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14 November 2018
Nevada Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Las Vegas, Nevada, tax return preparer was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
According to documents and information provided to the court, from 2009 through 2015, Ofelia Ronquillo prepared false income tax returns for clients of her business, A.R. Financial LLC and later AJRC Tax Services, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ronquillo included multiple false items on her clients’ tax returns, including charitable contributions, capital loss deductions, energy tax credits, and unreimbursed employee expenses—such as business meals and transportation expenses. As a result, the returns reported that the clients owed thousands of dollars less in taxes than they would have owed without the false deductions and credits. As part of the plea agreement, Ronquillo admitted that the total tax loss resulting from her preparation and filing of false returns was more than $2.7 million.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Gordon ordered Ronquillo to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution of $16,290.93.
“The Department of Justice will continue to hold tax return preparers, who willfully prepare and file fraudulent returns, accountable and to protect the United States Treasury from false refund claims,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman.
“Tax return preparers, who purposely prepare false tax returns to get high refunds are stealing directly from American taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan with IRS-CI. “Return preparer fraud is one of the top priorities for IRS-Criminal Investigation, and we will investigate these cases and prosecute those who steal from the American public.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Elieson commended special agents of Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Nevada Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A Las Vegas tax return preparer was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
According to documents and information provided to the court, from 2009 through 2015, Ofelia Ronquillo prepared false income tax returns for clients of her business, A.R. Financial LLC and later AJRC Tax Services, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ronquillo included multiple false items on her clients’ tax returns, including charitable contributions, capital loss deductions, energy tax credits, and unreimbursed employee expenses—such as business meals and transportation expenses. As a result, the returns reported that the clients owed thousands of dollars less in taxes than they would have owed without the false deductions and credits. As part of the plea agreement, Ronquillo admitted that the total tax loss resulting from her preparation and filing of false returns was more than $2.7 million.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Gordon ordered Ronquillo to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution of $16,290.93.
“The Department of Justice will continue to hold tax return preparers, who willfully prepare and file fraudulent returns, accountable and to protect the United States Treasury from false refund claims,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman.
“Tax return preparers, who purposely prepare false tax returns to get high refunds are stealing directly from American taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan with IRS-CI. “Return preparer fraud is one of the top priorities for IRS-Criminal Investigation, and we will investigate these cases and prosecute those who steal from the American public.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Elieson commended special agents of Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
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Nassau County Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography Using Hidden Bathroom CamerasRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Charles Cory Thornton (38, Yulee) to 23 years in federal prison for using hidden cameras to produce pornographic images and videos of four children. Thornton was also sentenced to serve a lifetime term of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims of his offenses.
Thornton had pleaded guilty on November 3, 2017, and has been in custody since his arrest on July 27, 2017.
According to court documents, on July 20, 2017, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Thornton’s residence based on suspected online child exploitation activity. When interviewed, Thornton admitted that he had been searching for child pornography online since 2012, and that he was sexually attracted to children. FBI agents seized several cameras and other computer media from Thornton’s residence. Forensic analyses of these items revealed that from January 2007 through August 2010, Thornton had produced at least 88 videos of four different children while they changed clothes in the bathrooms of two different residences in Florida and Virginia. Thornton surreptitiously recorded these videos using tiny cameras he had hidden in different spots in the bathrooms. Thornton admitted that his ultimate goal was to capture close-up, explicit footage of the children, then transfer the videos to his computer for his own sexual gratification.
A forensic examination of Thornton’s computer also revealed that he had used the internet to download, collect, and make available for sharing approximately 800,000 images and 9,400 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, some as young as two years of age.
“The FBI Jacksonville Division is committed to protecting children in this community,” said Carlton L. Peeples, Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “This case is just one example of our tireless efforts to identify predators and seek justice for their innocent victims.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Monroe County Man Charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Two DeathsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced that a Grand Jury in Scranton returned a two-count Indictment yesterday charging a Monroe County man with drug distribution resulting in the death of two individuals.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the Indictment alleges that on or about August 10, 2018, to on or about August 12, 2018, Vincent John Ingino, age 27, of East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed with intent to distribute controlled substances that included a mixture of acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl and heroin, causing the deaths of two individuals.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Detectives from the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Mathew P. Ridenour, 30 years old, of Mishawaka, IN, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Miller, Jr., after pleading guilty to the Production of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Ridenour was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release when released from prison.
According to documents in the case, on or about February 16, 2017, Ridenour recorded a video of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also admitted to having over 600 images of child pornography on his computer.
This case was investigated by the FBI, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Cybercrime Unit. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Maciejczyk.
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Milwaukee Resident Convicted of Prescription Fraud and Aggravated ID Theft in Scheme to Obtain OxycodoneRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Kameka Simpson, 43, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty in federal district court to one count of obtaining controlled substances (oxycodone) by fraud, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(3), and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). The indictment against Simpson and others, returned by the grand jury earlier this year, was part of a larger National Healthcare Fraud and Opioid Takedown coordinated by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The indictment against Simpson and others charged multiple counts stemming from the defendants’ passing of fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions purportedly written by an authorized healthcare provider at a pain clinic in Milwaukee. Simpson, who entered her plea in district court on November 13, 2018, admitted that she used her position as an office assistant at the pain clinic to facilitate the fraud.
Simpson is scheduled to be sentenced in February. The prescription fraud count carries a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, as much as one year of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of two years, a fine of up to $250,000, as much as one year of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.
United States Attorney Krueger stated, “We must act with urgency to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. For many, the road to addiction begins with prescription drugs. That’s why we are committed to prosecuting individuals who obtain prescription drugs outside of a professional medical practice.”
The Simpson case was investigated by the DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Koenig.
Information and resources concerning the opioid crisis and the DEA’s “360 Strategy” for addressing the crisis may be found at the DEA’s website, www.dea.gov
Information about “Dose of Reality,” the State of Wisconsin’s effort to prevent prescription painkiller abuse in Wisconsin is available at https://doseofrealitywi.gov
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Mexican National Sentenced to 6 Months Imprisonment for Passport FraudRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Leticia Corona-Salazar, age 40, of Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge James M. Munley to a time-served sentence of approximately 6 months imprisonment for committing passport fraud.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Corona-Salazar submitted a fraudulent application for a United States passport in May 2008. In the ultimately unsuccessful application, Corona-Salazar used a United States citizen’s identity as her own. Corona-Salazar was deported before charges were filed in 2015, but identified and re-arrested in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in May 2018, having re-entered the United States at an unknown time and place.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief William S. Houser and by Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.
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Merrimack Man Sentenced to Home Detention and Probation for Theft of Public MoneyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – David Laughton, 53, of Merrimack, was sentenced on Tuesday to twelve months of home detention and three years of probation for theft of public money, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, at the time of her death in June 2005, Laughton’s mother was receiving widow’s benefits from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) and federal pension benefits from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”). After her death, SSA and PBGC continued to deposit these monthly benefits into her bank account. Although he was not an account holder, Laughton gained access to his mother’s bank account and knew that SSA and PBGC made regular deposits to the account. Laughton did not advise SSA or PBGC of his mother’s death. Instead, for approximately a decade, he withdrew the money from his deceased mother’s bank account to pay for his own personal expenses. As a result, Laughton obtained over $118,031 from SSA and over $54,376 from PBGC.
Laughton, who pleaded guilty on June 21, 2018, was ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Social Security and pension benefits provide vital support for many individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “However, these funds should only go to those who are entitled to receive them. Those who try to cheat the system by stealing funds from federal benefits programs are committing a serious federal crime and will be prosecuted.”
This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
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Men from Avon Lake, Concord and Ravenna indicted for child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
Three men were indicted in federal court for crimes related to child pornography.
Shaun M. Stoneham, 37, of Avon Lake, was charged with receiving, possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography.
Stoneham received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between June and September 2017, according to the indictment.
