides in Paguete, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting his girlfriend by strangling or suffocating.
Valencia was arrested in Aug. 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a Laguna Pueblo woman by strangling her on July 17, 2018, in Cibola County, N.M. According to the complaint, Valencia assaulted the victim by stabbing her right arm with keys, punching and kicking her, and strangling her until she could not breathe and had blurry vision. The complaint alleged that the victim suffered punctures, bruising and red marks to both sides of her arms and her chest, and bruising and bumps to her head and legs as result of the assault.
During today’s proceedings, Valencia pled guilty to assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating. In entering the guilty plea, Valencia admitted that on July 17, 2018, he assaulted his girlfriend by grabbing her by the throat and strangling her so she could not breathe.
At sentencing, Valencia faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas is prosecuting the case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Kroger Shooting Suspect Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Gregory A. Bush, 51, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on hate crime and firearm charges arising out of the racially motivated murder of two African-American patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and the attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24 in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. The indictment was announced by Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman, and FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Jr.
Today’s indictment charges Bush with hate crimes for shooting and killing two victims because of their race and color; and for shooting at a third man because of his race and color. The indictment also charges Bush for using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to those crimes of violence. The indictment alleges that Bush committed the offenses after substantial planning and premeditation, that he killed more than one person in a single criminal episode, and that he knowingly created a grave risk of death to others on the scene.
The maximum penalty for the charges in the indictment is life imprisonment or the death penalty. The Justice Department will determine at a later date whether, in this particular case, it will seek the death penalty.
"The crimes alleged in this indictment are horrific," Acting Attorney General Whitaker said. "We cannot and will not tolerate violence motivated by racism. We will bring the full force of the law against these and any other alleged hate crimes against fellow Americans of any race. And so I want to thank the FBI, Trial Attorney Christopher Perras, and Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Gregory for all of their hard work that has made this indictment possible. Today we take one step closer to justice for the victims and their families and one step closer to helping this community try to heal."
“There is no place for hate-fueled violence in our community or Commonwealth,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “Federal, state, and local law enforcement stand united to ensure that Kentuckians can shop, worship, or attend school without the specter of fear.”
“The tragic events of October 24, 2018, are a grim reminder of why the FBI prioritizes investigations of civil rights violations among the top of its criminal programs,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Jr. “Today's indictment should be a reminder to those who are motivated by hate and are intent on committing violence; your hateful ideology will not have the last word. The FBI, and the Department of Justice, will be there, and you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice for the victims, their families and the Louisville community throughout the investigation and prosecution of this alleged, hate-filled and violent crime,” stated Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Division. “Today, and every day, ATF’s ongoing priority is to reduce violent crime and secure the safety of our communities.”
An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case has been investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Louisville Field Division, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
Kroger Shooting Suspect Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gregory A. Bush, 51, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on hate crime and firearm charges arising out of the racially motivated murder of two African-American patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and the attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24 in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. The indictment was announced by Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman, and FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Jr.
Today’s indictment charges Bush with hate crimes for shooting and killing two victims because of their race and color; and for shooting at a third man because of his race and color. The indictment also charges Bush for using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to those crimes of violence. The indictment alleges that Bush committed the offenses after substantial planning and premeditation, that he killed more than one person in a single criminal episode, and that he knowingly created a grave risk of death to others on the scene.
The maximum penalty for the charges in the indictment is life imprisonment or the death penalty. The Justice Department will determine at a later date whether, in this particular case, it will seek the death penalty.
"The crimes alleged in this indictment are horrific," Acting Attorney General Whitaker said. "We cannot and will not tolerate violence motivated by racism. We will bring the full force of the law against these and any other alleged hate crimes against fellow Americans of any race. And so I want to thank the FBI, Trial Attorney Christopher Perras, and Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Gregory for all of their hard work that has made this indictment possible. Today we take one step closer to justice for the victims and their families and one step closer to helping this community try to heal."
“There is no place for hate-fueled violence in our community or Commonwealth,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “Federal, state, and local law enforcement stand united to ensure that Kentuckians can shop, worship, or attend school without the specter of fear.”
“The tragic events of October 24, 2018, are a grim reminder of why the FBI prioritizes investigations of civil rights violations among the top of its criminal programs,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Jr. “Today's indictment should be a reminder to those who are motivated by hate and are intent on committing violence; your hateful ideology will not have the last word. The FBI, and the Department of Justice, will be there, and you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice for the victims, their families and the Louisville community throughout the investigation and prosecution of this alleged, hate-filled and violent crime,” stated Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Division. “Today, and every day, ATF’s ongoing priority is to reduce violent crime and secure the safety of our communities.”
An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case has been investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Louisville Field Division, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
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Kewa Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Avery Cate, 27, an enrolled member of the Kewa Pueblo who resides in Bernalillo, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting a federal officer.
Cate was arrested in June 2018, on an indictment charging him with assaulting a federal officer. According to the indictment, Cate assaulted a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer on Jan. 30, 2015, on Kewa Pueblo in Sandoval County, N.M., while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.
During today’s proceedings, Cate pled guilty to the indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Cate admitted that on Jan. 30, 2015, on Kewa Pueblo, he cursed, threatened, and approached the officers in a threatening manner. Cate further admitted resisting arrest and kicking a federal officer in the leg, causing the officer to fall. The officer obtained medical care for his leg and was diagnosed with a sprain as the result of Cate’s assault.
At sentencing, Cate faces a statutory maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Cate remains in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas.
Kansas Man with Island Pot Farm Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man who was growing marijuana on an island in the Neosho River was sentenced today to 65 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Scott Joseph Skibo, 55, Chetopa, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted he was tending his marijuana garden on an island in the Neosho River in Chetopa, Kan., when investigators had him under surveillance.
When law enforcement officers moved in to arrest him, Skibo got in his boat and fled. Officers in their own boat pursued him about half a mile before catching him. They seized about 50 marijuana plants, as well as a backpack containing a loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun, spare ammunition, marijuana, scissors, green twine, a water bottle and rain gear.
McAllister commended the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh for their work on the case.
Jury Finds Sacramento Man Guilty of Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal jury found Benjamin Macias, 40, of Sacramento, guilty today of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, in 2014 and 2015, Macias supplied Sergio Ambriz, 29, of Sacramento, with cocaine. On four occasions, Ambriz sold this cocaine to an undercover agent in Sacramento and El Dorado Counties. Agents planned to arrest Macias and Ambriz at a fifth transaction on June 9, 2015. Shortly before they could do so, Macias sped away from the scene at about 90 miles per hour. Agents searched Macias’s car after they apprehended him. In the glove compartment, they found a Ruger 9 mm pistol loaded with hollow-tipped bullets; they also found more than 1 pound of cocaine in the trunk. On the same day, agents searched Macias’s Sacramento home and found ammunition, a 35-round magazine, and more cocaine.
Ambriz previously pleaded guilty to using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense and was sentenced on November 4, 2016, to four years in prison.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Hemesath and Amanda Beck are prosecuting the case.
Macias is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. on February 8, 2018. Macias faces a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Jury Convicts Man for Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man today for his role in a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
“Sex traffickers often prey upon the most vulnerable victims in our society,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The victims were targeted specifically because Rhymes knew they were vulnerable and that he could exploit them, and he used fear, coercion, and control to force them into a form of modern-day slavery. We are grateful to the jury for their time and attention to this difficult case, and to our trial team and investigative partners for their terrific work in pursuit of justice for the victims in this case.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Cornell Devore Rhymes, 32, conspired with others, including but not limited to Justin Robinson and Markus Plummer, who have been previously convicted, to forcibly sex traffic young women during the Summer of 2017. The jury found that Rhymes used tactics such as non-consensual sex, cocaine and violence to keep these and other young women prostituting for their benefit.