David Greathouse, Jr., 32, of Ravenna, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Greathouse received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between May 2017 and October 2018. He also possessed a computer and phone which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.
Sean P. McElhatten, Jr., 30, of Concord, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
McElhatten received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between March and July 2017. He also possessed a computer and flash drives which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the 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.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
The Stoneham case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The Greathouse case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Tallmadge Police Department and the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office.
The McElhatten case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 390 Months in Federal Prison for Two Armed Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – David Gatewood, 44, has been sentenced to 390 months imprisonment for two armed business robberies. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Gatewood committed two armed business robberies between April 18, 2017 and April 21, 2017. In the earlier event, Gatewood used a revolver to rob the MAPCO Express gas station at 1723 Jackson Avenue in Memphis. During that robbery, Gatewood discharged the weapon, injuring a store employee. Later, Gatewood used the same weapon to rob Seguros La Ley, an insurance company, located at 729 N. White Station in Memphis, and fled with approximately $300.
Gatewood pled guilty on July 20, 2018, to two counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury to innocent victims. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and commerce, which victimizes the entire community. As demonstrated in this case, we will not tolerate this senseless gun violence and will use all available resources to remove dangerous offenders from our communities for a very long time. Gun Crime is Max Time."
On November 13, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Gatewood to 390 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Member of the Genovese Crime Family Charged in Superseding Indictment with Destruction of Evidence and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the filing of a Superseding Indictment against JOHN TORTORA JR. a/k/a “Johnny T,” charging him with destruction of evidence, falsifying records, and obstruction of justice. TORTORA was previously indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder for hire in United States v. Tortora, 18 Cr. 537 (SHS). He was arrested on August 2, 2018, and has remained in custody since that time. TORTORA will be arraigned on the new charges on November 19, 2018 before the Honorable Sidney H. Stein at the United States Courthouse in Manhattan.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, in an attempt to hide his illegal racketeering activity, the defendant was willing to destroy evidence and obstruct justice. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the FBI and the Yonkers Police Department, the defendant’s alleged attempts to impede the criminal justice process have resulted in his being charged with additional federal crimes.”
The charges in the Superseding Indictment[1] arise from TORTORA’s alleged role in destroying video recording evidence, and in the subsequent creation of a letter containing false information about the destruction of that evidence, which was provided to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, these acts were undertaken with the intent to impede the investigation into the racketeering activities of the Genovese Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra.
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In addition to the previous charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder for hire, TORTORA, 61, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with destruction of evidence, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, falsifying records, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Fender and Anden Chow are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Mandeville Financial Adviser Sentenced for Stealing $1.1 Million from Elderly InvestorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced yesterday the sentencing of a Mandeville investment adviser who stole more than $1.1 million from elderly investors in a widespread investment fraud scheme.
On November 13, 2018, RALPH WILLARD SAVOIE, age 71, of Mandeville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick. SAVOIE had previously been convicted of wire fraud. As a result of his conviction, SAVOIE was sentenced to a term of 168 months imprisonment, restitution to victims in the amount of $1,143,965, forfeiture of $1,134,070, and a 3 year term of supervised release following imprisonment. Savoie was immediately remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons to begin his 168 month sentence of imprisonment.
As SAVOIE acknowledged in court during his guilty plea and at his sentencing hearing, from in or about January 2013 through at least March 2016, he executed a scheme to defraud victim investors by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, promises, and representations. SAVOIE told his victim investors that he would invest their funds in securities and insurance, and described the investment opportunities as a “sure thing.” SAVOIE also guaranteed the victim investors high rates of return. However, instead of investing the funds as promised, SAVOIE spent the victim investor funds on jewelry, hotels, and restaurants, and withdrew the funds in cash. SAVOIE also used victim investor funds to pay his credit card bills and rent and to pay off other victim investors who had previously invested their money with him.
Towards the end of SAVOIE’s fraudulent scheme, a victim investor confronted SAVOIE about his investment. SAVOIE admitted to the victim investor that what he did with the victim investor’s money was illegal. Despite admitting his criminal conduct, SAVOIE later told the victim investor that he would never see his money returned if he reported the matter to law enforcement. SAVOIE also concealed from victim investors that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, an organization dedicated to market integrity and investor protection, had barred him from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public. During his guilty plea, SAVOIE admitted that he stole up to $1.5 million from investors.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “This conviction and sentence sends a loud and clear message – those who abuse their fiduciary responsibilities and take advantage of the elderly in this district will face the full might of the federal government. We will not tolerate corrupt professionals who abuse positions of trust and exploit vulnerable individuals simply to enrich themselves. I greatly appreciate the efforts of our prosecutors and the agents with IRS-CI, the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation who collaborated on this very important matter.”
IRS-CI Acting Assistant Special Agent In Charge Demetrius Hardeman stated, “Trust in the fair and equitable operation of our financial markets is the foundation of a free economy. Ralph Savoie received the court’s punishment for his abuse of honest investors seeking to leverage the market, and must now spend the next 14 years in prison paying for his wrongdoings. The Special Agents of IRS-CI are proud of the work we have done in this investigation, and will continue our efforts toward maintain the integrity of the country’s financial markets.”
This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, a section of the Louisiana Department of Justice. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rene Salomon, who also serves as the Chief of the Criminal Division.
Man Sentenced for Conspiring with his Son to Manufacture Two Pipe BombsRead the Press Release
A man was sentenced today after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring with his son to manufacture and possess pipe bombs that were planted inside a woman’s vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell sentenced Berry Albert Nichols, 54, of Mounds, to 30 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release.
Berry Nichols pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2018, to one count of conspiring with his son, Christopher Nichols, to purchase materials at a hardware store to create two pipe bombs. He acknowledged knowing his son would later plant the IEDs in the woman’s car at the Creek County Courthouse while she attended a hearing.
“Pipe bombs are illegal improvised explosive devices no matter the intended use,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “The danger pipe bombs present is real and could result in someone’s death or severe injury. We are satisfied with this sentence and the accountability it brings to Mr. Nichols. We are fortunate no one was injured by his pipe bombs. Our local law enforcement partners and the ATF did a tremendous job during this investigation and in rendering these devices safe.”
Berry Nichols was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
On Dec. 7, 2017, Judge Dowdell sentenced Christopher Dean Nichols, 24, of Sapulpa, to 44 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for the crime of conspiring to unlawfully manufacture and possess the two IEDs. In his plea hearing, Christopher Nichols admitted to adding explosive powder to a pipe, threading a fuse through one end of each device and placing BBs inside. He stated that he placed the pipe bombs in the woman’s car in an effort to scare her since the two were opposing parties in court.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sapulpa Police Department and the Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Allen J. Litchfield prosecuted the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl.
According to court documents, Glenn Murphy, 38, sold a total of three ounces of heroin to the Portsmouth Police during an undercover operation. After a subsequent attempt to sell heroin to the police, Murphy placed under arrest and searched. The police found four baggies containing various drugs, including two baggies containing 78 grams of Fentanyl, one baggie containing 12 grams of a Fentanyl derivative, and one baggie containing 28 grams of cocaine.
Murphy pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 12, 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, and Scott W. Hoernke, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Muhr is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-145.
Luther Floyd of Booneville Sentenced for Attempted Creation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Oxford, Miss. – A federal judge has sentenced Luther Scott Floyd of Booneville to serve 180 months in prison for attempted creation of child pornography. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, and Tishomingo County Sheriff Randy Tolar announced that Floyd was sentenced to the term of imprisonment on Thursday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown in Oxford.
Floyd pled guilty on August 10, 2018, to knowingly attempting to create videos of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(1)(a). At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown ordered Floyd to serve 5 years of supervised release after he completes the 15-year prison sentence.
Following the sentencing hearing, U.S. Attorney Lamar noted, “We will continue to do everything that we can to protect our children by removing these reprehensible predators from our communities.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Southaven Resident Agency, The Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Alcorn Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Paul Roberts in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
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Local Murder Suspect Pleads Guilty Under Project EJECT to Carjacking and Shooting at Victim During CarjackingRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Darrell D. Moore, 22, of Clinton, pled guilty yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour, Jr. to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Those who commit violent crime in our Capitol City and terrorize our citizens will face the full force of federal law enforcement. I commend the Jackson Police Department and the FBI for snatching this criminal off our streets and our prosecutors for getting him detained. Through their actions, others were prevented from becoming victims at the hands of this individual. Under Project EJECT, we are making our citizens safer and the City of Jackson more secure," said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
On November 7, 2017, while Moore was on bond for murder in Hinds County, he, Alexus Guster, and Cedric Winfield agreed to rob and carjack a victim at gunpoint. At the instruction of Moore and Winfield, Guster lured the victim to a location where Winfield and Moore were waiting to carjack and rob him. Guster and Winfield spoke to the victim while standing at the passenger side of the vehicle. While the victim was distracted, Moore approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, pulled the victim out of the car at gunpoint, and forced him to give up his money and the vehicle. The victim then fled the scene on foot and Moore fired his gun twice in the direction of the victim. Winfield drove the car to his residence where Moore and Guster met him to search the car for valuables.
Moore faces a maximum penalty of twenty-five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his role in the carjacking and brandishing a firearm. His sentencing date will be determined by the Court. Guster and Winfield previously pled guilty to carjacking and are awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Helen Wall and Kimberly Taft Purdie.
Local Businessman Charged with BriberyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Magdaleno Garcia Alonso, the owner and operator of Acworth Georgia Concrete, Incorporated, was arraigned on November 13, 2018, on bribery charges for offering to pay an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee $30,000 to falsify results of audits of his individual and business tax returns for 2015 and 2016.
“Alonso’s alleged attempt to bribe a federal employee by offering cash in return for fabricated audit reports of his tax returns failed,” said U. S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “The integrity of IRS is not for sale and those who devise schemes to circumvent paying their tax obligations will be investigated and prosecuted.”
“It is the mission of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to protect the integrity of the IRS and promote the fair administration of our federal tax system,” said Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of TIGTA’s Southern Field Division. “TIGTA and our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office will do everything within our power to ensure those individuals who attempt to bribe IRS agents and corrupt our nation’s tax system will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between September 14 and 19, 2018, Alonso allegedly bribed an IRS employee to falsify the results of audits of his personal and business tax returns for tax years 2015 and 2016. TIGTA agents arrested Garcia on November 9, 2018.
Magdaleno Garcia Alonso, 50, of Acworth, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on November 5, 2018. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny R. Turner is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Lawrence Man Sentenced to 12+ Years for Soliciting a Minor OnlineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Lawrence man was sentenced Wednesday to 151 months in federal prison for soliciting a 16-year-old girl to send him child pornography, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Jamie Drake, 40, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. In his plea, he admitted he solicited a 16-year-old girl from Franklin County, Mo., to send him photos of herself in sexual poses. He offered to pay her bills and send her money in exchange for photos.
McAllister commended Missouri Highway Patrol and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan for their work on the case.
Laguna Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Phillip J. Pedro, 35, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo who resides in Acoma Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting his intimate partner by strangling or suffocating. Pedro pled guilty under a plea agreement that recommends that he be sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
The BIA arrested Pedro on July 18, 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting an Acoma Pueblo woman by strangulation on June 27, 2018, on the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation in Cibola County, N.M. According to the complaint, Pedro assaulted the victim, his intimate partner, while she was eight-months pregnant. The victim suffered scratches on her neck and back, red spotting on her left eye and inside her bottom lip, and bruising and swelling on her left finger as the result of the assault. The victim was transferred to a hospital in Albuquerque due to the seriousness of the strangulation.
During today’s proceedings, Pedro pled guilty to a felony information charging him with assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating. In entering the guilty plea, Pedro admitted that on June 27, 2018, he assaulted the victim by grabbing her by the throat and strangling her so she could not breathe.
Pedro 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.
Lackawanna County Woman Found Guilty of Drug Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that Holly Kaszuba, age 45, of Dickson City, was found guilty of unlawfully distributing a controlled substance resulting in the death of another person after a five-day trial before Senior U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, jurors deliberated for approximately two hours before rendering the guilty verdict against Kaszuba for the December 13, 2015 death of Christopher Graff, age 30, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office presented the testimony of Dr. Gary Ross, Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Coyer, Forensic Toxicologist, and Dr. Stacey Hail, an expert in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. All three opined that fentanyl laced heroin caused the death of Christopher Graff. Additional testimony was provided by Dunmore Police Detectives and other individuals related to the investigation who testified that Kaszuba arranged and facilitated the distribution of the fentanyl laced heroin to Christopher Graff that ultimately caused his death.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration – Scranton Office, the Dunmore and Scranton Police Departments, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, the Lackawanna County Office of Probation/Parole, and the Coroner’s Office of Lackawanna County. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Olshefski and Daryl Bloom prosecuted the case.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and other opioids. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin and opioid traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The maximum penalty under federal law is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The drug distribution resulting in death charge also carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Kansas City, Kan., Man Sentenced After DNA Found on GunRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas City, Kan., man whose DNA was found on a handgun was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Jason M. Trevillion, 33, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The investigation began when members of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Violent Crime Task force heard shots fired in the area of 8th and Parallel Avenue. Police attempted stop a Dodge Caravan but the vehicle fled. When police blocked the car from the front and behind, the van rammed both police cars. Trevillion was one of the defendants who eventually got out of the van.
In the van, police found a .40 caliber pistol with a 50-round drum magazine, two .223 caliber pistols, a 9 mm pistol, and a .45 caliber pistol, as well as spent shell casings and live rounds. Trevillion’s DNA was found on the 9 mm pistol. He had a 2015 conviction in Wyandotte County for aggravated assault.
Co-defendant Ernest A. Jones was sentenced to 12 months and a day. Co-defendant Taurez L. Adams is set for sentencing Nov. 13.
McAllister commended the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the FBI, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Zabel for their work on the case.
KC Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for a series of armed robberies following his arrest after a head-on collision with a police vehicle in a Quik Trip parking lot.
Roy L. House, Jr., 38, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 30 years in federal prison without parole.
On March 20, 2018, House pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and to brandishing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Co-defendant Curlie Pruitt, III, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced on Sept. 13, 2018, to 10 years and nine months in federal prison without parole.
House and Pruitt both admitted they participated in a conspiracy to rob four businesses at gunpoint in December 2016. They stole $500 and at least one carton of cigars (as well as $150 from an employee) from Road Star Gas Station, 11100 E. US 40 Hwy., Independence, Mo. They stole $200 and an undetermined amount of cigars (as well as an employee’s wallet) from Beeline Mini-Mart, 1005 Isley Blvd., Excelsior Springs, Mo. They stole $300 (as well as $200 from an employee) from Discount Smokes, 4718 N.E. Vivion Rd., Kansas City, Mo. They also robbed the Phillips 66 Gas Station at 3636 Randolph Road, Randolph, Mo.
House and Pruitt also admitted they used an American Tactical .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun during those robberies.
House and Pruitt were arrested on Dec. 20, 2016. Independence police officers were contacted by an employee at the Super 8 Hotel, 4031 S. Lynn Court Drive, in regard to two men – later identified as Pruitt and House – who were acting suspiciously. The employee feared the men were going to rob the hotel. They left the hotel but returned at approximately 9:05 p.m.
When officers arrived at the hotel, House and Pruitt were in a blue Ford 500 and were leaving the area, with Pruitt driving. A police officer activated the emergency equipment on his patrol vehicle to initiate a traffic stop, however, Pruitt accelerated the vehicle and drove through the parking lot of the Quik Trip at 4024 S. Noland Road. As Pruitt’s vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through the parking lot, traveling toward S. Noland Road, it collided head-on with the patrol vehicle of another officer who was responding to assist. The collision was severe enough to disable both vehicles.