Rhymes was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Prior to trial, Rhymes pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rhymes faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 15, 2019. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, and Barry M. Barnard, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney Dougherty Russell and Raizza Ty are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-22 (Rhymes), and 1:17-cr-310 (Robinson and Plummer).
Judge Hands Down Sentence in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme Defrauding Bibb County Schools, TaxpayersRead the Press Release
MACON — Isaac J. Culver, III was sentenced today for his involvement in a complex, multi-million dollar computer purchasing scheme defrauding taxpayers and the Bibb County School District, announced United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler. Following a nine day trial in July, Mr. Culver, age 48, of Lizella, Georgia, and his corporation, Progressive Consulting Technologies, Inc. (PCTI) were found guilty by a jury of his peers for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, ten (10) counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of unlawful activity. The Honorable Marc Treadwell sentenced Mr. Culver to 87 months in prison and three years supervised release with PCTI sentenced to five years probation and a $500,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
The charges against Mr. Culver, President and Chief Executive Officer of PCTI, stem from the sale of 15,000 NComputing devices for $3.7 million to upgrade classroom technology for the Bibb County School District (BCSD) in 2012.
Mr. Culver helped to create a fraudulent invoice listing CompTech, a technology company from Dayton, Ohio, as the vendor. Instead, the true purchaser of the NComputing devices was PCTI. As delivered, the devices were useless. The devices did not contain the necessary equipment to be functional (i.e. mouse, keyboard, monitor, servers, etc.).
Mr. Culver led others to believe that the purchase of NComputing devices was made pursuant to the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule. CompTech understood this to be why PCTI asked them to participate in this transaction. The BCSD employees also believed that this was a GSA purchase, which meant that the transaction did not have to go through normal bidding procedures. In reality, this transaction was not made pursuant to the GSA.
After the December 2012 sale, Mr. Culver hid the fact that PCTI was the true purchaser of the NComputing devices and he did so by continuing to use CompTech to disguise his role. Mr. Culver did so, in part, because he and PCTI were able to net almost $2 million on the NComputing transaction alone. Based on other statements and actions taken by Mr. Culver, there was evidence that they planned to buy these other goods, again using CompTech as a pass through, to continue to profit secretly.
“Bibb County students are the ones who ultimately lost the most due to this multi-million dollar theft of taxpayer money. Instead of being used to enhance the education of Bibb County students, the Defendant used the money to enrich himself,” said Charles E. Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “The sentence imposed against Mr. Culver sends a strong message that fraud against the government will not be tolerated in Bibb County. I would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Georgia Office of the Attorney General, and our trial team for their hard work in this matter.”
"The greed that drove Isaac Culver caused irreparable harm to the company he worked for, the citizens of Bibb County, and most importantly the students who were deprived of much needed tools to further their education," according to Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. "Now he will pay for that greed with this sentencing and hopefully be a lesson to others who may be tempted to take advantage of our citizens."
"Culver made a decision to focus on his personal financial gain by taking money from innocent school children in an effort to enrich himself," said James E. Dorsey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS - Criminal Investigation. "In choosing greed, Culver will spend time in jail for his unethical actions. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in cleaning up this type of fraud and greed."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beth Howard and Danial Bennett are prosecuting the case for the Government with participation and cooperation of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David McLaughlin from the Georgia Office of the Attorney General.
Questions concerning this case can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Selling HeroinRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Alex Mercado, 39, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that beginning in early 2016, the defendant served as one of the primary mid-level distributors of heroin and cocaine for the Sigfredo Martinez drug organization. Mercado was responsible for the “night shift” transactions, while his co-defendant, Bryan Ferrer-Vazquez, distributed during the “day shift.” The defendant would receive a couple hundred bundles of heroin from Martinez every few days and was tasked with distributing it to smaller dealers and users. Mercado would then turn over the proceeds to Martinez and take payment for his role in the distribution. The defendant also directed co-defendant Ferrer-Vazquez to distribute heroin to specific customers and would collect the proceeds earned by Ferrer-Vazquez on behalf of Martinez. During this period of time, Mercado occasionally worked with other uncharged co-conspirators to process bulk quantities of heroin and repackage it for retail sale.
Between November 3, 2016, and March 2, 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted four controlled purchases of heroin with the defendant. On April 6, 2017, federal search warrants were executed at 385 Buffalo Street, the residence of Bryan Ferrer-Vazquez, and 32 Duquesne Street, the residence of Sigfredo Martinez. At each location, law enforcement officers seized numerous ledgers and paper records of drug transactions. A federal search warrant was also executed at Mercado’s residence at 1083 North Main Street in Jamestown where approximately 10 ounces of marijuana and several suboxone strips were recovered.
Charges are pending against Sigfredo Martinez and Bryan Ferrer-Vazquez. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Indictments Charge 16 Individuals with Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bridgeport Police Chief Armando J. Perez announced, today announced that 16 individuals have been charged with federal offenses related to the distribution of heroin, cocaine, crack and opioids in southern Connecticut.
According to allegations made in court, in the summer of 2017, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating individuals who were distributing narcotics in and around Bridgeport. The investigation has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, physical and video surveillance, and the execution of multiple search and seizure warrants. These law enforcement efforts have resulted in the seizure of narcotics, eight firearms – including three assault rifles and a destructive device – more than $360,000 in cash, and other items.
On November 14, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned three indictments charging 16 individuals. The majority of the defendants were arrested last week on federal criminal complaints, and one defendant was arrested today.
The following individuals are charged in an indictment with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin:
LOUIE McDOWELL, 45, of Seymour
ANTONIO SMALL, a.k.a. “Tone” and “Bert,” 27, of Naugatuck
EVAN SHEFFIELD, a.k.a. “Smooth,” 32, of Bridgeport
CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ, a.k.a. “Rico,” 30, of Hamden
JESSE PAPCUN, a.k.a. “Steve,” 30, of Stratford
ALLISON McAULIFFE, 28, of Fairfield
SHAWN JOBBAGY, 27, of Bridgeport
ALLISON COLAVITO, 31, of TrumbullThis indictment specifically charges McDowell and Small with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Sheffield and Rodriguez with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Papcun, McAuliffe, Jobbagy and Colavito with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, and an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also charges McDowell with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, Sheffield with possession with intent to distribute heroin and crack cocaine, and McAuliffe, Jobaggy and Colavito with use of telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
On November 6, 2018, a search of McDowell’s residence in Seymour revealed approximately one kilogram of cocaine, more than 100 grams of heroin, narcotics paraphernalia, five firearms, ammunition, and $129,203 in cash. A search of a safe deposit box maintained by McDowell revealed an additional $217,000 in cash. Investigators also seized $2,960 in cash and heroin from Sheffield’s Bridgeport residence, $1,770 in cash and a Rolex watch from Small’s Naugatuck residence, and narcotics, firearms and other weapons from Papcun’s Stratford residence.
The following individuals are charged in an indictment with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute various controlled substances, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and oxycodone:
KEVIN JONES, II, a.k.a. “Ox” and “Scott,” 26, of Bridgeport
LUIS MARTINEZ, a.k.a. “Macho,” 53, of Stratford
SHAWN WOODARD, 27, of Bridgeport
DONALD LAWLOR, 38, of Norwalk
PHILLIP CHIAIA, 31, of Norwalk
JULIAN DELEPINE, 41, of Wilton
KEVIN JONES, SR., 54, of FarmingtonIf convicted of the charge, Jones II faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and the other six defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also charges Jones II with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and oxycodone. On November 6, 2018, a search of his person and residence revealed narcotics, $2,823 in cash, jewelry and an ounce of gold. In addition, a search of Martinez’s Stratford residence revealed $11,132 in cash.