Pruitt immediately attempted to exit his vehicle and flee, but was trapped by a third police vehicle that pinned the driver’s side door closed. Pruitt and House were placed under arrest. Officers found the loaded American Tactical .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun on the floor board of the front passenger seat area.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Excelsior Springs, Mo., Police Department.
Justice Department, Department of Agriculture Host Inaugural Rural and Tribal Elder Justice SummitRead the Press Release
Today, the United States Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture hosts the first Rural and Tribal Elder Justice Summit in Des Moines, Iowa. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and Secretary Sonny Perdue for the Department of Agriculture announced the summit in a joint statement on June 15, 2018. The Summit will focus on supporting the efforts of elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse and financial exploitation in rural and tribal communities.
“Exploitation of our seniors is a despicable crime,” Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said. “Under this administration, the Department of Justice has taken sweeping action to stop crimes of elder fraud and abuse, and we are working to do more. Unfortunately, such crimes pose a special challenge in rural communities like the one where I grew up, in which law enforcement agencies can be spread thin and where there often are fewer support services available. Today’s summit reflects the Department’s commitment to ensuring that our state and local partners have the most current resources and robust support to combat elder fraud and abuse in their communities. We all have a role to play in this fight and I am grateful for the support of Secretary Perdue and all of our federal, state and local partners who made this summit possible as we advance the goal of elder justice in rural America.”
“We often talk about wanting to leave this country in better shape than we found it for the benefit of future generations, but too often the care of those from older generations is overlooked," said Secretary Perdue. "The abuse and neglect of senior citizens is something that no civilized society should tolerate. President Trump has prioritized increasing the quality of life in rural America, including in tribal communities, and that encompasses caring for our elderly as well. Elder justice means protecting seniors from all forms of abuse and we cannot achieve true prosperity in every corner of America without it.”
Over the course of two days, elder justice professionals serving and working with older adults in rural and tribal communities around the country will come together to: (1) gain a better understanding of the challenges rural and tribal communities face in responding to elder abuse; (2) identify promising practices, resources, and tools available to rural and tribal communities; and (3) foster greater collaboration at the tribal, local, state, and federal levels in order to serve elders from rural and tribal communities.
Following opening remarks, the first day of the Summit will feature a plenary session that will explore the unique challenges and opportunities associated with addressing elder abuse in rural and tribal communities. Subsequent panels will highlight federal efforts to support rural and tribal communities, as well as innovative practices and initiatives currently being used in rural communities and tribal communities to support elder abuse victims. The second day of the Summit, which falls on National Rural Health Day, will feature two panel sessions. The first will focus on harnessing the power of technology to respond to elder abuse in rural and tribal communities, and the second will highlight tools and resources available to combat and report elder financial exploitation. All of the elder justice resources and tools highlighted at the Summit will be available at the Department’s Elder Justice Website.
The Summit was spearheaded by the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, in close collaboration with members of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission. The Department of Justice also worked closely with the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the National Adult Protective Services Association.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, The Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, this past February the Attorney General announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 200 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
Elder justice refers to a society’s response to elder abuse, which includes physical abuse, caregiver neglect, financial exploitation, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and abandonment.
Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov. Additional elder justice resources, training, and outreach materials can be found at the Elder Justice Website (at www.elderjustice.gov).
Jury Convicts Teesto Man for First Degree Murder, Assaulting Tribal Police Officers, and Other Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Giordano Jackson, 39, of Teesto, Ariz., was convicted by a jury on all charges, including first degree murder, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and kidnapping. Jackson will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa in February 2019.
Jackson had a history of repeated acts of domestic violence against the victim, his girlfriend. In July 2017, Jackson beat the victim and dragged her by her hair with enough force to pull out chunks of hair. Then, in September 2017, Jackson brutally beat the victim to death outside his house in Teesto. Jackson was lying in wait when Navajo Nation Police Officers arrived to investigate the murder, and assaulted two officers with a machete. Both Jackson and the victim are members of the Navajo Nation, as are the responding Navajo Nation Police Officers that Jackson assaulted, and the crimes all occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William G. Voit and Sharon K. Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-08242-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018_155_ Jackson
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Jury Convicts Man of Sex Trafficking Children, Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A jury has convicted Ismail Salaam, 36, of Cincinnati, of sex trafficking children and producing child pornography.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Herb Stapleton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and Springdale Police Chief Michael Mathis announced the verdict reached today after a trial that began November 5 before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
According to court documents and testimony at trial, Springdale officers responded to the La Quinta Motel in Springdale in September 2016 in response to a report of a juvenile runaway in the motel. Officers discovered Salaam there with the 16-year-old juvenile runaway.
It was further discovered that Salaam and the minor girl had been together for the previous three weeks. Salaam paid for food, hairstyling, manicures and clothing for the victim.
Salaam took explicit photographs of the girl and attempted to have the victim post an advertisement on Backpage.com in the escorts section.
Salaam coordinated encounters with at least two men, in which the victim was to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for money. In one instance, an adult male had vaginal intercourse with the victim and provided $100, which the girl provided to Salaam.
In text messages, Salaam instructed the victim to flirt with the men, offer sexual acts, and collect money and marijuana.
Salaam was convicted of one count of sex trafficking children, a crime punishable by 10 years to life in prison, and two counts of producing child pornography. Each count of production carries a potential sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison.
He was charged by a criminal complaint in September 2016 and indicted by a grand jury in October 2016 and January 2017.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the FBI and Springdale Police Department, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Singer and Christy Muncy, who tried the case, and Kyle Healey, who is also representing the United States in this case.
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Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Man to 7-Year Prison Term in Cross-Country Crack Cocaine Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to 7 years and one month in prison on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on John Alexander, age 53.
According to information presented to the Court, in 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies joined forces in a multi-agency wiretap investigation of drug trafficking and violence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh, PA. The interception of wire and electronic communications began in December 2013 and continued through the end of August 2014. During that timeframe, John Alexander was intercepted over the wire conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute crack cocaine, which was shipped from California in powder form to the Western District of Pennsylvania through the United States Postal Service or commercial carrier.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to fulfill the purposes of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Brady commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Street Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Alexander.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Brother's Veteran's BenefitsRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pled guilty yesterday to embezzling over $80,000 of his brother’s Veteran’s benefits. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
David Washington, 55, was appointed his brother's fiduciary to receive and manage benefits from the Department of Veteran's Affairs. Washington failed to submit accounting reports, which led investigators to question his management. Washington later admitted to mismanagement, including spending his brother's benefits for his own personal expenses. The total amount misappropriated was over $81,000.
“Our veterans have sacrificed enough and have earned every dollar this country provides them through benefit programs,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “It’s despicable to think that anyone, much less a family member, would steal benefits from a veteran for their own personal use.”
Washington faces up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced in February 2019. United States District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Gabe Wohl and R. Gregory McVey handled the prosecution.
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House Fitters, Inc.’s Vice President Sentenced for Unlawfully Employing an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that House Fitters, Inc.’s Vice President, ROBERT B. JERNIGAN, age 52, of Kinston, North Carolina, was sentenced today to a 12-month probationary sentence by United States District Judge James C. Dever III after a guilty plea to unlawfully employing an illegal alien. JERNIGAN was also ordered to forfeit $9,649.00 in connection with the criminal conduct.
According to court records, JERNIGAN, in his role as House Fitters, Inc.’s Vice President, hired Oscar Obdulio Lopez-Garcia, a previously deported alien from Guatemala, knowing Lopez-Garcia was not authorized to undertake employment in the United States. In order to avoid detection, JERNIGAN and House Fitters, Inc. allowed Lopez-Garcia to reside in company property and reported Lopez-Garcia’s wages to the North Carolina Employment Security Commission under a fictitious name.
On September 7, 2018, Lopez-Garcia pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported on three (3) occasions subsequent to a conviction for sale of a controlled substance. Lopez-Garcia’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for the December 2018 term of court.
The case was investigated under the newly created framework of the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina and is led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, and assisted by Enforcement Removal Operations, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, among other agencies. The investigation as to the unlawful employment of unauthorized aliens is ongoing.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison for Being Felon in Possession of 28 Illegal Firearms, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Georgia man with prior felony convictions was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for illegally possessing weapons and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Tyheed Jefferson, 36, a/k/a “Solo,” of Albany, Georgia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to an indictment charging him with six counts of being a felon in possession of a weapon and one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Judge Chesler imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Jefferson was arrested in July 2017 after a 10-month investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Georgia, Alabama and New Jersey. He admitted that on various dates between May 7, 2017, and July 18, 2017, he possessed 28 firearms in New Jersey. All of those firearms were recovered by the ATF during the course of the investigation. Jefferson also admitted that on May 24, 2017, a date on which he also possessed illegal firearms, he possessed 1,500 pills containing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Jefferson to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of John B. DeVito, Newark Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Wayne L. Dixie, Atlanta Field Division, as well as the N.J. Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan and the N.J. State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman James Plousis, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Violent Crime Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Howard Brownstein Esq., Union City, New Jersey
Four More Sentenced in Extensive Moultrie Meth RingRead the Press Release
ALBANY— Four individuals associated with a massive Methamphetamine ring operating out of Moultrie, Georgia were sentenced Tuesday, November 13, 2018, announced United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler. The sentences were handed down by the Honorable Leslie J. Abrams. There have been a total of 25 sentencings related to the same illegal drug distribution ring.
Authorities estimate that the group was responsible for the distribution of more than 20 kilograms of the drug. From May until November 2016, an organization of 30 individuals distributed Methamphetamine in and around Moultrie, Georgia. According to court evidence, some of these transactions also occurred in Atlanta, GA and parts of Florida, including at the Georgia-Florida line.
The individuals sentenced Tuesday, November 13, 2018 are as follows:
Brenda Trimble age 32 of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty on February 14, 2018 to Distribution of Methamphetamine. Trimble was sentenced to 132 months to serve, 4 years supervised release.
Michael Stamper age 35 of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty on April 25, 2018 to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Stamper was sentenced to 180 months to serve, 5 years supervised release.
Christin Johnson age 33 of Coolidge, GA, pled guilty on April 25, 2018 to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Johnson was sentenced to 90 months to serve, 5 years supervised release.
Will Barron age 30 of Monticello, FL, pled guilty on February 14, 2018 to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute controlled substances. Barron was sentenced to 96 months to serve, 5 years supervised release.
“These individuals are part of a large, illegal operation distributing one of the most deadly drugs today,” said Charles E. Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “Each had a role in moving Methamphetamine across Georgia, into our smaller communities and larger cities. Dismantling this ring makes our state safer, and I credit the tenacious efforts of more than a dozen law enforcement agencies and our committed prosecutorial team that joined together to successfully end this meth operation.”
The following individuals were sentenced the week of October 22-26, 2018:
Borris Fuller age 41 of Moultrie, GA pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 360 months to serve, 10 years supervised release
Shundrez Fuller age 21 of Tallahassee, FL, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months, 5 years supervised release
Walter Treanor age 36 of Pelham, GA, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 228 months to serve, 5 years supervised release
Rebecca Lawrence age 47 of DeLeon Springs, FL, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to120 months, 5 years supervised release
Leory Valdez age 33 of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 180 months, 10 years supervised release
Artaviouis Williams age 33, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 180 months to serve, 5 years supervised release
Derrick Wright age 31, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to 192 months to serve, 5 years supervised release
Heather Crawford age 36, of Cecil, GA, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to 96 months to serve, 5 years supervised release
Cedric Butts age 29, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to 200 months to serve, 5 years supervised release
Shaquese McIntyre age 22, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (Count 1), Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 2) and was sentenced to160 months to serve, 4 years supervised release
Marcus Andrews age 35, of Bristol, FL, pled guilty to Conspiracy to possess Meth with the Intent to Distribute and was sentenced to 145 months, 3 years supervised release
Sharon Blackwell age 46, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 100 months, 5 years supervised release
Samuel Butler age 56, of Crawford, FL, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to 96 months, 5 years supervised release
Michael Dampier age 45, of Doerun, GA, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 160 months to serve, 5 years supervised release and a $100 mandatory assessment
Devin Dorminey age 23, of Lake City, FL, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Drug User and was sentenced to 18 months, 3 years supervised release
Leroy Haynes age 41, of Norman Park, GA, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 180 months, 5 years supervised release
Michael Kulak age 45, of DeLeon Springs, FL, pled guilty to Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises and was sentenced to 24 months, 3 years supervised release
Stephanie McMurphy age 39, of Adel, GA, pled guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school and was sentenced to 102 months to serve, 6 years supervised release
Avery Norman age 37, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Use of a Communication Device in Furtherance of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and was sentenced to 24 months, 1 year supervised release
Cambrick Taylor age 22, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises, and was sentenced to 12 months and day to serve, 2 years supervised release
Melissa Valdez Williams age 30, of Moultrie, GA, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute controlled substances and was sentenced to 180 months, 5 years supervised release
The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Mid-South Narcotics Task Force, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Tift County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Grady County Sheriff’s Office, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Florida Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Florida Bureau of Investigation and Moultrie Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Four Alleged Members of Universal Aryan Brotherhood Charged with Federal CrimesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JACE LEE McKITTRICK, 29, of Enid; ROSS TYSON PILKINGTON, 39, of Lawton; and JERRY JAMES KENDALL RITCHIE, 32, of Enid, have been charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, while MICHAEL QUINTON SMITH, II, 48, of Oklahoma City, and McKittrick have been charged with possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, announced Robert J. Troester of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A federal grand jury returned indictments yesterday that charge each defendant separately, based on different events in different places and at different times. All four are alleged to be members of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed on November 1, 2018, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a red GMC driven by McKittrick for a traffic violation at about 12:30 a.m. on October 10. McKittrick allegedly failed to stop and instead drove through a residential area at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. The affidavit explains that McKittrick then turned around and rammed the pursuing police car. Continuing to attempt to evade the police, he is alleged to have eventually run into a tree and fled on foot. The pursuing officer was able to arrest him through the use of a taser, according to the complaint. McKittrick’s vehicle allegedly contained numerous one-gram-style baggies, 26.1 grams of a white crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, a marijuana cigar, and other items.
In addition to charging possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on October 10, the indictment charges McKittrick with three crimes on September 23, 2018: possession of methamphetamine and Oxycodone with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted of possessing methamphetamine or Oxycodone with intent to distribute, he could be imprisoned for twenty years and face not less than three years of supervised release. A conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm would carry a maximum penalty of ten years, plus three years of supervised release. And a conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking would lead to mandatory imprisonment of five years in addition to any other penalty, plus up to five years of supervised release.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed on October 31, 2018, a detective with the Lawton Police Department stopped Pilkington for a traffic violation on June 12, 2018, at approximately 10:13 a.m. The affidavit alleges the detective felt a crunchy substance in Pilkington’s pocket while conducting a pat-down for weapons. According to the affidavit, the substance was in a clear plastic bag and appeared to be methamphetamine. Further search of the vehicle allegedly yielded 331 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and clear plastic baggies. If convicted of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Pilkington would face imprisonment between five and forty years and not less than four years of supervised release. Court records show that at the time of arrest, Pilkington was on supervised release following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed on November 1, 2018, Enid Police Department officers stopped a Buick SUV driven by Ritchie on October 19, 2018, at approximately 7:06 p.m. for a traffic violation. According to the affidavit, when officers apprehended Ritchie after he fled on foot, he refused to place his hands in the air and was pulled to the ground and handcuffed while yelling and cursing. It is alleged that officers ultimately discovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the SUV, along with bags with a white substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and two digital scales.