HARVEL CARTER, a.k.a. “Tec,” 25, of Bridgeport, is charged by indictment with one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Both offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
On November 6, 2018, a search Carter’s residence revealed heroin, two loaded handguns, and $1,406 in cash.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, as well as the DEA, Connecticut State Police, and the Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Anthony E. Kaplan.
Illegal aliens arrested in northwest Louisiana plead guilty, sentenced for illegally re-entering countryRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that three illegal aliens arrested in northwest Louisiana pleaded guilty and were sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to terms of imprisonment for re-entering the United States after having been removed.
Juan Antonio Morales De Dios, 33, of Mexico. According to the guilty plea, a Sabine Parish Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on Morales De Dios’ vehicle October 7, 2018. Pursuant to the request of the deputy, a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a check on the defendant and found that he had already been deported twice. He was removed from the United States on February 9, 2006 and January 29, 2016. United States Border Patrol and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
Jose Orlando Garcia-Mejia, 32, of Mexico. According to the guilty plea, Bossier City police detained Garcia-Mejia on June 2, 2018. After investigating his background, law enforcement agents found that Garcia-Mejia had already been removed from the United States on two prior occasions. He was found on December 11, 2017 in Bossier City and was later removed; he was also found on March 27, 2018 in Del Rio, Texas, and was later removed. Homeland Security Investigations and Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.
Juan Cardona-Quiroz, 23, of Honduras. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents detained Cardona-Quiroz on October 2, 2018 in Bossier City, Louisiana, and learned that he was an illegal alien who had been removed from the United States on two occasions. He was found in Texas on March 1, 2013 and later removed; he was also found on January 9, 2014 in Bossier City and later removed. Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten prosecuted the case.
The defendants were sentenced to a term of imprisonment spanning the time of their incarceration to sentencing. They were then remanded to the custody of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.
Illegal Aliens Sentenced in Federal Court for Unlawfully Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Noe Enrique Cabrera-Rivera, 38, a citizen of El Salvador, and Juan Angel Tabora-Garcia, 36, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty and were sentenced in federal court to unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Cabrera has previously been deported at least twice. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Enforcement and Removal Operations encountered him on September 17, 2018, at the Lexington County Detention Center after he was arrested on state charges for Murder/Homicide by Child Abuse.
Tabora has also previously been deported. He was encountered by agents with ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations on September 15, 2018, at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia after being arrested on state charges for Attempted Murder.
Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Cabrera and Tabora each to three months in federal prison. They are expected to be deported upon completion of their prison sentences.
These cases were the result of investigations by ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office prosecuted the cases.
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Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Unlawfully Entering the United States for Sixth TimeRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Paulino Luna-Gonzalez, 45, a Mexican citizen, pled guilty in federal court to illegally re-entering the United States after being deported.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on May 13, 2018, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers discovered Luna-Gonzalez while he was in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County on state charges. Immigration records revealed that Luna-Gonzalez was a native and citizen of Mexico who had previously been deported from the United States on five separate occasions. Luna-Gonzalez has never received permission to enter or remain in the United States.
Luna-Gonzalez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Luna-Gonzalez after receiving and reviewing a presentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The charges against Luna-Gonzalez were the result of an investigation by ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations in Charleston, with the assistance of the Horry County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting the case.
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Horry County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Glendell Long, a/k/a “Okera Uzoma,” 46, of Longs, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in March 2018, officers with the Horry County Police Department were conducting an investigation into an unrelated crime when they discovered an American Tactical Omni Hybrid multi-caliber rifle and several rounds of .223 caliber and 7.62 mm ammunition in Long’s home. Long was not charged in relation to the separate crime.
Federal law prohibits Long from possessing a firearm or ammunition based on prior felony convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm, assault and battery with intent to kill, and unlawful carrying of a pistol. Long also has a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Long faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell accepted the guilty plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a presentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The charges against Long were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Horry County Police Department. The 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. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Taylor of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
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Honduran National Sentenced with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that GERMAN ALFREDO MOLINA-LARA age 35, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for illegally re-entering the United States in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the Bill of Information, MOLINA-LARA was found in the United States on or about August 26, 2018, after having been previously removed therefrom on or about June 12, 2008.
MOLINA-LARA was sentenced to time served and a $100.00 special assessment. Additionally, MOLINA-LARA was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
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Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that GERMAN ALFREDO MOLINA-LARA, age 35, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty to a one-count Bill of Information alleging illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the Bill of Information, MOLINA-LARA reentered the United States on or about August 26, 2018, after having been previously removed therefrom on or about June 12, 2008.
MOLINA-LARA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, one year of supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing for November 14, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
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Greenville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting a Woman for ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Patrick Rashad Durham, aka “Pat Pat,” 29, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for transporting an individual for the purposes of prostitution.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in 2014, Durham facilitated the prostitution of a woman from South Carolina to North Carolina and Florida. Durham severely assaulted the victim on at least ten occasions. He has prior convictions for Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Strong Arm Robbery, Criminal Domestic Violence, and Assault and Battery 3rd Degree.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Durham to 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Durham will also be required to pay $10,000 in restitution for the victim, which was ordered as forfeiture.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Lea Schoen and Carrie Fisher Sherard prosecuted the case.
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Four Mexican Nationals with Prior Deportations Are Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four Mexican nationals were sentenced today in federal court in Charlotte for illegally reentering the United States after being deported, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. presided over the sentencings. The four defendants will also be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of their sentences.
Eli Vega Delao, 39, a Mexican national formerly residing in Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On March 27, 2018, Delao pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry after a felony conviction. According to court records, Delano has prior state convictions, including a drug-related conviction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a 2015 federal illegal reentry conviction in Greensboro, N.C. Immigration judges have ordered Delao’s removal from the United States on at least nine occasions. Judge Conrad gave Delao a sentence at the high end of the applicable Sentencing Guidelines range, and stated that the defendant, “had not shown respect for immigration rules and the laws of the United States and needed adequate deterrence to avoid his illegal returning to this country.”
Carlos Arturo Aguilar Galeno, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Galeno was arrested in Gaston County in May 2018, for Methamphetamine Trafficking and related charges. Court records show that law enforcement determined that Galeno was in the country illegally. Galeno has prior state and federal convictions, including a federal drug trafficking conspiracy conviction in Tucson, Arizona. According to court records, Galeno had been previously removed from the United States to Mexico eight times, and at the time of his recent arrest an order for Galeno’s deportation or removal was outstanding. Galeno pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a deported alien on August 2, 2018.
Hardoldo Garcia Racancoj, 44, of Mexico and residing in Charlotte, was sentenced to eight months in prison. Racancoj pleaded guilty on April 20, 2018, to unlawful reentry by a deported alien. At the time of his arrest, an order for Racancoj’s deportation or removal was outstanding.
Judge Conrad also sentenced Jose Jesus Ramirez Orduna, 40, of Mexico, to 10 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Orduna was arrested in Union County on April 18, 2018. Prior to that, Orduna had been arrested and removed from the United States on at least two occasions. Orduna pleaded guilty to one count of reentry of a deported alien on August 3, 2018.
In making todays’ announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Charlotte for their assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the cases.
Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm pled guilty November 15, 2018, in federal court in Sioux City.