An indictment now charges Ritchie with possession of 3.9 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted on the drug count, he could be imprisoned up to twenty years, be fined up to $1,000,000, and be subject to three years of supervised release. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, he could be imprisoned for ten years and face up to three years of supervised release. The count charging possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking would carry a mandatory term of five years of imprisonment beyond any other sentence and three years of supervised release. If, however, the court were to determine he qualifies as an armed career criminal, he would be subject to a mandatory prison term of fifteen years and a maximum of life.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed on November 9, 2018, Oklahoma City Police Department officers found Smith on August 7, 2018, just after 3:00 a.m., asleep in a Toyota Tundra that was straddling lanes at the intersection of S.W. 59th Street and Blackwelder Avenue. The affidavit explains that after waking Smith up, an officer determined he had been driving under revocation, had five felony warrants out of Oklahoma County, and was a convicted felon. That officer allegedly saw a firearm later identified as a Bushmaster Firearms International, Model XM15-E2S, .223 caliber/5.56 rifle in plain view on the back floorboard. According to the affidavit, the gun had a loaded thirty-round magazine and had been stolen in Midwest City. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Smith could be imprisoned for ten years and face up to three years of supervised release.
The charges against McKittrick and Ritchie are the results of investigations by the Enid Police Department, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the District Attorney’s Office for Garfield County. The charge against Pilkington is the result of an investigation by the Lawton Police Department and the FBI, with assistance from the District Attorney’s Office for Comanche County. The charge against Smith is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the District Attorney’s Office for Oklahoma County. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Patterson and Mark R. Stoneman, these four cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public filings for further information.
Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former Lebanon, Mo., teacher pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.
Brandon Hileman, 25, of Lebanon, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to the charge contained in an Oct. 18, 2017, federal indictment.
Hileman, formerly a math teacher at Joel E. Barber Junior High School in Lebanon, admitted that he received and distributed child pornography over the internet between Jan. 1 and Sept. 29, 2017.
The investigation began when a Lebanon police detective was notified that Hileman had uploaded two videos of child pornography to his Google Drive account. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hileman’s residence on Sept. 29, 2017, and seized computers, an iPad, cell phones and digital storage devices. Investigators examined the devices and found images and videos of child pornography.
Under federal statutes, Hileman is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lebanon, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Former State Street Executive Sentenced for Scheme to Defraud Clients Through Secret Trading CommissionsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former senior managing director of State Street Corporation was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with engaging in a scheme to defraud at least six of the bank’s clients through secret commissions applied to billions of dollars of securities trades.
Edward Pennings, 47, of Surrey, England, a former senior managing director of State Street and the head of its Portfolio Solutions Group for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to six months in prison. In June 2017, Pennings pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud.
In October 2018, co-defendant Ross McLellan, 47, of Hingham, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release after being convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiring to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Richard Boomgaardt, 44, of Sevenoaks, England, a former managing director of State Street, who was charged separately for his involvement in the scheme, pleaded guilty in July 2017 to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud was sentenced in July 2018 to one year of probation.
Between February 2010 and September 2011, Pennings, McLellan, and Boomgaardt conspired to add secret commissions to fixed income and equity trades performed for six clients of the bank’s “transition management” business, which helps institutional clients move their investments between and among asset managers or liquidate large investment portfolios. The commissions were charged on top of fees that the clients had agreed to pay to the bank, and despite written instructions to the bank’s traders that generally reflected that the clients were not to be charged trading commissions. Pennings, McLellan, and Boomgaardt took steps to hide the commissions from the clients and others within the bank, including by directing that the commissions not be broken out in post-trade reports.
In June 2011, when one of the affected clients inquired about whether it had, in fact, been charged commissions in breach of its agreement with the bank, Pennings initially denied that any commissions had been charged. Later, at McLellan’s direction, Pennings acknowledged only that “inadvertent commissions” had been applied to securities traded in the United States, but did not disclose that they had, in fact, been intentionally charged in both the United States and in Europe. Pennings and McLellan sought to mislead the bank’s compliance staff into believing that the commissions had been charged in error and that the amount of the overcharges was limited to the commissions applied on U.S. securities.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Securities & Exchange Commission and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Frank, Chief of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit, and Trial Attorney William Johnston of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Former Philadelphia Police Officer IndictedRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Thomas O’Neill, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged yesterday by indictment with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
According to the indictment, the defendant, while on duty as a Philadelphia Police Officer, sexually assaulted a woman on July 3, 2016. The indictment alleges that O’Neill used a dangerous weapon in the course of the offense.
“Reducing violent crime in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is a top priority of my Office,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “No matter who you are, if you commit a violent crime, we are committed to holding you accountable and keeping our community safe.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of a maximum of 10 years’ incarceration, a 3-year period of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department Internal Affairs Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former IT Administrator Found Guilty of Federal Charges for Hacking into Computers of His Former Employer in IrvineRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Arizona man has been convicted of federal computer intrusion charges for deleting electronic files after hacking into computer systems operated by an Irvine-based company where he used to work.
Nikishna Polequaptewa, 36, of Phoenix, was found guilty Tuesday afternoon by a federal jury. Following a five-day trial, the jury convicted Polequaptewa of one count of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer and causing over $50,000 in loss.
Beginning in April 2014, Polequaptewa worked at Blue Stone Strategy Group, which provided consulting services to Native American tribal governments throughout the United States. In addition to his consulting responsibilities, Polequaptewa led information technology and marketing at Blue Stone.
In November 2014, Polequaptewa was relieved of IT and marketing duties after he began falling behind on work. Following this change in responsibilities, Polequaptewa was assigned to a consulting project in Florida for the Seminole Tribe. While on that project, Polequaptewa deleted Blue Stone’s website and marketing materials that the company had developed over eight years.
Polequaptewa resigned in Florida and continued to delete Blue Stone files, including client information, Blue Stone work product, and the company’s backup files held by a third-party. Polequaptewa’s final deletion was done by sending a “wipe” command to a Blue Stone desktop computer in Irvine.
In court documents, prosecutors described Polequaptewa’s actions as “a coordinated campaign to delete information and data.” Polequaptewa’s deletions cost Blue Stone over $50,000 to assess the damage and respond to the offense.
During the time of the criminal conduct in 2014, Polequaptewa lived in Garden Grove.
As a result the guilty verdict, Polequaptewa faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 25, 2019 by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney.
The investigation into Polequaptewa was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida and the Irvine Police Department provided assistance.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vibhav Mittal and Bradley E. Marrett of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
Former Federal Contractors Plead Guilty to Federal Contract Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
George Patton and Henry Patton both pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina. George Patton also pleaded guilty to evading payment of his individual income taxes.
According to documents filed with the court, George Patton owned businesses that were registered to do business with the federal government, but he was eventually debarred from conducting such business. During this time, George Patton, his wife, Lindsey Patton, and his brother, Henry Patton then conspired to form new contracting businesses for which Lindsey Patton and Henry Patton acted as nominee owners, but which George Patton controlled. Under this arrangement, the conspirators obtained federal contracts totaling over $10 million. In order to conceal the income that he earned from the businesses, George Patton instructed his co-conspirators first to deposit funds from the businesses into bank accounts in their names and then transfer the funds to him. George Patton further concealed his income by directing his co-conspirators to deposit the funds in amounts less than $10,000 to evade currency-reporting requirements.
George Patton and Lindsey Patton filed income tax returns for the 2006 through 2008 and 2013 tax years, which reported approximately $61,000 in taxes, which they have evaded paying. The total tax loss associated with their conduct, including penalties and interest, is over $107,000.
Lindsey Patton pleaded guilty on November 9, 2018 to conspiring to defraud the United States and to evading payment of her individual income taxes.