Torre Ashton Mosley, 25, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the plea hearing, Mosley admitted that in November, 2017 he possessed a .40 caliber Glock for protection. Mosley further admitted to being dealer of cocaine and marijuana. Mosley was previously convicted of possession and/or introduction of contraband into a detention facility, in the Iowa District Court for Webster County, on or about September 21, 2015.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Mosley remains free on bond previously set. Mosley faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala M. Steenholdt and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3019. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Former executive director of Collinwood and Nottingham Villages Development Corporation arrested and charged with embezzling $172,000 from the nonprofitRead the Press Release
A former executive director of a Cleveland community development corporation was arrested this morning for embezzling more than $172,000 from the Collinwood and Nottingham Villages Development Corporation.
Tamiko Parker, 46, of Cleveland, is scheduled to appear on Thursday at 2 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Cleveland. She has been indicted on one count of theft of federal funds.
Parker served as executive director of Collinwood and Nottingham Villages Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that was to acquire, develop and lease property on the northeast side of Cleveland.
Parker misused various accounts through a variety of schemes including making unauthorized cash withdrawals, having checks issued to her and using debit and credit cards to pay her personal expenses. This took place between September 2014 through February 2016, according to court documents.
Parker used the community development corporation’s debit card to make purchases at Harley Davidson, the Horseshoe Casino, Victoria’s Secret and in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. She used the community development corporation’s credit card to purchase appliances at Home Depot for her home. Parker collected cash rental payments from tenants of the nonprofit and deposited cash into her personal account, according to court documents.
“This defendant betrayed the trust placed in her by a city and a community,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Instead of using her position to spur redevelopment, she used it as a personal piggy bank to gamble and travel.”
“Ms. Parker stole hundreds of thousands of dollars planned for economic development in the community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The only thing Ms. Parker was developing was her lavish lifestyle. She will now be held accountable for being a thief.”
“The charges disclosed today prove our continuing resolve to root out fraud and corruption in all forms, especially when the programs involved should have been used to help our neediest families,” said Brad Geary, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “It is our continuing core mission to work with our Federal law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of our housing programs and to take strong action against those who seek to personally benefit from taxpayer-funded grants.”
“Those funds were designated to improve the lives of the residents and business owners in the Collinwood neighborhood,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- Office of Inspector General. and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Carmen Henderson.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the Court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is a charge and 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.
Former Tucson School Director Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling from School, StudentsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Nov. 15, 2018, Robert Alan Knapp, 71, a former director of HDS Truck Driving Institute (HDS) in Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 48 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Màrquez. Knapp had previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud and federal student aid fraud.
In his plea agreement, Knapp admitted that while employed by HDS between 2008 and 2015, he stole over $905,000 by intercepting or fraudulently generating more than 400 checks payable to third parties that he deposited to a bank account he owned after adding forged indorsements. Most of the stolen checks were payable to HDS’s students, and represented either federal student aid received from the Department of Education that should have been forwarded to the students, or funds taken from HDS to pay fictitious obligations that Knapp had created in HDS’s books and records. The Court also ordered Knapp to pay restitution to all identified victims, and to make monthly restitution payments during a 5-year term of supervision to follow his release from prison.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR 17-1275-TUC-RM (JR)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-156_Knapp
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Former Tax Preparer Sentenced to Three Years for Identity Theft-Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Celia Yvette Gamet to three years in federal prison for theft of government money and aggravated identity theft.
Gamet had pleaded guilty on March 23, 2018.
According to court documents, from 2012 until 2016, Gamet was a tax preparer for HK Tax Service in Orlando. During that period, Gamet used her position as a tax preparer to steal personal identification information of others, some of whom were dependents of HK Tax’s clients. Unbeknownst to the HK Tax clients, and without their authority, Gamet used many of the dependents’ personal identification information to file false tax returns.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
Former Superintendent of Chesterfield Township Sentenced to Prison for BriberyRead the Press Release
Former Chesterfield Township Supervisor, Michael Lovelock, 59, of New Baltimore, Michigan, was sentenced to 24 months in prison today based on his conviction for conspiracy to commit bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent In Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Lovelock was convicted of conspiring with Rizzo Environmental CEO Charles B “Chuck” Rizzo to accept $30,000 in cash bribes from Rizzo between 2010 and 2016. The bribes were paid by Rizzo in exchange for favorable treatment from Lovelock in connection with Rizzo’s municipal garbage-hauling contract with the township.
Lovelock is one of twenty defendants charged in the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan. The sentence for Lovelock was reduced based on his cooperation with the government against Rizzo and others.
“Public officials who desecrate their elected office by selling out for bribes from contractors are among the most deserving of federal prosecution and will be held to account for each and every one of their corrupt misdeeds,” stated United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.
“Public officials who misuse their position of trust for personal gain, undermine the integrity of their office and deny honest services to the residents they purport to serve” said Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "The FBI led Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will continue to aggressively investigate cases involving any federal, state, or local public officials who solicit and accept bribes in exchange for official acts and will work with our partners to ensure that those who violate their obligation to the public are held accountable.”
This case is part of the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan. The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Gardey, R. Michael Bullotta, Steven Cares, and Adriana Dydell.
Former Shakopee Superintendent Pleads Guilty to Corruptly Soliciting A BribeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of RODNEY KEITH THOMPSON, 53, for corruptly soliciting a bribe. THOMPSON entered his guilty plea earlier today, before Judge Susan Nelson in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was charged via felony information on November 13, 2018.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, THOMPSON used his position and authority as then Superintendent of the Shakopee School District, to obtain personal benefits from a company interested in being awarded contracts with the Shakopee School District. THOMPSON solicited home improvement projects, personal travel, and attendance at sporting events in exchange for contracts with the School District.
“Mr. Thompson was a trusted member of the Shakopee community. Parents, teachers, staff, and students trusted him to act with integrity to make the right decisions in the best interest of the Shakopee schools,” said United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald. “He chose to violate that trust and act on what served his own interest. With his guilty plea today, I hope the Shakopee community has a sense of closure.”
"The defendant held a position of public trust with an obligation to act in the best interest of Shakopee schools, staff, and students he was responsible for," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn. "Sadly, the defendant chose to violate this sacred trust by making the conscious decision to steal and deprive teachers of the very resources necessary to provide a quality education. The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate public corruption such as this and bring those responsible to justice."
THOMPSON’s sentencing has been scheduled for March 29, 2019, before Judge Susan Nelson, in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. MacLaughlin is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
RODNEY KEITH THOMPSON, 53
Shakopee, Minn.
Convicted:
- Corrupt Solicitation of a Bribe, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Former Owner of Stenotype Institute Pleads Guilty to Failing to Refund Federal Student Aid FundsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Gloria Wiley (72, Dansville, KY) has pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to refund federally insured student aid funds, commonly referred to as Stafford Loans and Pell Grants. Wiley faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. As part of her plea agreement, Wiley has agreed to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution to affected students, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
According to the
plea agreement , Wiley was the owner of Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville, Inc.—a Jacksonville-based stenography school that provided professional education to individuals pursuing stenography careers, including court reporting and medical transcription. Stenotype was authorized to receive federal student aid funds from the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of its students to cover tuition, fees, and living expense stipends. Excess funds drawn on behalf of students were required to be refunded to the U.S. Department of Education or to the student within 45 days.Beginning in June 2015, instead of refunding the excess refunds, Stenotype began tracking the amounts owed in a spreadsheet. Meanwhile, Wiley continued to draw funds from the school for her personal use. In total, Wiley and Stenotype held approximately $290,000 in refunds due to the U.S. Department of Education and to former students, and $9,000 due to the Department of Veterans Affairs, none of which have ever been paid. Stenotype ceased operations in March 2016, shortly after a program review by the U.S. Department of Education.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
Former New Jersey Corrections Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former officer with the N.J. Department of Corrections was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for receiving images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Stephen Salamak, 39, of Lodi, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Salamak used email to seek and obtain images of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Salamak to 10 years of supervised release.U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Brian Neary Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
Former Manager of North Kenner Post Office Charged with Misappropriation of Postal FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that RYAN S. CORTEZ, former Supervisor and Manager of Customer Service Operations at the North Kenner Post Office located at 390 West Esplanade Avenue, was charged in a Bill of Information for Misappropriation of Postal Funds. CORTEZ, age 46, of Des Allemands, Louisiana, was arrested in October 2018 by special agents with the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“Postal OIG”).
According to court records, Postal OIG agents were notified by PayPal and eBay regarding significant quantities of U.S. Postal stamps being sold by CORTEZ on eBay. A subsequent investigation by Postal OIG revealed that, as manager, Cortez had increased the North Kenner Post Office’s reserve stamp stock by more than $600,000. Subpoenaed records from Cortez’s Regions Bank account revealed substantial deposits, including more than $58,000 in a one-month period in the summer of 2018.
During their investigation, Postal OIG agents determined CORTEZ withdrew thousands of dollars on a regular basis at the Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans. Harrah’s records revealed CORTEZ lost over $667,000 since 2011 and lost over $220,000 in 2017. Postal records indicate CORTEZ earned an annual salary of $70,818.
On October 10, 2018, Postal OIG special agents executed a federal search warrant issued by a federal magistrate judge at CORTEZ’s residence in Des Allemands.
In total, Postal records reveal that CORTEZ stole over $630,000 in U.S. stamps and sold them on eBay. According to Postal authorities, CORTEZ’s illegal activities constitute one of the largest internal Postal thefts by a Postal Service employee in the history of the U.S. Postal Service.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of a defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, CORTEZ faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine.
This case was investigated by special agents from the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”). The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Former IRS Employee Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
A former employee for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak for the Northern District of Georgia.
According to court documents, Stephanie Parker worked for the IRS as a Contact Representative in Atlanta, Georgia. Between September 2012 and March 2013, taxpayers called into the IRS for assistance, and Parker handled the taxpayers’ inquiries. During the calls, Parker obtained the taxpayers’ Social Security numbers and addresses. On at least five occasions, Parker used the taxpayers’ personal information to electronically file fraudulent tax returns in their names without their authorization. Parker directed the fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts controlled by her friends. Parker, in turn, had the money withdrawn from at least one of those accounts, deposited a portion of the money into her own bank account, and used it for personal expenses.
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Parker was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $5,964 in restitution to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Pak commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Michael Boteler 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.
Former Cable Show Hunter Indicted on Charges of Poaching DeerRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted an East Peoria, Ill., man, who self-produced and starred in his own cable hunting show, on charges that he illegally killed more deer than permitted in Indiana. The indictment against Christopher Brackett, 41, whose program, “Fear No Evil,” aired on the Outdoor Channel, alleges that Brackett engaged in illegal hunting in 2013 by shooting and killing two bucks in Indiana and transporting one buck to Illinois. At the time of the alleged offenses, Indiana law allowed hunters with the appropriate permit to kill one antlered deer per season.
According to the indictment, Brackett filmed a hunt in December 2013 in southern Indiana for an episode of his show that featured him killing an 11-point deer which he nicknamed the “Unicorn Buck.” The indictment alleges that on Dec. 21, 2013, Brackett first shot and killed a smaller, eight-point buck before he shot the larger, 11-point buck. Brackett allegedly registered the “Unicorn Buck” with the state of Indiana under his license and transported it to Illinois. The “Unicorn Buck,” episode aired on the Outdoor Channel in the fall of 2014 with edited footage that did not show Brackett killing the first, smaller buck.
On Dec. 22, 2013, the day after both deer were shot, the indictment alleges Brackett purchased a second non-resident deer muzzleloader permit under his cameraman’s name and then registered the first, smaller buck with the permit purchased in the cameraman’s name.
The U.S. District Clerk of the Court will schedule the date for Brackett to appear for arraignment in federal court in Peoria, Ill.
If convicted, as charged, the statutory maximum penalty for each offense, conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act (count one) and a violation of the Lacey Act (count two), is up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Both offenses, as charged, are felony offenses.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Legge in the prosecution. The charges were investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the assistance of both the Illinois and Indiana Departments of Natural Resources.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Florence Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Manufacturing and Passing Counterfeit MoneyRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Shanteley Latrice Howard, 33, of Florence, South Carolina, was sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit money.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Howard was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit $100 and $50 bills in multiple states, including South Carolina and North Carolina. This conspiracy, which began in 2015, included at least nine co-conspirators who were responsible for making and passing over $100,000 in counterfeit money. Howard passed counterfeit $100 and $50 bills on multiple occasions at businesses in Florence and other locations in South Carolina.
United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Howard to 18 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service with the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Florence Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case.
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Federal Jury Convicts Rochester Man of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal jury has convicted Andre L. Barnes, 42, of Rochester, NY, of conspiracy to sex traffic minors, sex trafficking of minors and adults by force, and transportation of girls across state lines to engage in prostitution. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa M. Marangola and Craig R. Gestring, who handled the prosecution of the case at trial, stated that Barnes and co-defendant Christopher Johnson began working together in 2012 to sex traffic minors and adults by force. This lasted until the arrest of Barnes in May 2013 for assaulting one of his victims at the Gates Motel.Barnes and Johnson posted the victims on Backpage.com to advertise for clients. During the conspiracy, Barnes and Johnson recruited vulnerable girls and young women, meeting them at locations such the Department of Social Services. More than 10 girls, some as young as 15 years old, worked for them as prostitutes. Barnes was convicted of using force, fraud, and coercion to keep the girls working for him. The defendant also supplied them with heroin, crack cocaine, and ecstasy. Barnes also assaulted several girls and threatened them repeatedly with violence.
After his arrest, the defendant admitted to investigators that he was a pimp and expressed an interest in returning to that conduct upon his release from prison. Barnes admitted that he beat his girls but did not want to leave bruises on their faces because that could lead to a loss of money. Several victims and witnesses testified during the 10 day trial.
Johnson was previously convicted for his role in the conspiracy is awaiting sentencing.
The verdict is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer who presided over the trial.
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Federal Jury Convicts Bureau of Corrections Inmate of Possessing Prison Contraband Inside of the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex While Two Other Inmates Plead Guilty to Possessing Prison ContrabandRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert announced that a Federal jury handed down a guilty verdict against Michael Hendrickson 28, for possession of prison contraband on Wednesday, following a one-day trial. “Contraband cell phones in correctional facilities create a security threat for correctional officers, others prisoners, and potential witnesses,” said Shappert. “Contraband phones can be used by inmates to conduct criminal activities and threaten the well-being of persons housed in the facility and on the street. Possession of these items is a federal offense”.
According to trial testimony, on March 14, 2018, a Bureau of Corrections Sargent conducted a routine pat-down of Hendrickson as he entered a restricted area within the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex. The officer identified a hard object concealed in the inmate’s clothing. The officer removed the item and discovered that it was a cellular telephone. Cellular telephones are prohibited items in the Bureau of Corrections and inmates are forbidden from possessing them under federal law.
Two other Bureau of Corrections inmates, Gamba Potter, 33, and K’Moi Corraspe, 24, previously entered guilty pleas to the same charge of possessing cellular telephones while inmates at the Bureau of Corrections. Potter entered his guilty plea on November 6, 2016, and Corraspe entered his guilty plea on October 31, 2018.
Defendants each face a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000. The date for Hendrickson’s sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2019. Sentencing for Potter is set for December 20, 2018, and January 9, 2019 for Corraspe.