Sentencing for George Patton and Henry Patton is scheduled for March 18, 2019. Sentencing for Lindsey Patton is scheduled for February 27, 2019. George Patton and Lindsey Patton each face a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. Henry Patton faces a maximum of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, who investigated the case, and United States Assistant Attorney Anand Ramaswamy and Trial Attorney Alexander Effendi of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.
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Former Federal Contractors Plead Guilty to Federal Contract Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
George Patton and Henry Patton both pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina. George Patton also pleaded guilty to evading payment of his individual income taxes.
According to documents filed with the court, George Patton owned businesses that were registered to do business with the federal government, but he was eventually debarred from conducting such business. During this time, George Patton, his wife, Lindsey Patton, and his brother, Henry Patton then conspired to form new contracting businesses for which Lindsey Patton and Henry Patton acted as nominee owners, but which George Patton controlled. Under this arrangement, the conspirators obtained federal contracts totaling over $10 million. In order to conceal the income that he earned from the businesses, George Patton instructed his co-conspirators first to deposit funds from the businesses into bank accounts in their names and then transfer the funds to him. George Patton further concealed his income by directing his co-conspirators to deposit the funds in amounts less than $10,000 to evade currency-reporting requirements.
George Patton and Lindsey Patton filed income tax returns for the 2006 through 2008 and 2013 tax years, which reported approximately $61,000 in taxes, which they have evaded paying. The total tax loss associated with their conduct, including penalties and interest, is over $107,000.
Lindsey Patton pleaded guilty on November 9, 2018 to conspiring to defraud the United States and to evading payment of her individual income taxes.
Sentencing for George Patton and Henry Patton is scheduled for March 18, 2019. Sentencing for Lindsey Patton is scheduled for February 27, 2019. George Patton and Lindsey Patton each face a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. Henry Patton faces a maximum of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, who investigated the case, and United States Assistant Attorney Anand Ramaswamy and Trial Attorney Alexander Effendi 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 Connecticut College Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge Stemming from Embezzlement SchemesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that MICHAEL KMEC, 40, of Marlborough, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of wire fraud related to an embezzlement scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kmec began working at Connecticut College in New London in 2006. In 2014, Kmec was promoted to Director of Auxiliary Services of the college. In that position, he oversaw the print shop, bookstore, vending machines, transportation, laundry services and residence halls. He also oversaw the Camel Card program, which is an identification and debit card used at the college. As part of his responsibilities, Kmec oversaw approval of various third-party reimbursements for services to the college.
Beginning in approximately 2014 and ending when he was terminated by Connecticut College in April 2018, Kmec defrauded the college through various embezzlement schemes, including receiving funds from the college through fraudulent billing schemes, diverting checks to the college to a bank account he controlled, diverting money from the Camel Card program to bank accounts he controlled, and misappropriating a college laptop. He also fraudulently deposited more than 80 reimbursement checks that a contractor for the college had issued to Connecticut College students into a bank account he controlled.
Through these schemes, Kmec stole $173,010.
Kmec is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on February 12, 2019, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.
Former Canton Resident Extradited from Ireland Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A dual U.S.-Irish citizen pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to charges arising out of a multi-year mortgage fraud scheme.
Patrick Lee, 45, formerly of Canton and Easton, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction. Chief U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Feb. 28, 2019. Lee was extradited from Ireland to the United States last year to face the charges. It was Ireland’s first extradition to the United States since 2012.
Between July 2005 and May 2007, Lee engaged with others in a mortgage fraud scheme. Specifically, Lee or a relative bought five multi-family buildings in Dorchester and South Boston, financed those purchases with fraudulently obtained mortgage loans, and quickly converted the buildings to condominiums which facilitated the resale of individual units in the buildings to straw buyers. The straw buyers were recruited for this purpose and their purchases were financed with fraudulently obtained mortgage loans. The straw buyers were assured that they would not have to put any money down or pay the mortgages, and that they would get a fee at closing and/or a share of the profits when the properties were sold. The loans were funded with interstate wire transfers from the mortgage lenders to the closing attorneys’ conveyancing accounts, and the proceeds were then distributed to Lee and/or a family member, the recruiters, and others involved in the scheme. According to the government, mortgage lenders suffered losses of more than $1.5 million.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of criminally derived property. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra S. Bower and Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Employee Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of obstruction of justice, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Erika Romanowski, 40, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, Romanowski admitted that while employed as a clerk with the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), she had access to sensitive law enforcement information, including information related to ongoing federal investigations with which ACSO assisted. Romanowski further admitted that, between in and around February 2018 and in and around April 2018, she disclosed non-public, sensitive law enforcement information to two personal associates, identified as Person A and Person B, in an effort to protect Person B from investigation and prosecution by federal authorities. The court was further advised that Person A and Person B were targets of an ongoing federal grand jury investigation focused on the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization operating in the West End neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Romanowski further admitted that during the course of an interview with Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on June 20, 2018, she repeatedly lied about having disclosed non-public, sensitive law enforcement information to Person A and Person B.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s bond.
Assistant United States Attorneys Eric G. Olshan and Rachael L Dizard are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Romanowski.
Estranged Husband Charged in 7 Count Indictment with Murder of Ft. Campbell SoldierRead the Press Release
PADUCAH, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman today announced the charging of Victor E. Silvers, by a federal grand jury with seven counts relating to the premeditated murder of Sgt. Brittney N. Silvers, who was killed on base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Defendant Silvers, of Clarksville, Tennessee was charged in the indictment with: one count of first degree murder (premediated), attempted first degree murder (premeditated), domestic violence, violation of a protection order, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent offense.
Silvers was originally charged in a criminal complaint filed on October 15, 2018. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, at approximately 10:00 pm CDT, a friend of Sgt. Silvers was socializing at her residence when someone later identified as Victor Silvers arrived at the residence and began banging on the door. The friend heard shouting between the individuals followed by a gunshot. A short time later, Victor Silvers entered a bathroom, where the friend had been during the altercation. The defendant, still armed with a handgun, entered the bathroom at which point a struggle ensued, and at least three times the firearm was discharged, and the friend was struck in the leg. A neighbor, who was walking his dog, heard gunshots and saw Victor Silvers shoot Brittney Silvers in front of her residence. Victor Silvers initially denied involvement in the crimes, but later confessed to investigators during an interview to shooting Brittney Silvers, according to the affidavit.
The charges carry a minimum sentence of no less than 25 years up to life imprisonment or death.
Silvers made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on October 16, 2018 before United States Magistrate Judge Lanny King who ordered Silvers detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings of the Court.
Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Hancock, Leigh Ann Dycus, and U.S. Army Captain Tarik Downie, Special Assistant United States Attorney, are prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Eight Indicted for $2.1 Million Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a $2.1 million conspiracy to distribute nearly 100 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Juan Guzman, also known as “Flaco,” 37, Luis Carlos Ramos Caraveo, 23, and Maria De La Cruz Nava, 22, all citizens of Mexico residing in the Kansas City, Mo, area; Chanthacone Senthavy, 44, a citizen of Laos residing in Independence, Mo.; Shelby Lanae Peterman, 26, Christopher Shawn Sharp, 40, and John Paul Gnat, 28, all of St. Joseph, Mo., and Jacob Dale Walsh, 32, of Denton, Kan., were charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Guzman and Senthavy on Oct. 19, 2018, and contains additional defendants and charges.
The federal indictment alleges that all eight defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and in a money-laundering conspiracy over a nearly four-year period from Jan. 1, 2015, to Nov. 14, 2018. In addition to the conspiracies, Guzman, Senthavy, Caraveo and Nava are charged together in one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Guzman is also charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government $2.1 million, allegedly the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy (based on a sale price of $600 per ounce and distribution of more than 3,500 ounces – nearly 100 kilograms – of methamphetamine).