These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections. They are all being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Federal Inmate Gets More Time in Prison after Exposing Himself to Female StaffRead the Press Release
Brunswick, GA – A federal inmate already serving nearly 20 years on weapons charges will serve more time behind bars after repeatedly exposing himself to female prison staff.
Bruce Ferguson, 55, was sentenced by the Honorable Magistrate Judge Benjamin W. Cheesbro to 11 additional months in prison consecutive to his current federal sentence of 225 months, said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. Ferguson was an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Jesup, in Jesup, Ga., when he exposed himself to a female staff member.
During his time as a federal inmate, Ferguson has racked up at least 10 previous disciplinary incidents, which included seven prior incidents with similar conduct of exposing himself to female Federal Bureau of Prisons staff.
“The honorable employees at our correctional institutions work hard every day and deserve to see prosecuted those who would victimize them,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Ferguson apparently has failed to learn what most others in federal custody have: He isn’t going free until his time is up. There is no parole in the federal system, and as long as he continues to abuse the prison staff, he will continue to spend more time in their custody.”
Federal inmate abuse of female staff members has increased in recent years, with more than 850 cases of exposure in 2016, more than 1,000 in 2017 and already nearly 1,100 in the first 10 months of this year.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Katelyn Semales prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Federal Indictment Targets South Bay Street Gang Involved in Drug Trafficking, including Smuggling Meth into a California State PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Authorities have arrested eight members and associates of the East Side Torrance street gang on federal narcotics trafficking and firearms charges stemming from an investigation that led to a number of seizures, including 20 pounds of methamphetamine that was discovered in a Torrance apartment complex.
A federal grand jury indictment targets the leadership and key members of the gang, which distributed methamphetamine and other drugs out of the South Bay and the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles. The indictment alleges the gang trafficked pound-quantities of methamphetamine to Colorado, and also smuggled methamphetamine and heroin into Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California.
Various defendants allegedly possessed firearms to maintain control of their gang “territory,” to control drug trafficking, and to retaliate against rivals, the indictments allege.The seven-count indictment charges 10 defendants in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, heroin and other illegal drugs. In addition to the eight arrested today, two defendants are currently in state custody.
The indictment unsealed today is the result of a three-year investigation by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Torrance Police Department.
“Street gangs bring the twin plagues of narcotics and violence to their neighborhoods, endangering everyone who lives there,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “This case is the product of an excellent working relationship between federal and local law enforcement authorities, all of whom are committed to increasing public safety in every community.”
“Street gangs such as East Side Torrance are responsible for pushing drugs onto our streets and putting our citizens in serious danger,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge David J. Downing. “Nevertheless, the coordinated enforcement action that occurred this morning illustrates how effective our law enforcement alliances are in disrupting and dismantling these criminal organizations.”
“Today’s arrests targeted the leaders of a criminal enterprise who used firearms and the threat of violence to run a drug distribution network from the South Bay of Los Angeles to Colorado and even inside prison walls,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s arrests are the results of a collaborative effort among federal and local partners to target the most violent gangs that continue to plague our communities.”
“The Torrance Police Department is dedicated to working with our state and federal partners to ensure our communities are safe and that offenders are brought to justice,” said Torrance Police Chief Eve R. Irvine.
The lead defendant in the indictment – Carmen Merejil, a.k.a. “Caveman,” 52, of Carson – allegedly directed the drug trafficking operation and used his East Side Torrance gang associates to sell large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs in the gang’s territory. Merejil also allegedly directed the trafficking of large quantities of methamphetamine to a distributor in Delta, Colorado for redistribution there. Finally, Merejil and other defendants are alleged to have packaged and smuggled controlled substances into Kern Valley State Prison, where an incarcerated East Side Torrance street gang member distributed the drugs and sent money back to Merejil and other defendants.
In March 2016, law enforcement seized more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine – along with cocaine, MDMA and other drugs – from a stash house maintained by Merejil and his associates. Authorities also intercepted nearly two ounces of methamphetamine that had been smuggled into Kern Valley State Prison. Other large quantities of methamphetamine were seized from other alleged co-conspirators at various points during the investigation, including the seizure of nearly one pound of methamphetamine by agents executing a search warrant in Colorado.
The defendants taken into custody this morning are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. The defendants currently in state prison are expected to be arraigned in federal court in the coming weeks.
If convicted, each of the defendants would face decades in federal prison. The charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life without parole.
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.
The investigation targeting the East Side Torrance gang was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Torrance Police Department.
During the investigation, substantial assistance was received from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Redondo Beach Police Department, the Hermosa Beach Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory Lesser and Shawn Andrews of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
El sospechoso en el tiroteo en un supermercado Kroger es acusado de delitos de odio federales y delitos relacionados con armas de fuegoRead the Press Release
Gregory A. Bush, de 51 años, fue acusado formalmente hoy por un gran jurado ante cargos relacionados con un delito de odio y con armas de fuego que se basan en el asesinato por motivo de raza de dos clientes afroestadounidenses de un supermercado Kroger y el intento de asesinato de un tercero el 24 de octubre en Jeffersontown, Kentucky. La acusación formal fue anunciada por el Fiscal General en funciones Matthew Whitaker, el Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles, Eric Dreiband, el Fiscal Federal Russell Coleman, y el Agente Especial Encargado del Buró de Investigaciones Federales («FBI», por sus siglas en inglés) en Louisville, James Robert Brown, Jr.
La acusación formal de hoy le acusa a Bush de delitos de odio por disparar y matar a dos víctimas por motivos de su raza y color de piel, y por disparar a un tercer hombre por motivos de su raza y color de piel. Asimismo, la acusación formal le acusa a Bush de utilizar y descargar un arma de fuego durante y en relación con esos delitos de odio. La acusación formal alega que Bush cometió el delito tras planificación y premeditación durante bastante tiempo, que mató a más de una persona en un solo episodio delictivo y que creó, a sabiendas, un grave riesgo de muerte a otras personas presentes en la escena del delito.
La pena máxima para los cargos contenidos en la acusación formal es la cadena perpetua o la pena de muerte. El Departamento de Justicia determinará a una fecha posterior si en este caso en particular pedirá la pena de muerte.
«Los delitos alegados en esta acusación formal son horrorosos», declaró el Fiscal General en funciones Whitaker. «No podemos tolerar ni tampoco toleraremos la violencia motivada por el racismo. Emplearemos todo el peso de la ley contra estos y cualquier otro alegado delito de odio cometido contra estadounidenses de cualquier raza. Quiero dar las gracias al FBI, al Abogado de Litigios Christopher Perras y la Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Amanda Gregory por todo el arduo trabajo que ha hecho posible esta acusación formal. Hoy nos hemos dado un paso más hacia la justicia para las víctimas y sus familias y un paso más hacia ayudar a esta comunidad a intentar curarse».
«No hay lugar para violencia motivada por el odio en nuestra comunidad o en nuestra Mancomunidad [Commonwealth of Kentucky]», afirmó el Fiscal Federal Russell Coleman. «La policía federal, estatal y local están unidas en asegurar que los vecinos de Kentucky puedan ir de compras, rezar o asistir a la escuela sin tener miedo».
«Los eventos trágicos del 24 de octubre del 2018 sirven de recordatorio solemne de las razones por las que el FBI tiene como prioridad la investigación de vulneraciones de derechos civiles entre sus programas contra la delincuencia», comentó el Agente Especial Encargado del FBI en Louisville, Robert Brown Jr. «La acusación formal de hoy debe servir de recordatorio a aquellos cuyos motivos se arraiguen en el odio y que estén decididos a cometer actos de violencia que su ideología odiosa no tendrá la última palabra. El FBI, junto con el Departamento de Justicia, seguirá en ello, y ustedes serán capturados y enjuiciados con todo el peso de la ley».