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement investigators had identified Guzman as the supplier for the conspiracy. He allegedly provided one person with three kilograms of methamphetamine every other day; and another person with five kilograms of methamphetamine at each purchase. Guzman and Senthavy were arrested at Guzman’s residence on Oct. 18, 2018. At the time of their arrest, officers seized two rifles, three handguns, ammunition, methamphetamine, cash and drug paraphernalia from Guzman’s residence.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Drug Supplier to Violent Street Gang Admits Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A long-time drug supplier to members and associates of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips today admitted his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilograms of heroin, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Hanee Cureton, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 34, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin (Count Four) and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin (Count Five) in the seventh superseding indictment.
Cureton and 13 other defendants were previously charged with, among other crimes, RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram of more of heroin. Thirteen of the 14 defendants charged in the indictment have been convicted and one is awaiting trial.
Another 66 members and associates of the Grape Street Crips who were arrested in a coordinated takedown in May 2015 were separately charged with drug-trafficking, physical assaults, and witness intimidation, and all have been convicted.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Beginning in 2003, Cureton was a major supplier of heroin to members of the Grape Street Crips at the James Baxter Terrace housing complex until it was demolished in 2009.
After Baxter Terrace was torn down, Cureton continued to distribute heroin, even while he was serving a prior federal prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute heroin. On Nov. 12, 2013, Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched one of Cureton’s heroin mills, seizing more than a kilogram of heroin, cutting agents, and packaging material. In 2014, Cureton sold to DEA confidential informants nearly $10,000 worth of heroin in one transaction alone. Cureton and his drug-trafficking organization were responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of heroin across Newark.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, if accepted by the Court, Cureton faces a sentence of 12 years in federal prison and a term of supervised release of five years. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson with the investigation. He also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, police officers and detectives of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, and the Essex County Sherriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, for their work on the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto, Chief of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Ramsay of the Appeals Division in Newark.
This case was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
The charges and allegations in the indictment against the defendant who is awaiting trial are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Troy A. Archie Esq., Cinnaminson, New Jersey
Dominican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry of a Deported AlienRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Rafael Alcantara, 45, a Dominican national residing in Dorchester, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Senior Judge Rya W. Zobel, who sentenced Alcantara to time served (approximately three and a half months) and one year of supervised release. Alcantara will be subject to deportation proceedings.
On July 26, 2018, law enforcement encountered Alcantara and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Alcantara was previously deported on June 5, 2010.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Todd M. Lyons, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Callahan of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Indicted for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was indicted today in federal court in Boston for distribution of fentanyl.
Santo Eulgio Baez-Calbojal, 47, was indicted on one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Baez-Calbojal was arrested and charged by complaint in October 2018 during a federal law enforcement sweep in and around the City of Lawrence. He has been in custody since.
On Aug. 24, 2017, Baez-Calbojal is alleged to have sold 50 grams of fentanyl to an undercover officer working in Haverhill.
The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 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 Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; and Haverhill Police Chief Alan DeNaro made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Methuen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Detroit Clinic Owner Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for $8.9 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The owner of two Detroit-area clinics was sentenced to 160 months in prison today for her role in a scheme involving approximately $8.9 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for home health care and other physician services that were procured through the payment of kickbacks, were not medically necessary, were not actually provided, or were provided by an unlicensed physician.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office made the announcement.
Jacklyn Price, 34, of Shelby, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland of the Eastern District of Michigan. Judge Cleland also ordered Price to pay $6,350,332 in restitution, jointly and severally with her co-conspirators, and to forfeit the same amount. Price pleaded guilty in April 2017 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud.
Price’s co-defendant, Millicent Traylor, M.D., 47, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison on Sept. 27; her co-defendant Muhammad Qazi, 48, of Oakland Township, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison on Aug. 27; and her other co-defendant, Christina Kimbrough, M.D., 39, of Canton, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 27 months in prison on Sept. 26. Qazi and Kimbrough each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Traylor was convicted in May 2018 of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and five counts of health care fraud following a four-day trial.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of Michigan. Trial Attorneys Stephen Cincotta and Steve Scott of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A North Brookfield man was charged today in federal court in Worcester with unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition.
Seth Decoteau, 36, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
The indictment alleges that on June 8, 2018, Decoteau possessed a 20 gauge bolt action shotgun, a 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber bolt action rifle, a short-barreled rifle, a silencer, and approximately 1,225 rounds ammunition. Decoteau is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of one year and no greater than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of one year and no greater than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Lawrence J. Panetta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and North Brookfield Police Chief of Police Mark Smith made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Q. Wan, of Lelling’s Criminal Division, and Greg A. Friedholm, Chief of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office, are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Columbus man indicted for illegally selling firearms, including guns used in drug trafficking, as well as laundering drug profitsRead the Press Release
A Columbus man was indicted for illegally selling firearms, including guns used in drug trafficking, as well as laundering drug profits.
Francisco Flores, 39, was indicted on one count of transfer of firearms for use in drug trafficking, three counts of sale of firearms to a felon, four counts of money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Flores sold three firearms on Jan. 10 – a Smith & Wesson 5.56 mm semiautomatic assault rifle, a Glock 9 mm pistol and Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver – knowing the firearms would be used for drug trafficking, according to the indictment.
Flores on June 1 sold a Pietro Beretta 9 mm pistol and a Glock 9 mm pistol to a convicted felon, according to the indictment.
Flores on Aug. 31 sold two Glock 9 mm pistols to a convicted felon, according to the indictment.
Flores on Nov. 1 sold a Diamondback Firearms 5.56 mm semiautomatic assault rifle, a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition to a convicted felon, according to the indictment.
On several occasions between August 2017 and January 2018, Flores made financial transactions to disguise proceeds that he believed were derived from drug trafficking. He also used his business, Flores Flooring, to engage in the unlicensed transmitting of money, according to the indictment.
Flores was arrested Wednesday morning.
“This is a man who put heavy firepower on the streets for drug dealers, and also helped them launder their drug money,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Ohio is a safer place with him behind bars.”
“Francisco Flores may be known to some in the community as a business owner but to law enforcement he is known as someone engaged in dangerous unlawful activities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “These actions will not be tolerated in our community. The FBI's Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force will continue to disrupt individuals that are a threat to our everyday lives.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Cronin and Elliot Morrison are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. 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 only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Columbus Man Sentenced to Prison for Selling Crack Cocaine Near Marshall UniversityRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Shawn Bryson, Columbus man, was sentenced yesterday to 37 months for selling crack cocaine within 1000 feet of Marshall University in July 2017, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.
“Marshall University and its student population are the heart of the City of Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “To the parents of current and future students of Marshall University, please know that we are doing everything within our power to keep the criminal element away from campus. Drug dealers doing business on or near campus will be held accountable.”
On July 6, 2017, an individual told officers he had just purchased crack cocaine from “Shorty” at 1531 Rear Avenue, Apartment A in Huntington. Officers conducted a search warrant and recovered approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine. Bryson admitted that he intended to sell that crack cocaine as well.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.
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Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Potential WitnessesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Michael J. Favors, 26, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to murder two potential witnesses.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
Favors and Antwan L. Hutchinson, 27, also of Columbus, were both indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2017. According to court documents, Favors and Hutchinson possessed and distributed cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana. As part of their drug conspiracy, they used “trap houses” that were in others’ names as locations to store and sell the drugs. This included using threats of force and using the homes of drug-addicted individuals. It was further part of the conspiracy to intimidate, assault, threaten and torture individuals with serious physical harm who were perceived as owing money or drugs to the members of the conspiracy.
Favors pleaded guilty to his role in the murders of Sidney Campbell and Marie Stamp.
Specifically, Favors pleaded guilty to five counts as charged against him in the indictment, which include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of conspiracy to murder a witness, and two counts of murder through use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Favors faces up to life in prison.
Hutchinson and Favors were arrested on March 27, 2017 and remain in custody.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by ATF and the Columbus Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys David M. DeVillers and Jessica W. Knight who are prosecuting the case.
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