«La Agencia de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF, por sus siglas en inglés) se ha comprometido a colaborar con nuestras agencias asociadas del orden público para garantizar que se haga justicia para las víctimas, sus familias y la comunidad de Louisville durante la investigación y el enjuiciamiento de este alegado delito violento tan lleno de odio», declaró Stuart Lowrey, el Agente Especial Encargado de la División de la ATF en Louisville. «Hoy, como siempre, la prioridad actual de la ATF es reducir la delincuencia violenta y garantizar la seguridad de nuestras comunidades».
Una acusación formal es sencillamente una acusación y al acusado se lo considera inocente mientras no se pruebe su culpabilidad.
Este caso ha sido investigado por la Oficina del FBI en Louisville y la División Local en Louisville de la Agencia de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos y está siendo enjuiciado por Christopher J. Perras, Abogado de Litigios de la División de Derechos Civiles, y Amanda Gregory, Fiscal Federal Auxiliar para el Distrito Occidental de Kentucky.
Anexo(s):
Download Bush Indictment
Eastside Hollygrove Drug Traffickers Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, EDLA announced yesterday that DONALD MARCELIN, a/k/a “Snook,” a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Golfer,” age 41, and LANCE STOVALL, a/k/a “Lele,” a/k/a “Allen,” age 28, both of New Orleans, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
On MARCELIN’s drug conspiracy count, MARCELIN is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life, a possible fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release upon his release from prison. On STOVALL’s drug conspiracy count, STOVALL is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release upon his release from prison.
U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance will sentence MARCELIN and STOVALL on March 13, 2019.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Gang Task Force (NOGFT), which led this investigation and was assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Police Department, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon S. Long, David Haller, and Edward Rivera are in charge of the prosecution.
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East Texans Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – Two East Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Keyonta Monquan Johnson, 24, of Reklaw, Texas, pleaded guilty on Mar. 22, 2018, to distribution of methamphetamine near a playground and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison on Oct. 4, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
Devante Lee Johnson, 26, of Jacksonville, Texas, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children are present and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 18, 2017.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Jacksonville Police Department.
Dunkirk Man Sentenced for Selling CocaineRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Fred Santiago, 30, of Dunkirk, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, five kilograms or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, stated that between July 2016 and May 2, 2017, the defendant conspired with co-defendant Michael Pacheco to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in and around the Western District of New York. Santiago obtained the cocaine from a source of supply in New York City for sale and distribution to others.
On May 2, 2017, a state search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence on Lincoln Avenue in Dunkirk. Approximately 640 grams of cocaine was seized from a safe, and approximately 39 grams of marijuana was seized from the kitchen counter. In addition, law enforcement officers seized four drug scales, $44,000 in cash, $2,000 in money orders, a heat sealer, plastic bags, and a metal kilo drug press.
Michael Pacheco was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 18 months in prison.
Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Douglas Czora; the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Ortolano; and the Chautauqua County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph Gerace.
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Duffield Man Sentenced for Manufacturing Marijuana, Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Duffield man, who was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction after serving a lengthy state prison sentence for arson, to a total of 14 years in federal prison for marijuana and illegal firearms charges, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced today.
Claude Gene Sloan, 76, pleaded guilty in August 2018 to one count of manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute more than 100 marijuana plants, one count of distribution of marijuana, and one count of being a previously convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm. In 2000, Sloan was convicted of manufacturing marijuana. He was released from federal prison in 2014 and was on federal supervised release at the time of these offenses.
“As this case illustrates, we are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to target violent and recidivist offenders within specific communities and send them to federal prison,” U.S. Attorney Cullen said today. “We are particularly grateful for the hard work of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Southwest Drug Task Force in making their community safer.”
Evidence was presented at sentencing that Sloan began growing and selling marijuana within two years of his last release from prison. In addition, an audio recording was introduced in which Sloan asked another person to burn down Sloan’s neighbor’s home.
United States District Court Judge James P. Jones imposed a sentence of imprisonment for a term of 12 years on the instant charges to be followed by an additional two-year term of imprisonment for Sloan’s violation of his terms of supervised release.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Drug Task Force, Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case for the United States.
Dual/Iranian Canadian National Sentenced for International Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A dual citizen of Iran and Canada was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for international money laundering.
Omid Mashinchi, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, ordered to pay a $20,000 fine, and a personal money judgment of approximately $7,616. In July 2018, Mashinchi pleaded guilty to five counts of international money laundering. He was charged in a sealed indictment in January 2018 and arrested in April 2018, when he flew to the United States; he has been in federal custody since.
On five occasions in 2017, Mashinchi transferred funds from a bank in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to a bank in Boston knowing that the money was derived from drug trafficking. On Jan. 28, Mashinchi transferred $37,794; on July 28 he made two transfers, one for $49,915 and another for $49,445; and on Aug. 3, he made two more transfers, one for $49,930 and another in the amount of $49,645.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; 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 Susan Winkler of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Doctor and Former Employee Indicted for Conspiring to Distribute AdderallRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Uxbridge doctor and her former employee were arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston in connection with a federal drug conspiracy involving the amphetamine Adderall.
Leslie Caraceni M.D., 56, of Uxbridge, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Adderall and three counts of distributing and dispensing Adderall. Rene Ruliera, 51, of Southborough, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Adderall, and four counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute Adderall. Caraceni and Ruliera were arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the indictment unsealed today, between March 2016 and February 2018, Caraceni and Ruliera conspired with one another and others to distribute Adderall, an amphetamine, for reasons other than for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of medical practice.
Each charge provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Uxbridge Police Chief Marc Montminy; and Southborough Police Chief Kenneth Paulhus made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Detroit Doctor, Office Manager and Patient Recruiter Charged with Illegal Distribution of Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging Dr. Otis Leon Crawford, D.O., and two other individuals with conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
Charged in the indictment are:
Otis Leon Crawford, 80, of Detroit
Debbie Ann Taylor, 37, of Detroit
Earnie Ronnie-Jaew Taylor, 49, of River Rouge
The indictment alleges that in July of 2016, Dr. Crawford and Debbie Ann Taylor opened a medical clinic called Doctors Creative Care, located at 16125 Mack Avenue in Detroit. Dr. Crawford was the only doctor associated with the clinic and Debbie Ann Taylor was the office manager. Debbie Taylor scheduled appointments, collected payments, and accompanied patients into the examination room with Dr. Crawford. Although she had no medical license or training, she recommended that particular patients be prescribed particular controlled substances, in particular dosage units. With little or no medical examination, Dr. Crawford wrote and signed prescriptions for various opioids, as well as other drugs with substantial street value, such as Xanax, Soma, Valium and Promethazine/codeine cough syrup. It is further alleged that Debbie Taylor’s brother, Earnie Ronnie-Jaew Taylor, recruited fake patients from his neighborhood in River Rouge who would visit Dr. Crawford and receive unnecessary prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. Once the prescriptions were filled, Earnie Taylor took possession of the controlled substances for future illegal distribution. According to the Indictment, the top ten prescribed controlled substances prescribed by Dr. Crawford, from June 2015 to date, had a conservative street value in excess of $2,556,550.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each 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 was investigated by Special Agents of the DEA and HHS. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Engstrom.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Importing over 20,000 Fentanyl Pills at the San Ysidro Port of EntryRead the Press Release
Believed To Be Largest Single Port Seizure Of Fentanyl Pills
Across the Southwest Border of the U.S.
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 15, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Today, Fernando Jesus Peraza, age 39, pleaded guilty before federal Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt to importing over 20,000 fentanyl pills. Peraza was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on August 8, 2018. Peraza, a United States citizen, resided in Tijuana at the time of the offense but worked at a local trash collection service in the United States.
According to court records, Peraza was the driver and sole occupant of his vehicle. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers initially contacted Peraza in the pre-primary inspection area; he was referred to secondary inspection, where officers found four packages concealed in the passenger side rear quarter panel. The counterfeit pills, which were designed to resemble M30s or oxycodone, contained fentanyl.
Defendant admitted today that he imported approximately 20,000 pills containing fentanyl in his vehicle and knew that his vehicle contained fentanyl, or some other prohibited drug. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in custody.
“Counterfeit pills are especially dangerous because users often don’t know they are ingesting fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “With overdoses taking a life every 8 minutes, federal law enforcement agencies are prioritizing prosecution of every individual who smuggles and distributes this deadly substance. Thanks to the vigilance of CBP, these deadly pills will not see the streets of our communities.”
Defendant is scheduled for sentencing on February 1, 2019, before United States District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri Hobson.
DEFENDANT Case Number 18CR3908GPC
Fernando Jesus Peraza Age: 38 Tijuana, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Importation of Controlled Substances
Maximum penalty: 10 years minimum to life; $10,000,000 fine; supervised release; $100 special assessment)
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
Cottage Grove Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges After Hash Oil ExplosionRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore. – Eric L. Scully, 35, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to endangering human life and illegally possessing and manufacturing marijuana after a November 2017 butane honey oil (BHO) explosion in Cottage Grove.
“Manufacturing hash oil is extremely dangerous and poses a grave risk of injury or death to producers and unknowing, innocent victims. Federal authorities will continue targeting BHO producers and the illicit distribution networks providing them with butane gas. Together with our local partners, we will put an end to this severe public safety threat,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“This investigation highlights the significant dangers that these extraction operations pose,” stated Keith Weis, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Pacific Northwest Region. He further added, “This explosive event in Cottage Grove’s community was caused by highly reckless criminal activities surrounding butane honey oil (BHO) production, this time we were very lucky that lives were not lost.”
According to court documents, on November 16, 2017, the Cottage Grove Police and Fire Departments responded to an explosion at a storage facility in Cottage Grove. Officers found Scully at a local hospital where he was being treated for serious burn injuries. Investigators later learned that, at the time of the explosion, at least three other individuals were inside the facility.
Two days later, Cottage Grove Police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents executed a search warrant at the storage facility. Inside, they found a large, sophisticated, and unlicensed BHO extraction lab. BHO is a concentrated form of marijuana extracted using highly flammable or combustible solvents. During the search, agents found more than 1,900 pounds of marijuana bud and shake, 728 marijuana plants and over 80 pounds of marijuana extract. Each plant was either mature or had leaves and readily observable root formation.
The investigation determined that while manufacturing BHO, one of Scully’s machines, located in a room containing combustibles, caught fire. The machine and combustibles exploded, injuring Scully and placing the other individuals present at substantial risk of harm.
Scully faces up to 40 years in prison with a five-year mandatory minimum sentence, a $5 million fine and a mandatory four-year term of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and defense counsel are jointly recommending a non-binding, 87-month sentence for Scully who will be sentenced on February 21, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.
As part of the plea agreement, Scully agrees to pay restitution to each victim as determined by the court, including payments for property damage, physical injuries caused by the explosion and the reimbursement of insurance companies. Scully also agreed to forfeit $25,980 in criminal proceeds and a pickup truck and trailer used to facilitate his crimes.
This case was investigated by DEA and the Cottage Grove Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Columbia Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Second Child Pornography ConvictionRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Dennis Michael Martin, 53, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report through its CyberTipline that an email address was being used to upload child pornography to the internet on April 16, 2016. Further investigation revealed the email address belonged to Martin, who was a registered sex offender already under supervision by the United States Probation Office for a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography. Martin also has a prior state conviction for Child Molestation in the Second Degree.
A search of Martin’s residence revealed that he had secretly purchased cell phones to access the internet to collect and distribute child pornography. The cell phones contained 26 videos and 2,544 images of child pornography.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Martin to 188 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Following his release, Martin will remain under court-ordered supervision for life. He will be required to register as a sex offender, attend sex offender treatment, submit to computer monitoring, refrain from any unsupervised contact with minors, and submit to random polygraph examinations.
Agents of the Department of Homeland Security investigated this case, which was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man who robbed a bank and led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase while carrying an infant in the back seat of his get-away car was sentenced in federal court today.
Larome Demetrius Humphrey, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 26, 2018, Humphrey pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Humphrey and two other men stole $2,588 from Callaway Bank, 5600 Bull Run Dr., Columbia, at gunpoint on April 27, 2017. Humphrey and another man entered the bank with pistols at approximately 1:44 p.m., while a third man waited in the getaway vehicle. They jumped the teller counter, put their pistols to a teller’s head and demanded money. The money was placed in a plastic bag, then they left the bank.
Witnesses saw the thieves run from the bank and get into a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers spotted the vehicle just east of the bank on I-70 in the area of Kingdom City, Mo. A vehicle pursuit ensued with speeds over 100 m.p.h. Troopers deployed stop sticks, and eventually the Impala left the roadway and struck a fence. All three of the thieves fled on foot but were apprehended by law enforcement officers.
When troopers searched the vehicle, they found a 1-year-old child who had been in the back seat of the Impala during the bank robbery and vehicle pursuit. The infant is the son of Humphrey’s girlfriend, who owns the car used in the robbery.
At the time of Humphrey’s arrest, a large sum of cash was discovered concealed in his underwear.
Humphrey has an extensive and violent criminal history, according to court documents. At age 18, Humphrey was convicted of aggravated assault, after he shot an individual during a robbery. At age 19, Humphrey was convicted of two charges of possession of marijuana. In 2011, Humphrey was convicted of felony facilitation of a sale of Alprazolam. In 2012, Humphrey was convicted of possession of marijuana and in 2014 he was convicted of attempted possession of marijuana.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI.
Columbia Man Sentenced for $1.1 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for a $1.1 million investment fraud scheme.
Billings Chapman, 79, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one year and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Chapman to pay $1,123,814 in restitution to his victims.
On April 30, 2018, Chapman pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Chapman was partial owner of CheckmarcUSA, LLC, a company formed to provide bad check collection services to banks. He also owned Federal Financial Services, LLC (FFS), which he used to solicit investors.
Chapman admitted that he engaged in a scheme from May 26, 2011, to April 30, 2014, to defraud investors by making materially false representations and using investment funds for his own personal benefit. Chapman guaranteed monthly payments to investors and misrepresented to investors his financial condition and the financial condition of FFS. Chapman falsely claimed that large numbers of banks had signed up for CheckmarcUSA’s services and that FFS was accruing substantial income as a result.
Chapman did not tell investors that he had been barred from engaging in the securities industry in 1970 by the National Association of Securities Dealers, or that he had been issued cease and desist orders in 1991 and in 2004 from the Missouri Commissioner of Securities for engaging in fraudulent or illegal practices in the securities business. Chapman, who was not registered to sell securities in Missouri, used investor money for his own personal gain and to make payments to prior investors.
According to court documents, the loss to Chapman’s victims totaled $1,123,814. A number of the victims were devastated financially by their loss. For example, one victim lost all of his retirement savings and had to suspend his retirement and resume working. Another victim, a single mother of two, invested her entire savings with Chapman and FFS, and her loss caused her to be unable to pay her bills.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the FBI.